Well hope you get the specific answer you are looking for. Your post did not say initially of YOUR circumstance and was a "tag on" to an existing thread by another poster.
Congrats. to you also for "surviving" nearly a quarter century driving in Cali., I have only been driving since the MID '70's!


By now knowing how the system is supposed to work, would it be a far stretch to consider that the humidity sensor may be way out of calibration and to pursue dealer investigation along that line, if the majority of your driving is at temps above 60*f?

 

Has anyone been able to get this setting changed/defeated? I do not want the car to auto change the settings.

I sit in a lot of traffic everyday, and do not want to have to smell smog/gas/diesel/etc.

 

In southern Cali.? Did you read post #7

 

KInetics - see cechin's post above.

And here is why this doesn't happen to me in hot Florida! It's almost always above 60 F down here.

If the system detects lower ambient temperature (about 60°F or below), the anti-condensation logic may automatically set the air intake mode to FRESH, depending on the other HVAC settings.

 

I wish it did not do this function either. I drive in traffic a lot, and I don't know how breathing in exhaust fumes is better than some increased CO2.

Anyone have any luck figuring out a way to disable this "feature"?

 

Cool info. Looks like even my 14' Mazda6 does that!

 

I think the dealer can disable the functionality....

May 1, 2017 MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATION NUMBER: PS498
Components: EQUIPMENT, VISIBILITY
NHTSA ID Number: 10109858

Manufacturer Communication Number: PS498

Summary

PITSTOP: ANTI-CONDENSATION LOGIC ? NORMAL OPERATION, DISABLING, AND ENABLING - Some Kia vehicles starting with 2016MY and all Kia vehicles, after and including 2017MY, incorporate an anti-condensation logic to prevent the interior windows from becoming excessively fogged. The HVAC control head in these vehicles monitors ambient temperature to determine which settings will best prevent the windows from fogging.

If the system detects lower ambient temperature (about 60°F or below), the anti-condensation logic may automatically set the air intake mode to FRESH, depending on the other HVAC settings.

The anti-condensation logic is also designed to ensure that air intake mode is set to FRESH, as long as all conditions are met. If the user changes the air intake to RECIRCULATION, the anti-condensation logic will take control again after 5 minutes, and change the air intake mode back to FRESH. If this results in an undesired operation, the logic may be enabled or disabled by following the procedure below.

12 Affected Products
Vehicles
MAKE MODEL YEAR

KIA CADENZA 2017
KIA FORTE 2017
KIA K900 2017
KIA NIRO HYBRID 2017
KIA OPTIMA 2017
KIA RIO 2016
KIA SEDONA 2016-2017
KIA SORENTO 2016-2017
KIA SOUL 2017
KIA SPORTAGE 2017
Request Research (Services fees apply)

 

Seems like a bad feature. I'd rather inhale some CO2s than stinky gas from the garbage truck in front of me

Anyone know if this feature is unique to SX trim? I hope I don;t have this with my LX climate control...hasn't happened to me.

 

I have had this happen several times with the auto climate control in my LX. It also will not allow me to select recirculate if it detects too much humidity. Does your LX have auto climate or manual? Mine has the LX convenience package which includes the auto climate.

 

Didn't realize that this 2015 Hyundai Genesis feature had reached the Kia Sorento line. That would be good news.

For the Hyundai Genesis, levels above 2500 parts per million trigger the opening of the outside air vent.
I suppose it's the same for these vehicles.

 

It’s the auto climate control wanting fresh air. It detects increased CO2 in cabin