NHTSA Complaint #10441181 — 2006 LEXUS IS 250

FOR 3-YEARS WE HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP REGARDING THE MUSTY SMELL COMING FROM THE A/C VENTS. WE WERE ADVISED BY THE DEALERSHIP TO CUT OFF THE A/C BEFORE ARRIVING HOME TO ALLOW THE UNIT TO DRAIN. WE ALSO WERE ADVISED TO SPRAY LYSOL INTO THE OUTSIDE COWL VENTS WHICH DID IMPROVE THE ODOR BUT THIS A/C MUSTY SMELL HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN ISSUE AND IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. ON 12/20/2011, WE NOTICED WATER WAS APPARENTLY ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE CARPET WAS WET AND THERE WAS EXCESSIVE MOISTURE AND WATER UNDER CARPET. UPON NOTICING THIS PROBLEM WE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS ADVISED THAT MOST LIKELY, THE A/C DRAIN FLAP WAS STUCK AND CORRECTION FOR THIS DEFECT REQUIRED REMOVAL OF THE DRAIN FLAP TO ALLOW THE DRAIN TO FLOW AND NOT BACK UP AND ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER STATED THIS DEFECT HAS OCCURRED BEFORE INVOLVING THE IS250. COST TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT WAS $240 BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE DROPPED TO ACCESS THE DRAIN LINE. REMOVING THE WATER/MOISTURE AND DRYING THE CARPET WAS ESTIMATED AT $2K. AGAIN, THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT IS ALL OVER THE NET AND APPARENTLY WELL KNOWN BY THE DEALERSHIP. ALL LEXUS OWNERS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED BY LEXUS SO ALL CAN AVOID THIS POTENTIAL HEALTH ISSUE INVOLVING MOLD AND THE HIGH COST OF REPAIR. IF THE WATER IS NOT NOTICED AND WATER CONTINUES TO BUILD UP IN THE A/C AND UNDER THE CARPETS SERIOUS MOLD RELATED HEALTH ISSUES COULD OCCUR. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG OUR CAR LEAKED OR BACKED UP WATER BUT A MUSTY SMELL FOR THE PAST 3-YEARS HAS BEEN NOT ONLY OFFENSIVE BUT DANGEROUS CONSIDERING THE HEALTH HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH MOLD HERE IN FLORIDA.I RESPECTFULLY SUBMIT THAT THIS DEFECT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. *TR