The Lemon IndexExhaust fumes inside the car can carry carbon monoxide, which is dangerous to breathe.
Stop and get help. Open the windows and get out if you feel dizzy or sick. Get it checked before driving with the windows up.
A leak in the exhaust manifold or pipes. Then: rusted floor pans or gaps in body seals; rear hatch or trunk seals that let fumes in.
Owners describe this in 2,298 complaints to the U.S. government, most often on the Ford Explorer.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 Ford Explorer | 191 | 10% |
| 2014 Ford Explorer | 161 | 10% |
| 2016 Ford Explorer | 151 | 6% |
| 2013 Ford Explorer | 147 | 7% |
| 2017 Ford Explorer | 92 | 5% |
| 2012 Ford Explorer | 40 | 5% |
| 2018 Ford Explorer | 37 | 5% |
| 2011 Ford Explorer | 29 | 2% |
| 2005 Nissan Titan | 15 | 2% |
| 2014 Ram pickup | 13 | 0.6% |
| 2019 Ram pickup | 13 | 0.7% |
| 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee | 11 | 0.5% |
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
2015 Ford Explorer · 10% 2014 Ford Explorer · 10% 2013 Ford Explorer · 7% 2016 Ford Explorer · 6% 2017 Ford Explorer · 5% 2018 Ford Explorer · 5% 2012 Ford Explorer · 5% 2020 Chevrolet Traverse · 5%
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 exhaust smell inside car
- A leak in the exhaust manifold or pipes
- Rusted floor pans or gaps in body seals
- Rear hatch or trunk seals that let fumes in
- A cracked exhaust manifold
- Aftermarket parts that broke a seal
General causes, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause with tests before replacing parts.
Is it safe to drive with an exhaust smell inside the car?
Stop and get help. Open the windows and get out if you feel dizzy or sick. Get it checked before driving with the windows up.
Get help right away if anyone feels dizzy, sleepy or gets a headache.
Of the 2,298 complaints describing it, 1% mention a crash, 0.7% say the car was towed, 1% mention a fire and 7% report an injury.
What the complaints show
The parts owners filed these complaints under: engine (34%), engine and engine cooling (28%), fuel/propulsion system (10%), structure (5%). A complaint can list more than one.
Median odometer reading when owners reported it: 38,000 miles.
Most reports by make: Ford (1,129), Chevrolet (179), Nissan (152), Toyota (76), Dodge (74).
What owners say it cost to fix
Repair bills owners named in complaints that describe this symptom (cooling, engine, exhaust & emissions, fuel system repairs): the middle half ran $1,000 to $3,000, typical $1,900, from 38 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
Water leaking inside car Car jerks when accelerating Car hesitates when accelerating Car shakes when accelerating Car loses power while driving Car stalls while driving
Quick answers
What causes exhaust smell inside car?
Exhaust fumes inside the car can carry carbon monoxide, which is dangerous to breathe. Common causes: a leak in the exhaust manifold or pipes; rusted floor pans or gaps in body seals; rear hatch or trunk seals that let fumes in; a cracked exhaust manifold; aftermarket parts that broke a seal.
Is it safe to drive with an exhaust smell inside the car?
Stop and get help. Open the windows and get out if you feel dizzy or sick. Get it checked before driving with the windows up.
Which cars have this problem most?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners describe it most on the Ford Explorer, Ram pickup and Nissan Titan. 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 38 repair bills owners named in complaints describing it, the middle half ran $1,000 to $3,000. 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