Class-Action Lawsuit Claims GT350 Not Track-Ready
Diminished value linked with a “track-ready defect” has prompted some GT350 owners to lawyer up.
Shelby’s GT350 was touted as “track ready.” But some owners are heading to their local law firms after having warranty claims denied.
The basis of the lawsuit comes from owners who have experienced limp-mode during track days in their 2016 model year GT350. The class-action suit includes GT350 base models, or those ordered with Tech Pack options. Track Pack equipped cars had additional cooling systems for drive-line fluids, and aren’t affected by the lawsuit.
Wording can be a tricky thing. The legal wording of the suit indicates Ford is at fault for referring to the Shelby as “track ready.” They didn’t apparently specify that was only when equipped with the Track Pack. However, general common sense would tell you what the Track Pack does.
CHECK OUT: What Forum Members Are Saying About These Claims
Additionally, the lawsuit suggests the limp-mode makes the car dangerous. It supposedly forces the GT350 to slow down, while other cars fly by at speed.
Topics regarding track days lately have been interesting, especially ones that revolve around manufacturer warranties. Center to this lawsuit are claims that owners of Base and Tech Pack GT350s have been fronted with extra costs. Like replacing transmissions that could not withstand the heat generated by a track day. Estimated costs are at about $7,000 to replace the transmission and add a cooler. Rear differential cooling isn’t even covered under that cost, so customers would be out-of-pocket even more.
Technically, competition events are generally a good way to avoid warranties. But most will still honor a car that has been used in a “high performance driving event.” Again, a savvy lawyer (on either side of the argument) could come up with something to swing a judge’s opinion, one way or the other.
