NHTSA Complaint #10979869 — 2017 FORD EXPLORER

ON JANUARY 27TH, 2017, MY WIFE AND I LEASED A NEW 2017 FORD EXPLORER. EVERY TIME WE OPERATE THE VEHICLE, WE GET EXTREMELY SICK (SOME SYMPTOMS WE EXPERIENCE ARE SORE THROAT, RUNNING NOSE, HEADACHES, AND NAUSEA THAT LAST HOURS AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE). THIS OCCURS ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES WHILE DRIVING/OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE HEATING SYSTEM WAS SET TO 75 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND THE WINDOWS WERE CLOSED. AFTER WE FELT SICK WE DID SHUT OFF THE HEATING SYSTEM AND OPEN THE WINDOWS BUT THERE WAS A SLIGHT ODOR IN THE CABIN AND WE STILL FEEL SEVERAL ALIMENTS. DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR MYSELF AND MY 6-MONTH-OLD DAUGHTER THAT WAS IN THE VEHICLE (THIS BEING MY MOST SIGNIFICANT CONCERN). FORD MOTOR CORP INSTALLED A NEW EXHAUST SYSTEM, REMOVED THE REAR BUMPER AND RESEALED ANY LEAKS, CHECKED CABIN PRESSURE AND TRIED TO RESEAL ANY CRACKS THAT MAY ALLOW EXHAUST TO RENTER THE CABIN. FORD STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED, AFTER BEING BROUGHT TO THEM FOR THE THIRD TIME (THEY SAID THEY FOUND MORE LEAKS AND RESEALED THEM), BUT REFUSED TO GIVE ME ANY DOCUMENTATION STATING THAT THE VEHICLE IS SAFE FOR MY FAMILY AND MYSELF TO BE IN. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES, A FORD SERVICE TECHNICIAN LOCATED AT SAYVILLE FORD TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE WITH ME AND CONFIRMED THE SAME AILMENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP FROM SERVICE AFTER FORD STATED IT WAS FIXED FOR A 3RD TIME AND WE WERE STILL GETTING SICK WHEN WE DROVE THE VEHICLE. WE CONTACTED FORD AGAIN AND WE ADVISED THEM OF THE SITUATION FOR A 4TH TIME AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS 'BY ITS VERY NATURE, NEW CAR SMELL IS DUE TO PLASTICS AND ADHESIVES IN THE VEHICLE. IT COULD BE AN IRRITANT TO SOME. UNFORTUNATELY, YOU MAY HAVE TO CONSIDER OTHER OPTIONS THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE TO YOU.'