GX550: Moisture in doors? Anyone else seeing this issue? (4 Viewers)

[lowrange44]

vraa, thanks for posting these details

 

[vraa]

vraa, thanks for posting these details

Hopefully it will avoid someone being charged ~300$ for a useless "a/c refresh"

 

[jedyxu]

Not sure if this will fix this issue or not, but the lexus tech seemed pretty confident he located the smell and it was same spot on other 550’s he’s already replaced. Maybe smell this part of your door after your next rain or wash, after it has sat wet for 12 hours. Photo of moulding part dealer replaced is below.

Will post plastic trim piece separately

could you show a closer picture of the molding? Did they replace the porous weatherstrip that contacts the window or the the belt that holds the weatherstrip?

 

[jedyxu]

Hopefully it will avoid someone being charged ~300$ for a useless "a/c refresh"

Did that fix it for you? is the mildew smell gone?

 

[vraa]

yes

 

[jedyxu]

yes

My life has been plagued by the smell. It will be super cool if you could take some close up pics of the molding that they replaced? Did they replace the weatherstrip too?

 

[vraa]

My life has been plagued by the smell. It will be super cool if you could take some close up pics of the molding that they replaced? Did they replace the weatherstrip too?

i must admit, i have no idea what part they actually replaced

 

[vraa]

D# 5 29LEZ ACCESSORIES ONE TECH(S) :9233 WARRANTY
CS THERE IS A ODD SMELL COMING FROM THE CABIN LIKE WATER
SITING. OVER A LONG TIME. PLEASE INSPECT AC DRAINS AND
ADVISE.
VERIFIED MUSTY MILDEW SMELL COMING FROM WINDOW BELT MOLDING
CAUSED BY, DEROGATION OF MATERIAL USED FROM FACTORY/
SUPPLIER
REPLACED WITH NEW UNITS, LEXUS IS AWARE OF ISSUE AND WORKING
ON UPDATED PARTS.
PERFORMED WATER PRESSURE LEAK TESTING ON WINDOWS, SUN ROOF
AND W/S FOUND NO WATER INTRUSION, FOUND THAT SMELL WAS
COMING FROM WINDOW BELT MOLDINGS.
REPLACED ALL MOLDINGS, OPC 671991 2.0HRS T1-66 T2-99
PARTS------ QTY---FP-NUMBER- -------------- DESCRIPTION-------------------- UNIT PRICE- ae
DOB # 5 1 75712-60100 MOULDING, FR DOOR WARRANTY —
DOB # 5 1 75711-60100 MOULDING, FR DOOR WARRANTY _——
DOB # 5 1 75722-60140 MOULDING, RR DOOR WARRANTY =
DOB # 5 1 75721-60140 MOULDING, RR DOOR WARRANTY 4
JOB # 5 TOTAL PARTS 0.00 —
JOB # 5 TOTAL LABOR & PARTS 0.00

 

[jedyxu]

D# 5 29LEZ ACCESSORIES ONE TECH(S) :9233 WARRANTY
CS THERE IS A ODD SMELL COMING FROM THE CABIN LIKE WATER
SITING. OVER A LONG TIME. PLEASE INSPECT AC DRAINS AND
ADVISE.
VERIFIED MUSTY MILDEW SMELL COMING FROM WINDOW BELT MOLDING
CAUSED BY, DEROGATION OF MATERIAL USED FROM FACTORY/
SUPPLIER
REPLACED WITH NEW UNITS, LEXUS IS AWARE OF ISSUE AND WORKING
ON UPDATED PARTS.
PERFORMED WATER PRESSURE LEAK TESTING ON WINDOWS, SUN ROOF
AND W/S FOUND NO WATER INTRUSION, FOUND THAT SMELL WAS
COMING FROM WINDOW BELT MOLDINGS.
REPLACED ALL MOLDINGS, OPC 671991 2.0HRS T1-66 T2-99
PARTS------ QTY---FP-NUMBER- -------------- DESCRIPTION-------------------- UNIT PRICE- ae
DOB # 5 1 75712-60100 MOULDING, FR DOOR WARRANTY —
DOB # 5 1 75711-60100 MOULDING, FR DOOR WARRANTY _——
DOB # 5 1 75722-60140 MOULDING, RR DOOR WARRANTY =
DOB # 5 1 75721-60140 MOULDING, RR DOOR WARRANTY 4
JOB # 5 TOTAL PARTS 0.00 —
JOB # 5 TOTAL LABOR & PARTS 0.00

Very cool. Do you still notice water streak when you roll the windows up and down after a wash or rain?

