Fuel/oil or exhaust odor

49357 Views 82 Replies 41 Participants Last post by I hate my trax77, Feb 1, 2022

cribcrab

Discussion Starter · Jan 23, 2016

I'm leasing a 2015 Trax LT. 12,000 + miles already... Sheesh! I've been noticing a fuel or exhaust type odor in the cabin after startup. Usually abates after driving awhile. Seems to me like that shouldn't happen.
I'm also noticing a fair amount of wind or road noise from the passenger side as I'm driving. Not sure if the two are related. Weather seals intact and door fit seems OK.
Anyone else run into this?

Beyond that I'm reasonably satisfied with this ride. Decent mileage and enough soup to pass when I pin it.

1 - 20 of 83 Posts

beeguz

· #2 · Jan 24, 2016

I would first check to see if the windows are up all the way, and that the doors are closing completely, then make sure the rear hatch is closing tightly.

Also take a look around the tail pipe, you may have backed into something, that would hinder the exhaust gases escaping past the rear bumper.

I think everything should still be covered under the warranty

3962

· #3 · Jan 28, 2016

I have noticed some interesting smells coming from my 2016 Trax too. I think that's because it is still new. One day I thought I was smelling something burning from the engine, but it went away. I do smell a faint gas smell when the heater is on too. I'm wondering if those odd smells will just go away with time.

beeguz

· #4 · Jan 28, 2016

Some parts like the exhaust system have labels on them when the car gets hot they start to burn off.

The heat/ac system will pick up outside air then heat it or cool it then blow it into the car, next time you smell something put the heater on recirculate.

The smell will not go away instantly but it will not pick up more.

3962

· #5 · Jan 30, 2016

I will take that into consideration. I actually like the outside air coming in, especially when I'm near a Portillos or a restaurant. The only reason I don't like the recirculate is because the windows tend to fog up in the winter when it is extremely cold and I have the heater on. The car heats up very quickly when I start driving it which is nice. Now, in regards to those labels that you are talking about, do I need to remove them? Does it matter?

beeguz

· #6 · Jan 30, 2016

Those stickers should be long gone from your car at a few hundred miles or a trip on the interstate, they should have burned off.

If you still have that smell after putting on a few hundred miles on your car, take it by the dealer let him look to see if you have anything leaking, for safety sake its worth a look.

judithny1

· #7 · Feb 17, 2016

Hi I have the same problem. I bought a 2015 Chevy Trax in Oct. 2015 and I have been smelling gas fumes also. This happens when I remote start. Have you found a solution or spoke to the service dept at your dealer where you bought it.
Thanks
Judy

beeguz

· #8 · Feb 17, 2016

Remote starting it shouldn't be any different than if you started it from inside the car.

Are you smelling gas or are you smelling exhaust, gas can be from spillage or the gas cap not on tight

Exhaust can be any from a loose exhaust joint either at the engine or under the car, or just the rear hatch door not closed all the way.

You should get in touch with the dealer, exhaust fumes can be dangerous to be safe crack a window when driving, until you have it checked out.

3962

· #9 · Feb 19, 2016

Uh oh I have a feeling a recall is coming if most of us smell gas fumes inside the car. Right now I just turn on the recirculate so I don't smell the outside air and fumes which seems to work. I don't see any leaking anywhere outside the vehicle so I am wondering if this is normal. I opened the hood and all the caps on the fluids seem to be on very tight. Oil cap is on tight too. Very odd that some of us are smelling gas from inside the vehicle.

beeguz

· #10 · Feb 19, 2016

If you are in traffic you will pick up fumes from the cars in front of you because the fresh air system picks up air just behind the hood near the windshield wiper panel.

Most cars today have virtually no smell but there are those cars with failing emissions systems that stink like old cars did, if you are behind an older car with a carburetor they smell the worst.

Makes me wonder how I'm still living, after breathing in all those fumes, from all those old cars I worked on and used since I was 13.

I tried turning off my fresh air in my Trax, what that does is fog the windows, after a little while and recirculates the air inside the car.

If you start to smell fumes you can turn off the outside air, but it does take a few minutes to notice the difference.

3962

· #11 · Feb 20, 2016

Actually it only takes about a second for my Trax to make those fumes disappear when I restrict the outside air from coming in. The weather is getting nicer here in the midwest, so I don't have to worry as much about the windows fogging up with the heat on anymore. Considering the price I paid for the Trax, I guess I shouldn't expect much. It gets me where I need to go around town and handles well in the winter so I can't really complain.

