Burning plastic or rubber smell outside of vehicle

[luck11]

So remote started my vehicle at the end of work today and when I approached the running vehicle, I notice a distinct smell of burning plastic or rubber, not sure. Thought maybe coming from another vehicle, so left, came home, parked in garage. Wife goes in garage and says "funny smell in the garage". Go into garage, and sure enough, same burning plastic or rubber smell.

I recall having a weird smell in winter with my Toyota highlander years ago and the dealer telling me that it was the salt and brine on the exhaust that would create such a smell. This is different though....definitely smells like burning or melting plastic.

Nothing inside the cabin on my way home.

Anyone experience this?

Any ideas what it could be?

 

[vprasanna]

I’ve driven extensively in the snow in Ottawa @luck11 .. I haven’t noticed anything like that. But curious to know what’s the cause.

 

[joegr]

I once had a Walmart bag (unknown to me at the time) on the road catch under my car on the exhaust. It melted to the hot exhaust and it was months before it cooked off enough for the smell to go away.
I'd look under there really good to make sure that this isn't something more serious though.

 

[luck11]

I once had a Walmart bag (unknown to me at the time) on the road catch under my car on the exhaust. It melted to the hot exhaust and it was months before it cooked off enough for the smell to go away.
I'd look under there really good to make sure that this isn't something more serious though.

Thanks, I was exactly my thinking and thus why I looked underneath last night to see if there was anything stuck to the exhaust, and unfortunately, nada, at least as far as I could tell. Would have much better view if I could hoist it up. Having a bag would have been the easy explanation. So, cause is still a mystery.

Going to try starting it later in my garage (with door open) and let it warm up. Maybe I can decipher the location.

 

[Philba123]

Thanks, I was exactly my thinking and thus why I looked underneath last night to see if there was anything stuck to the exhaust, and unfortunately, nada, at least as far as I could tell. Would have much better view if I could hoist it up. Having a bag would have been the easy explanation. So, cause is still a mystery.

Going to try starting it later in my garage (with door open) and let it warm up. Maybe I can decipher the location.

Any update to this? 2 years later and am still smelling it initially and goes away after about 20 to 30 mins of driving

 

[luck11]

Haven't smelled anything in quite a while and don't recall how long it lasted. Just went away on its own. It's quite possible something did melt on the exhaust but I just could not see it.

 

[Lady Bird]

Owner of a 2023 (with 16k miles) curre tky having the burning plastic smell and can't quite get to cause. I just got the car serviced so I hate to have it go back to the shop. I had similar issue with my Lexus, however confirmed it was a plastic bag. Ironic part, smells like its coming from the rear of the car.

 

[Nakapozian]

I once had a Walmart bag (unknown to me at the time) on the road catch under my car on the exhaust. It melted to the hot exhaust and it was months before it cooked off enough for the smell to go away.
I'd look under there really good to make sure that this isn't something more serious though.

Had this happen to me before too, and oh god, the smell! Now when we see a bag on the road, it's a joke about avoiding it