Ford Expedition Engine Electrical Fire Pictures

Ford Expedition Engine Fire
Pictures of my 2000 Ford Expedition SUV after a faulty cruise control device caused an engine fire.

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4th of July Fireworks

On 4th of July weekend in 2005, my 2000 model year Ford Expedition with the 4.6 Liter V8 engine caught fire at 2:00 in the morning.

Myself, my friends, and my family were enjoying the fireworks on the lake in our back yard when a neighbor came rushing to the side of the pool enclosure to inform us that my SUV was engulfed in flames.

I don't know how none of us noticed the smell of burning plastic, rubber and metal that was thick in the air. We probably just assumed it was coming from the still smoldering fireworks, or the barbecue grill.

Burned 4.6L Ford V8 Engine

The next day I did my research on why this happened and I learned that there had been a recall on all 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002 Ford F150 trucks, Ford Expedition Sport Utility Vehicles, and Lincoln Navigator SUVs. Apparently there is a defect in the cruise control deactivation switch that causes a short. The short ignites an electrical fire right next to the master brake cylinder which is full of highly flammable brake fluid.

This electrical fire has happened to many Expeditions, Navigators, and F-150 trucks in the past few years. Some people lost their homes and belongings. We were lucky that my friend borrowed the Expedition earlier in the day and parked it in the street. If the "Expy" had been parked in her usual spot next to our other cars, my girlfriend's brand new 2005 Toyota Corolla, my step sister's Kia Sephia, my mother's Nissan Altima, and my Pontiac Grand Prix GTP may have all been burned.

As you can see the entire hood burned away, the engine is almost gone and both tires have popped. The fire must have burned for hours while we were in the pool out back enjoying our 4th of July barbecue. Someone asked if the fire could have been started by fireworks or a mischievous kid with some firecrackers. A fireman assured us that this started in the engine bay due to the cruise control device recall.

Burned Expedition Passenger Cabin

My friend who had borrowed the car earlier in the day used to be a volunteer firefighter so he quickly grabbed the garden hose and doused the flames with as much water as possible. The fire was almost completely out by the time the fire engine showed up with the Broward County Sheriff's office (BSO).

Before the tow truck arrived, my buddies helped me remove the tow bar & ball, my Rockford Fosgate subwoofer amplifiers and the 800 watt ac/dc power inverter that were under the second row of seats.

Our insurance company, Allstate, was quick to send out an adjuster and pay off the car loan with no problems. The Allstate agent informed us that these Ford Expedition and F150 engine fires were very common.

Ford Expedition Engine Fire

As the tow truck guy dragged my poor burnt up Expe onto the flat bed, I got a bit misty eyed. That SUV may have been a big fat gas guzzling, environment killing, sloppy driving beast, but I loved her.

Totalled Vehicle Towed Away

All the metal and aluminum that had burned off the engine ended up on the asphalt street in front of my place. The city had to come out and replace the section with some fresh asphalt. So I'm reminded of the incident every time I back out of the driveway. So to anyone who has one of these vehicles. Get the recall fix done!

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