2020 Expedition up in flames

[Aspen03]

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...

 

[mwl001]

That’s really unfortunate and I’m glad everyone is ok. That’s how every manufacturer would respond to that not just Ford.

 

[5280tunage]

Holy shit, that's not a good thing. I have kids in little car seats, guess I better practice some drills just in case.

 

[Aspen03]

That’s really unfortunate and I’m glad everyone is ok. That’s how every manufacturer would respond to that not just Ford.

That seems odd to me, an engine bay fire before the first oil change would raise a red flag in my eyes. At least to where you'd think you might want to investigate a potential cause, $70k vehicles spontaneously combusting isn't a good thing imo. I've driven some real shitboxes in my life and never experienced anything close to this. I've even had a fuel line leak all over a motor and not catch fire.

 

[JamaicaJoe]

I wonder what caused this. Warning lights sounds like electrical, but just as easily it could be the fuel injection rail leaking. These new engines are running at all extremes of fuel and manifold pressure.

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[Aspen03]

Holy shit, that's not a good thing. I have kids in little car seats, guess I better practice some drills just in case.

We have 4 kids and get it. This is one of many reasons why we essentiall have the exact same car seats for all of them. All are a Britax model and have the same/similar retention system and buckles for the kids. No question as how to release or remove a seat even with your eyes closed we've done it so many times. Before we had 2 full sized suvs we played musical seats and often had to swap from vehicle to vehicle so we've both had loads of practice. I could remove all 3 in less than a minute for sure.

 

[Aspen03]

I wonder what caused this. Warning lights sounds like electrical, but just as easily it could be the fuel injection rail leaking. These new engines are running at all extremes of fuel and manifold pressure.

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I immediately thought electrical but that could also quickly occur once a fire started with all the underwood wiring, I'm guessing just a few seconds of flames would cause a nice headache for the pcm. Fuel would be an obvious place to start as well with as much going on. This is why I'm stunned that Ford is just kinda Meh on the whole thing. Neither of those scenarios seems normal to me and being that drivetrain is in quite a few vehicles it should at least raise an eyebrow for general concern.

 

[5280tunage]

My concern is quality control with this. We've all been talking about issues like fit and finish, mechanical issues. Etc. To me, this could have been an issue similar to the recent explorer recall, where an automated tool failed and the folks doing manual work didn't bother to do it right. I would think an investigation would totally be warranted.

 

[JamaicaJoe]

My concern is quality control with this. We've all been talking about issues like fit and finish, mechanical issues. Etc. To me, this could have been an issue similar to the recent explorer recall, where an automated tool failed and the folks doing manual work didn't bother to do it right. I would think an investigation would totally be warranted.

You would think so, but the last thing Ford wants to have is a recall. The sad thing here will be getting full invoice value from the insurance. I would fight hard for that and the insurance can go after Ford for the defect.

Kai and Hyundai are having engine con rod failures on the turbo 4 resulting in fires. My wife wants to trade in her low miles 2007 SantaFe with normally aspirated V6 for the new Turbo 4 and I am having a battle trying to change her mind.

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[18MaxLimited]

That seems odd to me, an engine bay fire before the first oil change would raise a red flag in my eyes. At least to where you'd think you might want to investigate a potential cause, $70k vehicles spontaneously combusting isn't a good thing imo. I've driven some real shitboxes in my life and never experienced anything close to this. I've even had a fuel line leak all over a motor and not catch fire.

Not to defend Ford against raising more concern or investigation. A $70k vehicle is not expensive for newer cars these days - particularly for the size and included features in what you're getting. Hold your horses. Although unfortunate, this is the first and isolated incident in a 3 year run. Not including shared platform of the F150, the highest selling vehicle on the planet, Ford's production numbers are in your favor.

Also just because it's expensive doesn't mean it's giving to be perfect without risk...

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.au...51/mclaren-senna-720s-570gt-fire-risk-recall/

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a...ine-fires-including-ultra-rare-veneno-models/

And not just exotics. Mass GM recall recently:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nitalemonlaw.com/gm-recall-millions-brake-fire-concerns/amp/

 

[5280tunage]

To each his own but 70k is still expensive. Especially when a fully loaded (and really not the same) but highly rated kia telluride is 42-50k, it is a lot. And the quality ford was known for over the last 3 to 10 years is what I was hoping for.

