2024 FORD EDGE SPORT (NEW)

[FOUL MUSTY SWEET ODOR]

I purchased a 2024 Ford Edge Sport 11 months ago.  I immediately noticed a sweeet musty smell in the car.  The dealer's general manager told me he would have the car detailed and the smell was due to the vehicle sitting on his back lot during the heat of the summer.  I have called the dealer several times over the past 11 months and keep getting told that the smell is a new car smell and it will go away.  Now-11 months later and the smell is as strong as ever.  My wife is going chemo therapy for cancer and cannot even sit in her car without getting violently ill.  The dealer's sales department refuses to do anything about the smell and recently told me to take the vehicle to a professional detail shop for a deodorizer.  YES-the vehicle is under warranty plus I purchased the 5 year extended warranty.  The dealership is: Larry Miller Ford in Draper, Utah.

 

Does anyone have any ideas on what I can do?

Thanks,

James-

[fishx65]

Could be the AC system.  I used a can of AC system cleaner after my drain tube became clogged.  You just shoot it up the drain hose and let it sit for about 20 minutes before letting it drain out.

[Haz]

Welcome to the Forum, James.  Very sorry to learn about your wife's illness and treatment, which undoubtably provide significant challenges to you both.

 

Ford's Customer Relationship Center, (800) 392-3673, is staffed Monday through Friday, from 8am to 8pm with representatives to assist customers who are not able to gain satisfaction after discussing their vehicle issue(s) with the Sales Manager and Service Manager at the dealership level.

 

You mention discussing your 2024 Edge's unacceptable odor issue with the dealership General Manager and the Sales Manager, but you do not mention any Service Manager involvement, or if a dealership technician was assigned to investigate potential sources of the odor and found no special cause.

 

Ford's dealership locator shows several other Ford dealers within 10-20 miles from Draper UT (link to Ford search results). 

 

Given the unyielding response at your Edge's selling dealer, it may be prudent for you to take your Edge to a different dealership -- or two, for a second -- or third, professional opinion about if the Objectionable Odor, in your view, is judged as being New Car Smell in their view. Perhaps another dealer will be responsive to your concern, especially given your wife's reaction to the Edge's smell. 

 

I am honestly surprised that the selling dealership was unwilling to sublet deodorizing your Edge to a third-party detailer -- if even at their own expense -- to preserve your satisfaction with their involvement.

 

If your consultation with another dealer brings no improvement, perhaps the Customer Relationship Center will authorize the selling dealer to have a third-party specialist attempt improvement under your Edge's Bumper-to-Bumper warranty.

 

The 2022-2024 Edge Workshop Manual provides the following guidance toward dealing with odorous vehicle conditions...

 

The complete Workshop Manual procedure includes cleansing the A/C cooling coils with special equipment, and two resources are attached below as PDF documents.

 

Good luck!

 

Air Conditioning (A/C) Odor Treatment

Inspection

NOTE: There are typically 4 types of objectionable odors found in a vehicle:

Before determining that A/C odor treatment is required, determine the source and the circumstances under which the odor occurs.

 

NOTE: Chemical odors are usually constant regardless of the climate control system setting although they may be enhanced by A/C operation. Most chemical odors are caused by fluid leaks or incorrectly cured adhesives. Chemical odors can be eliminated by repairing the leaking component and removing any residue.

NOTE: Environmental odors usually occur for a short time and diminish after the vehicle passes through the affected area. These odors are typically only detected when the vehicle windows are open, or when the climate control system is operating in a mode that allows for fresh air. Environmental odors cannot be eliminated because they are external in source, but they may be minimized by switching to a climate control setting that uses recirculated air.

NOTE: Human and other interior-generated odors occur while the source is present and may linger for a short time after. These odors may be more noticeable during A/C operation. Human odors may be eliminated by removing the source and cleaning the affected area.

NOTE: Microbiological odors, if in the A/C system, usually last for about 30 seconds after the system is turned on. They are detected while the A/C is turned on and using either outside or recirculated air. Microbiological odors that occur in areas other than the A/C system (for example, water in doors or wet carpeting) may last indefinitely and are more intense when recirculated air is used. Microbiological odors are not present at temperatures at or below 10°C (50°F).

 

Microbiological odors can be eliminated by removing the source and treating the affected area. Allow standing water to drain and dry out. A/C systems may be treated by using Motorcraft® A/C Cooling Coil Coating (YN-29) as described in the service procedure below.

 

NOTE: Microbiological odors result from microbial growth supported by warm temperatures and moisture. Microbiological odors are described as musty/mildew type smells and may occur on/in:

• • Chemical odors
  • Environmental odors
  • Human and other interior-generated odors
  • Microbiological odors

   

  Repair

  • • Foam seals
    • Rubber seals
    • Adhesives
    • Standing water
    • Water soaked carpet/trim
    1. Identify the type of odor present in the vehicle. Do not proceed with A/C odor treatment if the odor source is found to be outside of the A/C system. Refer to the following list for examples.
       
        

       Odor Source	Odor Description
       Chemical Odors
       Coolant	Sweet smell
       Fuel	Gasoline or diesel fuel smell
       Oil	Oil type or burning smell
       Power Steering Fluid	Oil type or burning smell
       Transmission Fluid	Oil type or burning smell
       Washer Fluid	Alcohol type smell
       Gear Lube	Garlic/sulfur smell
       Refrigerant Oil	Ether type smell
       Carpet/trim Adhesives	Fishy, urine or sweet smell
       Evaporator Core Coating	Wet cement type smell
       Environmental Odors
       Exhaust	Exhaust, fuel or burning type smell
       Industrial Pollutants	Various smells
       Dust	Musty, mildew or wet cement type smell
       Pollen	Sweet smell
       Tobacco	Burning, tar smell
       Human and Other Interior Generated Odors
       Body Secretions	Body odor
       Perfuming Agents	Sweet or fragrance smell
       Clothing	Musty, mildew or body odors
       Food/Beverage	Sweet, musty, mildew or fishy smell
       Microbiological Odors
       Microbiological Odors Occurring Inside of A/C System	Musty, mildew smell lasting about 30 seconds after A/C is turned on
       Microbiological Odors Occurring Outside of A/C System	Musty, mildew smell lasting indefinitely and possibly more pronounced when using recirculated air

       
        

    1. NOTE: Identify the source of the odor.

       • Check the evaporator core drain tube for restriction.
       • Check the passenger and driver side carpet for moisture. If moisture is found, A/C odor treatment is not necessary. Diagnose for a water leak as needed.
       • Check the cabin air filter and cabin air filter cover for moisture resulting from water bypassing the cowl baffling system. If moisture is found, A/C odor treatment is not necessary. Diagnose for a water leak as needed.
       • Check the inner cowl drain area and air inlet screen for material obstruction or standing water. Inspect the area removing any standing water and cleaning the air inlet screen if possible, by using a wet/dry vacuum.

 

Air Conditioning (A-C) Odor Treatment - General Procedures - 2022-2024 Edge Workshop Manual.pdf AirSept - YN-29 Applicator (258-62644).pdf

Edited 11 hours ago by Haz