10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 0 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
The 2004 Ford Expedition is built too low to safely take off road. Because of its lack of clearance Ford installed skid plates to protect the exhaust manifold, catalytic converter, etc. The skid plates collect leaf litter which accumulates right next to very hot components. This is a fire hazard. It is difficult to keep the skid plates litter free because of the many angles and tight spaces. The litter does not blow out once back on the highway. After a day of driving off road, I noticed tar-like material from smoldering leaf litter dripping from the skid plates. I had tried several times during the day to knock the litter out but it did no good. It should not be necessary for a driver to put their face under a vehicle near very hot components, on a daily basis, in order to maintain a safe vehicle.
- Rock Springs, WY, USA
- Pass Christian , MS, USA