2020 GT500 and GT350 Engine Failures Cause Recall
Fearsome Voodoo 5.2 V8 found in the 2020 GT500 and GT350 may suffer a timing chain failure that can grenade the entire engine.
The almighty 2020 GT500 and its equally enticing little brother, the GT350, share the same engine. Though, the GT500 variant has a supercharger, while the GT350 is naturally aspirated. However, the 5.2-liter Voodoo flat-plane crankshaft V8 found under the hood of both is known for its brutal sound and impressive capabilities. Unfortunately, though, Ford recently put out a recall for these specific models.
Ford’s technical service bulletin (TSB) outlines the issue. It states that timing chain tensioners may fail. According to the text, the secondary timing chain tensioner may not have been properly activated during assembly. As a result, engine timing may be lost. This can lead to substantial damage and even total engine failure.
How will affected GT500s and GT350s be taken care of?
The TSB dictates that any vehicles in stock at dealerships undergo inspection and repair if necessary before delivery. Furthermore, current owners of 2020 GT500s and GT350s will be contacted and brought in for an inspection. Though they will attempt to contact any owners who may have vehicles under recall, there’s no sure-fire way to contact everyone. If you own a GT500 or GT350 and you haven’t yet heard from your dealer, it is a good idea to call and see if your vehicle is affected. Continuing to drive the vehicle could end very badly if it has the timing chain tensioner issue outlined in the TSB.
This service has an expiration date in an effort to influence owners and dealers to complete the repairs as soon as possible. Owners have until April 30th, 2022, to bring their car in for this repair service. Obviously, it is at no cost to the owners. Additionally, vehicles with branded and salvage titles are eligible for this service. However, according to the TSB, owners looking to be refunded for this fault will not be receiving one. Furthermore, the TSB outlines that Ford is not responsible for providing a rental or loaner car during the time needed for repairs.
How long will these repairs take?
The TSB outlines the repair hours needed depending on the results of the inspection. If the vehicle passes the inspection, it will only need to be in the shop for about 30 minutes. However, if the timing chain tensioner is not set properly, techs must remove cam covers to inspect engine timing. If the timing is good, techs will replace the secondary tensioner, taking up to eight hours. If the timing is bad, a leak-down test will be performed, and techs will inspect pistons for contact with valves. With no contact, Ford techs will replace the timing components. This can require up to 16.5 hours. Finally, if the pistons and valves had made contact, Ford will replace the rods and pistons in addition to the timing components. This requires up to 20 hours in the shop.
It’s never a good time to receive a notification that your car has a detrimental recall. However, it is best to get it handled as soon as possible.
Photos: Ford