NHTSA Complaint #11051228 — 2017 LEXUS RX350

I LEASED THE VEHICLE AT THE END OF DECEMBER 2016. SOMETIME IN SEPTEMBER, MY WIFE STARTED TO NOTICE AN ODD SMELL IN THE CABIN. ON SAT 10/7, MY WIFE NOTICED THE FRONT CARPET WAS COMPLETELY SATURATED. I GAVE IT A FEW DAYS TO DRY OUT BUT WHEN IT DIDN'T GET BETTER I BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICE I EXPLAINED THE ISSUE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AND WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT THE VEHICLE HE SAID HE HAD A FEELING HE KNOW WHAT IT WAS. HE EXPLAINED THAT SPIDERS GET INTO THE AC DRAIN PLUG AND CLOG IT CAUSING WATER TO BACKUP INTO THE CABIN. THE PADDING AND CARPETING WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AND MOLD REMEDIATION WOULD BE NEEDED (THE MOLD IS WHAT WAS CAUSING THE ODOR). HE SHARED THEY JUST DID THREE OF THESE REPAIRS IN THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS AND TOLD ME THE REPAIR WOULD COST AROUND $5,400. HE CONTINUED TO EXPLAIN THAT THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PUT A CLAIM THROUGH ON MY INSURANCE. AFTER TWO DAYS HE CAME BACK AND CONFIRMED A "SPIDER INFESTATION." I QUESTIONED HIM SINCE I FOUND THIS WHOLE SCENARIO ODD. HE TOLD ME HE DIDN'T HAVE AN EXACT NUMBER BUT THAT THE DEALERSHIP HAD PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED BETWEEN 15 AND 20 OF THESE REPAIRS AND THAT TO PREVENT A RECURRENCE THEY WOULD FIT THE DRAIN PLUG WITH A SPECIAL INSECT REPELLANT TIP. I CONSIDERED THIS A REOCCURRING ISSUE THAT LEXUS WAS AWARE OF AND THAT THEY HAD A FIX FOR SO I DID NOT WANT TO PUT AN INSURANCE CLAIM IN AND RISK A RATE INCREASE. I THEN ESCALATED THE ISSUE WITH LEXUS CORPORATE AND THEY SIDED WITH THE DEALER SAYING IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT THAT THEY WOULD COVER MY COMPREHENSIVE DEDUCTIBLE (WHICH THEY DID). AFTER BACK AND FORTH WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY THEY FINALLY APPROVED THE CLAIM (THEY INITIALLY DIDN'T WANT TO COVER THE DEALERSHIPS LABOR RATES). AFTER HAVING THE CARE FOR THREE WEEKS, THEY FINALLY BEGIN REPAIRS.