Why does a 3-year-old car still have a pungent plastic smell?
2 Answers
The reasons why a 3-year-old car still has a pungent plastic smell are: 1. Poor quality of leather products such as floor mats and seat covers; 2. Inferior plastic materials used in some interior parts; 3. Odors emitted from aftermarket accessories; 4. Blocked ventilation system or presence of foreign objects; 5. Possible sources of formaldehyde or other harmful substance contamination. Methods to remove the plastic smell in the car: 1. Bamboo charcoal deodorization: Bamboo charcoal is an excellent adsorbent with both physical and chemical adsorption properties, capable of selectively adsorbing various substances in the air to achieve disinfection and deodorization; 2. Professional treatment services: Seek a professional treatment service that uses photocatalyst technology to thoroughly eliminate harmful substances through the principles of chemical penetration, decomposition, solidification, and stabilization.
I've been driving my own car for three years now, and since last summer, there's been this really pungent plastic smell, probably due to the aging of interior materials. When the car was new, the dashboard, door panels, and carpets already had a smell, but now after three years, the plastic is decomposing under high temperatures, releasing VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which smells awful. There's also the accumulated dust and mold in the AC system—every time I turn on the cold air, it blows out a musty smell mixed with plastic. Leaving the car parked in the garage for long periods in high heat speeds up material degradation. Sometimes, cheap aftermarket floor mats or seat covers can make things worse. The smell isn't just unpleasant—it might cause dizziness or allergies. I recommend rolling down the windows more often to let in fresh air and regularly replacing the AC filter, which is simple and cheap. If that doesn’t help, get it checked and cleaned professionally to ensure safety. Don’t delay—health comes first.
