Bad smell from AC system 2011 G37

[taylormaded1996]

Leased a 2011 G37 last December, it was last year's model as they were selling the 2012's also when I was there. I live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida so our humidity is 80% everyday. I noticed about 3 months into having the car that when I started the car, a very bad smell like mildew would come out of the AC for about 5 to 10 seconds. It is a very bad smell but goes away after that time. I took it back to the dealer and they charger the cabin filter and added some deoterizer. Then the proceeded to tell me that I need to run the AC on "fresh air" when I get in the car and not have in on "recirculation". Or I need to run it on "fresh air" the last 2 minutes of my drive home so it will be clean for the morning. I find these answers unacceptable for a new car. Why should I have to be pressing buttons and performing functions just to have clean smelling air when I turn on a $35,000 car? If this is environmental issue in South Florida, why do other cars such as BMW, Cadillac, Mercedes have this same problem down here?

So far I have gotten no where with the dealer and now have moved on to the 1-800 number and the first person I talked to there has no answers of me.

Can anyone out there suggest anything to get Infiniti to act properly?

[audtatious]

Yeah, you are kinda screwed like the rest of us. There is a design flaw somewhere in the A/C system which allows the mildew to gather and it has nothing to do with the cabin filter. Using deodorizer is a temporary solution at best. There are some tips that can help, like turning off the A/C a few minutes before parking the car to allow the system to dry out a bit but otherwise I don't think there is a solution for this problem.

I have this smell with the wife's sedan but not my coupe. Dunno why but at least I don't have to deal with it on a daily basis.

[telcoman]

Welcome to NICO

You could always move to New Jersey

No problem here!

Telcoman

[jmann]

I was having this problem on my '11 ex35, I just had the cabin filter replaced and it seems to have cured it. I'll know for sure after a few more uses.

[Tim30250]

It's not just an Infiniti thing, it's a hot/humid climate thing. When we moved from NJ to TX, two of the three cars we moved down acquired the same odor in TX after never having it in NJ. My G37 now has it too, but so did a former Chevy and Lexus we owned. My BMW probably has it too, but I'd never know since I don't use its a/c for obvious reasons. Don't curse the car, most will encounter the same issue in southern climates. Just use the fresh air trick like everyone else and you'll be fine.

[audtatious]

I never had these issues with older A/C cars and I've lived in some humid areas.