— A 2016 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 lawsuit alleges the cars overheat and go into "limp mode" whether driving on an Interstate or a race track. Included in the proposed class-action lawsuit are all current and former owners or lessees of the 2016 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 "Base" and "Technology Package" models.
According to the lawsuit, the GT350 is equipped with a “Track-Ready” powertrain system that is allegedly defective because it lacks a transmission cooler and a rear differential cooler.
As a result, the engine will overheat if it operates on the track, which causes the vehicle to go into "limp mode," a safety system designed to protect the engine from being damaged during extremely hot temperatures. Once limp mode engages, the engine will only run at very low RPM and will be barely able to move.
According to the plaintiffs, vehicles in limp mode can immediately go from over 100 mph to a much lower speed and lose power, causing the driver to become disoriented and lose control of the car.
This condition can also cause havoc on a race track as other vehicles operating at high speeds must quickly take action to avoid the Shelby GT350 immediately slowing down.
The lawsuit further alleges unexpected overheating of powertrain systems can damage the clutch and rear-end.
A driver using the car on a track is faced with what the plaintiffs claim is an impossible choice: allow for overheating to occur without warning and cause damage to the car, or modify the car with aftermarket repairs and hope such modifications will not affect performance or void warranties.
The Mustang Shelby GT350 lawsuit alleges consumers lose money because of the overheating problems as the plaintiffs estimate repairs to make the cars usable at high speeds would cost approximately $7,000, including parts and labor, and that is only to resolve the transmission problems.
Owners say they don't have an exact cost related to repairs of the rear differential coolers because Ford has allegedly told owners it is unable to make repairs that properly integrate with the engine’s control modules.
The biggest wallop to the checkbook is that Ford owners must pay for all repairs because the addition of a cooling system to the transmission and rear differentials is not covered under any of Ford’s warranties.
"Ford has belatedly and inconspicuously admitted the defect by advising owners to buy rear differential and transmission coolers for their 2016 model year cars—at their own expense—in order to actually make them “Track-Ready” as advertised." - 2016 Ford Mustang GT350 lawsuit
The plaintiffs claim Ford knows about the serious problems because starting with the 2017 Mustang Shelby GT350, the automaker fixed those problems by installing external coolers that are missing on the 2016 models.
The 2016 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida - George and Diana Tershakovec, Jacques Rimokh and Herbert Alley, et al, v Ford Motor Company.
The plaintiffs are represented by Hagens Berman, and Grossman Roth Yaffa Cohen.
