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If Your Car Smells Like This, You Need to Bring It In

A manufacturing defect has left some vehicles with a rather unpleasant scent.

It's hard to find anything as oddly satisfying as that "new car smell" you get driving a vehicle fresh off the lot. And while it might be hard to put your finger on exactly what that scent reminds you of, it's very unlikely that it could be described as "hot garbage." That is, of course, unless you recently purchased a new Hyundai vehicle. According to Cars.com, customers who purchased brand new 2020 Hyundai Palisade SUVs earlier this year were subjected to a unique sensory experience: namely, the vehicles smelled terrible. Read on to find out more about the stench and what to do, and for another sensory update, check out This Is What It Means If You Hate the Smell of Bacon, According to Science.

Initial reports from Hyundai Palisade drivers in August noted a "sharp chemical odor with a dash of something organic like garlic or rotten produce," with others describing it as "really bad breath," "old worn socks," and even "hot garbage."

Luckily, investigations by Hyundai have provided insight. It turns out, the imitation leather used in the headrest pieces—specifically in "Palisade Limited and Calligraphy trim levels equipped with Nappa leather on the seats"—was the culprit. "It also didn't help that new-car smells customarily fade, which, some owners told us, led their dealerships to advise them to wait it out," Cars.com reported. "[But] stinky Palisades, by contrast, seem to worsen over time."

Now, owners can breathe a deep sigh of relief, as a quick spray of odor neutralizer seems to be effective in most cases. However, if your vehicle still stinks after a spritz, Hyundai says it will install new equipment free of charge. "It's a rare occurrence that they have to replace all seven headrests," Hyundai spokesman Miles Johnson told Cars.com. "The engineering team is confident in the process."

While it stinks to be stuck with a smelly car, this is far from the only defective item to make it to market lately. Read on for other important recalls that should be on your radar, and for more on how to keep every member of your household safe, check out If You Feed Your Dog This, the FDA Says to Stop Immediately.

Read the original article on Best Life.

1
Rogue Home timers

closeup of digital timer, black with red numbers
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Approximately 8,900 Coulter Ventures Rogue Home Timers—a product used to time exercise intervals—were recalled on Nov. 4 due to their risk of catching fire. A recall notice from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that there have been seven known incidents of the timer's lithium-ion batteries overheating, leading to the timer's battery case to melt in two cases and posing a potential fire risk. And for more exercise equipment you may need to check on, check out This Hugely Popular Quarantine Purchase Has Just Been Recalled.

2
Sonoma Goods for Life candles

cozy home decor burning candles
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Kohl's recently recalled over 500,000 of its Sonoma Goods For Life three-wick candles due to "fire and burn hazards," according to a Nov. 10 report from the CPSC. Kohl's received 29 reports of high flames and the glass surrounding the candles breaking, several of which resulted in burn injuries and property damage, the CPSC reports.

The agency warns that "consumers should immediately stop using the recalled candles and return them to the nearest Kohl's store." The recalled candles, which were sold in Kohl's stores and on its website from Dec. 2019 through Oct. 2020, come in 30 different models and scents, all of which are included in the CPSC statement. You can make a return at any Kohl's retail location if you own one of the recalled candles. And for the item another big box store just pulled off shelves, check out Target Just Recalled 122,500 Pairs of Shoes For This Scary Reason.

3
Ring doorbells

ring doorbell mounted outside home
BrandonKleinVideo/Shutterstock

It's ironic that something meant to keep your home safe can pose a danger to it, but such is the case with certain Ring video doorbells. The CPSC reports that 350,000 of Ring's second-generation doorbells sold in the U.S. and an additional 8,700 doorbells sold in Canada pose a risk of catching fire if the product's screws were installed incorrectly. As of Nov. 10, 23 doorbells had ignited, and there had been eight reports of users receiving "minor burns." And for more up-to-date information on recalls and retail, sign up for our daily newsletter.

4
Yeti mugs

closeup of woman's hand securing lid on yeti travel mug
Yeti

On Nov. 4, Yeti announced the recall of its Rambler travel mugs due to injury and burn risk after it was discovered that the magnetic slider that's supposed to keep the lid sealed can potentially eject, causing the mug's contents to spill and burn users. As of the recall date, there had been two reports of the slider ejecting but luckily, there have yet to be any injuries. And for more potentially dangerous items you may have purchased, check out If You Bought This From Amazon, Stop Using It Immediately.

Zachary Mack
Zach is a freelance writer specializing in beer, wine, food, spirits, and travel. He is based in Manhattan. Read more
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