What 1,671 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Ford Explorer Gas

I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM SINCE I GOT MY LEASED 2014 EXPLORER, WHEN I HIT THE GAS HARD IT WOULD SMELL OF EXHAUST FUMES, AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS NEW AND WOULD GO AWAY SO I USED TO OPEN THE WINDOWS TO LET THE SMELL OUT BUT IT WAS QUITE BAD SO I HAD TO PULL AWAY MORE SLOWLY TO AVOID IT OR HAVE A BAD SMELL OF FUMES IN THE CAR, I WOULD OPEN THE WINDOWS BUT ITS SO HOT IN FLORIDA AND IT LETS ALL THE A/C OUT, MY GIRLFRIEND KEPT TELLING ME THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG BUT I KEPT SAYING IT WILL PROBABLY GO AWAY, I WORKED AT A FORD DEALERSHIP AND I ASKED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IF THEY HAVE HAD OTHER COMPLAINTS TOO THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, HOWEVER SHE WAS RIGHT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND IT HAS NOT GONE AWAY I WILL TAKE IT IN ON MONDAY AGAIN AND HAVE THEM DRIVE IN THE CAR WITH ME TO SMELL THE FUMES TOO THEN THEY MAY BE ABLE TO FIX IT. FORD HAVE KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND THEY ACTED NEGLIGIBLE IN MY HONEST OPINION BECAUSE THEY HAVE KNOW ABOUT THIS COMPLAINT WHY WOULD THEY NOT INFORM CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE PURCHASED THESE VEHICLES TO GET THEM CHECKED OUT FOR THEIR SAFETY AND THE LONG TERM EFFECTS FROM CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES IT COULD LEAD TO CANCER OR RESPIRATORY ISSUES AND MUCH MORE, THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR SAFETY SAKE.

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NASTY EXHAUST SMELL ENTERING THE CABIN WHEN MERGING ON THE INTERSTATE, DRIVING UP A LONG HILL, OR PASSING VEHICLES. THIS OCCURS WHEN HAVING TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY -- HIGH RPMS FOR EXTENDED PERIODS. SMELL APPEARS TO COME FROM BACK TO FRONT AND IS DIFFICULT TO GET RID OF. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT MAY BE OTHER VEHICLE'S EXHAUST ENTERING THE CABIN, HOWEVER, AFTER DRIVING LONG PERIODS IN AREAS WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND THE EXHAUST STENCH CONTINUES. NOTED METALLIC TASTE IN MOUTH AFTER SMELLING ODOR VEHICLE.

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WHEN HARD ACCELERATION OCCURS, SUCH AS ENTERING A FREEWAY OR GOING INTO PASSING GEAR TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, THERE IS AN EXTREME ODOR - VERY SIMILAR TO ROTTEN EGG SMELL. THIS HAS OCCURRED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS ORDERED AND PURCHASED NEW. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT AFTER BEING ON A WAITING LIST FOR OVER 4 MONTHS, WE WERE ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS FOUND. THIS VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY DRIVEN ON A DAILY BASIS, TO AND FROM WORK 37 MILES EACH WAY - IN TRAFFIC. I HAD CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH SMELL AND TASTE (EXACTLY THAT OF THE FUMES IN THE CABIN) UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT I BEGAN WORKING FROM HOME AND NO LONGER FORCED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE ON A DAILY BASIS. THIS PROMPTED MY RESEARCH AND THIS COMPLAINT OF THE KNOWN ISSUE. I FIRST REPORTED THIS SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE AROUND JULY OF 2014. I DID ALSO SEND A COMPLAINT LETTER TO FORD - MORE TO THE SERVICE OF THE DEALERSHIP - HOWEVER I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE WAS IN THAT LETTER.

