2014 Toyota Highlander: Mold odor
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2014 Highlander report: mold odor. CarComplaints.com lists 5 owner complaints, average mileage 15,900 miles.
NHTSA has 4 owner complaints for the 2014 Highlander in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #10861412 (filed 04/25/2016): “When the a/c or heater is on, there is a very foul almost rotten type of smell coming into the cabin. i notice it as soon as i start the car. it used to go away after driving it several miles, but lately it seems to continue with the bad smell for a longer ti…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #10821383 (filed 01/21/2016): “The hvac system does not drain completely in hot climates, causing a build up of mold/mildew in the ac system, blowing it into the car. the odor is foul and damaging to customers respiratory systems. this occurs in the summer, in hot months with the ac is used…”
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: lemon law process (1 reports). 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 .