NHTSA Complaint #10733802 — 2013 FORD EXPLORER

UNTIL THIS LAST WEEKEND, WE OWNED A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WE NOTICED AN EXHAUST SMELL IN THE CABIN SOON AFTER WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, BUT THOUGHT IT WAS JUST "NEW ENGINE SMELL." ON TRIPS ACCELERATING UP MOUNTAINS THE EXHAUST SMELL IN THE CABIN HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY BAD. IN FACT, MY 8 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER HAS COMPLAINED OF A STOMACH ACHE AND THE NEED TO THROW UP EVERY TIME WE ARE IN THIS VEHICLE ON AN EXTENDED TRIP. WE CHALKED IT UP TO HER HAVING MOTION SICKNESS AND EVEN STARTED GIVING HER DRAMAMINE (WHICH NEVER HELPED). WHEN WE RENTED CARS FOR TRIPS, SHE DIDN'T HAVE THE SICK FEELING. MY HUSBAND WAS GETTING HEADACHES IN THIS VEHICLE, AND I WOULD ALWAYS FEEL EXTREMELY SLEEPY AND ALSO GET HEADACHES. MY FATHER (WHO IS A MECHANIC) RODE IN THE CAR WITH US THIS PAST 4TH OF JULY HOLIDAY, AND TOLD US WE PROBABLY HAD AN EXHAUST LEAK. LAST WEEK, AFTER TRAVELING BACK FROM BEING IN THE MOUNTAINS AND SMELLING THE EXHAUST SMELL IN THE CABIN ON YET ANOTHER TRIP, AND MY DAUGHTER GETTING SICK YET AGAIN, WE DECIDED WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO CHECK OUT THE CAR. THEY SAID THERE WAS A TECHNICAL BULLETIN OUT FOR THE ISSUE AND THEY KNEW WHAT TO DO TO FIX IT. THE DAY WE GOT IT BACK FROM THE DEALER AFTER THEY "FIXED IT", WE ACCELERATED HARD ON THE FREEWAY AND THE SMELL WAS STILL THERE, AND ACTUALLY EVEN WORSE. WE ROLLED ALL THE WINDOWS DOWN AND IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT AND TRADED IT IN. I AM LIVID. FORD HAS KNOWINGLY ENDANGERED MY FAMILY FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS THAT WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR. AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ISSUE AND REALIZING THAT FORD WAS NOT LIKELY TO FIX THE PROBLEM, WE DECIDED WE COULDN'T RISK OUR FAMILY'S HEALTH BY KEEPING THIS CAR. WE HAVE LOST TWO YEARS THAT WE HAVE PAID ON THE CAR. WE HAD PLANNED ON KEEPING THE EXPLORER WELL AFTER WE PAID IT OFF. I HAVE LOST ALL TRUST IN FORD.