For years the cause of the buildup of carbon monoxide inside the Ford Explorer was a mystery. At least one police officer passed out from being in his Ford Explorer upfitted police cruiser due to the toxic fumes. And many other cops complained of severe headaches after driving their vehicles all day. So, what gives?
Ford Explorer Exhaust Leaks
Thousands of Explorer owners reported that they were having problems with carbon monoxide coming into their vehicles. The model years were 2011-2017. The problem appeared to be worse upon acceleration or when the AC was running while set to recirculation. Ford was slow to respond, so the investigation dragged on for years without resolution.
When The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stepped in, things were thoroughly investigated. Ford sent out bulletins on it to mechanics and gave instructions on possible repairs of the issue. When those failed, people started suing.
Finally The Mystery Solved
In early 2023, the NHTSA figured out the cause of the carbon monoxide issue and how it was getting into the cab of the vehicle. They reviewed 6500 consumer complaints about the issue, testing and consulting with safety experts. There had been 657 injuries from this problem and three deaths.
Their investigation was a success – it lead to a solution. They closed the investigation and Ford did not have to issue a recall on those vehicles.
The Cause of the Carbon Monoxide Leak
As it turns out, these vehicles that were leaking carbon monoxide into the vehicle had all be upfitted. This means they were modified after leaving the factory. For instance, many of these Ford Explorers with this problem were police cars. The cars were purchased and then sent to the upfitter to add all the features law enforcement needed to make a police cruiser.
Where the problem was created: after upfitting, some of the holes made to install features were not properly sealed. This left holes underneath the car that led the exhaust into the inside of the car, poisoning whoever was inside.
Used Ford Explorers
If you are looking for a used Ford Explorer – be aware that if it had been upfitted, this exhaust problem might still be a problem. Have us check out any 2011-2017 Ford Explorer you are considering buying. We will check it out for you to make sure it’s safe.