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MY GRANDSON WENT OFF THE ROAD AT 70MPH INTO SOME PINE TREES AND COMPLETLE SEVERED THE PASSAGENS WHEEL OFF AND WINDSHIELD COMPLETLE DESTROYES ROOF DAMAGE AND BODY DAMAGE AND NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I TALKE TO A CUSTOMER WHO ALSO HAD A 2014 EXPLORER THAT WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AND THEIR AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY EITHER .THE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE WAS ON THE FRONT AND THE SIDE YET NO AIRBAGE DEPLOYED. SOMETHING IS WRONG !!! ITS A MIRACLE MY GRANDSON IS ALIVE I HAVE PICTURES.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHENATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE OR GOING UP AN INCLINE, THE VEHICLE EMITTED A BURNING ODOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS A RECURRING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THAT THE FUMES LEAKING INTO THE VEHICLE MIGHT BE CAUSED BY CRACKS IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150.

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TWICE WHILE DRIVING (ONCE ACCELERATING TO PULL INTO TRAFFIC AND ONCE GOING UP A MOUNTAIN) AN EXHAUST SMELL ENTERED THE CABIN THROUGH THE AC SYSTEM AND RECIRCULATING MODE DID NOT IMPROVE IT. THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING OVER 3500 RPMS. I HAVE TESTED THIS AGAIN AND AGAIN AND IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. I AM VERY CONCERNED AS WE JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AND HAVE TWO YOUNG DAUGHTERS. I WILL BE TAKING IT TO OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP BUT BASED ON THESE COMPLAINTS I AM NOT HOPEFULL THIS WILL BE RESOLVED. *TR

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DURING HARD ACCELERATION, A "SMELL" ENTERS THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. THE "SMELL" IS OF SULFUR OR ROTTEN EGGS. THE SMELL IS DEFINITELY COMING FROM THE EXHAUST. FORD ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND PERFORMED A TSB TO FIX. THE TSB DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, AND THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY HAVE TO WAIT FOR AN ENGINEER. SERVICE MANAGER SAYS THERE IS ONLY 1 FORD ENGINEER FOR ALL OF SOUTH TEXAS. *TR

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WHEN ACCELERATING TO PASS A DANGEROUS TRUCK (58 MPH) STRONG FUMES COMES INSIDE THE CABIN, ACCELERATION TOOK 8 SECONDS, INSTANTLY WE START COUGHING AND GET WATERY EYES, OUR YEAR OLD BABY START CRYING SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF DISTRESS, WE TELL THIS TO SALES PERSON, WHICH QUICKLY TOLD US THE STORY THAT THIS HAPPENS WITH NEW CARS.. SUPPOSEDLY NEW ENGINES SHOULD NOT BE HIGHLY ACCELERATED. NAIVELY WE BELIEVE THIS AND DECIDE TO GIVE IT A FEW DAYS? DAY BECOME MONTHS AND PROBLEM GOT WORST, AFTER FEW MONTHS WE DECIDE TO TAKE THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE, UNFORTUNATELY FORD FROM FIRST DAY TREAT US LIKE IF WE WERE INVENTING THE MATTER, AND MAKE MY WIFE LOOK LIKE IF SHE WERE CRAZY, THE WORST PART IS THAT THEY KNOW THAT CAR HAS THE DEFECT AS PREVIOUS GENERATIONS HAS THE SAME PROBLEM(FORDTECHNICAL BULLETIN CONFIRM THIS ).WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE REGULAR PROCEDURE AND WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP ASKING THEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM,THEY ONLY SHOW THEY WERE CLUELESS ABOUT IT AND AFTER MORE THAN SEVEN TIMES LEAVING THE CAR THERE THEY SAY THERE??S NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. WE CONTACT FORD MANUFACTURER DIRECTLY,WHICH MAKE US GO THROUGH A LONG PROCESS OF VERIFYING BACK AND FORWARD, AND AT THE END AN ??ENGINEER?? SEND ESPECIALLY DIRECTLY FROM FORD TO THE DEALERSHIP TELL US PRACTICALLY THAT JUST DON??T ACCELERATE TO AVOID THIS !!!!.WE TOOK THE CAR TO SPECIALIST THAT MEASURED CO WITH A PROFESSIONAL TOOL THAT SHOW MORE THAN 140 PART PER MILLION!!!!!.THIS IS SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT, MY FAMILY HAS BEEN SICK WITH FLUE LIKE SYMPTOMS FOR A LONG TIME, MY WIFE EXPERIENCED A VERY LONG LASTING COUGH THAT ONLY START GETTING BETTER AFTER FORCEFULLY I HAVE TO GET HER ANOTHER CAR AS I COULD NO LONGER EXPOSE MY FAMILY TO MORE OF THIS DANGERS. I REQUEST TO FORD TO REPLACE THE CAR AND THEY DENIED MY REQUEST I BELIEVE NHTSA SHOULD STEP UP ON TO THIS AND PROTECT THE CONSUMERS, THANKS *TR

