What 2,224 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Ford Explorer Police Intercept

THE SMELL OF EXHAUST FILLS THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES WHEN IT IS IN MOTION.

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I HAVE HAD MY EXPLORER AT THE DEALERSHIP TWICE SINCE I PURCHASED IT REGARDS THE FRONT DRIVE SIDE BRAKES. THEY PUT ON A NEW ROTOR AND BRAKE. ISSUE IS STILL ON GOING. STILL MAKING A BAD SOUND ON THAT SIDE. ISSUE 2: WHEN EVER I ACCELERATE TO PASS OTHER CAR OR TO MERGE ONTO THE INTERSTATE THE EXHAUST SMELL WITHIN THE VEHICLE IS HORRIBLE. MY CHILDREN AND I HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FROM HORRIBLE HEADACHES. I HAVE A FEELING WE ARE BREATHING IN CARBON MONOXIDE. I WILL BE TAKING IT TO THE DEALER TOMORROW.

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I HAD MY THREE GRANDCHILDREN FOR THE DAY AND WE DECIDED TO GO TO A HANDS-ON MUSEUM. MY GRANDSON HAD NEVER BEEN CAR SICK AND HAS NOT BEEN SINCE THAT DAY. HE WAS RIDING IN THE THIRD ROW SEAT WHEN HE BECAME VERY SICK. WE PULLED THE CAR OVER AND HE THREW UP. AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF FRESH AIR, HE WAS FINE. NUMEROUS TIMES, MY HUSBAND HAS ASKED ME WHAT THE ROTTEN SMELL WAS COMING FROM IN MY CAR. ONCE THE MEDIA REPORTED THE CARBON MONOXIDE PROBLEM WITH FORD EXPLORERS, I REALIZED THIS WAS THE SAME ODOR WE HAD SMELLED SO MANY TIMES AND THE REASON MY GRANDSON BECAME SO SICK WHILE RIDING IN THE THIRD ROW SEAT. I CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND THEY SAID THEIR PHONE HAD BEEN RINGING OFF THE HOOK BECAUSE THE MEDIA HAD BLOWN EVERYTHING OUT OF PROPORTION. THEY INDICATED THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND NOTHING WAS CURRENTLY BEING DONE TO FIX IT. I'M NOT WILLING TO SACRIFICE MY GRANDCHILDREN, SO I TRADED CARS AND LOST LOTS OF MONEY IN THE PROCESS. I HAD TO FINANCE ANOTHER CAR FOR 75 MONTHS IN ORDER TO PROTECT MY FAMILY. I THINK FORD SHOULD COMPENSATE CUSTOMERS FOR THEIR LOSS. I HOPE SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMEONE HAS TO LOSE THEIR CHILD OR THEIR OWN LIFE TO CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING.

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PAINT BUBBLING AND FLAKING ON THE HOOD.

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I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE DETAILED IN A CURRENT OPEN INVESTIGATION PE16008. EXHAUST SMELL IN CABIN WHEN CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM IS ON. IT SEEMS TO BE WORSE AT WHEN YOU STOP AFTER DRIVING AT HIGH POWER SETTING. LIKE STOPPING AFTER EXITING THE FREEWAY. ONCE YOU BEGIN DRIVING AGAIN THE ODOR IS REDUCED BUT STILL PRESENT. ON TRIPS THAT REQUIRE MORE STOP AND GO DRIVING I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING HEADACHES AND A SICKNESS TO MY STOMACH. WHICH I BELIEVE IS RELATED TO THE ODOR. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN ON GOING.

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THERE HAS BEEN A STRONG ODOR OF GAS FUMES WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN MOTION EACH TIME OF THIS OCCURRENCE. THIS WOULD HAPPEN EITHER CITY OR HIGHWAY DRIVING. THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A SPECIFIC TIME OR SEASON. THE CAR DID GO THROUGH A RECALL THAT I THOUGHT WAS THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS AND HAS MADE US NAUSEOUS. I FEAR THAT THIS PROBLEM IS AFFECTING OUR HEALTH AND THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY.

