3rd Generation Tacomas will eventually smell like old socks

I am hoping someone can please help me, i have a 2016 early model Tacoma and this problem is getting worse and worse every year. Actually, i dont think there is a solution to this problem, i believe Toyota made a major design error in this truck. Basically the truck smells like an old sock when the fall hits and it starts to rain here. Perhaps i have a leak in the roof of my truck, but it cant yet be found.
In the fall when the temp is a little cooler and there are rains here in CA this problem starts and does not start to clear up till spring temperatures rise enough to keep the dew point for water condensation much higher.
I have looked at many cars and truck in my neighborhood at night and my tacoma and a few old trucks are the only ones that have this problem. the problem is the wind shield on my truck collects condensed water not only on the outside (all the cars collect dew on the outside), but my tacoma collects major amounts of water on the inside of the windshield and the outside of the windshield. This water inside the cab is causing mold and smell, and i have tried removing the water at 8 pm and again at 11 pm but by morning there is more.
A friend told me that his Tundra when it shuts off opens the outside air vent. I believe the tacoma must be doing the same thing. Then the outside air vents in and eventually collects on the coldest surfaces (aka the windows) where the dew point occurs. I did see a tacoma in the neighborhood that was a 2020 or perhaps 2019 and it did not have internal window condensation.

Has anyone else with older 2016's found a solution to keeping their truck from smelling like old socks. Please dont tell me to change the cabin air filter, i tried that first and on more than one occasion, it has nothing to do with the cause of the problem. Sure the carbon prefilter ones can slowly slightly help the mold smell but changing this filter is not the source of my problem.

hoping someone else out there has solved this issue, i cant keep the truck if it is going to have this issue. thanks so very much for any input you guys have,

 

Part out.

 

If there is condensation on the inside, there has to be moisture getting in somewhere. Knowing that there have been issues with leakage through the 3rd brake light, have you ruled that out?

Does the truck have a roof rack? that can be a source of water entry as well. Even if it doesn't have one, lift the roof channel weather stripping and confirm the mounting holes are covered (there should be body-colored tape covering the holes).

 

Most common is the 3rd brake light. If you have a sun roof, clogged drains or leaking from roof rack mounts. Had anything replaced in the trucks lifetime like the windshield?

Once you get the leak fixed, good carpet shampoo and dry, then ozone generator to eliminate the odor. May need to replace the carpet if the leaks been ongoing.

 

Also check drains, under wiper cowl. If they are clogged, it will leak into cab.

 

don't use the recirculate button

 

All depends on what the sock was used for

 

Why not?

 

clean fresh air will sanitize the duct work and CAF bacteria

 

It depends where you live, outside air temps, humidity, etc.

Nothing like driving around in the city sucking in diesel fumes, pollen, spores, and covid 19.

But you do you.

 

we scare cause we care

 

clear drain holes/hoses for sunroof if equipped, cowl, CHANGE YOUR CABIN AIR FILTER, check the third brake light for leaks, and reseal. Viola, problem addressed, problem solved. Ski

 

Yeah, I hear a bunch of people got COVID from driving with their windows down.

You realize the irony? We live in a world of polluted air, and you think it’s less polluted because you recirculate the same polluted air around a car instead of pulling in polluted air from the outside continuously?

If it wasn’t so sad it would be amusing. Make sure you stay inside and lock your doors bro.

 

Mine does this. I usually run the heat all the time to dry up the moisture and kill off the musty smell.

 

Try a rental ozone generator. It will help. Kills bacteria, and mold. Not saying it won't come back but it will get rid of the smell.
Before shut off switch to recirculation on the hvac system. That close the outside air vent in the dash/cowl. Maybe it stays closed maybe it doesn't but try it and see if there is any change. I live in extremely humid, large temp swings Kentucky and this is not happening to me. Maybe you have a leak.

 

You have a leak somewhere. Windshield seal etc.

 

You realize I threw that in there just for fun, right? I guess we need a font to denote idiocy starts here -> or something. Sheesh. Have a drink or something already.

 

Check the AC drain. Passenger side firewall towards the bottom on the engine bay side. After mine started draining again the smell went away.

 

easy fix. Just get a dog. They'll overpower the old sock smell.