NHTSA Complaint #11019909 — 2017 FORD EXPLORER

I RENTED THE REFERENCED VEHICLE FROM ENTERPRISE RENTAL CAR FOR 1 WEEK. DROVE APPROXIMATELY 2000 MILES. THIS 2017 VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 20,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER WHEN I RENTED IT. I BELIEVE THAT THE ENGINE WAS THE 3.5 LITER VERSION. EVERY TIME I ACCELERATED HARD, SUCH AS ENTERING ON THE INTERSTATE, I COULD SUBSEQUENTLY SMELL A VERY STRONG EXHAUST SMELL IN THE INTERIOR OF THE SUV. I ALSO NOTICED WHEN I RENTED THE VEHICLE THAT ALL THE WINDOWS AND SURFACES HAD A FILM ON THEM - PERHAPS RESIDUE FROM EXHAUST GASES. I AM A 54 YEAR OLD RETIRED ENGINEER AND HAVE OWNED AND RENTED OVER 25 VEHICLES IN MY LIFETIME AND FIND WHAT I EXPERIENCED WITH THE EXPLORER TO BE VERY UNUSUAL. I ALSO FOUND THAT I WAS SLEEPIER THAN NORMAL WHEN DRIVING PERHAPS DUE TO CO2 EXPOSURE. ALL OF MY PASSENGERS ALSO EXPERIENCED UNUSUAL SLEEPINESS. THE EXHAUST SMELL IN THE INTERIOR WAS UNDENIABLE. I FIND IT VERY DISTURBING THAT FORD IS TRYING TO EXPLAIN THIS AS A PROBLEM WITH ONLY THE POLICE INTERCEPTOR EXPLORERS DUE TO AFTER MARKET MODIFICATIONS. MY EXPERIENCE INDICATES THAT THIS IS A COMPLETELY FALSE AND MISLEADING EXPLANATION. I AM VERY PLEASED TO SEE THAT THE NHTSA IS DOING AN EA ON THE PROBLEM. FORD HAS IGNORED THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS AND THE PROBLEM IS VERY REAL. I WAS CONSIDERING BUYING THE EXPLORER WHICH WAS ONE REASON I RENTED THE VEHICLE AND FROM MY EXPERIENCE I WILL NOT TOUCH THIS VEHICLE AND WILL NOT BE PURCHASING ONE. PLEASE DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND I HOPE TO SEE THAT THIS EVENTUALLY LEADS TO A OVERALL RECALL OF ALL AFFECTED EXPLORERS. THANK YOU.