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I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THE EXHAUST SMELL IN THE CAB SINCE I BOUGHT MY 2013 XLT, IN 2015. I HAD TAKEN IT IN TO HALL FORD IN NEWPORT NEWS ,VA TO BE TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. I BROUGHT IT IN ABOUT 3 TIMES TO BE TOLD THE SAME. THE SMELL COMES AFTER YOU REV UP THE ENGINE, WITH THE AIR CIRCULATION BUTTON ENGAGED. I FIRST BROUGHT IT UP WHEN MY WIFE AND I HAD OUR BABY IN JAN OF 2016. THAT WAS MY MAIN CONCERN BUT TO THIS DAY NOTHING HAS COME OF IT BECAUSE " THERE IN NO EXHAUST LEAKING INTO YOUR CABIN."

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IN SEPT 2016 I PULLED OUT OF THE DENTIST AND BLACKED OUT. I SMELLED A WEIRD SMELL COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING. SKI HAVE BEEN SICK AND OUT OF WORK SINCE. I HAVE BEEN TO MANY DOCTORS AND ALL TESTS COME BACK NEGATIVE. I DRIVE THE CAR BUT HAVE TO STOP MANY TIMES AND GET OUT BECAUSE I FEEL LIGHTHEADED AND "OUT OF IT". MY SONS ALSO GET NAUSEOUS AND "DON'T FEEL WELL" IN THE CAR. MY BOYFRIEND DROVE IT THE OTHER DAY AND GOT OUT SAYING HE DIDN'T FEEL WELL AND WAS REALLY TIRED. I REALLY BELIEVE THIS CAR HAS BEEN MY CAUSE OF BEING SO SICK AND OUT OF WORK FOR SO LONG. IT HAPPENS WHEN I'' DRIVING IT...I STOP AND GET OUT OF THE CAR AND AFTER A LITTLE BIT I FEEL BETTER.

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ON ACCELERATION THE INSIDE OF THE CABIN HAS AN EXHAUST SMELL. THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN ACCELERATING, USUALLY MEDIUM TO HARD, AND THEN STOPS. THE EXHAUST FUMES ALWAY OCCUR DURING THIS TYPE OF ACCELERATION.

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UPON MID TO FULL ACCELERATION EXHAUST FUMES ENTER THE VEHICLE CABIN

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WHEN ACCELERATING THERE IS A SULFUR/ROTTEN EGG SMELL THAT COMESHE FROM THE EXHAUST, I FIRST NOTICED IT AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR IN OCTOBER OF 2015. I DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS TILL I READ THE ARTICLE OF THE POLICE OFFICER THAT CRASHES HIS CRUISER.

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WITH ACCELERATION AN ODOR ENTERS THE CABIN. WINDOWS MUST BE ROLLED DOWN TO CLEAR CABIN OF THE SMELL. THIS HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY, CAUSING GREAT CONCERN FOR MY AND MY FAMILIES HEALTH. I PROVIDE HOME HEALTH SERVICES, MEANING I WORK OUT OF MY VEHICLE, DRIVING TO PATIENTS HOMES ALL DAY. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, TO NO AVAIL. IT WOULD BE NICE IF THIS SITUATION WAS TAKEN SERIOUSLY.

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IN THE SPRING AND SUMMER WHEN DRIVING WITH MY AC ON I STARTED GETTING THE WORST HEAD AKES OF MY LIFE AND WAS EVEN HOSPILTISED FOR THEM AND NOONE COULD EVER FIGURE ANYTHING OUT THEN IN THE FALL WEHN WE STOPED MY HEAD STPED HURTING AND THEN I TOOK A TRIP IN NOV TO FLORIDA AND USED THE AC ALMOST THE WHOLE WAY BACK AND WHEN I RETURNED HOME I WAS PUT BACK IN THE HOSPITAL FOR AGAIN A HEAD AKE THAT COULD NOT BE CONTROLLED WITH YET AGAIN NO ANSWER TO A COUSE AND THE ONLY THING I CAN THINK OR AND RELATE IS DRIVING MY CAR AND THE AC BEING ON SOMETIMES NOT ALSWAYS THO WITH A EXSUST SMELL

