2017 Ford Expedition: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Oct 26, 2026 · Electrical · OK

I smelled something burning in my vehicle and then after that my air conditioner stopped working and it turned out to be the blower motor that was replaced in December of 2023

Filed Jul 31, 2025 · Electrical · TX · fire

Rear blower motor caught on fire, causing smoke to cover the inside of the vehicle. Part had to then be removed from the car. Melted plastic around the inside of the fan and motor. Also we have replaced the blower motive in the front of the vehicle that was under recall and it has continued to let's burn wires underneath the dash whete it plugs in so i dont believe the blower motor in front was the issue!

Filed Jul 12, 2024 · Electrical · KY

Blower motor shorted out and melted the wiring harness going to the blower motor and started smoking and almost caught on fire. Took the vehicle in for repair and there is a recall to replace the blower motor. The dealership stated they will replace the blower motor per the recall but I am responsible for the melted wiring.

Filed Apr 25, 2024 · Electrical · ID

My vehicle is a 2017 Expedition that had the blower motor recall performed in October 2023. Prior to the recall being performed, we would often have burning smells coming from the blower, so it made sense that the recall was to fix a fire hazard with the blower motor. I observed burned terminals in the electrical connector and assumed they would be replaced as part of the recall. Any reasonable person would assume that burned electrical wires pose a fire hazard and a recall that is supposed to fix a fire hazard issue would replace the electrical connector. A few months after the recall was performed, we started having the exact same symptoms coming from the blower motor as we did before the recall, namely a burning smell and the blower motor operating intermittently. I contacted Ford about a problem with the recall repair and they stated they would have to diagnose it. Ford identified burned electrical terminals at the blower motor and a faulty motor controller. Ford then communicated to me that those items were not covered under the blower motor recall. I only then learned that the recall replaced only the blower motor and not the electrical connectors or controller. I was charged a $220 diagnostic fee, had I known those items were not part of the recall I would not have brought my vehicle in for diagnosis. I have three major concerns: 1. If the purpose of the blower motor recall was to prevent a fire hazard from the blower motor and related components, the recall has failed. 2. The original faulty blower motor caused damage to the blower controller and electrical connector. These components should have been replaced with the blower motor as part of the recall. It is absurd to think that Ford would install a new blower motor connected to damaged and burned wires. 3. The electrical connector and motor controller were not replaced during the recall service, but still pose a fire hazard as stated in the recall, those components should be replaced at no cost.

Filed Aug 28, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · TX

I've received several letters about Motor Vehicle safety since last year. I contacted the Ford dealership last year for it, and instead of fixing my car, they hit it while waiting in the dealer, so they focus more on fixing the hood that was damage and body of the car, and pressured me to sign a document to agree to fix it, while I had my husband at the hospital in ICU. But, the recall problem was never fixed, they said because they didn't have the part. Something in the engine was damage, so i had to take the car almost every month to try to fix it. I kept getting letters about the recall, and they kept saying that the part was ordered and they were going to call me when ready. Never did. Last week around August 25 i received another recall letter. I added in my to DOs to call, as a single mom now, its a little difficult, so i could not call during the week, and Sunday 8/26 while I was driving my car with my children, we could hear a weird noise, then smell of smoke, and some smoke coming from the front AC blower, then the AC stopped working. I contacted the dealership this morning, and I was asked to bring the car, that they have the part ready (Which i never was notified before), so I dropped my kids in school and took the car to the dealership, after waiting for more than 2hrs, they said they part wasn't good, and they couldn't get it fixed. I need help to get this fixed, and to have a warranty that this is safe and will work.

Filed Jul 23, 2023 · AL · fire

This incident happened on July 20, 2023. I was driving to my house when I notice that there was smoke coming out of the glove compartment of my 2017 Expedition EL. I immediately stopped at the median and opened the hood to make sure there was no fire. After that, I walked to the passenger door and when I open the door I noticed a lot more smoke coming from under the glove compartment. I open the glove compartment and notice that there was fire coming from the blower motor and on the wires around it. At this very moment, I find this issue a friend of mine happened to drive by and stopped to ask me if I needed help. He saw what was happening and provided me with 2 bottles of water. We removed the glove compartment and try to put some water toward the fire but it was too late. The fire had spread throughout the dash and subsequently, the entire vehicle was lost. I didn't have time to remove any personal items from the vehicle since the fire spread really fast and also was making a wising sound, believe to be the airbags when they deployed. Even though we have insurance I don't think it is fair for the manufacturer to clean their hand on issues like this, we lost a vehicle and they should find a way to replace it.

