NHTSA Complaint #10684203 — 2013 FORD FUSION

FRIENDS AND I RENTED A 2013 FORD FUSION FROM HERTZ WHILE ON A TRIP LAST WEEKEND. THE COMPUTER DISPLAY THAT CONTROLS THE AC AND OTHER FUNCTIONS SHUT DOWN MIDWAY THROUGH THE TRIP. THE CAR RAN WELL ENOUGH TO DRIVE, SO WE CONTINUED DRIVING IT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP. I WAS SEATED BEHIND THE DRIVER. I NOTICED A SLIGHT HEADACHE EARLIER IN THE TRIP AFTER BEING IN THE CAR. AFTER THE AC/HEAT FUNCTIONS SHUT DOWN, I GOT A MAJOR HEADACHE PLUS NAUSEA. THE OTHER BACK SEAT PASSENGER ALSO GOT A HEADACHE, THOUGHT LESS SEVERE. ONLY AFTER I WAS OUT OF THE CAR AND IN FRESH AIR DID THE HEADACHE DISSIPATE SLOWLY. I SUSPECT THAT, WITHOUT POSITIVE AIR PRESSURE IN THE CAR'S CABIN, THAT EXHAUST GASES ARE DRAWN INTO THE CAR WHILE IT'S MOVING. THIS SAME PHENOMENON OCCURRED TO ME ABOUT 14 YEARS AGO. I AM CONCERNED THAT MODERN CARS DRAW EXHAUST INTO THE CARS--OBVIOUSLY DANGEROUS. *TR