Strong, musty or mildew-like smell starting coming from the A/C vents shortly after purchasing the vehicle. The odor is strongest after the car has been sitting for awhile (overnight) and in warmer weather. Dealer tried cleaning out an A/C drain. It helped temporarily, but did not alleviate the problem. Dealer said it is a design problem and suggested I contact Acura customer service as the dealer had done everything they had been authorized to do. Dealer suggested I periodically treat the A/C system with an odor neutralizer.

Acura customer service has been very disappointing. I have been trying to work with them to find a fix to the problem, but it is very difficult to get my assigned customer service representative on the phone. My calls and messages have largely gone unreturned for months. The customer service representative suggested that the problem is due to the environment in which I live. While it can be hot and humid in Houston there are millions of cars here which do not emit moldy, musty smells into the cabin. The problem is present even in the drying, cooler weather we are currently experiencing.

The customer service representative also suggested that I take the car's A/C system out of the "automatic" mode and turn on "fresh air" mode. It's a bit ridiculous, in my mind, to ask a customer to take system out of automatic to This is a design flaw and is unacceptable in any new car, especially from a "premium" brand.