2020 Expedition up in flames

[Kevin-Michigan]

Wow. They should report it to NHTSA.gov. it's their job to investigate safety issues and track them in case there is pattern. Our 2020 Expy has had a strange burning smell that we were told was common in new cars with coatings burning off. We have about 2200 miles on it and still notice the smell albeit not as strong. I recall seeing a post on this forum recently showing melted components in the engine compartment for a new Expy.

 

[edizzle]

I've driven some real shitboxes in my life and never experienced anything close to this.

OMG that got me!!! LOL. havent we all!!! well maybe not my daughter, her first car is a 2021 Bronco Outer Banks with Sasquatch!!! LOL!! She is a hell of a kid though!!

 

[StealthyBulldog]

OMG that got me!!! LOL. havent we all!!! well maybe not my daughter, her first car is a 2021 Bronco Outer Banks with Sasquatch!!! LOL!! She is a hell of a kid though!!

Any chance you are interested in adopting? I'm great at handing the right wrench or screwdriver when you are working on the car...... Just throwing it out there haha

 

[Soliyou]

If an expedition burns in the woods and no one is around, will anyone know it was there?

it reminded me of a soda can that my kids threw in the camp fire couple of weeks ago. The thing totally disappeared.

 

[Gregg Eshelman]

I'd think Ford would be very interested in having a look at it along with the NHTSA to see if they can figure out why a new vehicle with only 2200 miles on it went up in flames. That's long before the first scheduled maintenance. Shouldn't have been any reason to open the hood yet for anything.

I've been flat out lied to about there not being an unserviced recall on a Mountaineer, when they had the leaking switch on the brake booster that was causing fires by dribbling fluid on the left exhaust. Luckily for me that switch failed electrically while it was leaking fluid and I saw the brake fluid when I was looking for the cause of the problem. Was either the antilock brakes or the cruise control wasn't working due to that pressure sensor switch going bad. Replacement of the new design switch was out of my pocket because the dealer wouldn't own up to there being an open recall on that vehicle, though I did get a notice by mail from elsewhere at Ford, a while after I replaced the switch.

So yes, the owners should go after Ford hot and heavy for a brand new replacement or paying back however much they've paid on the loan.

 

[5280tunage]

Not to mention they should be doing everything humanly possible to keep a customer who just lost something they were likely pretty proud of and excited to own. After all, if the OP gets a full replacement value check, most people at this point would likely buy anything but the vehicle that just endangered their family. I get it, some folks love certain brands so much they may go back, not sure I would at this point. Ford should be doing everything it can to keep the customer, maybe cutting any depreciation the buyer may not get from insurance (just depends on there agency) from the cost of a new vehicle at a minimum. Just a thought.

One thing is for sure with these, any possible evidence of negligence or manufacturing issues is likely to never be found if it once existed...

 

[mwl001]

I'd think Ford would be very interested in having a look at it along with the NHTSA to see if they can figure out why a new vehicle with only 2200 miles on it went up in flames. That's long before the first scheduled maintenance. Shouldn't have been any reason to open the hood yet for anything.

I've been flat out lied to about there not being an unserviced recall on a Mountaineer, when they had the leaking switch on the brake booster that was causing fires by dribbling fluid on the left exhaust. Luckily for me that switch failed electrically while it was leaking fluid and I saw the brake fluid when I was looking for the cause of the problem. Was either the antilock brakes or the cruise control wasn't working due to that pressure sensor switch going bad. Replacement of the new design switch was out of my pocket because the dealer wouldn't own up to there being an open recall on that vehicle, though I did get a notice by mail from elsewhere at Ford, a while after I replaced the switch.

So yes, the owners should go after Ford hot and heavy for a brand new replacement or paying back however much they've paid on the loan.

That's going to cost a lot in legal fees. No guarantee of victory. You'd have to prove wrongdoing by Ford to collect, seems like setting your savings account on fire because your car caught fire... feel free to disagree.

Not to mention they should be doing everything humanly possible to keep a customer who just lost something they were likely pretty proud of and excited to own. After all, if the OP gets a full replacement value check, most people at this point would likely buy anything but the vehicle that just endangered their family. I get it, some folks love certain brands so much they may go back, not sure I would at this point. Ford should be doing everything it can to keep the customer, maybe cutting any depreciation the buyer may not get from insurance (just depends on there agency) from the cost of a new vehicle at a minimum. Just a thought.

One thing is for sure with these, any possible evidence of negligence or manufacturing issues is likely to never be found if it once existed...

