Exhaust smell inside 2021 BS Badlands

[Reed]

I just bought a 2021 BS Badlands with 30K miles. Beautiful condition and runs great. I love everything about this car … except the occasional smell of exhaust?? that is finding its way into the cabin interior. I’m sure that any stickers or whatever have long ago burned off so I know that’s not the issue. I’m thinking that the catalytic converter may be fouled or there is some kind of exhaust leak. Before I start chasing this thing. I thought I’d check here for advice. I want a clean smelling car!

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[RSH]

The vehicle should still be under the basic 3 year 36k mile warranty. If the problem is emmisions related the warranty is even longer for some componets for example the catlalytic converter warranty is 8 years 80k miles.

I would check with a dealer first to see if the vehicles warranty is still valid before trying to fix things yourself.

 

[Reed]

Thanks. Any reason to take it back to the Honda dealer I bought it from less than a week ago … or better to go straight to Ford?

 

[Ford Motor Company]

I just bought a 2021 BS Badlands with 30K miles. Beautiful condition and runs great. I love everything about this car … except the occasional smell of exhaust?? that is finding its way into the cabin interior. I’m sure that any stickers or whatever have long ago burned off so I know that’s not the issue. I’m thinking that the catalytic converter may be fouled or there is some kind of exhaust leak. Before I start chasing this thing. I thought I’d check here for advice. I want a clean smelling car!

Good afternoon. Can you please send over a message with your VIN and the name/location of your local Ford dealer? I would like to look into your concerns on my end.

 

[Reed]

Dear Ford, Can you send me private contact info please? - Reed

 

[KidWiff]

You can click on the Ford logo in the thread just above yours and then slick on "Start Conversation" to start a private message thread

 

[toddedmond]

I have the same problem on my '21 OBX. Exhaust smell in cabin when idling. I can make it quit by pushing the Recirculate button on the climate control. Don't smell it when moving. I just picked it up from a second dealer. First dealer, where i bought it from said they didn't notice it. Second dealer says they smell it, but find no exhaust leaks. They tried to blame it on my K&N filter oil. I don't know where to turn next. Any ideas?

 

[Reed]

Good to know re: the recirc option. Mine seems to smell after I’ve been driving for a while and then arrive at an intersection for a stop. Not all the time but often enough to be irritating. I’ll have to bring it in I guess.

 

[Thejitney]

I would have them check for coolant intrusion...... I went in for oil change had a sweet exhaust smell..... coolant in 2 of my 3 cylinders and made it was toothed cat. Turbo burned out and caused my power torque converter to become damaged after everything was fixed the turbo failed even before I picked it up.... they just put a new one on... out of 12 months last year I had it 4 months dealer and for themselves no help I was sold a lemon and they said it's been over 2 years..... yeah but I only had the vehicle for 1 year and 8 months the other 2 and half years that I purchased it for had it most of the time.... check how fast it heats up 3mins mine gage would be half way already.... check your turbo check your coolant

 

[Reed]

That’s the best explanation I’ve heard on this issue. I’m afraid to say that sometimes the exhaust smell in my Bronco Sport has a kind of sweet smell to it which would suggest a coolant intrusion. Thanks for your suggestions!

 

[Escape2Bronco]

Good to know re: the recirc option. Mine seems to smell after I’ve been driving for a while and then arrive at an intersection for a stop. Not all the time but often enough to be irritating. I’ll have to bring it in I guess.

I would also make sure your cabin pressure relief valve is functioning. Do your doors close really easier than expected? These are located in the cargo area which could explain the exhaust smell. But if it is sweet, I also would agree with @Thejitney regarding the coolant leak. What does your exhaust smoke look like? That usually pretty easy to see if you have a coolant leak into the heads.

 

[Thejitney]

Yeah didn't know and don't know wasn't blue wasn't white or black. Yeah I've had coolant leaks before but my turbo went bad and it was replaced and tested over a month and it failed again ford has had my truck for 8 months of last year and I'm still waiting. I knew I had a coolant leak but with the way the liner is is could have been absorbed into the liner... that is not the case. It's just a bad engine design like the ones before it. Same issue with 1.5 1.6 and the 2.0 turbos blow out due to the lack of coolant being in the engine. In other words the engine is too small to hold enough coolant with out and overfill issue or burning excess amount due to heat. Nothing but problems with this engine and truck 2021 should have waited and got a big one at least with a 4 cylinder engine and not some small 1.5 3 cylinder eco boost that never worked right from day one. I've build so many broncos from dead to working that I should have bought and old one and put a new engine in it would have lasted longer than 55k. Ohh yeah less than 60k in engine and major problems. Not sure what I can do or what I'm gonna do. Have them run a pressure test on the coolant see if it looses pressure if so its the turbo I'd about just bet my car if I didn't need it. Good luck to ya

 

[RSH]

I just bought a 2021 BS Badlands with 30K miles. Beautiful condition and runs great. I love everything about this car … except the occasional smell of exhaust?? that is finding its way into the cabin interior. I’m sure that any stickers or whatever have long ago burned off so I know that’s not the issue. I’m thinking that the catalytic converter may be fouled or there is some kind of exhaust leak. Before I start chasing this thing. I thought I’d check here for advice. I want a clean smelling car!

You already know the obvious, you should not have to run the ventilation system in recirculate mode, there should be no smell of exhaust entering the vehicle unless the exhaust syslem is damaged or has loose connections.

Can you hear any exhaust leaks, is the exhaust smell more evident when the vehicle is cold or warmed up? if you walk around the vehicle do you notice the smell of exhaust other than being at the rear where the exhaust exits?

Have you approached the selling dealer about the issue, their service department could put it up on a lift and perform an inpection looking for damage or loose exhaust pipe connections.

If the selling dealer cannot fine an issue the next step would be take it to a Ford dealer and have it checked, it's possible the vehicle is still under warranty.

 

[Slingy]

I just bought a 2021 BS Badlands with 30K miles. Beautiful condition and runs great. I love everything about this car … except the occasional smell of exhaust?? that is finding its way into the cabin interior. I’m sure that any stickers or whatever have long ago burned off so I know that’s not the issue. I’m thinking that the catalytic converter may be fouled or there is some kind of exhaust leak. Before I start chasing this thing. I thought I’d check here for advice. I want a clean smelling car!

Are you sure it's not coming from a vehicle in front of you? My BSBL allows so much outside air into the cabin that if I'm behind a diesel I get a headache from the fumes or if someone is smoking weed in the car in front of me I'm looking for a dead skunk in the road. I'm now at the point that I reach for the recirculation button as if it's an automatic reflex whenever I see that I'm gonna be stuck behind a crappy work truck. Even the new and weird diesel smell gets through the vents and nauseates me.

 

[Jef1f]

My 23 BS OB has this same issue. I hear a rattle from underneath then the smell of exhaust at low speeds especially when the heater is on. Car converter has less than 12k miles. Could it have gotten damaged during an oil change? I noticed this since the last service. Smell is so strong I have to lower windows.

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