My 2009 RX 350 has interior mold that service person says was caused by parking under a tree. I did have a leak a year ago from a damaged seam on car body just below the top of rear hatch. They removed & dried out all carpet at that time and the smell went away and just reappeared after heavy rains a few weeks ago.

I'm attaching a picture of some probable water damage on left side interior between front and rear window.

I don't think this is the AC issue that others have experienced but if anyone has similar experience I'd love your help.

 

Is this the pillar with the seat belt assembly?

 

You HAVE water leak. Your post is vague in clarifying if it's same place that was fixed before, or a new one. As cars normally do not have "damaged seam", I am safe to presume it was in an accident and something cracked somewhere and was not repaired properly. Unless you and I talk different seam. Seams are in the body, seals are on doors, windows, etc. If it's a seam, it's body damage.
That piece will have to be replaced, you won't be able to clean it. It gets into upholstery and it's forever. Really, entire side has to be stripped down to the metal and leak source spotted.
There is an odd way of doing this. Turn your blower heat/AC up to the full blast. Maxx AC turns blower to the highest possible RPM. Then start spraying car on the outside with soapy water. Well, give blower some time to build air pressure inside. Where it starts bubbling, that's where your leak is. You might get lucky and spot it that way.

 

Yes, this is the pillar with seat belt assembly.

 

I haven't had an accident but the mildew a year ago was supposedly due to a damaged seam in body at top of rear hatch which was repaired and the smell went away until recently.

I think this is a different problem but the water damage on the pillar assembly seems old. Would that have most likely been from a clogged sunroof drain? My service person says the mold was introduced because I parked under a tree but I have no choice about that given where my driveway is located (unless I cut down the tree). My primary objective is to be sure the mold is gone.

Thanks for your help.

 

 

I 2nd clogged drain as well
Was not sure because of the bad pic.
I had the same issue which was causing my seat belt pillar to get wet.

 

Ahh, thank you for clearing seam situation. So which pillar is it anyway - B or C? They both have seat belts in them.

 

To be honest, I find "parked under the tree" explanation very intriguing. Did he ever elaborate how this actually works? Reminds me of my IN builder explanation of water leak in the house he built for us - winds were blowing rain UP into the roof and it leaked inside and down onto the first floor hardwood and damaged it. Sort of anti-gravity rain. Same sounds tree story.

 

It's the pillar on driver side between front and rear windows. The dealership says the sunroof drain isn't clogged. They claim that tree debris has caused the mold in my car. Is this even possible?