I try and turn off the ac about a mile or so from my destination so it has time for the blower to dry the system out. I don't have the smell.

 

The issue is that it will happen while driving at random and most definitely when I turn on air recirculation.

 

I've had that smell happen a few times also. One of the items on the list when I drop it off at the dealer Thursday for several items.

 

Maybe check the AC drain lines. I know someone who had the same issue (not a D). Rancid odor because of stagnated water since line was clogged, kinked, or dysfunctional for some reason.

 

While I haven't had this issue with my D, I have had it with every G35/37 I've ever owned. Only way I have been able to get rid of it is to keep the recirculate button on. It eventuality dries out the ducts, as you aren't pulling in fresh humid air. It took a few weeks, but I finally got rid of it, or at least most of it. Can't say if this will work in the D, but maybe give it a shot....

 

Does the Durango allow you keep recirc on all the time? I thought I read on here that it comes off recirc by itself??

 

I have had that issue with my previous car 2012 Volt. It was actually pretty bad I thought and I noticed the and same thing on Durango but not as bad.

 

I think as long as the air is coming out of the dash vents it will stay on recirc. If you switch air to come out of the windshield vents recirc will shut off. for defrost to work the system needs outside air

 

my 14 R/T has this smell to, I thought I was crazy until I read this here. where are the drains so I can try to clean them out or check them?

 

My '13 Durango had this so often my wife and I had an acronym for it... DSAC... Dirty Socks Air Conditioning. I was hoping I wouldn't have this problem in the '14 but it sounds like I will

The way I resolved it was to put the AC on so it would draw in fresh air, then spray Lysol into the air input, which is directly under the passenger side windshield wiper. You have to make sure it's set to draw in fresh air, or this will not work.

Since Lysol actually kills germs/bacteria this doesn't just mask the smell, it will kill the bacteria that is making the smell.

I had to do it maybe once every 2 months or so...

 

Yup, just did the same with Lysol and the smell is gone. Sounds like something I will need to do regularly to prevent the dirty sock smell.

 

I have a 2014 Durango Citadel that has the musty smell as well. Mine started with only about 4000 miles on it. I took it to the dealer and they did a antifungal/antibacterial treatment on the ac system. It only helped for about 2 weeks. The smell returned the first time it rained. For my Durango the smell happens when it is raining and it happens with the heater on as well. So I do not think this is only an AC problem. I have also tried Lysol in the fresh air intake just below the passenger side of the front windshield. That hides it for the day but that is about all, the next time it rains the smell is back. I also had a 1st Gen 99' Durango. It did the same dang smell but it didn't start until it was 10 years old. I figured Dodge had 15 years to fix the problem and took a chance and bought the 14'. I am wishing I had not now. I love everything else about my Durango. Not sure how long I can put up with this smell. The dealer has told me the smell is a "maintenance issue and I should do the antifungal treatment every time I have an oil change". I do not agree that this is a maintenance issue. Dodge vehicles of all kinds have this problem and Dodge needs to find a better solution. For the smell to happen every time it rains I would think water is getting somewhere and activating some kind of mold.

 

IMHO I don't think it is a vehicle problem, haven't been many complaints of it here or on the GC side.. You may have gotten something in your evaporator housing (pollen etc) that got glued in place by condensation and needs to get cleaned out... with something like frigiclean..

 

im suprised there is no mention of changing the cabin air filter to try and remedy this problem, most evaporators these days are treated with biocide to prevent anything from growing in there, but with the location of the cabin air filter its very possible for it to be a source of the issue. I would try changing that.

 

I agree, if i was experiencing any cabin smell I would be changing interior filter. I run mine almost Always on recirculate.

 

Same story here. Hit the recirc and within 10 seconds it smells foul. Haven't tried anything to remedy it, but I may try the Lysol route initially.

 

I have the same smell in my '14 SXT. In my '02 Chevy Trailblazer, to get rid of the smell, the dealer under warranty was able to put in something that would turn on the recirculating air fan about every 20 minutes for about a minute or less while it was off. It never kicked on while driving. You would be standing by the TB with it off and all of the sudden hear a loud fan roar and then it would turn off. Never seemed to hurt the battery as it lasted 4-5 years and I had the TB for 12 years. It got rid of the smell.

 

I get the same smell also, I will try the Lysol thing and see if it helps.

 

Yup, I need to try this. I was wondering why it smelled so early in the cars age. Thought I was going insane.

 

Maybe you need to look under the seats for a "Hidden" surprise....:-?

 

Sorry to bring up an old subject but just got this musty smell in my '15 SXT with 4400 miles on it. Its there only when the Recirc button is pressed like all of you are saying. Did anyone who took it into the service center get it diagnosed or are we all just going to have to Lysol it every once and a while? Am I breathing in mold?

 

One thing I have always done with my vehicles is turn the a/c off and let the car blow fresh air for a minute or so before I shut the car off. One of my mechanic friends suggested it and it seems to work as I have not noticed a prolonged smell. I do sometimes get a short blast of musty air if I restart the a/c after a short time of the vehicle being off but nothing bad. This may help with prolonging the a/c compressor as well as it would not be engaged on start up so in theory it may not wear the a/c compressor clutch as fast. I cant prove that though just seems logical.

 

This isn't a Durango thing, it's an automobile thing. My VWs have always suffered from this, but never 6 months into ownership like my Durango did.

 

Happened on many of my vehicles. Change your cabin filter and spray lysol into every air crevice you can. The intake under your wipers will need to be on full blast when you spray from the outside. It will diminish, but will creep back up from time to time during the summer.

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