NHTSA Complaint #11014054 — 2016 FORD EXPLORER

THERE IS A SMELL OF EXHAUST INSIDE THE CABIN OF OUR EXPLORER AT TIMES WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND WHEN OUR AIR CONDITIONING IS ON, RECYCLING THE AIR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THIS SMELL GIVES OUR TEENAGE DAUGHTER HEADACHES, AND WE ARE CONCERNED THAT IT COULD CAUSE OTHER HEALTH ISSUES OVER TIME. LIVING IN ARIZONA, WE CANNOT JUST TURN OFF THE AC WHEN IT IS 110-117 DEGREES OUTSIDE. WE HAVE TAKEN IT INTO OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER THREE TIMES AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAVE DONE THREE REPAIRS, INCLUDING REMOVING THE BACK BUMPER AND SEALING SOME GAPS, REPLACING THE CEILING AIR VENTS AND ADJUSTING THE SOFTWARE IN THE VEHICLE. NONE OF THESE HAVE FIXED THE ISSUE, HOWEVER, AND THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAYS THAT THEY HAVE DONE ALL THE REPAIRS THAT THEY KNOW HOW TO DO, PER THE INSTRUCTIONS FROM FORD CORPORATE. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT WE CALL FORD CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE, BUT AFTER TWO WEEKS OF WAITING FOR A "GOOD FAITH REVIEW," THE REGIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED US TODAY THAT WE DO NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A BUY-BACK, AND WE SHOULD JUST TAKE IT TO ANOTHER FORD DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION ON THE REPAIRS, OR BUY A NEW VEHICLE AND TRADE OURS IN. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ISSUE, BUT DON'T WANT TO LOSE A LOT OF MONEY TRADING IT IN, AS THE VALUE HAS DEPRECIATED SEVERELY IN THE YEAR SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE.