Interior chemical smell when sitting in the sun, also seems to be during climate control mixing

[TurboJoe]

Hi Everyone, new to the forum here and have an issue with my ST.

I have a 2022 Explorer ST, and it has two oder issues that may be related.

I first noticed that the AC vent blows a bad smell but only when it's transitioning temperatures, or when the autoengine start/stop is off.
Once blowing cold the smell is gone. I dropped it at the dealer before I realized exactly when the smell happened, and of course they couldn't re-produce it.

I have two vehicles, so sometimes the explore sits for a few days. When it does, there is a very bad chemical smell in the cabin way worse if the car is in the sun, that gives me and other passengers headaches. It's maybe similar to the first smell, but much much stronger. It dissipates quickly with windows open or we get used to it but the headaches tend to remain. If I vent the car with windows open all day, it's fine when I get in it for the 12 hours or so. But then comes back.
I've done a full detail, and ripped every single personal item out of the car. It's definitely from the material in the car somewhere, but I can't pinpoint it.
Anyone else have this issue? How do you get ford to say there's a problem (I have 1 year and 8k miles left of warranty).

Searching on this forum brings up a lot of exhaust smells, but this isn't that.

 

[GearHead_1]

Have you changed your cabin filter?

 

[Stone17]

I have a chemical smell after getting my windows tinted. Come and goes with the sun.

 

[TurboJoe]

I have a chemical smell after getting my windows tinted. Come and goes with the sun.

Bone stock here, so I don't think that's it.

 

[2020FordRaptor]

Have you changed your cabin filter?

What I was going to suggest too.

 

[GearHead_1]

My cabin filters get a musty, kind of sour smell, after about 6 months. It's always most prevalent upon start up with air on or as soon as I turn the air on. I pull them, they aren't particularly dirty, in fact they look nearly new, but I change them and the smell is gone. That's much more frequent than Ford recommends. I use the OE filters, perhaps I should look elsewhere. My F150 is the same way and I live in a dry climate.

 

[Dale5403]

My cabin filters get a musty, kind of sour smell, after about 6 months. It's always most prevalent upon start up with air on or as soon as I turn the air on. I pull them, they aren't particularly dirty, in fact they look nearly new, but I change them and the smell is gone. That's much more frequent than Ford recommends. I use the OE filters, perhaps I should look elsewhere. My F150 is the same way and I live in a dry climate.

The last time i changed mine. I used a Fram. Was very disappointed with it. Looked like a 5 year old with a glue gun assembled it. I'm going back to OEM.

 

[23 Explorer ST]

Hi Everyone, new to the forum here and have an issue with my ST.

I have a 2022 Explorer ST, and it has two oder issues that may be related.

I first noticed that the AC vent blows a bad smell but only when it's transitioning temperatures, or when the autoengine start/stop is off.
Once blowing cold the smell is gone. I dropped it at the dealer before I realized exactly when the smell happened, and of course they couldn't re-produce it.

I have two vehicles, so sometimes the explore sits for a few days. When it does, there is a very bad chemical smell in the cabin way worse if the car is in the sun, that gives me and other passengers headaches. It's maybe similar to the first smell, but much much stronger. It dissipates quickly with windows open or we get used to it but the headaches tend to remain. If I vent the car with windows open all day, it's fine when I get in it for the 12 hours or so. But then comes back.
I've done a full detail, and ripped every single personal item out of the car. It's definitely from the material in the car somewhere, but I can't pinpoint it.
Anyone else have this issue? How do you get ford to say there's a problem (I have 1 year and 8k miles left of warranty).

Searching on this forum brings up a lot of exhaust smells, but this isn't that.

I got that same smell on my 23 ST. I noticed it after the dealership changed the bottom seat cover passenger side when I purchased it new because it had a small tear in the leather.
I drove it for a few weeks before the seat cover came in and it didn’t have that smell. Smell was pretty bad for about 8 months but now it’s barely noticeable.
Also I could smell it thru the vents.
I came to the conclusion that it was probably the seat cover material they replaced.


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[TurboJoe]

Interesting about the seats, I try to smell by the seats but it's hard to pinpoint. Certainly there is a smell from the vents during specific hvac modes. I noticed it on day 1, and yes also changed the cabin filter. The filter that came out was in good shape, nothing in the area smelled, and the new one didn't change it.

 

[23 Explorer ST]

Interesting about the seats, I try to smell by the seats but it's hard to pinpoint. Certainly there is a smell from the vents during specific hvac modes. I noticed it on day 1, and yes also changed the cabin filter. The filter that came out was in good shape, nothing in the area smelled, and the new one didn't change it.

Yes I smelled it through the vents also. Most noticeable when the A/C was up.
Also check your spare tire area.
I had moisture/condensation all around the spare tire and the side of the tub.
Bottom of the spare and the floor of the tub were completely dry.
I dried up all the wetness and let it air out all day. So far it’s remained dry.
I thought maybe that was the source of my smell but evidently it wasn’t.
Dealership said…… we can’t “duplicate”the smell or moisture/water leak.
Obviously , this is the standard saying of most dealerships.


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