Exhaust fumes smell in the cabin
Smelling exhaust fumes inside the car is not just unpleasant — it's a serious health risk because of the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning. It usually means the exhaust system has a leak or there's a problem under the bonnet, so it shouldn't be ignored.
Likely causes — most common first
Leaking exhaust manifold
Most often the smell comes from a burnt manifold gasket or tiny cracks in the metal itself. Fumes from under the bonnet then get pulled into the ventilation system and into the cabin.
Worn door or boot seals
Even a perfectly good exhaust system can draw fumes inside if the rubber door or boot seals have cracked or lost their elasticity.
Burned-through exhaust pipe or joints
The silencer or resonator pipes can burn through or leak at the clamps and joints along the bottom of the car, releasing fumes closer to the passenger area.
EGR valve or turbo problems
On diesel and some petrol cars, fumes can leak through cracks in the EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) hoses or through worn turbo shaft seals.
