Horrendous odor from air conditioning system. Family now refuses to ride in the vehicle. Have tried the flush system provided by Toyota but only showed improvement for a few days. Have also tried Lysol spray in air intakes but again only worked for a few days. Owned other cars with air conditioning systems since the 60's and have never had this issue.

Now on researching I find that Toyota has had this same problem for years and still puts out vehicles with the same problem. I tell as many people as I can that they should not by a Toyota vehicle. Going to cost me some money to sell this car and by another, but some day going to have to bite the bullet and do so. I also believe the mold in the system is part of my health issues. Have asthma that gets worse at times and seems to coincide with the odor level coming from the air conditioner system.

I do hope Toyota get nailed for this one as they have know about it for quite some time and we all get compensated to a certain extent.

Horrible mold smell from vents. Dealer claims industry industry issue and will not fix at their expense. Corporate offered 125.00 . Went to dealer and they replaced a filter at a cost to me of $75. Filter did not fix the problem. They said they can force a foam through the vents for a cost of $150. The cost to be my responsibility. The one good thing out of all this is that friends who were interested in purchasing a Highlander no longer are after being in my vehicle. How many people with compromised lungs will get ill from this defect ????? I have purchased 3 Toyotas and will never purchase another. I'm afraid of my vehicle and the damage it may be doing to my health !

Terrible for a new vehicle with 9500 miles on it to have mold smell already from a/c evaporator. My 2006 Honda has never had this issue with 140000 miles on it and cost 1/3 the price. Contacted dealer with no response. Will try and bring in for service and hear what excuses for the smell is.

Update from Jul 1, 2015: Went to the dealer on 6/29/2015 and was advised that environmental issues are not covered and to call the Toyota headquarter Customer Hotline for future service. New vehicle less than 13 months old and under 9800 miles and this is not covered? Toyota responded with a case manager today and he explained there is a service bulletin #0142-13 and would speak with the dealer for a one time fix. There one time fix is to spray foam into the system and hopefully get rid of any bacteria or residue in the system. Not a happy camper and to be lied to from the dealer after they explained no service bulletin and it was the first there hearing about it makes me wondering when to get another new vehicle and go back to Honda.

Update from Aug 17, 2015: After dealing with Toyota Headquarters and bringing the vehicle back to the dealer for the foam service to the evaporator, the problem still exists. Toyota claims there is no other fix and was basically trying to convince me that it was unsolvable and is an environmental issue not a safety one. I requested another option as I explained this smell efforts the value for my vehicle and could possible be a health issue from mold or mildew spores or maybe something worst. Toyota then provided the lemon law option and stated they will assist with the procedure. After submitting the request I received a letter from Toyota confirming the process will be examined by the third party unit and should receive a response within 30 days. Toyota explained unsure exactly what will be offered if any at all, except that if offered they have heard of buy back option or replacement option is usually what is condoned. I asked about going through the state attorney general office and was informed that they will handle it but suggested if the response by Toyota was not satisfactory to go to the state attorney process to assist. Just waiting for a response now from Toyota if my issue will accepted and if so what will be the offer.

I purchased this vehicle new. After I had the 10,000K check up the A/C started to smell and I wasn't sure what to do. In April I called the local dealer and my service rep sighed and said there's no fix for this.

He told me the coil is in a closed compartment and that the mold just grows there due to the condensation. He said you have to not run the re-circulate even though that is the default setting. I have heard it is in their high end models. He tells me that they get 100's of complaints from their customers and he has no solution for them. He had me bring in the vehicle and they replaced a filter and sprayed some stuff in the vents for no charge. Next day I had perfumed smelling mold.

Called him back and he referred me to Toyota Corporate in CA. I called and they have a service bulletin about this and recommended that the dealer order a hi-performance carbon filter. When it came in the dealer replaced the filter in my vehicle for free but to no avail. I called Toyota back, they gave me to another rep and assigned another case number to it. He told me it is an environmental problem as far as they are concerned. They called the dealer and had a discussion and then called me back. Told me very curtly that it is an environmental problem and as far as they were concerned I had received my onetime free filter and cleaning from them.

I now have to get rid of this vehicle because I am not going to risk getting respiratory problems from driving it. It is awful! Don't buy a Toyota