Class Action Lawsuit Involving Shelby GT350 Is Moving Forward

Beloved GT350, and the reviled Pinto mentioned in the same sentence? Class action lawsuit alleges similarities.  

We love the Shelby GT350. It was a sad moment for all when it was announced that production would end in 2020. Sure, we love the new Mach 1 as well, but it is just not the same as the Shelby. However, some folks may think that is a good thing. For as many GT350 fans that are out there, there are some that are not happy with the GT350 at all. In fact, they are so unhappy that they put together a class action lawsuit aimed at the GT350. Recently a judge certified the lawsuit and is allowing it to move forward.

Federal Judge Federico A. Moreno reviewed the complaints and felt they had enough merit to proceed. “Through product placement in James Bond movies and racing partnerships with figures like Carroll Shelby, Ford has spent half a century cultivating an aura of performance and adventure,” writes Judge Moreno in the order. “But these Plaintiffs allege, to Lee Iacocca’s chagrin, that their cars are more like Pintos than Mustangs.” Ouch. Talk about adding insult to injury.

Why all the hate? The target of the lawsuit is the 2016 model year GT350. Specifically, base models or models equipped with the Technology package. These trims do not come with the oil, transmission, and differential coolers found in the higher-spec versions. If you ever spent any time on a track, you know that proper cooling is key.

However, these base cars don’t have it and instead go into a limp mode when the vehicle hits higher temperatures. In some cases, this occurs after as little as 15 minutes on track. That would certainly suck the joy out of your track weekend. Starting with the 2017 model year, all GT350 cars came with the Track package as standard. This package provided the cooling features needed to prevent the overheating on track.

The class action suit may be presented as either fraud or breach of warranty depending on the state the case was certified in. Ford is saying that going into limp mode is a safety feature and not a malfunction. They claim it is not a vehicle defect and thus is not a warrantable claim. The judge clearly does not agree. This appears to be setting the stage for a drawn-out legal battle in the courts.

This is obviously not good news for Ford. Especially considering that the Hagens Berman law firm is going to be leading the case. They have experience with other high profile class action lawsuits involving automobile manufacturers. This includes winning a $1.6 billion settlement from Toyota over unintended acceleration claims.

Where do you land on this case? Should the base GT350 buyers have known better that without the extra cooling options that the car would have limited performance on the track? Or should Ford be held accountable for promoting all GT350 cars as track weapons even though some were lacking key equipment? Let us know your thoughts in The Mustang Source forums.

Images: Ford.com

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Joe Kucinski

Joe has been obsessed with cars since he got his very first Matchbox toy in the 1970s. In 2003, he found a new obsession in track days that led to obtaining his SCCA competition license in 2015. In 2019, he became a certified driving instructor for the National Auto Sport Association. His love for all things four wheels has never wavered, whether it's driving some of the best cars in the world on the racetrack, tackling 2,000-mile road trips in 2-seat sports cars or being winched off the side of a mountaintop in a Jeep. Writing for the suite of Internet Brands Auto Communities sites, including Rennlist.com, Ford Truck Enthusiasts, 6 Speed and more allows him to share that knowledge and passion with others.