2013 Toyota Highlander: Odor from A/C
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2013 Highlander report: odor from A/C. CarComplaints.com lists 6 owner complaints, average mileage 21,500 miles.
NHTSA has 6 owner complaints for the 2013 Highlander in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11223009 (filed 06/27/2019): “We recently had our highlander completely totaled by our insurance after a failure to have our air conditioning drain properly. the clog caused water to back up into the frame of the car and flood our floor carpeting. the drainage issue also caused the headlin…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #10761949 (filed 09/07/2015): “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. o…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: none clearly reported. Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Opening the A/C system requires refrigerant recovery equipment, and US EPA Section 609 certification is required to service vehicle A/C for compensation. (Our assessment.)
Cost
No sourced cost range: get a written quote after diagnosis.
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
Page last updated .