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]
Mustangs are just on fire this quarter!
I hear Ford is giving away a free Samsung Galaxy Note 7 with every new car purchase.
Doc! You disintegrated Einstein!
Calm down, Marty. I didn’t disintegrate anything.
Libyans! RUN MARTY!
Kudos to Ford going the extra mile to deliver that true exotic experience.
Can’t be a supercar if you don’t catch on fire!
The GT350 burning in the pic had a different failure though. That car had a retaining clip fail on the oil cooler itself IIRC.
This is way cooler looking than when somebody puts diesel fuel in the DEF tank on a big pickup.
Some states allow you to collect and eat roadkill. This would be the perfect car for a cannibal. Use the Mustang’s well honed ability to mow down crowds at cars and coffee and then the mustang will cook it.
“We all laughed at his witty comments and warped sense of humor, the person who used the internet screen name ‘Quintin,’ but little did we know. Little did we know…”
I can’t imagine anything cooler than melting an $80k Ford in a fantastic ball of glory like this…..
what is it with Ford and engine fires????
Nice to see Big Al’s legacy still living on.
Profits now, recalls later was never a good business model.
These Mustangs are so bad though, it’s only the right thing to let them burn up.
And Z06 owners thought ‘they’ had overheating problems.