FORD MUSTANG SHELBY GT350 LAWSUIT IS HEADING TO TRIAL

You might remember the sad tale of the Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 being put to pasture, which made room for the mighty Mach 1. This also meant that the high-revving 5.2L “Voodoo” flat-plane V8 engine was put on the shelf. It’s a sound that we’ll always cherish, and it’s a sound we’ll miss. Yet it’s this very engine that seems to be a point of tension for the legacy of this S550 Mustang variant. According to the plaintiffs of a particular class-action lawsuit, the trackworthyness of the Voodoo V8 isn’t particularly accurate.

MC&T reported on a group of GT350 owners who banded together against Ford. When equipped with the Base or Technology packages, the individuals state that the performance car was subject to overheating issues after track use. Ford advertised the GT350 as “track-ready.” However, the lawsuit alleges the carmaker removed the coolers from lower trims which take away from the track-readiness.

Ford Mustang GT350: Class-Action Lawsuit Continues

Ford Motor Company isn’t taking these claims lightly, and the case is now heading to trial. Ford’s legal team has stated there is “no dispute” regarding the Mustangs, saying that there isn’t a “Known design issue rendering them unable to handle typical track driving conditions without prematurely overheating.” However, the original lawsuit noted that myriad GT350 owners experienced a drastic speed and performance reduction on track, “Without warning (and) in as little as 15 minutes.”

Ford’s legal counsel stated that “Under some typical track day sessions, they can indeed go into powertrain protection mode, which the Plaintiffs call limp mode. Because of the generation of heat, to protect the transmission and the differential from damage, the powertrain protection mode limits the performance of vehicles in some respects.”

In response, lawyers representing Shelby owners stated they see this as an admission of fault. “Ford has refused to fix what they now admit was a deliberate design issue. We believe Ford would allow this case to progress as slowly as its defective track cars. We think Shelby owners have waited long enough.” A Hagens Berman attorney stated regarding the carmaker allegedly seeking to delay the class action lawsuit, which is seeking monetary damages for plaintiffs.