Bronco interior smell like rotten meat?!?

[JBlanco]

Of the ones having a weird smell, how many are hard tops?

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[WillisC’onnors]

This summer there has been a bad smell and I have pinpointed it to the seat belt and all of that column. Not sure if it leaked or something got in and died? It’s been here for months now. Usually something that dies, the smell goes away? I pulled it apart and found it is really bad on the seatbelt. The dealer said it’s not a “dead” smell but they cannot figure it out. Smells like an old fishing tackle box with the old rubber worms. The service manager suggested it may be the materials, lubricants or adhesive breaking down causing the smell. Anyone else had this issue? If so how’d you fix it?

I am having this exact issue and feel slightly better that someone else is too. I have 21 basesquatch, noticed the smell after rains and humidity. Cabin air filter is fine, car smelled great before the rains. I’m at a loss. I don’t eat in my car and no one else uses my bronco, no food or drink allowed. The smell is permeating from the same area you describe. I’m thinking of taking the seats and what not out th

 

[WillisC’onnors]

I am having this exact issue and feel slightly better that someone else is too. I have 21 basesquatch, noticed the smell after rains and humidity. Cabin air filter is fine, car smelled great before the rains. I’m at a loss. I don’t eat in my car and no one else uses my bronco, no food or drink allowed. The smell is permeating from the same area you describe. I’m thinking of taking the seats and what not out th

Smells like garlic powerbait

 

[WillisC’onnors]

Of the ones having a weird smell, how many are hard tops?

Mine is a HT

 

[Limpetman]

Just had really heavy rain downpour and when I got in to drive I noticed the drivers seatbelt is very damp...so I'm assuming there is a leak. This might be a factor in the smell...the seatbelt getting damp and then mouldy/musty?

 

[thetrentmeister]

Has anybody found a resolution for this smell? I am having the same issue and it’s currently at the dealer and they say that they smell nothing unusual, which I’ve had friends and family get into my bronco and say that it stinks. I’m pretty sure the evaporator coil has mold and mildew.

 

[Greydog]

Has anybody found a resolution for this smell? I am having the same issue and it’s currently at the dealer and they say that they smell nothing unusual, which I’ve had friends and family get into my bronco and say that it stinks. I’m pretty sure the evaporator coil has mold and mildew.

After a full detail didn’t get rid of the odor, i used an ozone generator and it’s about 98% gone. I was skeptical, but I ran the generator for 10 minutes and now I really have to try hard to smell/locate the foul odor. I’m hoping a second round with the generator will fully eliminate it.

In case anyone is interested, this is the one I bought off Amazon. I tested it on my sons cleats and was really impressed with how it removed the horrid smell.
AIRTHEREAL MA5000 Commercial... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0795P2674?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

As for the source, I’m still trying to figure that out. I had a terrible odor coming from the left dash/air vent, and genuinely thought something had died in the car. But after disassembling everything, I could not find anything. Based on everyone’s comments, I’m thinking it’s moisture related, which would make sense since I had the back windows out during multiple thunderstorms.

 

[AntimatterJ]

Mine is in the shop currently because, fortunately, my son noticed that the rear, driver's side seat belt was soaking wet after a big rain storm. It took the dealer a day or so to replicate the leak but they did find it coming from the center roof panel. Waiting on word from Ford on if they want to replace all the weather stripping or replace the roof. The dealer said they've seen Ford replace a whole roof for this issue before. I'll update when I hear anything.

 

[AntimatterJ]

Mine is in the shop currently because, fortunately, my son noticed that the rear, driver's side seat belt was soaking wet after a big rain storm. It took the dealer a day or so to replicate the leak but they did find it coming from the center roof panel. Waiting on word from Ford on if they want to replace all the weather stripping or replace the roof. The dealer said they've seen Ford replace a whole roof for this issue before. I'll update when I hear anything.

Update: Ford sent out all new weather stripping for the hard top for install. Hoping it solves the issue.

 

[Sunday Money]

This summer there has been a bad smell and I have pinpointed it to the seat belt and all of that column. Not sure if it leaked or something got in and died? It’s been here for months now. Usually something that dies, the smell goes away? I pulled it apart and found it is really bad on the seatbelt. The dealer said it’s not a “dead” smell but they cannot figure it out. Smells like an old fishing tackle box with the old rubber worms. The service manager suggested it may be the materials, lubricants or adhesive breaking down causing the smell. Anyone else had this issue? If so how’d you fix it?

OP: Did you ever figure out the source/solve the problem?

 

[Toonces]

My Bronco is just about a year old and has an odd smell, as well - not as bad as rotting meat but rather, it smells like something is off-gassing but never clears up. It's not a new car smell, but something is off and I can't figure it out... I have the leather interior, I'm the only driver, I rarely have passengers, never spilled anything, never took the top off (hard top), and I'm just at a loss as to what it could be. It's strong enough that it often turns my stomach, and I'm usually able to smell it for awhile after getting out of the truck. It's also not a dead animal.

 

[Jeraeyguy84]

Yup. I thought it was only mine. I kept looking to see if my kids left for somewhere. But nope. It's not all the time, but it does happen. I have a hard top. Maybe it rain getting trapped in the cracks. Very strange though. It pisses me off. Lol

 

[Zstngz]

Yup. I thought it was only mine. I kept looking to see if my kids left for somewhere. But nope. It's not all the time, but it does happen. I have a hard top. Maybe it rain getting trapped in the cracks. Very strange though. It pisses me off. Lol

Again, an open jar or dish with a decent amount of baking soda. Just leave it . I stuck mine under driver's seat and forgot about.

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