Chevrolet Customer Care

· #12 · Feb 20, 2016

Uh oh I have a feeling a recall is coming if most of us smell gas fumes inside the car. Right now I just turn on the recirculate so I don't smell the outside air and fumes which seems to work. I don't see any leaking anywhere outside the vehicle so I am wondering if this is normal. I opened the hood and all the caps on the fluids seem to be on very tight. Oil cap is on tight too. Very odd that some of us are smelling gas from inside the vehicle.

Hi Nightfire,

We appreciate you bringing this to our attention. If you or anyone else are experiencing these concerns with your Trax, please feel free to let us know in a private message. We would be happy to look into this more, and get in touch with the dealership. We look forward to all of your responses!

Patsy G
Chevrolet Customer Care

jdavenport

· #13 · Mar 28, 2016

My 2016 Chevy Trax, noticed a gas smell. Dealership has ordered a new gas tank as it had a leak. Only had 1000 miles into it.

MPH

· #14 · Apr 9, 2016

Have some one check the oil cooler. It can be seen from under the vehicle looking up at the front of the engine behind the turbo and exhaust manifold area. Had a lot of these leaking on 1.4 Turbo Cruise and are beginning to see the issue on Encore and Trax. They leak on the exhaust and cause the odor, because it burns off on the exhaust it does not drip on the ground.

Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App

karasawa

· #15 · Aug 16, 2016

Just want to chime in on a similar problem with the 2015 TRAX that we bought for mom.

Below is what i PM to Patsy from above. I hope Patsy is really from Chevrolet.

We purchased a brand new Chevy TRAX last Christmas for our mom.

The car only has 1460 miles on it and just recently after a fill up, the car started to have heavy Gasoline smell. The smell is so strong, mom had to move it out of the garage. No visible sign of leakage. But the smell remains near the car even after it was out of the garage.

VIN#

We've made an appointment with mom's local dealership to check.

From the look of this forum, it appears the problem is common (at least 4 cars were reported). Is there anyway to ensure this problem can be resolved on the same visit?

Our mom is over 67 years old and speaks very little English. She's scared to drive the car now. We'd appreciate some attention on this. Thank you.

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patsample

· #16 · Dec 9, 2016

I just bought a 2016 Trax in October and have gas smell. I took it to the dealer and they couldn't find anything wrong. Drove 200 miles and no smell but when I stopped and started again, many times, the persons riding with me could also smell raw gas each time. I feel that I should not have to adjust the air intake, this is a problem that Chevrolet needs to look into as it seems like I am not the only one. I am not pleased that I have to drive an awesome vehicle but get sick from the gas smell.

Reactions: 1

Chevrolet Customer Care

· #17 · Dec 13, 2016

patsample said:
I just bought a 2016 Trax in October and have gas smell. I took it to the dealer and they couldn't find anything wrong. Drove 200 miles and no smell but when I stopped and started again, many times, the persons riding with me could also smell raw gas each time. I feel that I should not have to adjust the air intake, this is a problem that Chevrolet needs to look into as it seems like I am not the only one. I am not pleased that I have to drive an awesome vehicle but get sick from the gas smell.

Hello patsample,

We're sorry to hear about this gas smell you're experiencing with your Trax. We would welcome the opportunity to look into this further for you. If that is of interest, please send our team a private message at your earliest convenience to get started.

Chelsea D.
Chevrolet Customer Care

beeguz

· #18 · Dec 14, 2016

If you have a raw gas smell, there is something seriously wrong, you might have a pin hole in the gas tank or it can be leaking on top of the gas tank where you can't see.

That is a safety hazard, if the dealer can't fix it they should replace the car.

Ysandro Villalba

· #19 · Dec 14, 2016

My 2015 Trax has that same smell when I first turn it on! I'm going to print this thread and take it to my dealership. The smell isn't powerful, but it's noticeable.

beeguz

· #20 · Dec 15, 2016 (Edited)

The only time I get a raw gas smell is when I fill my tank and I spill a little in the process, even then I should not smell gas inside the car but I do.

Why you would smell gas under those circumstances is puzzling, there should be no connection between the gas cap area of the car and the interior, but there is.

It could be a panel that has an opening or a gap that needs to be filled with a sealer, something isn't right, only someone familiar with the structure of the Trax would know.

1 - 20 of 83 Posts

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