NHTSA Complaint #761157 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

AFTER VEHICLE HAS WARMED UP AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES OF NORMAL OPERATION THERE IS AN ODOR THAT SMELLS AS IF OIL IS BURNING. THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE THIS ODOR IS IT AS IF OIL WAS SPILLED ON A HOT MANIFOLD. THE ODOR CAN BE SMELLED IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE HEATING/AC VENTS IN THE VEHICLE WHEN OPERATING. WHEN THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF THE ODOR IS VERY PREDOMINENT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER TWICE THEY STATE THEY CANNOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE MAY BE A VEHICLE FIRE FROM THIS UNKNOWN SOURCE OF WHAT APPEARS TO BE BURNING OIL SOMEWHERE IN THE VEHICLE. SOMETHING WAS MENTIONED THAT ON OTHER FORD TRUCKS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS WERE BEING REPLACED, BUT NOT ON THIS MODEL.*AK