The Lemon IndexA burning smell can be oil on a hot engine, an electrical short, dragging brakes or a slipping clutch.
Fix soon. Pull over and look for smoke. If there is smoke or the smell is strong, don’t drive it.
Oil leaking onto the exhaust. Then: a dragging brake caliper; an electrical short or melting wire.
Owners describe this in 9,275 complaints to the U.S. government, most often on the Ford F-Series.
Cars owners report it on most
Complaints describing this symptom, by model, all years. Raw counts, not a failure rate: popular models get more complaints.
Model years that report it most
| Model year | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 Mazda CX-5 | 54 | 15% |
| 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee | 53 | 3% |
| 2014 Jeep Wrangler | 48 | 7% |
| 2011 Dodge Durango | 46 | 6% |
| 2011 Dodge Charger | 44 | 6% |
| 2011 Hyundai Sonata | 42 | 1% |
| 2013 Ford Escape | 41 | 1% |
| 2007 Mazda CX-7 | 40 | 8% |
| 2012 Dodge Charger | 39 | 6% |
| 2002 Ford Windstar | 38 | 3% |
| 2016 Ford Explorer | 37 | 1% |
| 2011 BMW 3 Series | 34 | 4% |
Each row is that model year's record in NHTSA complaints, not the history of any one car. Share = complaints describing this symptom out of every complaint we hold for that model year (shown when the year has 50+ complaints).
Where it makes up the biggest share
2018 Mazda CX-5 · 15% 2019 Mazda CX-5 · 10% 2011 Chrysler 300 · 9% 2007 BMW X3 · 9% 2007 Mazda CX-7 · 8% 2014 Jeep Wrangler · 7% 2011 Dodge Charger · 6% 2004 BMW 5 Series · 6%
Model years with 150+ complaints in our data and 10+ describing this symptom, ranked by share. A high share means owners of that year who complained often mentioned it.
The details
Common causes of burning smell from car or engine
- Oil leaking onto the exhaust
- A dragging brake caliper
- An electrical short or melting wire
- A slipping clutch or overheated transmission
- A failing AC compressor or belt
General causes, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause with tests before replacing parts.
Is it safe to drive with a burning smell?
Fix soon. Pull over and look for smoke. If there is smoke or the smell is strong, don’t drive it.
Get help right away if you see smoke; the smell is of burning plastic or wires.
Of the 9,275 complaints describing it, 2% mention a crash, 6% say the car was towed, 29% mention a fire and 4% report an injury.
What the complaints show
The parts owners filed these complaints under: electrical system (35%), engine (23%), power train (14%), engine and engine cooling (11%). A complaint can list more than one.
Median odometer reading when owners reported it: 70,100 miles.
Most reports by make: Ford (1,503), Chevrolet (836), Dodge (626), Jeep (578), Kia (551).
What owners say it cost to fix
Repair bills owners named in complaints that describe this symptom (brakes, electrical, engine, transmission repairs): the middle half ran $772 to $4,500, typical $1,500, from 201 bills.
Each figure is one repair bill as an owner wrote it in a complaint, not a quote for your car. Prices vary with the part, the shop and the year.
Engine codes that come up with it
Trouble codes owners named in these complaints more often than in other symptom complaints. Look up any code →
Related symptoms
Smoke from under the hood Car burning oil Oil leak Car jerks when accelerating Car hesitates when accelerating Car shakes when accelerating
Quick answers
What causes burning smell from car or engine?
A burning smell can be oil on a hot engine, an electrical short, dragging brakes or a slipping clutch. Common causes: oil leaking onto the exhaust; a dragging brake caliper; an electrical short or melting wire; a slipping clutch or overheated transmission; a failing AC compressor or belt.
Is it safe to drive with a burning smell?
Fix soon. Pull over and look for smoke. If there is smoke or the smell is strong, don’t drive it.
Which cars have this problem most?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners describe it most on the Ford F-Series, Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Grand Cherokee. These are raw counts, so popular models rank higher; complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
How much does it cost to fix?
In 201 repair bills owners named in complaints describing it, the middle half ran $772 to $4,500. The right repair depends on the cause.
Counts: NHTSA owner complaints whose text describes this symptom (we matched owners' own wording, then read samples to check the matches). A complaint is an owner's report, not a diagnosis or proof of a defect. Causes and advice are general information in our own words, not repair advice for your car. Every symptom · Engine code lookup