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SINCE I'VE OWNED MY 2014 FORD EXPLORER FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS I GET SULFUR SMELLING EXHAUST FUMES COMING FROM THE A/C VENTS WHEN QUICKLY ACCELERATING EVEN IF THE A/C IS IN RECIRC MODE AND EVEN WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS NOT FULL. IT IS DEFINITELY EXHAUST ODORS AND NOT FUEL ODORS. *TR

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SOON AFTER BUYING MY 14 FORD EXPLORER I NOTICED A STRONG EXHAUST SMELL IN THE CABIN. I FIGURED IT WAS FROM VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME SO RAN RECIRCULATE, STILL SMELLED IN SOME CASES OVERWHELMING EXHAUST FUMES CAUSING A BURNING SENSATION TO MY EYES, HEADACHES, SOMETIMES SEVERE AND NAUSEA. THIS VEHICLE IS MY OFFICE AS WELL AS MY TRANSPORTATION SINCE I COVER THE MID ATLANTIC FOR MY JOB. I HAVE BEEN HOSPITALIZED A HANDFUL OF TIMES FOR DEBILITATING HEADACHES AND NAUSEA. I TRAVEL 25K ROAD MILES PLUS AIR TRAVEL PER YEAR FOR MY CAREER AND OFTEN AM IN THE VEHICLE FOR 3 PLUS HOURS. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN REPLICATED AT 2 DEALERSHIPS. ONE SERVICE DIRECTOR SAID THE MILES I DRIVE, THE AMOUNT OF FUMES HE, HIS SERVICE MANAGER AND MASTER TECH EXPERIENCED IN A SHORT 15 MINUTE TEST DRIVE, THAT I SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AND IT IS LIKELY RESPONSIBLE FOR MY DEBILITATING HEADACHES AND NEED FOR HOSPITAL VISITS REMINDING ME CARBON MONOXIDE CAN CAUSE UNCONSCIOUSNESS AND WORSE. A GM OF A FORD DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THE REPAIRS LISTED IN THE TSB ARE A BANDAID AND NOT SUCCESSFUL MOST OF THE TIME. IF IT WAS FIXED BY REPLACING THE VENTILATION WHY MUST THEY STILL UNDERCOAT THE VEHICLE? BECAUSE THEY NEED TO SEAL UNDERNEATH TO PREVENT THE FUMES THAT STILL EXIST FROM ENTERING CABIN. I UNDERSTAND HOW CARBON MONOXIDE HAS CAUSED MY SERIOUS HEADACHES, NAUSEA AND I COULD QUICKLY AND UNKNOWINGLY GO FROM THE STATE OF A HEADACHE TO UNCONSCIOUSNESS. THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE AS I COULD KILL OTHERS AND MYSELF. I CURRENTLY DO NOT DRIVE THIS AUTOMOBILE YET CONTINUE TO MAKE MONTHLY PAYMENTS TO PAY FOR THIS POTENTIAL DEATH TRAP !!! IT IS SHOCKING AFTER LEARNING OF ALL THE COMPLAINTS THAT YOUR AGENCY (THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION SAFETY ADMINISTRATION) HAS NOT DONE MORE AND THAT FORD HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING OTHER THAN REPAIRS OUTLINED IN A TSB THAT DO NOT RESOLVE A SEVERE LIFE THREATENING POTENTIAL DEADLY ISSUE. *TR

