diff --git a/core/src/main/java/feign/codec/ErrorDecoder.java b/core/src/main/java/feign/codec/ErrorDecoder.java
index 6facb2b2d..280bdf28e 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/feign/codec/ErrorDecoder.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/feign/codec/ErrorDecoder.java
@@ -83,13 +83,26 @@ public interface ErrorDecoder {
    */
   public Exception decode(String methodKey, Response response);
 
-  public static class Default implements ErrorDecoder {
+  public class Default implements ErrorDecoder {
 
     private final RetryAfterDecoder retryAfterDecoder = new RetryAfterDecoder();
+    private Integer maxBodyBytesLength;
+    private Integer maxBodyCharsLength;
+
+    public Default() {
+      this.maxBodyBytesLength = null;
+      this.maxBodyCharsLength = null;
+    }
+
+    public Default(Integer maxBodyBytesLength, Integer maxBodyCharsLength) {
+      this.maxBodyBytesLength = maxBodyBytesLength;
+      this.maxBodyCharsLength = maxBodyCharsLength;
+    }
 
     @Override
     public Exception decode(String methodKey, Response response) {
-      FeignException exception = errorStatus(methodKey, response);
+      FeignException exception = errorStatus(methodKey, response, maxBodyBytesLength,
+          maxBodyCharsLength);
       Date retryAfter = retryAfterDecoder.apply(firstOrNull(response.headers(), RETRY_AFTER));
       if (retryAfter != null) {
         return new RetryableException(
diff --git a/core/src/test/java/feign/codec/DefaultErrorDecoderTest.java b/core/src/test/java/feign/codec/DefaultErrorDecoderTest.java
index c6b0ffeba..712a2ebb6 100644
--- a/core/src/test/java/feign/codec/DefaultErrorDecoderTest.java
+++ b/core/src/test/java/feign/codec/DefaultErrorDecoderTest.java
@@ -21,8 +21,11 @@
 import feign.Request.HttpMethod;
 import feign.Response;
 import feign.Util;
+import java.io.ByteArrayInputStream;
+import java.io.InputStream;
 import java.util.Collection;
 import java.util.Collections;
+import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
 import java.util.Map;
 import org.junit.Rule;
@@ -135,4 +138,53 @@ public void retryAfterHeaderThrowsRetryableException() throws Throwable {
 
     throw errorDecoder.decode("Service#foo()", response);
   }
+
+  @Test
+  public void lengthOfBodyExceptionTest() {
+    Response response = bigBodyResponse();
+    Exception defaultException = errorDecoder.decode("Service#foo()", response);
+    assertThat(defaultException.getMessage().length()).isLessThan(response.body().length());
+
+    ErrorDecoder customizedErrorDecoder = new ErrorDecoder.Default(4000, 2000);
+    Exception customizedException = customizedErrorDecoder.decode("Service#foo()", response);
+    assertThat(customizedException.getMessage().length())
+        .isGreaterThanOrEqualTo(response.body().length());
+  }
+
+  private Response bigBodyResponse() {
+    String content = "I love a storm in early May\n" +
+        "When springtime’s boisterous, firstborn thunder\n" +
+        "Over the sky will gaily wander\n" +
+        "And growl and roar as though in play.\n" +
+        "\n" +
+        "A peal, another — gleeful, cheering…\n" +
+        "Rain, raindust… On the trees, behold!-\n" +
+        "The drops hang, each a long pearl earring;\n" +
+        "Bright sunshine paints the thin threads gold.\n" +
+        "\n" +
+        "A stream downhill goes rushing reckless,\n" +
+        "And in the woods the birds rejoice.\n" +
+        "Din. Clamour. Noise. All nature echoes\n" +
+        "The thunder’s youthful, merry voice.\n" +
+        "\n" +
+        "You’ll say: ‘Tis laughing, carefree Hebe —\n" +
+        "She fed her father’s eagle, and\n" +
+        "The Storm Cup brimming with a seething\n" +
+        "And bubbling wine dropped from her hand";
+
+    InputStream inputStream = new ByteArrayInputStream(content.getBytes(UTF_8));
+    Map<String, Collection<String>> headers = new HashMap<String, Collection<String>>();
+    headers.put("Content-Type", Collections.singleton("text/plain"));
+    return Response.builder()
+        .status(400)
+        .request(Request.create(
+            Request.HttpMethod.GET,
+            "/home",
+            Collections.emptyMap(),
+            "data".getBytes(Util.UTF_8),
+            Util.UTF_8,
+            null))
+        .body(content, Util.UTF_8)
+        .build();
+  }
 }