I think that all depends on how one views their lot in life. If you think you were a victim of some malicious or negligent act, you could internalize it and try to hold really any party responsible, doesn't seem to matter who as long as someone else pays. Or, likely this was a freak accident as there are not even small numbers of Expeditions or other ecoboost engines bursting into flames either new or old, so why would it occur to you that lightning would strike twice? Having to replace a brand new vehicle would freak me out too which is why I buy up to full vehicle replacement on my auto policy, for less than $100/year.

 

[5280tunage]

That's going to cost a lot in legal fees. No guarantee of victory. You'd have to prove wrongdoing by Ford to collect, seems like setting your savings account on fire because your car caught fire... feel free to disagree.



I think that all depends on how one views their lot in life. If you think you were a victim of some malicious or negligent act, you could internalize it and try to hold really any party responsible, doesn't seem to matter who as long as someone else pays. Or, likely this was a freak accident as there are not even small numbers of Expeditions or other ecoboost engines bursting into flames either new or old, so why would it occur to you that lightning would strike twice? Having to replace a brand new vehicle would freak me out too which is why I buy up to full vehicle replacement on my auto policy, for less than $100/year.

It's not an "odds" thing at that point, the odds of having a vehicle fire are super low regardless. It's a trust thing, and a manufacturer trying to help can go a long way to help a consumer feel like they back their own product. If you have a brand you love you may stick with it regardless, but if you say owned a Samsung dishwasher that died after a year and Samsung would do nothing to help, you likely wouldn't buy it again. As a consumer that's a pretty normal reaction, and why have competing brands is a good thing.

 

[mwl001]

It's not an "odds" thing at that point, the odds of having a vehicle fire are super low regardless. It's a trust thing, and a manufacturer trying to help can go a long way to help a consumer feel like they back their own product. If you have a brand you love you may stick with it regardless, but if you say owned a Samsung dishwasher that died after a year and Samsung would do nothing to help, you likely wouldn't buy it again. As a consumer that's a pretty normal reaction, and why have competing brands is a good thing.

I completely agree. Where we disagree is equating a total loss catastrophe with a faulty dishwasher. I don’t think those are the same issue.

 

[5280tunage]

I'll leave it at that, but why not? Of course one is lower cost, but this day in age people equate everything to being disposable. Why not buy a new $1K cell phone every year. I personally don't agree with that, but I'm just saying that my personally, if my brand new car, with 2K miles on it, burst into flames through no fault of my own, you'd have to pay me to get another one, meaning on top of the cost of the new vehicle. Especially with my kids in the back seat. Using a dishwasher as an example wasn't meant to be apples to apples, was just meant to show that as a consumer, it behooves you to listen to your learned senses, one of which could be trust.

I'll get off my soap box. I go back to the meat of this post, to the OP, I'm truly thankful everyone inside is okay, and I'm sorry for the troubles you experienced. I hope you're treated fairly throughout the process moving forward.

 

[mwl001]

I'll leave it at that, but why not? Of course one is lower cost, but this day in age people equate everything to being disposable. Why not buy a new $1K cell phone every year. I personally don't agree with that, but I'm just saying that my personally, if my brand new car, with 2K miles on it, burst into flames through no fault of my own, you'd have to pay me to get another one, meaning on top of the cost of the new vehicle. Especially with my kids in the back seat. Using a dishwasher as an example wasn't meant to be apples to apples, was just meant to show that as a consumer, it behooves you to listen to your learned senses, one of which could be trust.

I'll get off my soap box. I go back to the meat of this post, to the OP, I'm truly thankful everyone inside is okay, and I'm sorry for the troubles you experienced. I hope you're treated fairly throughout the process moving forward.

id say they are different because dishwashers malfunctioning after a year is common and can be reasonably assumed to be a low quality design or part failure. Vehicle fire could be a defect or it could be a catastrophic event that’s not repeatable or predictable.

 

[Thunderbirdsport]

Your vehicle burns, you get a new car. If it's a new(er) one and you have good insurance, it should cover the total loss.

But not everyone has homeowners insurance.

It's a hell of a lot easier to find a new car than it is a home, is just my point.

 

[KJ-Idaho]

Yes. Thank goodness you were all ok.

Back when they were still testing the soon to be released aluminum bodied F-150’s, we were on the freeway headed down to San Diego when we saw a similarly engulfed F-150. Flames going up15-20 feet - must have spread quickly

I expect Ford is fully aware of the flammability of these vehicles. But, it all goes to risk/frequency and what are the likely triggers for the vehicle to catch like this. Certainly not as high risk or frequency as pinto gas tank explosions. But, ford informing customers about the frequency or infrequency would go a long way to improve customer relations.

You hear usFord?

An old school friend of my wife and her family were driving back from FL on vacation when cruising on the interstate. The entire thing went up in flames and there's nothing left but an almost completely melted body and the wheels.