 

[vraa]

i dont recall ever having a water streak before or after, also my windows are tinted.

 

[rcnccc]

Very cool. Do you still notice water streak when you roll the windows up and down after a wash or rain?

I noticed this the other day. It had rained the day before. 24 hours later I rolled the windows down then up and found water. Is this a sign of a bad weather strip?

 

[Matthew@LC250Mods]

Michael T is correct: this is a widespread issue on the LC and GX up to mid-2025. The later builds seem to have the revised part numbers from new:

The Fix

 

[tackGX]

Michael T is correct: this is a widespread issue on the LC and GX up to mid-2025. The later builds seem to have the revised part numbers from new:

The Fix

 

[tackGX]

Having been down the road (and starting this thread) -- this is a great post/validation and solution of the issue. Thanks.

 

[Error504]

Has anyone had any luck getting this fixed at any dealers around Virginia/maryland?

 

[trub805]

I have been having a similar smell issue that is driving me nuts, but I seem to be hitting dead ends, so interested in anyone's thoughts or input here.

I have a 2025 GX 550, brand new in Nov'25. The smell issue started in Jun'26 and is similar to the descriptions in this thread - mildewy, almost farm-like, faint, seems to be present throughout the entire cabin and not localized, and is present even before the car is turned on.

After reading this thread I thought for sure it was the door molding issue. I wash frequently, often with the hand spray wands, which also matched some of the patterns described here. So I had the dealer inspect it and they of course said everything was fine: "NO ABNORMAL ODORS SMELLED IN THE VEHICLE. CONFIRMED WITH THE DIAGNOSTIC SPECIALIST THAT THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF WATER INTRUSION. DOOR DRAINS ARE CLEAR AND DRAINING PROPERLY. NO REPAIRS RECOMMENDED. SYSTEM OPERATING WITHOUT FAULT OR DEFECT." (Also as a side note, for whatever reason, the few days I took it to the dealer of course just happened to be the few days where I noticed the smell the least.) Since then it's still clearly there.

I've also tried to inspect myself the strips at the tops of the doors where the windows slide down and they look to me to be more of a rubber blade and not some foam piece. Wondering if my model actually had the newer parts installed from the factory (I saw mention above in the thread that they were maybe starting to replace them in production.) I've also tried to smell around these areas and don't notice anything at all... it's more omnipresent throughout the cabin.

But if it's not the door issue, what the hell else could it be? I've been down multiple Chat GPT rabbit holes suggesting water intrusion into the foam padding under the carpets and to have the dealer do a moisture test, but I just can't imagine that could be plausible. We keep everything inside pretty clean.

Any thoughts appreciated! Thanks.

 

[Matthew@LC250Mods]

I have been having a similar smell issue that is driving me nuts, but I seem to be hitting dead ends, so interested in anyone's thoughts or input here.

I have a 2025 GX 550, brand new in Nov'25. The smell issue started in Jun'26 and is similar to the descriptions in this thread - mildewy, almost farm-like, faint, seems to be present throughout the entire cabin and not localized, and is present even before the car is turned on.

After reading this thread I thought for sure it was the door molding issue. I wash frequently, often with the hand spray wands, which also matched some of the patterns described here. So I had the dealer inspect it and they of course said everything was fine: "NO ABNORMAL ODORS SMELLED IN THE VEHICLE. CONFIRMED WITH THE DIAGNOSTIC SPECIALIST THAT THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF WATER INTRUSION. DOOR DRAINS ARE CLEAR AND DRAINING PROPERLY. NO REPAIRS RECOMMENDED. SYSTEM OPERATING WITHOUT FAULT OR DEFECT." (Also as a side note, for whatever reason, the few days I took it to the dealer of course just happened to be the few days where I noticed the smell the least.) Since then it's still clearly there.

