Musty or Mildew odor

[SuperKing]

It's getting warmer here and I'm definitely noticing this more. That first burst of AC has the smell of poor people... lol

 

[lobsenza]

I have this issue with another car (not a Genesis). I changed out the cabin air filter and took new car dash vent clips and removed the scent strips from them and placed them in the cabin air filter. It has dramatically helped the problem.

 

[sluggo]

If you can access the drain hose under the car you have another option. Get a clean squeeze bottle with a narrow tip (ketchup/mustard type) and fill it with a 1:1 mixture of chlorine bleach and water. Pump a half cup of the mixture up into the hose and then clamp it off. Run the AC for 10 minutes or so and then let it sit for a few hours. The chlorine will kill the mildew in the evaporator housing on contact and the fumes should sanitize the evaporator and the rest of the system.

 

[goochylittlepig]

I am noticing this problem now too, especially now that it is summer and humid here. It's when the AC comes on for the first minute. Don't really want to be breathing in mold forever for a 6 month old car. Has anyone actually had luck bringing it to the dealer? I feel like they're just going to say they don't smell it or replace the filter, which doesn't help if water is pooling in the lines.

 

[TroyK]

i wish automakers would set up their hvac so that when it's warm out, the interior fan motor would run for a few minutes after the car is turned off so that the evaporator and the housing where it's contained would dry out some. that would help curtail some of the mildew/mold smell i'd think.

 

[williakz]

Car manufacturers get "points" on EPA/DOT regulations that allow them some wiggle room in meeting CAFE standards. One of the "freebies" is to start and keep your AC system in recirc mode when the outside temp is above a certain level (75 F for Lexus). This stinks up your car and promotes the growth of mold in the system. But, I'm sure Hyundai is just as willing as the rest to sacrifice the comfort and smell of its customers for a few fractional virtual mpgs from the government...

http://www.motor.com/magazine-summary/ac-service-earning-credit-at-the-co2-cafe-2015/

 

[dgiff]

OK Car smell is back again. The car was in the garage for a week without driving. Once we came back from vacation and drove it, it as moldy and mildew smell again.

Williakz - We have kept the AC on an outside setting and not Recirculate. I can assure you this is not the issue.

 

[dgiff]

I have this issue with another car (not a Genesis). I changed out the cabin air filter and took new car dash vent clips and removed the scent strips from them and placed them in the cabin air filter. It has dramatically helped the problem.

Dealer changed the cabin air filter. We don't want to mask the smell with any scent strips.

 

[dgiff]

It's getting warmer here and I'm definitely noticing this more. That first burst of AC has the smell of poor people... lol

I get a new Taurus every 2 years. Never had this issue of a smell. In fact, I've never had a musty smell in any car.

 

[Comp1]

Have it in my car too. My daily commute is 9 miles and and 9 miles back. As much as I have tried various things to make it go away (replace cabin air filter more often, run fan last few minutes of drive, lysol in intake) it wont go away. The only thing I have noticed is that on long drives (hours long) that it goes away for a while and then will eventually come back. Its a design flaw as I have never experienced this with any car previously owned. Its just another reason why I'm one and done with Hyundai after my lease is up.

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[Jordanides]

I just purchase my 2015 Genesis sedan with 4K miles on it in June. I am very particular to smells and never had an issue with moldy musty smell until a week or two ago. This is definitely not normal since I drive about 30k miles a year for the last 25 years and no vehicle has done this. I took the car to the dealer and they check the drain and sprayed some disinfectant and replace the cabin filter. He mentioned the same process of making sure that the vent is not in recirculation mode so the vent flap is open inside the box before I turn off the car. These solutions did not resolve the problem. There needs to be something that kills the mold and eliminates the moisture so it is not the perfect breeding environment for more to grow. I am upset about this issue and I don't know if there is any recourse with the dealership or HYUNDAI since this could also be considered a health concern if it is mold and of a particular type and passengers are breathing this in.
I do not know if the cowl replacement mentioned in these threads applies to all cars and if there was a recall for it or if was a voluntary action and what was the reason for its replacement.

 

[Nikgen]

I just purchase my 2015 Genesis sedan with 4K miles on it in June. I am very particular to smells and never had an issue with moldy musty smell until a week or two ago. This is definitely not normal since I drive about 30k miles a year for the last 25 years and no vehicle has done this. I took the car to the dealer and they check the drain and sprayed some disinfectant and replace the cabin filter. He mentioned the same process of making sure that the vent is not in recirculation mode so the vent flap is open inside the box before I turn off the car. These solutions did not resolve the problem. There needs to be something that kills the mold and eliminates the moisture so it is not the perfect breeding environment for more to grow. I am upset about this issue and I don't know if there is any recourse with the dealership or HYUNDAI since this could also be considered a health concern if it is mold and of a particular type and passengers are breathing this in.
I do not know if the cowl replacement mentioned in these threads applies to all cars and if there was a recall for it or if was a voluntary action and what was the reason for its replacement.

I had this as a recurring problem in the 2 summers I owned a 2015. They cleaned and sprayed disinfectant/deodorizer and it would be better, but the foul smell at startup would come back. I was never able to get it resolved.

The good news is that, so far, there is not even a hint of this issue on my 2016 and it has been a hot and very humid summer.

 

[trespinosranch]

No mold issue yet in my '16. A previous Lexus & Toyota had the issue, and I vaguely recall the recommendation was to turn off the A/C and just use the fan the last 2-3 minutes of driving. That was OK in California, but here in the South that wouldn't be an option.

 

[WHYTE5OH]

Got this issue now!

 

[cleex024]

man I hope this was an issue with just the 2015s...sorry for your luck, but i really hope i dont get this issue in my 2016 ultimate.

 

[dgiff]

Update after having the 2015 Car for 2 years now.

It still has the issue and the dealership cannot figure out anything to do to fix the smell. They say the smell is not that bad but these guys don't drive it everyday. The lease is up in 12 month and this car is gone. I'm sure they will tell the new owner all the smell issue we had.. Right?

 

[Aquineas]

When I bought this Genesis I lived in the Houston Metropolitan area and it just so happens the summer of the big floods in Houston (there was a ton of moisture in the air and on the ground) was my first with the car. The car smelled *terrible*. I followed the steps in this post, but went through 3 cans of Lysol, and it got rid of the problem (that and moving back to Austin which isn't as humid as Houston).

 

[Inokea]

Check under carpet passenger side below evap pan.
Sometimes cold will cause condensate moisture to WICK into carpet causing a wet spot that eventually gets the moldy smell.
Run AC or after a long trip check carpet with a moisture meter.... if it wet under the carpet.... that's the culprit. In some cars I've had small crack in the condensate pan that dripped enough to cause stagnated smells inside the cabin.
That's my two cents.... I'm out of here.

 

[G-660980]

We purchased our 2018 in fall of 2017. This issue is awful. Several trips to dealer and a full on replacement of entire ac and the problem is back

 

[salvageking]

I think I got mine mostly fixed: Car bad odor anybody else experience this