[Rhex]

We ordered our Limited Pacifica about 8 weeks ago and picked it up with 26 miles at the Dealership on Monday morning. Boy does it look and drive nice!


It has about 60 miles now and we park it in our garage and right away I noticed an unusual burning type smell that is sorta like a new exhaust system burning off, or maybe the brakes wearing in?


I'd feel a lot better if others on here say they have experienced the same thing....


Has anyone else encountered this unusual burning type of odor for the 1st few days/weeks?


If not, I may call up the dealer and have them check it out as I am envisioning this smell would be like they forgot to put oil somewhere or a bearing is burning up, but maybe new cars these days just stink more with the new coatings they apply to the exhaust or other parts that get hot?


Thanks!


Rick

 

[generaltso]

If it's not overwhelmingly bad, I'd say it's normal. I've had mine for about a week, and I'm still smelling some stuff burning off. This has been the case for the last several new cars I've bought. It should go away after a few hundred miles.

 

[Rhex]

Thanks!

Yeah it's not real strong but definitely noticeable....

I'll give it a week or two to burn off and if it's still smelling up the garage I"ll take it in for a check.

 

[Nails1]

I've noticed the odor as well from the engine compartment. It is getting less with time. Assume it is just coatings and films burning off.

 

[DadBrand]

This is normal, and the smell is most likely caused by cosmoline burning off. That can be used on various parts, including exhaust components, heat shields, and, most commonly, brake rotors. As these components are subjected to ambient heat or friction, the cosmoline will burn off. It does smell bad. Most new cars will experience this, at least over the first few hundred miles.

Certainly not the "new car smell" I remember as a kid when visiting the local dealer showroom with my dad on a Saturday afternoon!

 

[irpilot]

This is normal, and the smell is most likely caused by cosmoline burning off. That can be used on various parts, including exhaust components, heat shields, and, most commonly, brake rotors. As these components are subjected to ambient heat or friction, the cosmoline will burn off. It does smell bad. Most new cars will experience this, at least over the first few hundred miles.

Certainly not the "new car smell" I remember as a kid when visiting the local dealer showroom with my dad on a Saturday afternoon!

My favorite smell about the Porsche I used to own was the cosmoline. I didn't think any other manufacturers used it. Unfortunately I didn't get the joy of getting it from our Pacifica... so sad:crying:

 

[Rhex]

Thanks Everyone! I feel a lot better now and will just wait for it to dissipate.... ?

 

[max72]

I had a similar experience after driving to the mountains. There was a interesting burning smell coming from under the hood. It smells sort of sweet like if you were to burn sugar.
The van runs fine. I opened the hood and noticed the smell came from the left side of the engine. I don't know what to make of it.

 

[Jerith]

I've installed mint new brake pads in a used truck once. The next test drive was by a 'Ford Man' who was checking on the truck for his Dad. The new pads smelled after. Mr Ford claimed they were all junk and walked away.
The smell is similar to fresh tires/belts. A different smell from the engine.
That new car smell... I thought I learned that that smell was toxic. Hot-boxing and high on the fumes from the new glue.

 

[Daveinpvks]

We ordered our Limited Pacifica about 8 weeks ago and picked it up with 26 miles at the Dealership on Monday morning. Boy does it look and drive nice!


It has about 60 miles now and we park it in our garage and right away I noticed an unusual burning type smell that is sorta like a new exhaust system burning off, or maybe the brakes wearing in?


I'd feel a lot better if others on here say they have experienced the same thing....


Has anyone else encountered this unusual burning type of odor for the 1st few days/weeks?


If not, I may call up the dealer and have them check it out as I am envisioning this smell would be like they forgot to put oil somewhere or a bearing is burning up, but maybe new cars these days just stink more with the new coatings they apply to the exhaust or other parts that get hot?


Thanks!


Rick

Mine did that too. The exhaust components are formed with mandrels and there is oil residue left from the the process. Same with any parts that get hot. As soon as impurities are burned off there will be no more odors.

 

[DonnaJohnstone]

We've had our 2018 Pacifica Limited for just under a month now without this issue. Today while backing the car out of the garage and then for the 6 freeway miles to the bank, it put out a noxious smell. It was very strong. I rolled down windows and once at the bank I spent about an hour or more on the phone trying to get Chrysler to take it in for service. We had a tow truck drive it to the dealership as I was unwilling to drive with that happening. It was parked about 2-1/2 hours before being towed. Once at the dealership they could not reproduce the smell. The car has 850 miles on it. A noxious smell like that definitely concerns me. They ran some diagnostics and couldn't find anything and the smell didn't present while they checked it. I drove it back home without noticing the smell. I sure hope it does not happen again.

 

[ChryslerCares]

We've had our 2018 Pacifica Limited for just under a month now without this issue. Today while backing the car out of the garage and then for the 6 freeway miles to the bank, it put out a noxious smell. It was very strong. I rolled down windows and once at the bank I spent about an hour or more on the phone trying to get Chrysler to take it in for service. We had a tow truck drive it to the dealership as I was unwilling to drive with that happening. It was parked about 2-1/2 hours before being towed. Once at the dealership they could not reproduce the smell. The car has 850 miles on it. A noxious smell like that definitely concerns me. They ran some diagnostics and couldn't find anything and the smell didn't present while they checked it. I drove it back home without noticing the smell. I sure hope it does not happen again.

Hi DonnaJohnstone,
If you notice this happening again, we do recommend bringing it back to your dealership as soon as possible so they are able to duplicate/witness the smell. Please feel free to send us a private message as well if an additional layer of assistance is needed.
Julie
Chrysler Social Care Specialist