I've also tried to inspect myself the strips at the tops of the doors where the windows slide down and they look to me to be more of a rubber blade and not some foam piece. Wondering if my model actually had the newer parts installed from the factory (I saw mention above in the thread that they were maybe starting to replace them in production.) I've also tried to smell around these areas and don't notice anything at all... it's more omnipresent throughout the cabin.

But if it's not the door issue, what the hell else could it be? I've been down multiple Chat GPT rabbit holes suggesting water intrusion into the foam padding under the carpets and to have the dealer do a moisture test, but I just can't imagine that could be plausible. We keep everything inside pretty clean.

Any thoughts appreciated! Thanks.

Sorry to hear this. Being a November 25 build that should almost certainly have the new door seals. If you aren't smelling it there and it seems like a rubber blade, I agree that is not the source.

Is your headliner ever moist? Carpet near the kick panels? A few Land Cruiser guys had issues with a moist headliner (not localized spots, just moist all over) and some even growing green algea/mold on them.

I would verify yourself that the sunroof drains are present and draining properly. Some very early LC250's came with their drains not attached at all.

To do this, open your sunroof and point the vehicle facing slightly nose down. Take a water bottle and pour water into the channel. You'll see a small hole at each of the front corners where the water should drain. Let it build up a little in the channel and watch it drain. It should go down rapidly with a little gurgle noise. Then go to the bottom of the vehicle and confirm it's quickly draining outside (behind the front wheels). Do this on each side.

Then turn the vehicle around so it's facing slightly nose up, and do the same for the rears. I'm not sure if you can see the rear drains on the GX, but pour it in the channel and it will drain if working properly. This should drain out back. Do this a few times to make sure it's evacuating quickly.

If any drain is slow, get some weed eater line and gently push it through while slightly agitating (push and pull) until the line comes out the bottom. Work it back and forth until it's cleared.

If all drains are clear, check if you have the little rubber drain plugs in the bottom of your doors. I would remove them if you do. Almost no other car has these and they don't really allow any water entering the door to drain.

If this doesn't do it, the last thing would be checking that your AC evaporator drain is clear. Run the AC on a hot day and make sure you're getting the typical drip under the front of the truck between the wheels. If not, it could be backed up and slowly draining into the cabin.

If it's none of these, time to drop the headliner.

 

[trub805]

Sorry to hear this. Being a November 25 build that should almost certainly have the new door seals. If you aren't smelling it there and it seems like a rubber blade, I agree that is not the source.

Is your headliner ever moist? Carpet near the kick panels? A few Land Cruiser guys had issues with a moist headliner (not localized spots, just moist all over) and some even growing green algea/mold on them.

I would verify yourself that the sunroof drains are present and draining properly. Some very early LC250's came with their drains not attached at all.

To do this, open your sunroof and point the vehicle facing slightly nose down. Take a water bottle and pour water into the channel. You'll see a small hole at each of the front corners where the water should drain. Let it build up a little in the channel and watch it drain. It should go down rapidly with a little gurgle noise. Then go to the bottom of the vehicle and confirm it's quickly draining outside (behind the front wheels). Do this on each side.

Then turn the vehicle around so it's facing slightly nose up, and do the same for the rears. I'm not sure if you can see the rear drains on the GX, but pour it in the channel and it will drain if working properly. This should drain out back. Do this a few times to make sure it's evacuating quickly.

If any drain is slow, get some weed eater line and gently push it through while slightly agitating (push and pull) until the line comes out the bottom. Work it back and forth until it's cleared.

If all drains are clear, check if you have the little rubber drain plugs in the bottom of your doors. I would remove them if you do. Almost no other car has these and they don't really allow any water entering the door to drain.

If this doesn't do it, the last thing would be checking that your AC evaporator drain is clear. Run the AC on a hot day and make sure you're getting the typical drip under the front of the truck between the wheels. If not, it could be backed up and slowly draining into the cabin.

If it's none of these, time to drop the headliner.

Thanks so much for the reply and thoughts. One additional detail: I have the Luxury trim which has the dynamic sky fixed panoramic sunroof. So I’m assuming the points on checking the sunroof drains don’t apply?

 

[munkeeboi]

I just brought mine to the dealership for the same moldy issues and is now being diagnosed. I showed them the previous part numbers replaced, but they dismissed it as they need to do their own investigation of the issue.

Should know more by this afternoon or tomorrow....Driving the new Electric ES350 in the meantime.