LexHybrid1

anyone else notice an odor in their trunk? mine smells like a faint cat pee. my best guess is that the battery packs emit this smell. trunk did not have this odor when car was new. car is at 5000 miles now.

thanks.

txes

Probably coming from a conventional acid type battery. Do they keep the 12v in the trunk area?

jim256

None here at all after 1+ years, nor on 2 previous hybrids, one with a rear 12v battery. The tire has a typical slight new rubber tire smell. Best to check for a cat(!), some other rubber item you've stored in the trunk or tire well, or visit the dealer. The hybrid battery ventilates via the grate by the rear seat and a fan. Do you sense any odor there when the car is off?

LexHybrid1

i've only picked up on it while the car is off, loading/unloading trunk items. i just checked it after being garaged all night and the smell is very faint. it's not a rubber smell. car was just at the dealer for the 5k inspection/rotation, nothing unusual was noted.

have read about trunk-mounted 12V causing sulfur smell, but nothing has ever come into the cabin. not sure this smell is sulfur-based anyway. will just keep monitoring to see if it gets worse especially after a drive. i can't see how a cat could have made its way into a closed trunk, but maybe an animal sprayed up from below or something. not going to be too concerned about this, unless the smell gets stronger or happens just after driving.

thanks.

atoyota

I did coincidentally smell a urine smell from the trunk area yesterday. It was pretty strong and I am not sure it is related to yours. In my case I was at a park and when I came back to my car and opened the trunk I smelled a urine smell. I've never smelled it before and I didn't smell it when I got home. I just put it to maybe a dog relieving himself on the back tire or something since I was parked next to a trail. I'll pay more attention and report if I smell it again.

Arty101

I hope it's the sulfur off-gas from the lead acid battery in your trunk rather than a cat that go in somehow.

Lexusxoxo

I agree.. Cat urine smell will NEVER go away..

LexHybrid1

i'm pretty sure a cat/animal didn't get in there. will chalk it up to the aux battery on the right side combined with the other new materials (trunk carpet/mat, spare tire, etc.) back there.

thanks again.