My Explorer started leaking a vehicle exhaust fume into the cabin when entering the highway with the A/C on which made me feel unwell. I'm a 71 year old disabled veteran and only notice this when going to the VA Clinic and have to take the interstate to get there. I live in a small town and very rarely take the freeway. Is this normal?
We bought our Explorer new in 2015, we kept noticing this exhaust smell but being in a crowed town we chalked it up to it coming in from traffic. I persisted and still is an issue to this day. No matter where we are, or who/what we are around. Happens any time we accelerate. Dealer has investigated, agreed it was an issue, attempted to fix, but it is STILL a problem.
We actually started out with a 2014 Ford Edge. upon acceleration, a horrible exhaust odor filled the entire cabin and would NOT filter out unless we rolled the windows down. 4 trips to fix and nearly evoked the LEMON LAW, when the dealer did the right thing, got us OUT of the stinky Edge, into this 2015 Explorer. Onto the highway we went, and YES, this one STINKS TOO. It did filter out of the cab without rolling down the windows, but gave me a physical headache. BACK to the dealer we went. they KNEW of the issue as there is a TSB on it:
http://www.fordproblems.com/tsbs/Explorer/2015/
EQUIPMENT:AIR CONDITIONER
Date Reported
JULY 22, 2014
NHTSA Reference
10056924
TSB Reference
TSB-14-0130
Description: FORD: THERE IS AN EXHAUST ODOR IN VEHICLES WHEN AUXILIARY CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM IS ON AND IT SMELLS LIKE SULFUR. MODEL 2011-15 EXPLORER. *PE
Want to learn how to fix NHTSA #10056924?
Date Reported
JULY 22, 2014
NHTSA Reference
10056901
TSB Reference
TSB-14-0130
Description: FORD: WHEN AUXILIARY CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM IS ON, AN EXHAUST ODOR, LIKE SULFUR, CAN BE SMELLED. MODEL 2011-15 EXPLORER. *PE
Want to learn how to fix NHTSA #10056901?
They 'fixed' it, but really only swapped out the sulfur smell for a 'mechanical lube' smell.
After a while, it started to smell of exhaust AGAIN.
Back to the dealer for round number 2 on this model.
How many other people are being silently affected by this odor?
This is dangerous, but if someone succumbs to the exhaust and crashes, the blame would be on the driver and NOT the car.
We CAN NOT afford to keep swapping out cars. FORD CAN DO BETTER.
There is an awful exhaust/oil/gas smell in the cabin of my 2015 Ford Explorer. I smell it whenever the heat or AC is turned on. The smell goes away if I just hit the button that recycles cabin air, so I figure it has to do with the vent system's location relative to something in the engine. I took it to the dealer and they said they couldn't smell anything, although that's crap because I smell it all the time. They did not charge me for the inspection, but I plan on taking it back to the dealer sometime soon, and get them to come into the car with me when I can smell it.
This is a really bad problem. I hope someone at Ford hears our complaints.
Since both my wife and daughter have asthma we have to take separate cars to go places. since I do not like getting into a Honda civic, too small for my 6'3" frame. Sad part is I work at a Ford dealership so I take my truck into service all the time and I still can not get anywhere with this problem. They did several fixes on it but none has lasted a few days. I have test driven the 2016 and I did not smell nothing but I also did not smell nothing on mime for a few months so I do not know if the problem was fixed. I wish you all luck as I am fighting right to get another truck but not an explorer at the same price. I will not take a lost for them selling me some BS>
- tisdel77,
Phoenix, AZ, US
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
Every time you get on the gas pedal you might as well have your mouth around the exhaust pipe. The cabin fills up with carbon monoxide! FORD needs to recall 2015 Expd V6 twin turbo - major health concern!!!
The smell increases with acceleration or sudden increase of acceleration. Just got delivery last week from Ford and this week is Eid Holidays here in Saudi Arabia. Could not yet report to them and have their views on solution. As seen here in this website that other people in USA are also facing such problem without any solution from Ford, hence I am not much hopeful here :(
On acceleration the engine exhaust fumes fill the cabin, its bad. I talked to the dealer and was told to accelerate slow (ha ha) just great! They did admit I'm not the only one with this problem, but there is no fix from Ford. If in fact you get the smell on acceleration, how do I know there is not low levels at all times.
Update from Sep 14, 2016: Still no fix for the problem and hear nothing from Ford
Posted the same complaint I encountered with the 2013 Explorer Limited. I bought the Sport and figured in two years this would not occur and it has. Upon acceleration there is a definite and pungent odor in the cabin similar to exhaust/sulphur smell. Sometimes I have to open the window to clear it out and now worried about my grandkids smelling this. Only noticeable upon hard acceleration or steep hills where the transmission downshifts and rpm's go up. For all I know, it's happening all the time but not enough to hurt me but it could the kids. This is serious and I am going to bring it to the dealerships attention. This model has not changed in 3 years so who knows if the 2016 has corrected the problem. Not happy!!
My husband and I just bought our 2015 Ford Explorer! It had 32 miles on it and little did we know it came with this exhaust stench with purchase! If I would have known there was such a thing I would NEVER have purchased this. I'm taking this to dealership today for the "service bulletin" repair! Wow, fingers crossed that this works! I don't even want this car anymore after this problem. It's a major problem especially when you accelerate to higher speeds, it comes through vents even if recirculation is on. This is not a little smell, it's the smell of someone putting their head up to tailpipe! Ford fix this issue soon!
Update from Dec 1, 2014: I had the service bulletin repair and nothing changed! We're still experiencing an awful smell when you pass someone or lay on accelerator.
Ok so I was looking to people complaining about the same odor in the 2013 model. It appears that the same issue could be on the 2015. When I initially used the vehicle on the highway I got the smell of burnt oil or an indescribable smell. I thought it was normal, so I kept driving days later my pregnant wife noticed the same thing from the same front vents. So I drove it and nothing. Weeks later the same thing and same odor. I'm mad because I really hope this does not affect my wife nor my baby. I took it for service. Hopefully they resolve this quickly given this is new vehicle less than 1000 miles.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
My Explorer started leaking a vehicle exhaust fume into the cabin when entering the highway with the A/C on which made me feel unwell. I'm a 71 year old disabled veteran and only notice this when going to the VA Clinic and have to take the interstate to get there. I live in a small town and very rarely take the freeway. Is this normal?
- jhb2, Cleveland, US