The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigations has concluded its investigation into alleged carbon monoxide leaks in 2011 to 2017 Ford Explorers and found that no recall is necessary.
The regulator wrote in a document that it has received more than 6,000 complaints from consumers, including police departments, relating to alleged carbon monoxide leaks within the cabin of the Explorer.
Consumers noted a bad odor in the vehicle and some reported suffering from nausea, headaches, and lightheadedness. Some were so concerned about it that they commissioned blood tests, fearing for their well-being. NHTSA, therefore, turned to automotive, medical, environmental health, and occupational safety experts to conduct an in-depth investigation into the issue.
More: Are Ford Explorers Making Drivers Sick With Carbon Monoxide Fumes?
Although it did find elevated levels, NHTSA’s investigation found that the highest levels of carbon monoxide were found in Explorers that had either received upfitting services (the kind intended to turn the Explorer into a police cruiser and performed by dealers or government fleet operations) and after repairs had been made following rear end damage.
It found that “sealing issues” caused by these repairs and modifications were to blame for elevated levels of carbon monoxide. Indeed, those were the only circumstances in which under which this was an issue.
“No vehicles unaffected by upfitter issues or prior crash damage were identified with CO levels that exceed accepted occupational CO exposure levels,” NHTSA wrote. “This investigation finds that the 2011-2017 Ford Explorer vehicles when accurately measured produce occupant compartment CO levels which fall below current accepted health standards, and could not identify [carboxyhemoglobin] levels for vehicle drivers or other occupants, which exceeded thresholds for acute physiological effects.”
As a result, the regulator says that the Explorer does not present an “unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety.” It has now closed its investigation, and will not be recommending a recall.
Ford says that it is pleased with the results of this investigation, per Automotive News, and that its “previous investigation and extensive testing determined the same results, which we have always maintained.”
