Owners of three 2016 Shelby GT350 Mustangs with the Technology Package filed a class-action lawsuit with Hagens Berman law firm Wednesday against Ford Motor Company. When the owners took their cars to the track, they experienced overheating transmissions and differentials that sent the Mustangs into a low-power “limp mode” to prevent damage. The owners’ main issue is that Ford advertised the GT350 as “Track-Ready” regardless of equipment, and so the car entering limp mode on track does not support that claim.
The lawsuit goes on to allege that the transmissions and differentials Ford installed in base and Technology Package-equipped GT350s, which lacked the Track Package’s transmission and differential coolers, were clearly defective as they didn’t live up to the claims of the car and its components being “Track-Ready.” As a result, the lawsuit says Ford violated not only false advertising laws, but warranty laws, since the company did not replace or modify existing owners’ drivetrains with components that could handle track time.
The law firm cites various advertising, press releases, and even a Ford-sponsored track-day driving education. It also brings up complaints from Mustang forums about transmission and differential issues on race tracks. We’ve seen a YouTube video demonstrating the issue, which was featured on AllFordMustangs.com. The lawsuit alleges Ford knew this was an issue, and cites the inclusion of the coolers as standard equipment on all 2017 models. It should be noted that it wasn’t only the cooling equipment Ford made standard for 2017, though. That equipment became standard on all GT350s along with everything else in the Track Package, which included magnetorheological shocks, a strut tower brace, and a larger rear spoiler.
The owners are seeking monetary restitution, a recall of affected vehicles, and a buyback option.
The Dearborn, MI, automaker responded in a statement: “Ford is committed to providing our customers with top-quality vehicles. However, we do not comment on pending litigation.”
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