Wheel deflector

A vehicle comprising:

• a vehicle frame;
• a wheel attached to the vehicle frame;
• and
• a wheel deflector assembly attached to the vehicle frame, wherein the wheel deflector assembly includes a deflector plate that extends angularly outward from the vehicle frame, a reinforcement bracket attached to the deflector plate between the deflector plate and the vehicle frame that is configured to reinforce the deflector plate, and a shield between deflector plate and the vehicle frame,
• the deflector plate is configured, in the event of an offset frontal impact to the vehicle that forces the wheel in a direction toward the vehicle frame, to be struck by the wheel and deflect the wheel in a direction away from the vehicle frame to prevent the wheel from traveling beneath the vehicle frame, and
• the shield is configured to be struck by the wheel before the deflector plate, the shield is configured to prevent the deflector plate from detaching from the vehicle frame when the wheel deflector assembly is struck by the wheel, and the shield includes an attachment plate between the deflector plate and the vehicle frame, and a flange extending substantially orthogonally outward from the attachment plate.