Reverse lockout recall

[svassh]

Mine has the issue. Now the struggle to decide wether to let the dealership do this or not.


By the way.

Is ALL that work required to swap the stock shifter necessary for the MGW shifter job?

Yes same procedure.

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[Sixx]

According to the Ford app, my car has the issue. Just had it in for an oil change, looks like I am going back.

 

[lightrules]

Yes same procedure.

wonder what the odds are a dealer will install the MGW instead if you hand them the parts...

 

[Alain]

wonder what the odds are a dealer will install the MGW instead if you hand them the parts...

I think that’s gonna be dependent on the dealership. You may get a good service manager that will agree to do it or you’ll get some dude who doesn’t care and will be an inflexible hard ass and won’t want to do it.

Let me know if this request sounds outrageous. I thought about having the dealership give me the parts and I do the repair myself.

what do you all think are the odds a dealership will agree to that ?

 

[matthewr87]

I am confused as to the severity of the issue. My interpretation of the service message is that IF the shifter gets damaged, then reverse lockout may stop functioning. Is it implying that there is some kind of deficiency in the shifter that increases the chances of damage? Or just that if it gets damaged (somehow) that reverse lockout stops working?

 

[03reptile]

I am confused as to the severity of the issue. My interpretation of the service message is that IF the shifter gets damaged, then reverse lockout may stop functioning. Is it implying that there is some kind of deficiency in the shifter that increases the chances of damage? Or just that if it gets damaged (somehow) that reverse lockout stops working?

From what I understand there was a faulty part installed in the effected shifter mechanisms. It will eventually fail and cause the shifter to go into reverse without pulling up on the lock out collar. It also makes the shifter feel weird and wonky!

 

[lenFeb]

What puzzles me is that affected vehicles are late 18 early 19. That means only for affected gt350s something was changed in the shifter(the fix require entire shifter change)? What was changed for the affected cars? Moreover this issue has known for sometime. Why ford came forward with the fix just now.

 

[Thunderbolt]

Just got my Field service action through the Ford pass app. Mine was built in 6/18 J3710. Going to talk to my dealer about installing the MGW.

 

[lightrules]

Just got my Field service action through the Ford pass app. Mine was built in 6/18 J3710. Going to talk to my dealer about installing the MGW.

let us know what they say about the mgw.

 

[03reptile]

What puzzles me is that affected vehicles are late 18 early 19. That means only for affected gt350s something was changed in the shifter(the fix require entire shifter change)? What was changed for the affected cars? Moreover this issue has known for sometime. Why ford came forward with the fix just now.

Ford is never too forthcoming with specificity. The best explanation from my technician is that this faulty part was within the shifter mechanics and it was easier to just replace the whole shifter with the corrected part than to take it all apart, install the corrected part, reassemble it, and put it back in the parts bin shelf. The company that builds the shifters, not Ford, made that decision. I think this part was probably okay during 2015 through 2017 MY's. They just got a bad batch of faulty parts installed in the production of the shifters during the time these shifters were installed in the newer models. Does that make sense?

 

[Les]

My car was built 5/1/19 and I got the same message on the Ford app! Disappointing!

 

[Epiphany]

I am confused as to the severity of the issue. My interpretation of the service message is that IF the shifter gets damaged, then reverse lockout may stop functioning. Is it implying that there is some kind of deficiency in the shifter that increases the chances of damage? Or just that if it gets damaged (somehow) that reverse lockout stops working?

Ford very carefully selected the words they chose.

The use of the word "may" creates some level of uncertainty or ambiguity. And to say "if the assembly becomes damaged during an aggressive shift event" are they talking about permanent damage or something that can intermittently cause a problem? They aren't saying what they know to be true, as it would take up a few pages for a clear and concise explanation as to why this has and can happen.

What puzzles me is that affected vehicles are late 18 early 19. That means only for affected gt350s something was changed in the shifter(the fix require entire shifter change)? What was changed for the affected cars? Moreover this issue has known for sometime. Why ford came forward with the fix just now.

