This can avoided when texture coordinates are set on a 3D model and you modify textures with the Material modification dialog box.
Otherwise you could also use a thin box for that part.
You're right. I found out that in order to avoid this you MUST apply a texture to that face before exporting to OBJ.
If anyone is using AoI, make sure if you apply a texture (rather than a material), do not set it to Projection. This will smear the texture you applied on certain faces of the outgoing model.
(I've not begun using Materials, so I dont know of the settings there...)