MD_Fusion_Lover

Seriously? The fix didn't work? Haven't taken mine in yet for the 13B18 fix yet since I spent so much time at my dealership with my 2013 POS. Guess I'll wait some more.

I got this letter BEFORE I got my replacement vehicle! Way to go Ford! For forum search purposes, it's Customer Satisfaction Program Number 13B18. Seriously Ford, couldn't you just make this fix BEFORE I took delivery of the vehicle? Nothing like going through the BBB resolution process with a car full of issues only to get a new one that already has an issue (small, but still an issue) from MILE ONE?

My cabin air filter was checked during the THIRD service appointment to try to isolate the problem. Apparently there were no problems found with it and the smell returned and continued to exist.

Ugh.....more: http://www.fordfusionclub.com/showthread.php?t=538842

Hybridbear --- Thanks for providing the information about the BBB. Who'd have thought to read the owner's manual for something like this?!?!?! ;) I submitted my case information on-line last night and my formal documentation by mail today. I have been dealing with this problem since early September and my car has been at the dealership since 9 October with no firm return date in sight. Again, the dealership and the Ford Customer Relationship folks have been helpful, but the defect and SMELL continued up until this 4th Service appointment. I would encourage everyone/anyone with this problem to start formally documenting it with Ford, their local consumer protection entity, as well as the BBB if a resolution is not being found by the Ford Engineers. I had hoped Riggo's repair would have solved this horrible problem, but it appears it did not. :( Will post updates....if I ever have updates.

This sounds promising! :) (Mine is back at the dealership as of this afternoon.)

Right there with you Riggo! I will not spray Lysol, try to remember what setting to leave the car in during or after operation, or continue to take mine in for a weekly detox. These are what I call workarounds and do NOT address the root cause of where the mildew/mold is forming or more importantly WHY! I heard back from the Ford CSM today. Basically, no known problems so take it back to the dealer so they can try again. The smell gets stronger by the day. I have asked for an appointment for this Wednesday with the conditions I wrote about above and am waiting to hear back from the dealership. This will be my fourth service appointment for this specific problem and will also be notifying Ford and the MD Consumer Protection Division about the repeated, unsuccessful attempts to resolve this problem. I can not pretend to love this car anymore, it has become a car I despise getting into.

Here's a picture of how mine drains. Two puddles on either side of a pan or shield somewhat underneath of the center console. Pic taken from the driver's side.

Different day, same smell. I opened a case with Ford yesterday and was contacted by the Regional Customer Service Rep this morning. I made it clear that I am not dissatisified with my dealership and that I believe there is a larger problem, possibly a defect given the number of us reporting this issue. I expressed concern that the source of the water/mildew was not found and she is going back over my records to work with Ford Technical to see what can be done next. As far as the next service call, they WILL NOT get my car until they provide me with an advance written troubleshooting plan and provide proof thereafter that they found the source, and repaired the problem. I'm one step away from starting down the lemon law path at this point and will reluctantly part with the ~$600 bucks for the air quality test. With 86 degrees for a high temp today, that A/C ought to put out a significant amount of condensation. I will leave it running to confirm that it is in fact still draining and report my findings.

The smell has returned....

OMG! The babies are so cute....gimme my musk spores back Ford! :hysterical:

GrySql -- I appreciate your taking the time to look over the invoice. I too came up with the evaporator in my search and maybe wrongly *assumed* they replaced it. I just thought it was an odd sequence of events. Musk spores? I couldn't even begin to guess what they were either but hope they don't start to germinate or reproduce further in the cooling system!!! No clue on what the smell coming out of the vents is but I hope it goes away soon. Today (since it was warmer) it seemed to have a hint of mustiness to it at start-up that went away within 10 seconds. Will keep the max a/c with recirc running to see if the moisture somehow returns. Seeing that there are still others battling this problem, I hope one of us is successful in identifying the true cause. For other posters that have asked, my car has a noticeable amount of water draining below the passenger front side. Believe it was doing this before the latest service call but not 100% certain. Also, it appears that my car was built on 8 or 9 May 13. Still hopeful that the problem is gone, but the warmer weather and humidity returns this week and only time will tell...

Can you see it now? My apologies, had issues uploading.

Hopefully this works:

Service appointment results from Friday: The mildew smell is gone! It has been replaced with an OVERWHELMING deodorizer smell that reminds me of industrial liquid floor wax, but do not even have a hint of mustiness at start-up. Better, I think?! Will try to condense the days events to avoid the TL;DR post.... My service advisor called to let me know they were done. He advised that they dropped everything down that Ford wanted inspected. He didn't smell anything while they were doing this. They checked the cabin air filter. It was clean, with no moisture found. He noted that they only sprayed into the vents previously, but this time they wiped them out and sprayed deodorizer in all areas. He advised it had a heavy smell of the deodorizer and would let it run for a while before I pick it up. They checked any place that water could be trapped, but found no sign. Not happy that the mold/mildew source was still a mystery I picked it up with the same apprehension as the last two times. I rode with the widows down and the A/C on full blast to try to get rid of the deodorizer smell. It is still very strong two days later. So, I will now use the system regularly to see how it goes. I notice that I am no longer getting a stuffy head/nose in the car-----progress?!? But one thing about this recent service appointment bugs me. This time I signed two N/C invoices. One for the dealership and one for Ford. When I got home I noticed something different on this one with regard to a part number and an authorization code. As soon as I can figure out how to upload the invoice I will share. I googled the part number thinking it was for the deodorizer (to find out what the heck it was and how to possibly neutralize it) and was very perplexed. I'll save you all from my conspiracy theory, but just want to share information if it helps others resolve their problem. So for now, I still get that uneasy feeling when turning on the A/C, but am hoping for the best. My dealership and the service folks were really wonderful to deal with and I wouldn't hesitate to go back there for any reason. I highly recommend them and will share the name via PM. I truly hope I don't have to see them again until my next oil change. Will check back in if anything changes.

