ok, this is one of the things driving me nuts in the few months since I bought my IS250. The way I use my cars is I use fresh air always unless I want to cool quickly or block the exhaust from outside.

On my IS and an RX350 and ES350 I had as loaners from the dealer, it seems that it almost always switches to recirculation air.

BUT there is a solution for it, and the dealer can make it happen. Under the customization settings available to them, more exactly under the Air Conditioner section, the AIR INLET MODE has to be changed from Auto (default) to Manual.

I had it done today on my IS250 and it stays the way you select it regardless of the temperature or other conditions. So yes, there is a fix, it would probably cost 1/2h labour at the dealer.

I have attached the available settings. The ones in blue are available to the end user.

So good bye hitting that button every time!!! I won't miss it a bit

 

nice find. I need to have this done. I hate that it defaults to re-circ.

 

A week into it and i can confirm this is a permanent fix.