Hey, just wondering if any one else gets really steamy windows when using the app to start your car when it’s below 5 degrees Celsius and raining, or the day after it rains. I assume it’s specific to the NX with the heat pump system.

I've had this problem since the car was new. I noticed today the car puts the climate system in recirculate automatically, then turns its off once you open the doors. Then it’ll start defogging the glass.

any suggestions? There’s no setting in the app to turn off recirculate.

 

I haven't tried to resolve this issue, but I have also seen it on our 2022 Prius Prime when I use Remote Connect to pre-heat the vehicle before leaving work. Same situation: the heat pump runs to heat the interior but apparently the settings used causes the windows to hopelessly fog up

 

Try using the Climate option in the app instead of remote start to precondition your car. Also make sure that defrost is selected in default climate settings and also the scheduled climate conditions.

 

Does the gas engine turn on if you have the defrost on?

 

The gas engine does not start with Lexus NX450h+ plugged in and running Climate mode with the Lexus app.

 

I believe this is a common problem with Toyota/Lexus design. For some reason, the designers heavily favor recirc, which can lead to moisture buildup in the cabin. It has also been a common refrain in the ES and RX subforum. The more frequent complaint is a buildup of a moldy odor, to the point some owners switch to fresh air a few minutes before shutting the car off - especially in the summer and in higher humidity regions. This seems like a similar design challenge and I think Castrum has some good ideas. I wish I had something encouraging (useful) to offer, but I don’t. Fortunately, I live in a very arid climate and rarely experience this particular challenge.

 

This year I noticed some changes. When remote start from the app is engaged, the front defroster turns off as
soon as you open the door. Also I have noticed back passenger windows foggy on the passenger side. So, recently, I set the temp to highest heat level to see if that helps. When I engage front defrost, hybrid mode engages. I have not noticed the engine running when my car is plugged in and remote start is engaged. I only notice it when it is not plugged in that hybrid mode engages.

 

Another unwanted consequence of the steamy NX windows is that over time the inside of the windscreen becomes really grubby. I've never had to continually clean the inside of the windscreen as often as I've had to in the NX.
The only solution appears to be to use the AC option a lot more.

 

I've not had really any trouble with inside windows. I shut off automatic recirc mode in vehicle settings and leave the car on fresh air setting 99.9% of the time. The only time I use recirc is if I'm stuck behind a diesel or oil burner (or the rare carbureted car).

 

Front windshield goes foggy with newer cars as all the plastic in the dash material 'off gases' their oils. The residue collects on the windshield rather quickly and I usually need to clean it 2-3 times a year in the first 3 years then it drops off and not as much, my '22 I cleaned just once this year in '25 and now in December it's doing ok. I'll probably have to clean in March maybe, although I only drive around 15kms a year presently.

Please everyone be very careful not to scratch your very poorly produced soft touch dash surface!! It scratches even with a soft cloth and a little elbow grease!