Oil cooler failure - first hand experiences?

[Frostee]

Outside of warranty all bets are off.

I disagree with this statement. You have Consumer Protection Rights beyond Warranty offered by the manufacturer.

Suppliers or manufacturers may provide a warranty promising that if defects occur within a given period of time a consumer may be entitled to a repair, replacement, refund or other compensation.

It is important to understand that a manufacturer’s warranty applies in addition to the consumer guarantees. Whereas the consumer guarantees apply to all purchases and cannot be waived, manufacturers’ warranties are offered voluntarily and usually apply to certain types of products such as electrical goods, cars and furniture.

https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/Consumer Guarantees A guide for consumers_0.pdf

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[TeamDenno]

^^^ Not good, but Sinclair Ford are very responsive. Hammo has told me that if oil cooler goes it's a new engine.

I'm interested in hearing how this pans out.

PS - I think he's gone to Adelaide for the first Supercar race of the season!

Yes, he has. He called me from the car yesterday when he found out about the problem. He confirmed that I had already arranged to get it back to them asap.

Fingers crossed this all works out OK. Will keep all posted (here and on the S550 FB pages)

 

[TeamDenno]

....Outside of warranty all bets are off.

I actually think it would come under the "fit for purpose" ruling under consumer law.

The oil cooler failure means in effect an entirely new engine.

The oil cooler fails. The engine fails.

In this day and age, a "new car" to the value of a Mustang surely should have an expectation that it would last longer working than the warranty period of 3 years. A 3 years and 1 day old car isnt't "fit for purpose" if the engine fails post warranty.

Or even come under the "fixing something which is the manufacturers fault" clause. If every Mustang owner wrote to Ford demanding the part be replaced, and they refused, when the engine finally packs in, there is certainly a case for Ford to pony up (pun intended) for a new replacement engine.

 

[Nong]

The problem here is the poorly engineered oil cooler in the first place so after an engine change or even a new car you still have the same poorly designed OC. The problem in the 15-17 RHD Mustangs is not going away and will always be a potential major failure point, new engine or not.

 

[TeamDenno]

The problem here is the poorly engineered oil cooler in the first place so after an engine change or even a new car you still have the same poorly designed OC. The problem in the 15-17 RHD Mustangs is not going away and will always be a potential major failure point, new engine or not.

Yes, that's the key question. Replace the engine... is the faulty part a new design?

 

[stang_86]

I’m hanging to know if the 18 has the same oil cooler or design?

 

[msweet]

I’m hanging to know if the 18 has the same oil cooler or design?

I would also like to know this. If not, it will be one of the first mods

 

[GT 550]

Kudos to dealers that are replacing the engine when this happens within warranty, this seems to be the accepted practice.

The real question is around what Ford will do after warranty. We can (and tend to) favourably interpret legislation all we like, but until this actual case is tested we won't know if we stand a chance. Who wants to risk the cost of an engine when it rests on a lengthy and painful case involving tribunals that ultimately relies on someone else's interpretation of legislation and an untried case with at best only related precedent. Not to say that related precedent isn't important, but companies will often fight tooth and nail to stop direct precedent from being set if it establishes ongoing liability, and Ford knows it will have ongoing liability with this issue.

Anyone brave enough to test this please say. Ford would only have to get to a point - for whatever reason - where they decided to shut the door on us and then we can all be amazed at the thickness of their skin and the extent of their fighting fund. Maybe we'll be even more amazed when they continue to replace engines and ac evaporators after warranty expires.

But in the meantime, I wonder if Sinclair's would do a Harrop group buy?

 

[Drewbo]

If Ford don't acknowledge this issue and come up with a solution, I'll certainly consider offloading the car when the factory warranty expires.

At the very least, between this and the aircon schamozzle, they should be extending everyone's warranty to five years (in line with the current 2017 run out incentives).

I'd rather not have to rely on ACL provisions until absolutely necessary.

 

[GT 550]

Yes, that's the key question. Replace the engine... is the faulty part a new design?

@ TeamDenno sorry to hear of this mate. Seems like you're in good hands for getting it sorted though.

No one in the owner group seems to know the answer to that q, or the one about the cause, or the actual failure. If Ford knows, they're sadly not saying but then they don't yet call this a problem due to the 'small number of cars affected'.

If Ford don't acknowledge this issue and come up with a solution, I'll certainly consider offloading the car when the factory warranty expires.

At the very least, between this and the aircon schamozzle, they should be extending everyone's warranty to five years (in line with the current 2017 run out incentives).

I'd rather not have to rely on ACL provisions until absolutely necessary.

If you offload the car when it's expired, or close to, you may get gouged because buyers will factor in a premium for getting an aftermarket cooler fitted. At the least, the used market will know if Ford is fixing failures outside warranty or not; if not, owners experiencing the milkshake will in many cases conceivably just replace the cooler and try to sell the car, making every GT outside warranty suspect. Yay.

I'd rather not rely on them at all

 

[Bushranger]

@ TeamDenno sorry to hear of this mate. Seems like you're in good hands for getting it sorted though.

-- they don't yet call this a problem due to the 'small number of cars affected'.

A small probability times a large consequence is usually a high priority hazard.
Whilst I do not envy TeamDenno, at least some evidence of the issue is coming to light and is ammunition to assist us in applying pressure to Ford. Interestingly, the cooler appears to have failed both externally and internally??
I again contacted the customer relationship centre yesterday and got the standard response about taking my car to a dealer for inspection etc. Even though I explained that there was nothing wrong with my car yet. I did get a further commitment in writing (email) that my letter/issue would be responded to. OK, even if it isn't addressed, it is further rope to use. Don't panic yet. Let the process run its course. But keep the issue alive.

 

[MUS550]

I also contacted ford Aus customer service and they responded by stating that all cars will be inspected at service intervals. I asked if I could have the cooler replaced for my piece of mind and the response was if it hasn’t failed yet ford won’t replace the oil cooler

 

[TeamDenno]

A small probability times a large consequence is usually a high priority hazard.
Whilst I do not envy TeamDenno, at least some evidence of the issue is coming to light and is ammunition to assist us in applying pressure to Ford. Interestingly, the cooler appears to have failed both externally and internally??
.......Don't panic yet. Let the process run its course. But keep the issue alive.

Feel free to be envious...! :-)

But yes, mine vomited oil and coolant all over the garage floor.

Im resigned to what has happened... Lucky for me, I went thru triple heart bypass last year, and with the recovery and psychology sessions after that, I've realised that nothing really matters ... Especially when I have no control, and when I'm not out of pocket!

Hope that makes sense.

 

[RSPEC-015]

^^^ Yep, makes total sense.

Do you think you'll have it back for the Sinclair Mudgee cruise?

I'm aiming to go on that one.

 

[Bushranger]

Feel free to be envious...! :-)

But yes, mine vomited oil and coolant all over the garage floor.

Im resigned to what has happened... Lucky for me, I went thru triple heart bypass last year, and with the recovery and psychology sessions after that, I've realised that nothing really matters ... Especially when I have no control, and when I'm not out of pocket!

Hope that makes sense.

I am envious of your attitude. Thanks for the reality check.

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