A ride-hailing driver in China has been left disgusted and out of pocket after a female passenger allegedly defecated inside his vehicle, leaving behind a foul smell so severe that he was eventually forced to replace the entire rear seat.
The incident reportedly took place in Nanchong, Sichuan Province, during the early hours of Tuesday morning. Driver Chen said he picked up the woman at around 3am and immediately noticed a strong unpleasant odour. At the time, he assumed the smell was coming from the passenger herself and opened all four windows to improve ventilation while continuing the journey.
According to Chen, the woman appeared fully conscious throughout the ride and was continuously talking to her boyfriend on the phone. He said she showed no signs of intoxication, illness or distress that would have suggested a problem.
It was only after the passenger left the vehicle that Chen realised something was seriously wrong. Despite airing out the car, the overpowering smell lingered. Upon inspecting the back seat, he discovered human waste smeared across the rear seat and floor mat, with some of it having seeped deep into the gaps of the upholstery.
Recalling the shocking discovery, Chen described the scene as “absolutely disgusting”. The contamination left him unable to continue working normally, affecting both his income and daily operations.
The driver subsequently sent the vehicle to a professional cleaning centre for a deep sanitisation. However, even after extensive cleaning, the unpleasant odour remained. Friends who entered the vehicle reportedly complained that the smell was unbearable after only a few minutes inside.
With passengers unlikely to tolerate the lingering stench, Chen had little choice but to replace the entire rear seat at his own expense, spending more than 1,000 yuan in the process.
Seeking compensation, Chen reported the matter to police. However, authorities reportedly informed him that the incident was a civil dispute rather than a criminal case, meaning no formal criminal investigation could be opened.
The driver then turned to the ride-hailing platform for assistance. After reviewing the trip details, the platform discovered the booking had been made on behalf of another person. The individual who placed the order claimed not to know the actual passenger and was unable to provide any contact information.
Following its investigation, the platform agreed to cover the cost of replacing the seat and cleaning the vehicle. Additional compensation was also provided to help the driver return to work as quickly as possible.
The company later reminded passengers to behave responsibly while using ride-hailing services and encouraged riders to communicate with drivers immediately if any unexpected situation arises during a journey.
