My whole car stinks (2007)

[gwen105]

I have the same problem. I bought my car new in April, 2007, and it still smells. It seems to be coming from the upholstery, because when I sit on it for > 10 minutes, my clothes smell for the rest of the day. If I put two towels down and sit on them, my clothes don't smell as much. It is a weird chemical smell, kind of like Band-aids, only not as pleasant. It is not stronger near the battery vent, nor is there anything dead in my car. My air filters are clean.

I took it up with my local dealer. The sales guys acted like I was a nut job and tried to sell me leather seats, but the service manager said that he knows exactly what I am talking about, that he smells it in pretty much all Priuses. He said washing and deodorizing doesn't help and that he has smelled it in Priuses with 100,000 miles on them (it doesn't really fade). He wasn't sure if replacing the cloth seats with leather would keep the stink in, but suspected it would not.

I took it up with Toyota Corporate, who seemed really helpful at first. They wound up suggesting I borrow a 2010 Prius for a couple of days to see if it stunk (It did not-- just the standard new car smell, but when I would leave the car after driving in it for hours my clothes didn't smell at all). When I told them that this car didn't smell, they left me a voicemail saying that they only loaned me that 2010 for my own information, that "the warranty doesn't cover smells". One of their sales guys made a subtle attempt at getting me to sell my old one and buy the 2010. I didn't fall for it.

During my back and forth phone calls with Toyota corporate, I spoke to an engineer who works for them. He said it was probably the flame retardant chemical they use in the seats. He said to search for it on the DOT website (?). He said it seems to be worse in wet climates (I am thinking Atlanta, Oregon) and he said something else that made me think it can be baked out, but he said it was way bigger than something I could do myself. However, that previous post here on Prius Chat, where someone said they successfully removed a smell by leaving a space heater in there, seems promising considering what the engineer said.

All the people I met with at Toyota basically admitted, eventually, that the Priuses have stinky upholstery and that they don't know how to fix it. I am so tired of smelling like weird chemicals all the time. My husband avoids riding in the car. One of my co-workers said he has smelled it in multiple Priuses.

When I figure it out, I will post! And anybody who has suggestions, please post too! I would sell the car back to Toyota and tell them to shove it, but I love the car. Meanwhile, seat covers, as soon as I can find some that won't obstruct the side airbags.

[LRKingII]

Originally Posted by gwen105

I have the same problem. I bought my car new in April, 2007, and it still smells. It seems to be coming from the upholstery, because when I sit on it for > 10 minutes, my clothes smell for the rest of the day. If I put two towels down and sit on them, my clothes don't smell as much. It is a weird chemical smell, kind of like Band-aids, only not as pleasant. It is not stronger near the battery vent, nor is there anything dead in my car. My air filters are clean.

I took it up with my local dealer. The sales guys acted like I was a nut job and tried to sell me leather seats, but the service manager said that he knows exactly what I am talking about, that he smells it in pretty much all Priuses. He said washing and deodorizing doesn't help and that he has smelled it in Priuses with 100,000 miles on them (it doesn't really fade). He wasn't sure if replacing the cloth seats with leather would keep the stink in, but suspected it would not.

I took it up with Toyota Corporate, who seemed really helpful at first. They wound up suggesting I borrow a 2010 Prius for a couple of days to see if it stunk (It did not-- just the standard new car smell, but when I would leave the car after driving in it for hours my clothes didn't smell at all). When I told them that this car didn't smell, they left me a voicemail saying that they only loaned me that 2010 for my own information, that "the warranty doesn't cover smells". One of their sales guys made a subtle attempt at getting me to sell my old one and buy the 2010. I didn't fall for it.

During my back and forth phone calls with Toyota corporate, I spoke to an engineer who works for them. He said it was probably the flame retardant chemical they use in the seats. He said to search for it on the DOT website (?). He said it seems to be worse in wet climates (I am thinking Atlanta, Oregon) and he said something else that made me think it can be baked out, but he said it was way bigger than something I could do myself. However, that previous post here on Prius Chat, where someone said they successfully removed a smell by leaving a space heater in there, seems promising considering what the engineer said.

All the people I met with at Toyota basically admitted, eventually, that the Priuses have stinky upholstery and that they don't know how to fix it. I am so tired of smelling like weird chemicals all the time. My husband avoids riding in the car. One of my co-workers said he has smelled it in multiple Priuses.

When I figure it out, I will post! And anybody who has suggestions, please post too! I would sell the car back to Toyota and tell them to shove it, but I love the car. Meanwhile, seat covers, as soon as I can find some that won't obstruct the side airbags.

If they say it can be baked out have you thought about finding a quality paint shop that has a temp controled paint booth? Might be worth a try to check around and ask them if they have a idea and if they can bake it for awhile...a custom body / paint place would be what to look for. A place that does car restorations might be a good place to start.

[gwen105]

Originally Posted by LRKingII

If they say it can be baked out have you thought about finding a quality paint shop that has a temp controled paint booth? Might be worth a try to check around and ask them if they have a idea and if they can bake it for awhile...a custom body / paint place would be what to look for. A place that does car restorations might be a good place to start.

What a great idea! I will check it out.

[blippo]

Oh my, I went to the dealer today and took a drive in a 2010 with leather seats. It had an definite strong odor. The other 2010 on the showroom floor with leather seats didn't have that odor. There is something to this

[Bobsprius]

The "smell stories" are interesting in that if it was coming from filler material in the seats, you would expect that to be affecting a wider group of owners.

One thing and I didn't read each thread in it's entirity, but maybe you have used RECIRC a lot and I find that my partners Honda Accord smells inside and neither of us smoke or in the cars. It's a musty sort of smell, just not fresh that I see in that vehicle. I typically tend to use FRESH AIR and don't have that in my new Prius nor in my 2007 Honda that I traded in for the Prius.

Electrical smell, is somewhat concerning, but as some have suggested to check under the engine, get it on a lift check for any sort of bird, animal remains that could have been decaying in some small place. You state you have changed out the cabin filter and the Engine air filer I presume?

Something just doesn't add up to have such a bad smell like that.

Good Luck in your search for an definitive answer...What about leaving all windows open if you have a secure area during the daylight and sun and air out for several days to see if it helps? I know this is dumb, anything under the seat or got there somehow and you didn't know it???

Good Luck!

[Cip]

OK! I just bought a 2005 Prius and it smells! Before I test drove a RAV4 from 2006 and felt the same smell. Did anybody reach to a solution. And btw, I am 90% (I grew up in a farm) the it smells like SHEEP. Anybody can confirm that the smell is from the upholstery?

[tech]

Put your nose to the shoulder height vent at right rear seat. That is where the odor emanates from my '06 Prius - the NiMH battery compartment! What's up with this Toyota! There should be a TSB on the defect. Way too many complaints!

[jayman]

Originally Posted by tech

my '06 Prius - the lithium battery compartment!

You mean NiMH battery compartment. I never had more than a faint "electrical" odor from the vent

[mack400]

Originally Posted by jayman

You mean NiMH battery compartment. I never had more than a faint "electrical" odor from the vent

this is exactly where my smell is strongest. my dealer just fragged the interior but i still smell something. is this rear shoulder vent a part of the ventilation system or does it vent the batteries john