NHTSA Complaint #10761949 — 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

STARTING THIS SUMMER OUR 2013 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WAS HAVING A TERRIBLE ODOR COMING FROM THE AC. WENT TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD CLEAN OUT THE AC/ EVAPORATOR BOX WITH AMMONIA AND THEN PUT A MINT SPRAY TO REDUCE AMMONIA SMELL. PAID $65 FOR THIS SERVICE. ON WAY HOME I SMELL NOTHING BUT A STALE ODOR. THE NEXT DAY THE MOLDY SMELL WAS BACK. DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO START CAR. THE SECOND I OPENED DOOR IT HIT ME. I WENT ON GOOGLE AND SAW A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WERE HAVING SAME PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA CARS. NOT JUST A HIGHLANDER!! THE AVALON,CAMRY AND OTHERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE MOLD IN THE EVAPORATOR BOX AND VENTS. HAVE HAD MANY VEHICLES AND NEVER A PROBLEM LIKE THIS ONE. BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AND FOR TOYOTA NOT TO ADMIT TO A BAD DESIGN IS DISAPPOINTING.