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Anybody noticing a plastic / chemical / windex smell after new car smell goes away?

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by aunsafe2015, Jun 21, 2021.

  1. aunsafe2015

    aunsafe2015 New Member

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    I've experienced this smell issue in both a Prius Prime and a Rav4 Prime, so I'm curious if perhaps it is a "feature" of Toyota's plug-in hybrids. For both cars, smell started after a few months and a few thousand miles on the odometer and has continued for a few months now without much change. New car smell was mostly gone by the time this new smell started. When we get in the car in the morning, there's a pretty noticeable and distinct smell kind of like strong plastic or windex. Usually seems to dissipate after a few minutes of running the A/C (bringing in outside air). Never caused a headache or anything, but just kind of an annoying smell to be hit by every time you get in the car. The smell is present regardless of whether the vehicle was recently charged or not. Both the Prius Prime and Rav4 Prime are parked in a garage, not exposed to sun or extreme heat.

    Anybody else notice anything similar re the smell?
     
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Are you running the AC pretty much all the time? Humidity tends to accumulate inside the dash unit (similar to a glass of ice water on a hot day), collects pollen/dust, and can get moldy. To avoid this it's good practice to shut off AC a mile or so before your destination. Which is a pain I appreciate. There's also chemicals that can be shot in, through the AC water drain IIRC, to knock down the mold, if that's the problem.
     
  3. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Do they both have the same seating material? If Softex, are these the first cars you've had with it?
     
  4. PiPLosAngeles

    PiPLosAngeles Senior Member

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    I notice it in my 2021 Prime, but did not notice it in my 2018. Since it is only 3 months old I'm just assuming it's a new adhesive or plastic component offgassing. I practice shutting of the A/C compressor and running the fan on high for the last 5 minutes of driving as a habit, so I don't think it's that.
     
    aunsafe2015 and Mendel Leisk like this.
  5. aunsafe2015

    aunsafe2015 New Member

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    The A/c is on pretty much all the time. Smell is definitely not a moldy, mildewy smell though. It's a distinct plastic or chemical smell. Could that be caused by a/c moisture?
     
  6. aunsafe2015

    aunsafe2015 New Member

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    Both have same seating, yes, but it's the cloth/fabric seating (R4P is an SE; Prius Prime is an LE).
     
  7. aunsafe2015

    aunsafe2015 New Member

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    Thanks for weighing in. Glad to know, at least, that I'm not alone in smelling this.
     
  8. PiPLosAngeles

    PiPLosAngeles Senior Member

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    It has a distinct urea/formaldehyde note to the smell. That's why I suspect it's some of the plastics/foam in the car.