It started out as all of the warning lights came on and they immediately pulled over, within a few seconds realized there was a fire in the engine bay and got everyone and everything they could out. Within approx 5min the entire thing was engulfed in flames on the shoulder.

Everyone was fortunately able to get out unharmed. Ford has been dismally unsupportive however, they got nothing but a shoulder shrug from Ford and said file a claim on your insurance and good luck. It only had 2200mi on it and was purchased brand new...

View attachment 39672
View attachment 39673

 

[StealthyBulldog]

Yes. Thank goodness you were all ok.

Back when they were still testing the soon to be released aluminum bodied F-150’s, we were on the freeway headed down to San Diego when we saw a similarly engulfed F-150. Flames going up15-20 feet - must have spread quickly

I expect Ford is fully aware of the flammability of these vehicles. But, it all goes to risk/frequency and what are the likely triggers for the vehicle to catch like this. Certainly not as high risk or frequency as pinto gas tank explosions. But, ford informing customers about the frequency or infrequency would go a long way to improve customer relations.

You hear usFord?

So Ford should put out an ad campaign that states, "Well although we don't have proof of what did, or what may cause this, but your vehicle has a 0.000001% chance of randomly catching fire while driving" ? How exactly is that going to ease a customers mind. Once again I'm just happy that everyone is okay and the only thing lost is an insured object that holds no true necessary value to the wellbeing of the family (as in not their home).

To think that Ford should do anything at this point is ludicrous. You live in the US of A, where suing is an art form. They would open themselves up to so much just for acknowledging they MAY have something to do with it. Let the insurance investigation do its thing, go from there. Obviously I hope it is some freak incident since I drive the same vehicle!

 

[Thunderbirdsport]

You guys remember the 80's Fords that would catch fire due the ignition switch failing? LOL

Cars burn. Not just Ford. The aluminum body melts due to the heat. You can melt beer cans in a camp fire if you have good wood. Well, it melts or burns or something...never really cared enough to look after the fire is cold to see if there's chunks of molten aluminum.

Either way, aluminum bodied or not...a car fire of that scale is always going to be a total loss.

 

[5280tunage]

id say they are different because dishwashers malfunctioning after a year is common and can be reasonably assumed to be a low quality design or part failure. Vehicle fire could be a defect or it could be a catastrophic event that’s not repeatable or predictable.

On that note, not sure how old you are or anything about you personally, but I remember when a $400 dishwasher would last ten years, now a $1k dishwasher may last 1-2, sometimes more, but it's becoming increasingly harder to get parts and skilled techs to fix them, so it's almost like you have to get a new one every few years. Good example, one of my good friends (an attorney), just had an LG dishwasher die after 2 yrs. Cost $1k and LG told him they couldn't repair it under warranty because they didn't have a licensed tech within 200 miles of him... Offered him no recourse, he thought about suing as he is an attorney, but the cost and time would have been more than a new dishwasher, and he would never trust it again. So he made sure not to buy an LG again.

 

[Gumby]

On that note, not sure how old you are or anything about you personally, but I remember when a $400 dishwasher would last ten years, now a $1k dishwasher may last 1-2, sometimes more, but it's becoming increasingly harder to get parts and skilled techs to fix them, so it's almost like you have to get a new one every few years. Good example, one of my good friends (an attorney), just had an LG dishwasher die after 2 yrs. Cost $1k and LG told him they couldn't repair it under warranty because they didn't have a licensed tech within 200 miles of him... Offered him no recourse, he thought about suing as he is an attorney, but the cost and time would have been more than a new dishwasher, and he would never trust it again. So he made sure not to buy an LG again.

This is not just heresy or a friend of a friend's brother in law. We all have experienced this to some extent. Dishwasher, Washer/Dryers, Ovens and Fridges to name a few. It just appears to me that these items and others are all engineered to wear faster and fail earlier than the same items that were produced 15 or 20 years ago. For all intents and purposes, they are "disposable"....yes a $2,000 Fridge is disposable these days.

 

[EWOregon]

Here is where the Insurance Company, who will be "out of pocket" for this...will be the ones to either look for the proximate cause or just pay out. Once the vehicle is in your hands, i.e. you drive it off the lot, they have zero control over what you may or may not do to your vehicle... It's a no win situation. Lean on the insurance to be "Made Whole" again and leave the justice to someone else.

 

[Herby]

Glad your family is ok from this ordeal. Most likely this is a result from a fuel leak. As another person commented earlier, these engines operate at extremely high fuel pressures and the tiniest of leaks is a more than warranted concern. I would keep the pressure up on the insurance company and Ford. Make sure you share with the media. Thanks for sharing the pictures. Looks as though aluminium bodies don't hold up well to heat at all. I will stick with naturally aspirated for now.

 

[5280tunage]

Post deleted... Sorry.