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I GET A FOUL ODOR IN THE CABIN ON HARD ACCELERATION. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY DID A FIX BUT IT DID NOT HELP.THEY SAY THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, IT SMELLS LIKE EXHAUST IS ENTERING THE CABIN. HELP! MAKE FORD FIX THIS .CAR WAS PURCHASE NEW AND I NOTICE THE PROBLEM ON THE WAY HOME FROM THE DEALER. *TR

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WHILE DRIVING MY 2014 EXPLORER SPORT I ENCOUNTERED A FEW PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRUCK, WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS TO ENTER ON TO THE FREEWAY IT GOT CONFUSED AND DID NOT NO WHAT TO DO . SEEMS LIKE IT WANTED TO STALL AND THEN SPEED UP VIOLENTLY. WHEN I FINALLY GOT UP TO SPEED IT SMELLED LIKE IT FARTED, ALSO MY RADIO VOLUME SHUTS OFF , I HAVE TO STOP THE CAR AND TURN IT OFF , THEN START IT AND THE VOLUME COMES BACK ON. BRING BACK THE V8 PLEASE. *TR

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UPON ACCELERATION THE CABIN SMELLED OF EXHAUST FUMES, IT HAPPENS ALMOST EVERYDAY AND CAUSES LIGHT HEADEDNESS WHEN DRIVING. WHEN GETTING UP TO SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY THE CABIN FILLS WITH EXHAUST. *TR

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MY 2014 FORD EXPLORER LETS IN AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF FUMES INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE DURING HEAVY EXCELERATION. I HAVE TO PUT ALL FOUR WINDOWS DOWN FOR A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME BEFORE I AM ABLE TO CLEAR THE CABIN OF THE FUMES. MY FIRST COMPLAINT AT THE LOCAL FORD DEALER HAPPENED 6 WEEKS AFTER LEASING THE VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 10 MOS. NOW AND HAVE ONLY 5500 MILES ON IT BECAUSE THE FUMES ARE SO BAD THAT WE DON'T DARE DRIVE OUR PETS IN THE VEHICLE OR OURSELVES BECAUSE WE GET SICK AND SUFFER FROM HEADACHES AND NAUSEA FROM THE FUMES IN IT. UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE TRAPPED IN A LEASE AND THE FORD DEALERSHIP WILL ONLY DO A TRADE IN VALUE ON IT. SO I CANT EVEN SELL THE VEHICLE FOR WHAT ITS WORTH BECAUSE OF THE LEASE. CAN'T AFFORD THAT KIND OF LOSS BECAUSE I TRADED IN MY TOYOTA 4 RUNNER IN TO GET THE MONTHLY LEASE PAYMENT DOWN. WON'T GET THAT 8 GRAND BACK ON TRADE IN. HEART BREAKING BECAUSE THIS IS MY DREAM TRUCK, BUT IT IS OBVIOUSLY VERY DEFECTIVE. *JS

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ON A RECENT VACATION TO THE NORTHWOODS OF WISCONSIN, OUR 2014 EXPLORER XLT (4X4 V6) WAS RELEASING A NAUSEATING SMELL INTO THE CABIN UNDER HEAVY LOADS, HIGH RPMS, OR RAPID ACCELERATIONS. THE TRIP WAS ABOUT 6 HOURS OF SOLID DRIVING, AND BY THE 3RD HOUR MY WIFE AND I HAD POUNDING HEADACHES AND FELT UNWELL. WE IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE AC AND OPENED THE WINDOWS AS I WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE SMELL ON THE OPEN HIGHWAY. WE SPENT THE REMAINDER OF THE VACATION WITH LIMITED AC, OPEN WINDOWS, AND ?CAUTIOUS? DRIVING TO ENSURE THE SMELL WOULD NOT OCCUR AGAIN. WE WERE TRAVELING WITH OUR 8 MONTH OLD SON AND OLD ENGLISH BULLDOG AT THE TIME AND WANTED TO ENSURE THEY DID NOT FALL ILL. I WILL BE CONTACTING MY FORD DEALER TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. *JS

