Car smells strongly like mildew after rain/wet

[arash]

I can now confirm the mildew smell was coming from my window seals. After spraying and wiping with the vinegar solution a couple times they don’t have that smell anymore and neither does my car interior.

If you’re experiencing this smell and your window seals smell when you sniff them up close, that’s probably the cause. Now I just need a good routine of preventing it in the future.

 

[pv488]

I can now confirm the mildew smell was coming from my window seals. After spraying and wiping with the vinegar solution a couple times they don’t have that smell anymore and neither does my car interior.

If you’re experiencing this smell and your window seals smell when you sniff them up close, that’s probably the cause. Now I just need a good routine of preventing it in the future.

That’s great to hear! The new charcoal cabin filter has completely removed the mildew smell I was experiencing in the front seats whenever I used the AC or vents.

I will try the cleaning solution on the window seals as I still get a slight whiff of mildew in the back seats. But I am glad I no longer have to experience the putrid smell as I did before which seems to have been due to the cabin filter.

 

[creynol6]

Hey guys - checking back in as I stumbled across this gem yesterday that makes a ton on sense (& also provides instructions on how to remediate). If this has already been shared my bad.



Everything he described (not using the auto AC, parking in a dark garage, etc) aligned w my situation. I still have the faint smell so going to buy the refresh kit (looks like $40 on Amazon) + a new charcoal filter and try it out. Will report back.

 

[EOD Guy]

If you purchase an ozone generator from Amazon and treat your interior a few times, it will eliminate the smell. My old Taco's previous owner was a smoker and the interior reeked of stale smoke, he used some chemicals to mask the smell, and the smell didn't become obvious for a month after I purchased it. It was over whelming and even after I stripped the entire interior from the truck down to the metal, power washed the carpet, headliner, door panels and any exposed surfaces I could reach, the putrid smell wouldn't go away. I saw a uTube video of a guy testing out interior cleaners/air fresheners etc...... he stated the only thing that actually worked was an ozone generator and for $50 bucks I was willing to give it a try............ All I can say it he was absolutely correct! I took a half dozen or so 3 hour treatments and there is just the slightest hint of something, but you can't really decern what it is. I've treated my daughter's vehicle to rid it of babies sour milk and other food messes and there is zero smell remaining etc.....

This is the one I bought (looks like the price has increased).

(edit) Ozone is oxygen displacing so you MUST follow the safety precautions! Basically run the machine with the vehicle's door closed, Unplug the extension cord to turn it off, the open a door while backing away then stay away and let it air out for at least 30 -60 min.

 

[ultane]

3rd Update

Toyota Service center heard back from corporate, they recommended changing the standard cabin filter with a charcoal filter. They also said I would have to pay for it since they consider this outside of their usual coverage lmao. The service center said they were shocked corporate said that, they mentioned they would do labor for free but to call Toyotas brand engagement line and ask them to reconsider covering the cost of the filter.

I will be having this installed tomorrow and hope it fixes this issue.

Cabin air filters are one of the easiest things you can do on your own, at home.

 

[pv488]

If you purchase an ozone generator from Amazon and treat your interior a few times, it will eliminate the smell. My old Taco's previous owner was a smoker and the interior reeked of stale smoke, he used some chemicals to mask the smell, and the smell didn't become obvious for a month after I purchased it. It was over whelming and even after I stripped the entire interior from the truck down to the metal, power washed the carpet, headliner, door panels and any exposed surfaces I could reach, the putrid smell wouldn't go away. I saw a uTube video of a guy testing out interior cleaners/air fresheners etc...... he stated the only thing that actually worked was an ozone generator and for $50 bucks I was willing to give it a try............ All I can say it he was absolutely correct! I took a half dozen or so 3 hour treatments and there is just the slightest hint of something, but you can't really decern what it is. I've treated my daughter's vehicle to rid it of babies sour milk and other food messes and there is zero smell remaining etc.....

This is the one I bought (looks like the price has increased).

(edit) Ozone is oxygen displacing so you MUST follow the safety precautions! Basically run the machine with the vehicle's door closed, Unplug the extension cord to turn it off, the open a door while backing away then stay away and let it air out for at least 30 -60 min.

