This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Strong exhaust smell anytime engine accelerates, such as downshifting when going over an overpass on an interstate highway. Not "hard" acceleration really. I have researched, and know this a common problem, and has been since the "5th gen" Explorer came out. I know it has been brought to the attention of NHTSA, and I am just registering my complaint hoping you can get the problem resolved. Thank you.
My transmission would not shift gears. This is the fourth time this has happened. As soon as I put in drive the vehicle did run but would not shift...I was stuck on a mountain road unable to pull over and my RPM's were pegging without my transmission shifting into 2nd gear. I almost got rear ended. I was only able to go like 15 miles per hour, my car started smelling like it was burning and the engine was stressed. When I was able to finally pull over I had to put the car in park turn it off, turn it back on and then it worked fine. Again this is the fourth time this has happened. I called the Ford dealer, for the fourth time and they said I could bring it in but if it didn't act the same way with them there isn't much they can do. Not the answer I wanted. I have a neighbor who has the same vehicle and it has also happened to her. There is obviously a systemic problem here.
Under hard acceleration, when trying to merge with interstate traffic for example, the cabin is filled with a smell of burning oil and/or exhaust. This has been noticeable since the vehicle was purchased new (picked up with < 50 miles on the odometer) and has not gotten better after 4900 miles.
Every time the SUV is accelerating over 3.4K rpms for a duration of greater than 3-5 seconds, the ac system fills the cabin with nauseating gas. The smell has changed over the course of ownership from burnt hair smell, now to a exhaust, rotten egg/carbon smell. Occurs with ac system off, or on independent of fresh air or recirculate mode. Smell lingers for minutes afterwards. Taken to dealer but unable to replicate problem. Also, they said that the tsb for the issue did not apply to 2014 models. I am very concerned that exhaust (co) is entering the vehicle at hazardous levels.
- Tampa, FL, USA
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Exhaust gas is getting into the cabin when the car accelerates over 3200 to 3500 RPM. Ford says that the gas is not exhaust gas, but a strong order that is not harmful. They will not tell us what chemical the order is. When I drove the car I was experiencing asthma and heart palpitations. The dealership found that it had the 2013 Explorer parts in it and changed them out per the tsb 12-12-4. it still did not help. Another post said that they did use a monitor in their car and it was exhaust. When we pass a car or farm machinery or enter onto a freeway, the exhaust smell is suffocating when it enters the car cabin. My fear is that the exhaust could be coming into the cabin all the time, but we can't smell it until it gets to a concentrated level. Ford said that the engineers are working on it. So I have purchased a $45,000 vehicle that I can't drive.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Goliad, TX, USA