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STARTED NOTICING SMELL OF ROTTEN EGGS THIS PAST SUMMER WHILE DRIVING, DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS PROBABLY JUST SEALANT USED AROUND WINDSHIELD GETTING OVERHEATED. ALWAYS HAD HEADACHES AFTER DRIVING EVEN FOR 15 MINUTES AT A TIME. SMELL WENT AWAY THIS WINTER BUT HEADACHES AND FUNNY FEELING AFTER DRIVING HAVE STILL BEEN A CONCERN. NOW AM LEARNING IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH EXHAUST LEAKING INTO REAR OF VEHICLE.

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FOWL SMELL WHILE DRIVING AND HAVING THE A/C ON. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN SEPT 2012, WHEN BROUGHT UP AT THE DEALER SERVICE CENTERS I WAS TOLD IT WAS JUST A DIRTY IN-CAB FILTER. I HAVE BEEN SUFFERING WITH MIGRAINES SINCE THIS ISSUE AND HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH SEVERE MIGRAINES AND SEVERAL TIME BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH FLU AND RESPIRATORY ISSUES THAT LAST MONTHS AT A TIME WITH NO RELIEF FROM MEDICATION.

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EXHAUST/BAD SMELL COMES INTO PASSENGER AREA ON ACCELERATION.

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STRONG EXHAUST/GASOLINE SMELL INSIDE THE CABIN WHILE DRIVING WITH WINDOWS CLOSED AND THE AIR CONDITIONING ON.

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I HAVE NOTICED A DISTINCT EXHAUST SMELL WITHIN THE CABIN OF MY 2013 FORD EXPLORER WHILE DRIVING. IT HAS GOTTEN INCREASINGLY WORSE OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS. AT FIRST, I THOUGH IT WAS COMING FROM VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME, THEREFORE I CHANGED THE HEATING OR A/C TO CIRCULATION MODE BUT THE SMELL DID NOT GO AWAY. I NOTICED IT HAPPENING EVEN WHEN I WAS THE ONLY ONE ON THE ROAD WITH NO VEHICLES NEAR ME. MY 10 YEAR OLD SON AND I HAVE BOTH BEEN EXPERIENCING NAUSEA AND HEADACHES WHEN RIDING IN THE VEHICLE FOR MORE THAN A FEW MINUTES AND I FEEL THAT I HAVE FINALLY NARROWED IT DOWN TO THE EXHAUST FUMES INSIDE THE CAR. MY SON COMPLAINS OF FEELING SICK ALMOST EVERY TIME WE DRIVE ANY DISTANCE IN THE CAR. I ASSUMED IT WAS CAR SICKNESS BUT I TOO AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS ALONG WITH HEADACHES AND DIZZINESS. I HAVE HAD TO CONSISTENTLY ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS IN THE DEAD OF WINTER JUST TO TRY TO GET RID OF THE EXHAUST SMELL IN THE CAR. I FEEL THAT THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY CONCERN AND I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE FOR MYSELF OR ANY OF MY PASSENGERS TO TRAVEL MORE THAN A FEW MILES. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION, STATIONARY OR IDLING AND WITH AND WITHOUT THE HEAT AND A/C IN USE. THE DEALER CAN FIND NO HOLES OR DAMAGE TO MY EXHAUST SYSTEM. THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO RECALLS ON THIS PROBLEM BUT WHILE SEARCHING FOR SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOR THIS PROBLEM ONLINE, I AM OVERWHELMED WITH THE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION FROM OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES THEIR LIFE OR THEY OR THEIR CHILDREN ARE HOSPITALIZED FROM CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING FROM THE POISONOUS CABIN AIR.

