NHTSA Complaint #10735964 — 2015 FORD EXPLORER

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2015 FORD EXPLORER XLT, 3.5 V6, IN NOVEMBER 2014. AT APPROXIMATELY 7,000 MILES (BEGINNING IN APRIL 2015) I STARTED TO NOTICE A ROTTEN EGG ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE DURING ACCELERATION, WHILE ENTERING THE FREEWAY. THE SMELL WOULD OCCUR ESPECIALLY DURING A HARD ACCELERATION. THE SMELL WAS NOTICEABLE WHILE THE A/C SYSTEM WAS ON "VENT" AND "RECIRCULATE" MODE. ON 7/6/2015 I TOOK THE EXPLORER TO MY FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE COMPLAINT AND STATED THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN 14-130 TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEIR DESCRIPTION ON THE FIX, WAS THAT A SPECIAL AIR-FILTER LOCATED INSIDE THE REAR BUMPER AREA NEEDED TO BE REPLACE. THEY STATED THAT THE SMELL IS COMING FROM MY EVAP-CANISTER. I LEFT THE EXPLORER THERE FOR THE REPAIR AND IT TOOK THEM ALMOST TWO DAYS. THEY SAID, IT WAS AT LEAST A FULL DAYS LABOR TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY HAD TO REMOVE THE WHOLE REAR BUMPER AND OTHER PARTS, ETC. AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE, A WEEK LATER, I WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE EXPLORER ON THE FREEWAY AND STILL NOTICED THE ROTTEN EGG ODOR DURING ACCELERATION. THIS TIME THE ODOR IS ONLY NOTICEABLE DURING "VENT" MODE WHEN THE A/C IS TURNED ON. I AM CONTACTING MY DEALER TODAY ABOUT THIS. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH OTHER FORD OWNERS BECAUSE THESE "FUMES" IN THE CABIN AREA MOST LIKELY ARE AFFECTING YOUR HEALTH AND OTHER PASSENGERS. UPDATED 12/06/2017*CN