NHTSA Complaint #11030135 — 2016 FORD EXPLORER

UPON STRONGER THAN USUAL ACCELERATION OR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR BOTH, THE SMELL OF EXHAUST CAN BE DETECTED IN THE CABIN. UNDER HARD ACCELERATION, THE SMELL OF ROTTEN EGGS BECOMES VERY STRONG IN THE CABIN. AFTER TRIPS LONGER THAN AN HOUR, WITH AC OR HEAT RUNNING (NO OPEN WINDOWS), I HAVE BECOME VERY ILL, WITH FEARSOME HEADACHE, NAUSEA, LETHARGY, AND GASTROINTESTINAL DISTRESS. PASSENGERS HAVE ALSO REPORTED HEADACHE, NAUSEA, AND FEELING TIRED. WE BELIEVE THIS MAY BE DUE TO EXHAUST ENTERING THE CABIN AND CAUSING CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. YESTERDAY, ON A LONGER TRIP FROM MILWAUKEE, WI TO CHICAGO, IL AND BACK, I BECAME SO ILL THAT UPON RETURNING HOME, I FELL ASLEEP IMMEDIATELY WITH THE WORST HEADACHE OF MY ADULT LIFE. INTENSE NAUSEA LASTED FROM 2PM (ABOUT 3/4 OF THE WAY THROUGH THE DRIVE) UNTIL ABOUT 9PM. THIS HAS HAPPENED CONSISTENTLY DURING LONGER (GREATER THAN 20-30 MILES) TRIPS. HYDROGEN SULFIDE SMELL IS APPARENT MOST DURING WIDE-OPEN ACCELERATIONS BEFORE ENGINE WARM-UP.