Filed Jul 6, 2023 · Electrical · MO

The HVAC blower motor connector for the Ford has completely burned out. When in use, it is hot to the touch (too hot too touch sometimes) and emits an electrical burning smell. The HVAC unit now only works on high and if the unit is connected in a certain angle. I took the vehicle into FORD in Kirksville,MO and their technician told me it wasn't covered under the blower motor recall and it was going to cost $600+ to repair. When I asked the technician that upon replacing the part, what would keep it from happening again I was told FORD realized the grounding wire in the connector wasn't strong enough to hold the charge, and they have sense come out with a part where the grounding wire is "heavy duty". When I contacted FORD about the issue they informed me that it was not covered under the blower motor recall and there were currently no programs to cover the repair.

Filed Jun 19, 2023 · Brakes · MS

While driving down the highway, the low brake fluid light sounded and the brake light came on . we slowly loss brakes while driving down the HWy. We added brake fluid, which there was no brake fluid in there at all .When we added the fluid, we pump the brakes and they tighten . Shortly after adding more fluid , the fluid and brakes were gone and white smoke came out of the tail pipe. We never could see exactly where it was leaking at. We added about a quart and a half of fluid . After adding the more fluid, we managed to get it up to the dealership where it was purchased . We explain to what was going on and he knew of the situation because he said it was a recall last year on the master cylinder if I’m saying it, right. I told him that we never received a recall letter but we left the vehicle and he did research by our Vin number, and said we were not part of the recall, but I read a recall number 22S14 about the break failure in expeditions. We called the local number attached to the recall and they once again told us that our vehicle was not part of the recall because I guess it was not out of the Kentucky plant . We are having the same issue with our brakes, but it’s not covered in the current recall. My vehicle is currently in the shop and waiting to be repaired. Can someone research and see if our vehicle can be part of the recall now and be repaired under the/a recall. thank you.

Filed Jun 12, 2023 · Electrical, Visibility · 88,000 miles · VA

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Expedition. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 22V648000 (Visibility, Electrical, System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, she noticed white smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle. No warning lights was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Filed Jul 20, 2022 · Electrical · 70,000 miles · CA · fire

While driving out of parking lot during a very warm day (100 degrees), A/C blower was on high as normal: 1. A/C blower suddenly stopped working. 2. A smell of something burning became evident inside car 3. Suddenly smoke started coming out of passenger side defroster and A/C vent 4. After passenger exited vehicle, I went to look under passenger glove compartment and discovered a small fire under dash. Tried to douse flames with water bottles, but with no effect. 5. Opened glove compartment box and flames came out of opening immediately. 6. Witnessed a small size soup can and melting plastic fall on passenger floor of dripping fire 7. Fire spread suddenly up into dash and windshield and then cabin 8. Called 911 and fire department arrived within 3-4 minutes. 9. Fire became an inferno and car burnt to the ground

Filed Sep 2, 2021 · Electrical · OH · fire

Shortly after the car was started and while still parked, a foul smell was detected and black smoke observed coming from the air vents. The vehicle was then turned off however within minutes of safely exiting all passengers from the vehicle, flames came out towards the passenger seat from underneath the glove box. An unsuccessful attempt was made to smother the flames with large wet towels before being successfully put out with the fire extinguisher. 911 was called and the fire department suspected the cause of the fire was the HVAC motor blower. The battery was disconnected and the car towed to the dealership where it has been for the past week. As of yesterday, according to the dealer, the source of the fire is thought to be a short circuit in the HVAC motor blower. The insurance is awaiting the fire report at this point.

Filed Sep 10, 2019 · Electrical, Fuel system · 27,000 miles · FL · fire

09-10-19 my 2017 ford expedition has shut down multiple times while driving down the road. The dashboard lights go black and all power is lost, engine, power steering etc. I had the vehicle towed to the dealer on 09-08-19. While it was being towed, the engine compartment caught on fire and the tow truck driver had to put out the fire with an extinguisher. Fortunately, I decided to have the vehicle towed as this entire experience is a life safety matter.