2024 Outback Wilderness has a wretched smell in the cabin

[dskilgore]

We bought an Outback Wilderness new in 2024 and have enjoyed it until now. About three months ago, we noticed a nasty smell inside the cabin. This is not a gas smell, exhaust smell, or anything like that. It is more like stinky feet and vomit. It is a horrible smell, and we could not find anything that would explain the smell. We did notice it had come a bad storm, and somewhere in a forum, I found a couple of stories of older Subarus that were leaking into the spare tire area. We pulled out the spare and voila! There was something all over the spare tire, and it was definitely where the smell was originating from. We sprayed some smell neutralizer into the area, which fixed it for a week or so. The smell came back with a vengeance. We took it to the dealership from which we purchased it, which kept it for five weeks, to inform us that the seal around the lift gate was where the water was getting in from. The seal was replaced, and off we went. Two weeks later, the smell was back (after another hard rain). It has been almost three weeks since they have had the car. First, we were told that something had to be welded; then that changed to a problem with a body panel not fitting correctly. Now we have no idea and no car.

All this to ask, has anyone else experienced this problem, and if so, how was it fixed? TIA

 

[bmart]

I had this on an older Legacy I owned. I drilled a small hole at the low spot and viola...no more water or smell. No one could find the ingress point. We looked for years.

 

[dskilgore]

Thanks for the tip.

 

[Matt42]

You should not have to drill a drain hole in the spare tire well. The car is defective. Try this:

1. Sit inside the back area and close the hatch.
2. Have someone drench the back area with a garden hose and figure out where the water is coming in, --or--
3. While sitting in the back, take the car through a long car wash, and figure out where the water is coming in, --or--
4. While sitting in the back, take the car to a coin-op car wash where they have high pressure washing wands, and figure out where the water is coming in.
5. For scenarios 2 through 4, mark the entry areas with a felt pen and go back to the dealer.
6. If you have the capability, remove the plastic inside hatch shroud for scenarios 2 through 4.
7. Check your state's lemon laws.

Lastly, smell remover won't do the job. You are probably getting mold or mildew, maybe both. You will need to clean the spare tire, the spare tire well, the styrofoam insert and all the tools with soap and water.

 

[Train Dan]

We used to prank people by hiding a fully loaded Coney Island hot dog somewhere in their vehicle.
But this sounds a real PITA. Have you been offered a loaner while the dealer searches for a possible source?
Happy to say, my Outback had a baptism in a downpour of Biblical proportions, and nothing leaked.
But it's also a reminder we should look in the spare tire well from time to time, if for nothing more than checking the tire pressure in the spare.
Dan