View attachment 51986

I think I'm going to have to do this or at least ask Toyota to cover paying for this sort of cleaning.

Unfortunately, the smell is back after it rained several times this weekend. I am working with a case manager at Toyota corporate since I have already paid for a charcoal filter based on their recommendation and service center looks to be out of ideas.

 

[EOD Guy]

I think I'm going to have to do this or at least ask Toyota to cover paying for this sort of cleaning.

Unfortunately, the smell is back after it rained several times this weekend. I am working with a case manager at Toyota corporate since I have already paid for a charcoal filter based on their recommendation and service center looks to be out of ideas.

It doesn't fix the root problem of the moisture intrusion, but it does make it bearable.

 

[TonkaTruck]

New Land Cruiser 2025 and my car smells like mildew or some sort of wet smell the next couple of days anytime I’m out driving in the rain. Totally loses new car smell until it dries out. Smell is strongest if I roll down the windows, seems to be coming from the window seals where it rolls down.

NO WATER damage or sitting water in the car nor in the door, service checked for that. Anyone else having this problem?

Same issue, but thought it was auto car wash, dirty wash in the cabin filter. Turned out not to be the case. Toyota did a complementary cabin and A/C system disinfection, last 1 day, then I took it to a car wash, smell came back. Hand washing and giving it time to sit in the sun seems to prevent the mold/wet smell. Have read the other responses and never thought about the window door seals being the issue.

 

[ultane]

Many of our early Land Cruisers had one or more hold(s) placed on them in Port. One of the holds was where the drain hose from the sunroof would get disconnected from a (larger or different?) hose some distance away from the sunroof, and a repair was needed. I think(?) the ceiling had to be lowered to do the repair. I wonder if this could be causing some of our inmates problems(?).

 

[Bad1975]

Hate to say it but the Car care Nut is a nut and loses credibility almost with every video I watch of his. All my Toyotas when left in Recirc open the recirc damper after vehicle shut down, it doesn't stay closed like he says. If you'd like to confirm you can wait in the cabin until for a minute or two and listen to the servo opening the damper.

There is a function on some models (LC250 included) that can be set with GTS+ to override the damper opening upon shutdown and will even force a close after ignition off when it wasn't enabled, but by default it opens unless someone has changed the factory settings. There may be models where this isn't that case but either way he is not correct in his statement.

A/C systems remove humidity that's why they are so effective to have running while in defrost and this moisture collects at the evaporator and then drains through the drain hoses if you run it in fresh air mode you'll get more condensation for the drains to deal with.

I don't live in a very humid environment and have never owned a car that had a smelly A/C, even when I lived in very humid Japan never had an issue although we didn't have a Toyota then.

I do agree when they smell it's from that condensation not drying up and then mildew/mold formation and likely a clogged drain line is the source. If I had this issue I'd spray a cleaner disinfectant up the drain lines a couple times a year to keep things clean and monitor for the four puddles (might only be 2 or 3 for A/C??) beneath the car, if one stops appearing you have a drain line issue.

Can't recommend repeated Ozone treatments as it's harmful to many items (rubber, leather and plastic to name a few) in your cars interior. Charcoal filters are a mask to the problem and not a solution, if your running those and only going by smell it will take longer before you know you have an issue.

 

[pv488]

Many of our early Land Cruisers had one or more hold(s) placed on them in Port. One of the holds was where the drain hose from the sunroof would get disconnected from a (larger or different?) hose some distance away from the sunroof, and a repair was needed. I think(?) the ceiling had to be lowered to do the repair. I wonder if this could be causing some of our inmates problems(?).

Got a call from Toyota, in 60 days I'm going to hear if they buyback vehicle (Lemon Law) or give me a new car.

 

[RideWithYanu]

Got a call from Toyota, in 60 days I'm going to hear if they buyback vehicle (Lemon Law) or give me a new car.

I hope they give you something in writing to this effect so that in 60 days they remember their commitment.

 

[CO_Hawk]

I hope they give you something in writing to this effect so that in 60 days they remember their commitment.

