Next Phase
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Experienced a GT350 R wheel failure. Long story short, after a track day in Feb, after the car was sitting for 4 to 5 weeks- it lost pressure (28 psi cold down to approx 14 psi). Before my track day in April, decided to swap the front cup 2's. Car performed great, held air pressure for the day. After having the car sit (4 weeks), I noticed it was losing pressure again - down to 13/14 psi. I was hoping it was just a valve stem, took it into Discount Tire on Monday and found the front passenger wheel was leaking air on the inside barrel - right where the white coating and black paint meet (furthest away from the caliper side). I posted video and pics on the Facebook Track Shelby GT350s group. My car has 3,300 miles and I have a set of street tires/wheels and approximately 6 HPDE's with this car (VIR and NCCAR). No off track incidents, impacts, accidents, etc. My thoughts were that something may have been lodged between the wheel and caliper, but it isn't in line with the caliper.
Wanted to post my experience and share with the community. My friend is a service manager at a Ford dealer and he submitted a prior approval warranty claim.
Ford denied the prior approval warranty claim immediately. They replied with:
"Review of the uplodaded concern close up image show scuff/ impact damage as a contributing cause. The wheel location display scratch witness marks verifying outside source damage. The wheel concern area shows no relation to any defect within factory supplied materials or workmanship, therfore, a non warrantable determination has been made on this prior approval request."
Not sure how they came up with that determination. Ford also doesn't send anyone out to inspect the wheel personally.
I'm working through the C/S process and also contacted Carbon Revolutions to see if they can help. I spoke with someone late yesterday at CR and surprised I didn't get an answering machine. They were very helpful and asked me to send in all my info / pics / emails. From the video and pics I sent them, they feel it is a warrantable item. The info was sent to some of the execs at CR and they are also going to contact Ford.
After 2 phone calls and 50+ minutes on the phone with Ford C/S, they provided a Case #. I have also been given the name at someone at Ford Performance that may be able to help, but still trying to contact one of the managers.
I'll keep everyone posted on how it plays out.
More importantly, need some track wheels in R spec ASAP. Forgelines won't be here in time, so looking to see who has what available. I already missed too many track days due to the oil cooler recall. *I do have a line on some wheels / tires.
If there is a chance someone has a CF front wheel laying around, that they'd be willing to sell, that would be a miracle.
Thanks for lending an ear and if anyone has any advice on dealing with Ford, please feel free to message me directly or post here.
My biggest issue with the warranty claim is that Ford made a determination that the wheel had impact damage that contributed to the failure. There is no evidence of any impact damage.
-Marko
******************
Edit - 6/7 Spoke to a manager at Ford Performance - he advised to get the Service Manager to request a Field Service Engineer to come out and inspect the wheel to overturn the decision.
Service manager escalated to CSM. They won't send out a Field Service Engineer unless Ford assigns them to do it. He followed up again and the CSM said they can't overrule any warranty decisions or prior approval decisions. Service manager made another request back to prior approval for a second opinion and for a field service engineer.
Edit - Ford's Technical Assistance Center's Escalated Handling Team wants to see more pics of the wheel. Hopefully a step in the right direction.
Wanted to post my experience and share with the community. My friend is a service manager at a Ford dealer and he submitted a prior approval warranty claim.
Ford denied the prior approval warranty claim immediately. They replied with:
"Review of the uplodaded concern close up image show scuff/ impact damage as a contributing cause. The wheel location display scratch witness marks verifying outside source damage. The wheel concern area shows no relation to any defect within factory supplied materials or workmanship, therfore, a non warrantable determination has been made on this prior approval request."
Not sure how they came up with that determination. Ford also doesn't send anyone out to inspect the wheel personally.
I'm working through the C/S process and also contacted Carbon Revolutions to see if they can help. I spoke with someone late yesterday at CR and surprised I didn't get an answering machine. They were very helpful and asked me to send in all my info / pics / emails. From the video and pics I sent them, they feel it is a warrantable item. The info was sent to some of the execs at CR and they are also going to contact Ford.
After 2 phone calls and 50+ minutes on the phone with Ford C/S, they provided a Case #. I have also been given the name at someone at Ford Performance that may be able to help, but still trying to contact one of the managers.
I'll keep everyone posted on how it plays out.
More importantly, need some track wheels in R spec ASAP. Forgelines won't be here in time, so looking to see who has what available. I already missed too many track days due to the oil cooler recall. *I do have a line on some wheels / tires.
If there is a chance someone has a CF front wheel laying around, that they'd be willing to sell, that would be a miracle.
Thanks for lending an ear and if anyone has any advice on dealing with Ford, please feel free to message me directly or post here.
My biggest issue with the warranty claim is that Ford made a determination that the wheel had impact damage that contributed to the failure. There is no evidence of any impact damage.
-Marko
******************
Edit - 6/7 Spoke to a manager at Ford Performance - he advised to get the Service Manager to request a Field Service Engineer to come out and inspect the wheel to overturn the decision.
Service manager escalated to CSM. They won't send out a Field Service Engineer unless Ford assigns them to do it. He followed up again and the CSM said they can't overrule any warranty decisions or prior approval decisions. Service manager made another request back to prior approval for a second opinion and for a field service engineer.
Edit - Ford's Technical Assistance Center's Escalated Handling Team wants to see more pics of the wheel. Hopefully a step in the right direction.
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