U.S. closes Ford SUV exhaust odor probe without seeking recall By Reuters

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. auto security regulators on Monday closed a six-year-old investigation into 1.47 million Ford Explorer SUVs over experiences of exhaust odors in automobile compartments and publicity to carbon monoxide with out looking for a recall.

The Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration (NHTSA)stated it had performed an in-depth investigation first opened in July 2016 that included assessment of over 6,500 shopper complaints over 2011-2017 mannequin 12 months autos, together with police variations of the SUV, and located no proof of a security situation.

NHTSA stated its investigation discovered “that the 2011-2017 Ford Explorer autos when precisely measured produce occupant compartment (carbon monoxide) ranges which fall under present accepted well being requirements.”

The investigation did discover points with sellers, authorities fleets and others modifying the Police Interceptor autos. So-called “upfitting” — including sirens, lights, cages, auxiliary energy — is often carried out by governmental fleet operations, impartial restore amenities, or native sellers.

“Sealing points brought on by upfitting had been chargeable for the very best measured carbon monoxide ranges in examined autos,” NHTSA stated whereas including the very best ranges in shopper autos had been often traced to sealing points brought on by rear crash harm.

In 2017, Ford agreed to cowl the prices of particular repairs in each Police Interceptor Explorer SUVs which may be tied to after-market set up of police gear. The corporate stated the modifications might have left holes within the underbody of the autos.

Ford, which didn’t instantly remark Monday, stated in 2017 “if the holes will not be correctly sealed, it creates a gap the place exhaust might enter the cabin.”

Ford additionally issued a process in 2017 as a part of a Discipline Service Motion (FSA) that features a heating and cooling reprogramming operation as a part of a area service motion. Assessments demonstrated a considerable discount of carbon monoxide ranges due solely to reprogramming, NHTSA stated.

Even with out FSA repairs, “no autos unaffected by upfitter points or prior crash harm had been recognized with (carbon monoxide) ranges that exceed accepted occupational publicity ranges.”

Ford stated Monday it was happy with the outcomes and stated its “earlier investigation and intensive testing decided the identical outcomes, which we have now all the time maintained.”

Town of Austin, Texas in 2017 briefly eliminated all 400 of the town’s Ford Explorer SUVs from use. All had been repaired and returned to service after getting FSA repairs, NHTSA stated.