A/C Recirculate Mode

2014 Grand Cherokee Laredo. Wondering why the hvac acts like it is in recirculate mode with the A/C button pushed in manual mode. Have window cracked to force smoke and odors out of cabin. On vent mode it pushes air right out, in A/C mode it acts like recirculate is partially on and in recirculate mode it draws outside air in like you would expect recirculate to do. Trying to decide if I have something wrong or the nature of the beast. My GM vehicles do not act like this. Any input appreciated.

Can you hear the air flow noise change as you select/deselect recirc mode? If extremely hot out system may go into recirc mode as designed even though you did not request it. Many cars/trucks will change to outside air when shut down so as to adequately shut the doors- you can always pop glove box back to observe recirc operation if you cannot hear it change modes.

Try defrost, there is a rule amongst a/c designers that recirc is NEVER activated while in defrost mode- otherwise fog-up when raining at 41-51 degs!