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WE EXPERIENCE NOXIOUS FUMES IN THE CABIN WHEN EITHER THE HEATER OR AIR CONDITIONER ARE ON. IT SMELLS LIKE EXHAUST OR INDUSTRIAL CHEMICALS OR ROTTEN EGGS (HARD TO DESCRIBE). OUR LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP CLAIMED IT CAME FROM A LEAKING WATER PUMP (WHICH THEY REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY) THAT SATURATED THE UNDER ENGINE COVER DUE TO A LEAKING WATER PUMP. DRIVING IN THE WINTER ACTUALLY REQUIRES WE CRACK SEVERAL WINDOWS AND SOMETIMES ONLY USE THE BUTT WARMERS AS IT'S TOO TOXIC SMELLING. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED THE SMELL, BUT AGAIN ATTRIBUTED TO THE LEAKING COOLANT. IT'S PARTICULARLY WORSE WHEN THE SYSTEM IS IN THE RECIRCULATING MODE. SITTING IDLE AT A LIGHT OR WAITING FOR SOMEONE WITH THE SYSTEM ON IS PROBABLY THE WORST, PARTICULARLY WHEN IN RECIRCULATING MODE.

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EXHAUST FUMES WHEN ACCELERATING.

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WHEN MY CAR IS IN PARK AND RUNNING, IT FILLS WITH EXHAUST FUMES

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WHEN UNDER HEAVY ACCELERATION WHICH IS RARE OR WHEN CLIMBING ANY INCLINE WHICH IS QUITE OFTEN WHERE I LIVE, THE CAR HAS A HORRIBLE SMELL INSIDE. ITS WORSE WHEN YOU HAVE THE HEAT ON IT SEEMS. I HAVE REPLACED THE CABIN AIR FILTER BUT IT NEARLY SEAMS WORSE NOW.

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I HAVE HAD MY CAR BACK TO FORD BECAUSE WHEN YOU ACCELERATE THE SMELL OF EXHAUST COMES BACK INTO THE CAR. THE LAST TIME I HAD IT THERE THEY SAID THIS IS THE LAST WAY THAT FORD WILL ALLOW THEM TO FIX, WELL IT DID NOT FIX IT. MY GRANDDAUGHTER GETS DEATHLY SICK WITH PROJECTILE VOMITTING WHEN SHE RIDES IN MY CAR. I HAVE MADE THE COMMENT TO THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT IF I PUT A PARAKEET IN MY CAR IT WOULD DIE, I GET NO REPLY. WHEN I DRIVE MY CAR I TRY NOT TO ACCELERATE TO MUCH(HAHA). MY MOTHER DOES NOT LIKE TO RIDE IN MY CAR SHE IS ELDERLY AND SHE DOES NOT NEED TO BE SMELLING THAT. I HAVE DRIVEN FORD EXPLORERS FOREVER AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER HAD PROBLEMS WITH A CAR LIKE THIS. FORD DOES NOT TAKE ME SERIOUS ABOUT THIS MATTER AND WHEN MY KIDS COME TO TOWN WE CAN'T DRIVE MY CAR CAUSE OF MY GRANDDAUGHTER GETTING SO SICK, I DON'T WANT TO HARM HER OR ANYONE ELSE.

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CAR HAS SULFUR SMELL WHEN USING AIR CONDITIONING. I HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR 2 YEARS AND HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT PROBLEM AND APPARENTLY I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE.

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THE EXHAUST SMELL IN CABIN OF VEHICLE IS UNBEARABLE. WE HAVE HAD OUR CAR IN FOR REPAIR OF THIS PROBLEM 4 TIMES AND ONCE BEFORE THE FIX. THEY HAD OUR CAR FOR OVER A MONTH AFTER THE LAST "FIX" WAS SENT OUT. WHEN DRIVING THE CAR WITH THE AIR ON RECIRC AND YOU GO INTO PASSING GEAR THE CABIN FILLS WITH EXHAUST SMELL. THIS PROBLEM IS ONGOING SO FOR THE "WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?" BELOW THE ANSWER IS ALWAYS. SINCE JUNE OF 2012 WE HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE AND IS STILL PRESENT TO THIS DATE,

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