Investigation into carbon monoxide issues in Ford Explorers grows

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — The investigation is growing into the danger of carbon monoxide and exhaust fumes filling the cabins of some Ford Explorers.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it's counted more than 3,000 complaints since the introduction of the then redesigned 2011 Explorer.

That's up from about 700 previously reported by the administration.

On Wednesday, a police officer in Boston reported being poisoned by carbon monoxide in an Explorer.

Most of the problems reported to the press have been in police vehicles, but a vast majority of the complaints to federal investigators are from civilians.

Channel 9’s Field Sutton took a plain civilian Explorer to an expert to find out why it keeps happening.

Zembower Auto Center’s Jay Zembower showed the gaps between panels where exhaust might come into the SUV.

“It actually creates a vacuum and sucks this exhaust coming out of these tips back under the car and then comes up in here,” he said.

As complaints about exhaust and carbon monoxide inside Explorers climb past 3,000, there are questions about the exhaust manifold.

“Any opening, any ability for the exhaust to escape, is problematic,” said Zembower.

The exhaust manifold is up toward the engine, close to the front air intake and allegedly prone to cracking under certain circumstances, especially with the way police officers are sometimes forced to drive.

Even though the exhaust manifold issue is largely confined to law enforcement vehicles, Zembower said that it’s possible a civilian with a lead foot, or who spends a whole lot of time in the car, could crack theirs and see that same magnification problem.

Zembower found no crack in the exhaust manifold on the Explorer that Sutton brought to his shop, but he found something else.

“You’ve got an exhaust leak at the turbocharger of the car. It’s definitely a concern for safety and health,” he said.

Zembower said the sheer number of aging Explorers ensures complaints about exhaust and carbon monoxide will keep rising.

Consumers can call 1-888-260-5575 to address any concerns. 

Cox Media Group