Sitting in the service lane waiting to turn my car in for the third time. Purposely ran the a/c for the last two days and the smell is still very strong and very noticeable as I sit with the car off. Agree that this problem is definitely humidity related. As always, will share the outcome of my appointment today.

As I wait patiently for my dealership service department to get back to me today, as promised, I will share the details of my ordeal of yesterday. Dropped my car off at 0700L as suggested to have the water leak specialist take a look at it--even placed a sticky note on the dash to ensure my concerns were very well known. Arrived at work two hours later than normal as I used their courtesy shuttle to get there. Received a voicemail around 1615L saying "we're all done with your car" you can come pick it up. I won't go into detail about my husband having to waste an hour at Bass Pro Outdoor World or the comments he made about a Chevy dropping me off to pick up a broke Ford, yeah, not nice. This time the service invoice said "Customer concern verified by <name withheld> in service lane. Per Ford-No special services or technical service bulletins on this concern. Deodorized vents and rechecked-smells OJK (sic) at this time" We discussed the work and my vehicle was brought around to the service lane. I likened the deodorizing to spraying Lysol on the carpet after a dog has an accident. Covers the smell but doesn't address the source of the problem. I truly believe there is a pool of mildewed water or a part that is saturated or perhaps a drain that is blocked. This should not be happening in brand new cars. As best I can tell, my car was assembled on either the 6, I jumped in and turned on the A/C and was overwhelmed by the horrible, flowery/citrus-y disinfectant smell which was quickly replaced by the all too familiar musty, mildew, funky wet dog smell. I circled around the dealership to find the service folks to *discuss* my concerns. I turned the heat up to 85 degrees, full blast and invited them in for a smell. Yep, you guessed it, there it was, and they acknowledged it. They asked that I give them time to discuss this with the Ford technical support/technicians and they would advise. So once again I leave with no resolution, a car with a HVAC system that I can not, will not use and an increasing frustration that I have a problem that will manifest into a serious health concern. Oh, yeah, forgot to mention that all my air vents now have a lovely oily residue on them likely from the deodorizer. So back to the lack of a TSB. I get this. If Big Ford doesn't admit or know of a problem, the dealership performs the recommended action to try to resolve the problem. But at some point, Ford Tech Support should start to develop a case history and figure out how to get to the root cause of the reported problems. I even mentioned to the dealership that there are many Fusion owners reporting similar concerns on the online forums. Not sure what good that did, but I will try anything to ensure they hear and understand my concerns. So today I gave a co-worker a ride in a hot car, with the windows down, swallowed my pride and admitted my Ford problem. How embarrassing after they had to listen to me about how great my car was.....key word....WAS! So assuming noble intent and giving Ford and my local dealership the benefit of the doubt, I will continue to try to get my problem resolved in the short term. I have already contacted a mold testing specialist to discuss a course of action if the problem continues. It will not be cheap to have the car tested (~$617.50) but it may be worth it if the problem does not get resolved to my satisfaction in a timely manner. I will also be drafting my formal letter to Ford to document my concerns, attempts to resolve the matter, and put them on notice that further futile attempts to address and resolve the matter will result in my seeking remedy under Maryland's Lemon Law. So for now I wait. And anxiously await Riggo's next service call outcome. This weekend I'll be dusting off the Mustang so I have something to drive that doesn't make me feel physically and mentally ill.

So after my service appointment this past Saturday, the resolution is.....no resolution. The comments on my invoice are " Could not duplicate customers concern" "Could not find any problems although smell is present, sugest (sic) water leak pro look at concern" The Service Advisor indicated the same when he turned back the car to me and advised to drop off my car for the day during this week when the "water leak specialist" is on duty. So the smell remains. I refuse to run my A/C, defroster, or vents for concern that the smell is a toxic mold or other allergy causing spore. I plan to drop the car off on Thursday to see what they can find. I hope to be able to share positive news later this week, or perhaps we can start a campaign in this forum to get Ford to investigate all of these smells!! :) On a happier note, even though the car still has the FUNK, I'm balancing that horror with the fun that comes with the 13B07 upgrade. Off to investigate which one of the two recent software upgrades caused my speech to text to stop working.....

As I wait for my appointment tomorrow, I continue to try to figure out where the stench is coming from. It seems that if I use the A/C with the windshield/upper & floor vents the smell is almost (totally?) unnoticeable. I left this combination on when I ran in the store and when I restarted the car, the smell was still not there. Switched to the Max A/C w/ the center vents going and there it was. So I'm thinking that the source of the musty smell has to be coming from the center dash vents as if there is a pool of mildewed water or some component that is blocked. Riggo above mentioned the wet dog smell and it is spot on! Kind of like a wet dog who rolled on a pool cover covered with green slime, wet leaves, and other horrible smelling decaying matter.