I'm going throuigh the buyback procedure currently for the transmission issues. They have been very responsive and I recieved a request for payoff information and an offer in about a week. Beware, at least in CO, they are only buying back, not replacing. So I was on my own to find a suitable replacemnt, fortunately they are willing to reimburse for shipping an out of state vehicle so long as it comes from another Toyota dealer. Once mine is repaired, they are letting me drive it until the new one is avilable.

 

[pv488]

I'm going throuigh the buyback procedure currently for the transmission issues. They have been very responsive and I recieved a request for payoff information and an offer in about a week. Beware, at least in CO, they are only buying back, not replacing. So I was on my own to find a suitable replacemnt, fortunately they are willing to reimburse for shipping an out of state vehicle so long as it comes from another Toyota dealer. Once mine is repaired, they are letting me drive it until the new one is avilable.

Could you give me details on what their buyback offer was? Aside from payoff to lender, did their offer cover the interest, fees incurred when you purchased the vehicle and any additional $, perhaps for the "inconvenience"?

 

[ultane]

Could you give me details on what their buyback offer was? Aside from payoff to lender, did their offer cover the interest, fees incurred when you purchased the vehicle and any additional $, perhaps for the "inconvenience"?

Yea.. inquiring minds want to know..

 

[CO_Hawk]

Could you give me details on what their buyback offer was? Aside from payoff to lender, did their offer cover the interest, fees incurred when you purchased the vehicle and any additional $, perhaps for the "inconvenience"?

PM'd you, not sure my offer should be public

 

[creynol6]

Hate to say it but the Car care Nut is a nut and loses credibility almost with every video I watch of his. All my Toyotas when left in Recirc open the recirc damper after vehicle shut down, it doesn't stay closed like he says. If you'd like to confirm you can wait in the cabin until for a minute or two and listen to the servo opening the damper.

There is a function on some models (LC250 included) that can be set with GTS+ to override the damper opening upon shutdown and will even force a close after ignition off when it wasn't enabled, but by default it opens unless someone has changed the factory settings. There may be models where this isn't that case but either way he is not correct in his statement.

A/C systems remove humidity that's why they are so effective to have running while in defrost and this moisture collects at the evaporator and then drains through the drain hoses if you run it in fresh air mode you'll get more condensation for the drains to deal with.

I don't live in a very humid environment and have never owned a car that had a smelly A/C, even when I lived in very humid Japan never had an issue although we didn't have a Toyota then.

I do agree when they smell it's from that condensation not drying up and then mildew/mold formation and likely a clogged drain line is the source. If I had this issue I'd spray a cleaner disinfectant up the drain lines a couple times a year to keep things clean and monitor for the four puddles (might only be 2 or 3 for A/C??) beneath the car, if one stops appearing you have a drain line issue.

Can't recommend repeated Ozone treatments as it's harmful to many items (rubber, leather and plastic to name a few) in your cars interior. Charcoal filters are a mask to the problem and not a solution, if your running those and only going by smell it will take longer before you know you have an issue.

My situation is every time water gets into the fresh air ducts below the windshield I get the mildew smell. My assumption is the same as yours, must be some crud in the evaporator or a clog somewhere.

I ran the disinfectant through the driver's side, first blast it only drained from there but the subsequent shots must have worked through the system as I got the separate puddles at each drain line. Perhaps I had a clog somewhere and this took care of it, time will tell.

 

[pv488]

Posting another update if helpful to others:

FTS did their inspection and found “no issues and vehicle is operating as expected”. They said the smell is probably related to the glue/adhesive used internally and plastics used for construction of the vehicle…. lol.

Will have to go back to corporate and my case manager, let’s see what their explanation is and if now there any next steps. I might have to proceed with a private lawyer.

 

[lar317]

This is the same issue with the 2025 4 runner. My 4 runner had this smell after it rained, I traded in for a used 25 1958, Just wondering my 4 runner had the roof rails, my 1958 does not, the 1958 does not smell like Mildew after it rains ?

 

[6-funk]

Replacing the front door speakers, revealed the funky foot smells source. The inner door was wet, and the smell was unmistakable. I'm actually relieved that's it, not the roof or AC, just the window seals