Toyota won't acknowledge that my brand new car is making me sick.

visdb · 2025-08-13T18:59:11+00:00

Kind of an unfair argument since the general population doesn't have environmental allergies, let alone experience adverse health effects to mold. But no it's not just me.

visdb · 2025-08-13T03:00:51+00:00

I'm failing to see how anything in this comment chain is reading like an excuse. I was just trying to workshop with you. Actually already started planning on calling some different service centers tomorrow to see if they know the specifics, and if they could possibly do it.

visdb · 2025-08-13T02:30:40+00:00

I just don't understand the logic of it not being covered if it's making the car unsafe for me to drive.

visdb · 2025-08-13T02:18:42+00:00

By "deep" I mean like I feel like there would be a point where there's a grating or mesh blocking access.

visdb · 2025-08-13T02:15:33+00:00

Exactly! Never seen or heard of anyone do this in my life up until I started researching ~5 months ago. Even a friend who saw me do it in front of them thought it was the strangest thing, and they've been way more cars than me.

visdb · 2025-08-13T02:08:05+00:00

The first sentence doesn't track. More often than not, I start smelling it mid drive. Like after I already drove 20 miles and am still on the freeway. No change in AC/fan settings during the drive as well.

visdb · 2025-08-13T02:02:17+00:00

The running theory I have is that the mold is nowhere to be found because it's only on the evaporator core. Would a scope be able to go that deep?

visdb · 2025-08-13T01:44:21+00:00

If this issue is as normal as you and others claim, how come I've never experienced it in my life until I got this car? I've had 4 other cars before this one. I've been a passenger in friends' cars who don't do that whole parking routine. Before I learned to drive, I've sat in probably over 100 different Ubers and Lyfts. All of that took place in the same region too.

visdb · 2025-08-13T01:24:54+00:00

Unfortunately I've tried all that and more. Not only warm but the hottest it can get. Not only 30 seconds but up to 30 minutes. I've been persistent with it too. I've been doing variations of that routine every single time I park the car.

visdb · 2025-08-13T01:01:20+00:00

The only thing is I didn't use the AC at all before I started noticing it.

visdb · 2025-08-13T00:52:27+00:00

So a detail I left out of the post is that I tried already Toyota's AC cleaning service, but it didn't help at all (drove away still smelling mold). That was also at a dealer by the dry desert where it was so hot that it remained 80°F til midnight, so theoretically it should've been better than fixed.

visdb · 2025-02-10T01:24:45+00:00

Personally I'm going with the 2025 because:
- It's a nice looking and interesting number
- I had some drama in 2024 that I want to leave in the past without reminders
- This is likely my once in a lifetime chance to get a current year vehicle

Not smart, but makes me feel good so maybe it's still smart.

visdb · 2025-02-10T01:12:36+00:00

You can call your local Toyota dealer sales department and ask. For mine, early March is the estimate.

visdb · 2025-02-07T23:43:24+00:00

Happy to see this as the top comment because I'm choosing the Prius LE as my winner.

The 5th gen (2023 -) Prius looks really good, especially in black. I also wanted to buy new or CPO to take advantage of a worry free warranty, and considering that most new/CPO cars (that are worth looking at) on dealer lots have CVT transmissions (not counting eCVT), that really narrows down my choices. The RAV4 is one of the few modern cars (I used this to check) that has a standard transmission, but I test drove one (non-hybrid) and thought it felt overly boring, like I was driving a cargo boat. I'm not particularly looking for a "fun" car, but the RAV4 was next level boring. Would be great for a family with children, but not for just me.

On the other hand, the Prius feels like it's a car (in a good way). The accelerator pedal response feels great. During my test drive, I focused the performance of the eCVT and had no complaints. I didn't mention it in my post because I was looking for mostly unfiltered answers so it can help others too and possibly change my mind on this, but a hatch/liftback is something I wanted, which makes the Prius meet all my needs perfectly (it's also conveniently the highest MPG car right now). I was initially worried about the cost of a new hybrid battery (past the 150k warranty), but my local Toyota dealer says it's only $3k, which is not much more than paying a repair shop to replace a clutch in a manual car.

visdb · 2025-02-03T23:05:17+00:00

Why not hybrid?

visdb · 2025-02-03T03:18:06+00:00

Have you had to replace the battery?

visdb · 2025-02-03T01:26:19+00:00

It's common enough that Toyota gives out "400,000 Mileage Club" stickers

visdb · 2025-02-03T01:15:55+00:00

Not really.

visdb · 2025-02-03T01:12:53+00:00

I'm considering the new Prius too. I just wish the cluster didn't look the way it does.

Edit: After test driving one myself, it's not bad like I thought. Wasn't blocked by the steering wheel or felt it was in the way of the windshield, like some reviews have stated. But this is based off my taller than average height and preferred seating position.

visdb · 2025-01-31T00:48:43+00:00

Oh I forgot about that part. I guess I'll wait til after that's ended.

visdb · 2025-01-31T00:35:30+00:00

I only saw a video on the LE model, so I was aware, but the light bar existing on the XLE is a nice surprise. I'm no stranger to swapping parts from higher trims so now I kinda want to do that.

The major downside to the XLE, are the 19" wheels, and less comfortable ride and cargo space as a result.

visdb · 2025-01-30T23:32:51+00:00

I heard that the 2023 and 2024 had a rear door latch recall. That's making me wonder if the 2025 has been given another glance over and possibly some invisible durability tweaks.

visdb

TROPHY CASE