Guess I should put it this way, does a telluride have the same exterior size or interior volume, or can it tow the same, no. But that's a relatively small amount of the cost these days, the technology, software, systems are a huge part, and so much of that is the same. In fact, many of these companies use the same suppliers for all the peripherals, think Takata. But we still need build quality and low manufacturing tolerances.

Trust me, I invested a crap ton into this thing and continue to do so, I just don't want to lose more than I normally would...

Just saying.

 

[Aspen03]

Not to defend Ford against raising more concern or investigation. A $70k vehicle is not expensive for newer cars these days - particularly for the size and included features in what you're getting. Hold your horses. Although unfortunate, this is the first and isolated incident in a 3 year run. Not including shared platform of the F150, the highest selling vehicle on the planet, Ford's production numbers are in your favor.

Also just because it's expensive doesn't mean it's giving to be perfect without risk...

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.au...51/mclaren-senna-720s-570gt-fire-risk-recall/

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a...ine-fires-including-ultra-rare-veneno-models/

And not just exotics. Mass GM recall recently:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nitalemonlaw.com/gm-recall-millions-brake-fire-concerns/amp/

The first? Do we know this? When a manufacturer is indifferent about it all and shrugging the situation off I doubt we ever get to the point of resolution exhibited in the examples above. Would it require more data than this 1 incident? Of course, but you have have to start somewhere.

Exotics are almost prone to issues due to experimental designs that push the envelope of what we can currently do with a vehicle. A mainstream family hauler is another ballgame.

No one is expecting perfection, by human nature its all but impossible. Accountability and change are however.

I'm not saying recall every 2020 made and leave no stone unturned they just literally don't care about the how or why. Its oh, wow, sorry to hear. Better luck next time. Its disrespectful to current and future owners imo. I would consider purchasing one an achievement. I have to say I would second guess a purchase knowing that if a serious issue were to arise it would be completely ignored.

 

[wakeboarder]

Ford likely can’t touch it without lawyers from the insurance company present. If Ford touches it they likely have to pay the claim no matter who is at fault. Right now, it is the insurance company that is assumed to have ownership. The response from Ford is probably due to the litigious tendencies of our society.

 

[18MaxLimited]

The first? Do we know this? When a manufacturer is indifferent about it all and shrugging the situation off I doubt we ever get to the point of resolution exhibited in the examples above. Would it require more data than this 1 incident? Of course, but you have have to start somewhere.

Exotics are almost prone to issues due to experimental designs that push the envelope of what we can currently do with a vehicle. A mainstream family hauler is another ballgame.

No one is expecting perfection, by human nature its all but impossible. Accountability and change are however.

I'm not saying recall every 2020 made and leave no stone unturned they just literally don't care about the how or why. Its oh, wow, sorry to hear. Better luck next time. Its disrespectful to current and future owners imo. I would consider purchasing one an achievement. I have to say I would second guess a purchase knowing that if a serious issue were to arise it would be completely ignored.

Agree the manufacturer should do it's best to ensure safety, satisfaction and longevity of it's clients. I completely empathize with them that would be a traumatic event but my point was more so to say against this being a systematic failure. Based on this I would say it's not impossible but to early to jump to conclusions on one incident - particularly considering how quickly word travels now.

 

[Zig10]

Man...that aluminum body just disintegrates at temperature.

Glad no one got hurt.

 

[Deadman]

1200 degrees melts aluminum, so that goes fast....

 

[Thunderbirdsport]

Damn, that's unfortunate. Thankfully nobody was hurt.

I've got one little one still in a car seat, the next two youngest are in booster seats. I can get 'em all out in under a minute, though. It's like any other muscle memory function. I also have my kids all sit in the same seat every time, every trip. Not just for that, but for security, and such. As in....who is capable to use a firearm, should SHTF...etc.

 

[John I]

Not sure how incidents such as this come to the attention of the NHTSA, but I hope the vehicle owner or insurance company ensure that a report is filed.

 

[Mlarv]

If it was an electrical issue, maybe rodents chewed though a wire harness and when it got warm under the hood the wires shorted out? So many questions before I blame anyone. They have been know to chew rubber hoses as well.

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

This is not a “Ford should do something issue”. It is an insurance issue. Many insurance companies offer full replacement coverage for new vehicles (for a certain number of years from purchase).

There are many posts on this forum where members modify the engines on their Ford Expedition model (sometimes under warranty) with “tunes”, and “catch cans” and other engine items.

Does anyone know if this engine or vehicle had been modified? Speculating is a waste of time.