Ford Attempts to Douse Its Mustang Fireball Problem

It was a hot summer, but not quite as sizzling as the top-end Mustangs seen enveloped in flames at various U.S. track days.

Ford Motor Company is attempting to put a lid on that burning pot of controversy — and danger — by recalling 8,000 Shelby GT350/R Mustangs for a defect that could be blamed in a number of spectacular fires.

Announced today, Ford will recall 8,026 examples spanning the 2015 to 2017 model years. According to the automaker, the problem lies in the engine oil cooler tube assembly.

“In affected vehicles, engine oil cooler tube assemblies may have insufficient crimps on the hose that could lead to a hose separation and an oil leak,” Ford states. “Sudden loss of engine oil may result in engine failure, and – in the presence of an ignition source – could lead to a fire.”

That seems to be what happened at the Roebling Road Raceway in Georgia this past summer, leading to the situation you see above. Driver Joe “HiPo Joe” Charles escaped without injury, but not before going on a wild ride. His Mustang was travelling 100 miles per hour when the oil dump occurred, and a hot exhaust made sure it didn’t just make things slippery.

Ford claims it doesn’t know of any accidents or injuries resulting from the issue, though some would disagree. TTAC’s own Bozi Tatarevic and Bark M. witnessed a GT350/R fire on a Charlotte, North Carolina track in late August. The fire looked to be caused by a similar issue, Tatarevic claims.

The afflicted Fords left the Flat Rock assembly plant between February 24, 2015 and August 30, 2016. Of them, 6,523 call the U.S. home, while another 957 went to Canada, 346 to Mexico and 59 to the territories. With luck, no more Mustangs will burn up the racetrack. Literally, of course.

While the GT350/R ignites both passions and oil, less sexy Ford products also contain a fire risk. The automaker has recalled 411,663 2010-2012 Ford Escape and 2010-2011 Mercury Mariner models equipped with 3.0-liter engines to replace the fuel delivery module flange assembly.

Ford claims “the fuel delivery module fuel supply port could develop a crack, causing a possible fuel leak.”

[Image: HiPo Joe Charles/Facebook]