NHTSA Complaint #10954484 — 2016 FORD EXPLORER

THERE IS A HEAVY SMELL OF TRASH/ROTTEN EGGS THAT STARTED IN NOVEMBER 2016 IN MY 2016 EXPLORER WITH 35,XXX MILES ON IT. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TOLD ME I NEEDED TO PAY OUT OF POCKET ($140.00/HOUR) FOR THEM TO SEARCH FOR A "DEAD ANIMAL". EVEN THOUGH IT THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO SIGNS OF ANIMAL DROPPINGS OR CHEWING. THEY ASKED THAT I RETURN THE RENTAL CAR. MY EXPLORER WAS RETURNED TO ME WITH NO ODOR (CAR WAS NOT RUNNING FOR DAYS). THAT WOULD TELL YOU RIGHT THERE THAT IT ISN'T AN ANIMAL. WHY WOULD THE SMELL GO AWAY COMPLETELY IF THE DEAD ANIMAL WAS JUST IN THERE 24-HOURS BEFORE? THE MINUTE THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS TURNED ON THE ODOR WAS BACK. OVER THE WINTER THERE WAS ONLY AN ODOR WHEN USING THE AUTOMATIC START (DEFAULT TO TURN ON DEFROST). NOW THAT WE ARE HAVING WARMER WEATHER THE SMELL IS BACK IN FULL FORCE WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT AT ANOTHER DEALER FOR MARCH. IT IS NOW OUT OF THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY (40,XXX MILES). SUCH A DISAPPOINTMENT. I SENT AN EMAIL TO FORD DIRECTLY WITH ABSOLUTELY NO RESPONSE IN NOVEMBER.