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UNDER HARD ACCELERATION, WHEN TRYING TO MERGE WITH INTERSTATE TRAFFIC FOR EXAMPLE, THE CABIN IS FILLED WITH A SMELL OF BURNING OIL AND/OR EXHAUST. THIS HAS BEEN NOTICEABLE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW (PICKED UP WITH < 50 MILES ON THE ODOMETER) AND HAS NOT GOTTEN BETTER AFTER 4900 MILES. *TR

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UPON CONSISTENT MODERATE TO HEAVY THROTTLE, THE CABIN FILLS WITH FUMES/ODOR WHICH SMELLS LIKE A MIX OF EXHAUST AND BURNING/SMOLDERING PLASTIC OR EPOXY. IT IS STRONG, EASILY REPEATABLE AND HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WHILE TRAVELING UP LONG CONSISTENT GRADES ETC. DOES NOT HAPPEN IN EASY CITY DRIVING, MERGING ONTO AN EXPRESS WAY, IT HAPPENS NEARLY 100% OF THE TIME. *TR

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IT WAS RAINING QUITE HEAVILY ALL DAY AND WAS RAINING WHEN THE MISFIRE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WOULD BUCK AND JERK WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE CAR AND THEN FINALLY THE BLINKING ENGINE WENT AWAY. THE ENGINE ON THIS CAR IS A TWIN TURBO 3.5L ECOBOOST. *JS

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FOR A LITTLE OVER A MONTH MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN SMELLING GASOLINE PERIODICALLY AROUND THE CAR. THE LAST TIME I FILLED UP I REMEMBER CHECKING FOR A LEAK BECAUSE THE SMELL WAS SO STRONG. THAT SAME NIGHT I WAS WORKING AROUND THE VEHICLE AND HEARD A SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. IT WAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF GASOLINE DRAINING ON TOP OF THE ENGINE EXHAUST PIPES AND MY DRIVEWAY. IT LOOKED LIKE THE GAS TANK WAS LEAKING FROM A PLASTIC FITTING, PERIODICALLY RELEASING ABOUT A CUP FULL OF GASOLINE. WE HAVE SINCE TAKEN THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED THE ISSUE AS AN OVERFLOW COMPONENT THAT IS DEFECTIVE. I WANTED TO WRITE AN INCIDENT REPORT WITH NHTSA BECAUSE THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT I WAS LUCKY TO CATCH. THE CAR IS MY PREGNANT WIFE'S DAILY DRIVER ALONG WITH MY DAUGHTER AS A PASSENGER, SO IT REALLY FREAKED ME OUT TO REALIZE WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED! I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS SITUATION MAY OCCUR WITH OTHER 2014 EXPLORERS AND THEIR OWNERS NOT REALIZING THE LEAK BEFORE A CATISTROPHIC EVENT HAPPENS. THE GAS LEAK COULD EASILY GO UNNOTICED, AS WE DID NOT REALIZE THE LEAK UNTIL A MONTH AFTER THE FIRST WARNING SIGNS (GASELINE SMELL). AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THE 2013 EXPLORERS HAD A RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMPS, WHICH COULD BE RELATED TO THIS ISSUE. *TT

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WITHIN 24 HRS. OF PURCHASE, DRIVING ON EVEN ROAD DRY CONDITIONS APPROX. 40 MPH ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE IN MOTION NO HESITATION NO BUCKING JUST SHUT OFF. PULLED OFF SIDE OF ROAD RESTARTED OK TOOK TO DEALER (JACK BYRNE FORD) NO CODE NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED IT, COULD NOT GET TO REPEAT . THIS VEHICLE IS PRIMARILY DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY WE ARE DEATHLY AFRAID THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AT A HIGHER SPEED AND WILL RESULT IN A REAR END COLLISION. SPOKE TO THE SR. REGIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER FOR NY/NJ. SHE STATES THAT THE DEALER LOOKED VEHICLE OVER AND COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM NOR COULD THEY REPEAT IT NO CODE SHE COULD NOT STATE THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE JUST THAT THE DEALER COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING AND ITS READY TO BE PICKED UP AT DEALERSHIP. *TR

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EXHAUST SMELL COMING OUT FROM AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM AT HIGH RPMS (ABOUT 3500). *TR

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