This program can be based on consumer complaints and/or incidents reported to Ford or the NHTSA. Bottom line - more early owners need to file complaints for Ford to amend the "program." This link might help...
https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.dot.gov/files/documents/stepsfromcomplainttorecall.pdf

Ford is never too forthcoming with specificity. The best explanation from my technician is that this faulty part was within the shifter mechanics and it was easier to just replace the whole shifter with the corrected part than to take it all apart, install the corrected part, reassemble it, and put it back in the parts bin shelf. The company that builds the shifters, not Ford, made that decision. I think this part was probably okay during 2015 through 2017 MY's. They just got a bad batch of faulty parts installed in the production of the shifters during the time these shifters were installed in the newer models. Does that make sense?

I don't believe this to be a "bad batch" issue but rather an inherent fault in the design with the affected range based on a measured sampling of the complaints filed. The size or scope of the action could grow to include earlier models (in my opinion it should) if the complaints from those MY cars increase enough to meet the threshold Ford has chosen.

In my experience, Ford hasn't changed the assembly throughout. I tore down a brand new unit direct from Ford and could see deficiencies not just in the hardware itself but the overall design. I've gone into lengthy detail in threads here at 6G in the past so this program from Ford comes as no surprise. The squeaky wheel gets the grease here so the range is fairly small and that is obviously what Ford would prefer. If and when they have to, the MY's affected could grow based on complaints. See the link I posted above.

In nutshell, Ford mimicked the design GM was using on their TR6060 equipped Camaro's. It's a single arm, pendulum actuated, plastic ball and race, economy shifter. It degrades with use and Ford felt that it would normally be out of warranty by the time things got too sloppy. Hence the verbage in the recall, where they are signaling that they recognize that shifts that "may be higher in force than normal" can cause an issue.

Watch the race and pivot very carefully in this video and you can see how the materials in this design deflect quite a bit, making for sloppy (but "soft") actuation that degrades over time.





The issue in this case is the poor reverse lockout collar design. The design is rooted in cost (as low as possible), the fact that it is lightweight, and easy to manufacture/assemble. The collar is molded and is used to prevent the user from accidentally shifting into reverse. The problem is the collar tab deflects, and the body of the collar binds on the shaft it rides on. When you add that along with the rest of the deflection in the system (the linkage rod) you may find that gear selection can become difficult or at times, impossible. Here's George from MGW showing how fairly modest pressure on the shifter can result in an issue.





You can also have an issue with the lockout collar sticking/binding such that it gets stuck when raised, allowing you to move the arm over to the reverse gate when that wasn't what you wanted to do. This video shows a brand new shifter (service part for a 2016 on a brand new TR3160 on a stand).





Some here have also complained about vibrating or noise from the shifter under use. Ford chose to jam a small piece of foam between the collar spring and the vertical rod it slides on. Here's a new unit I disassembled that depicts what I'm talking about.

Look closely and you'll see some grease to lubricate the shaft and collar. As the thin film gets scraped away with use the collar becomes more likely to stick when pulled up as the spring can't overcome the friction that keeps it there. Ford could have used a higher tension spring to partially mitigate this but apparently some in their focus groups keep their pinky high in the air when they drink their latte and wouldn't stand for it. The foam can make things worse, at least before it tears off and is no longer in place.

I've seen the shifter Ford is sending to dealers for the recall but not had the opportunity to break it down, measure it, and compare it to earlier units. This is it.

"Majority" of the content made in the USA. QC stickers show handwriting not in English, so my guess is assembly is taking place elsewhere at this point as well as the manufacture of some of the components. I'd assume that Ford had the supplier make slight changes to the plastic lockout collar, the spring, and that's it. My assessment hasn't changed. The GT350 has a great engine and suspension. The TR3160 is a great transmission. But the shifter is low budget trash and no match for the rest of the car. Ford could have used an improved design (still pendulum) at a reasonable cost increase that would prove to be more robust both under aggressive use as well as with long term durability. I had hoped for a single axis (bolt-action style) design when the car was announced but it's clear where they felt they could save money and this is the result.

 

[matthewr87]

Thanks for the detailed write up. Coming from the garbage MT-82 and shifter design in my 2012 this shifter feels much better. That being said there have been times when I have been unable to engage reverse and/or first gear. A couple of shifts back to neutral has fixed it each time. Comes and goes sporadically; maybe a handful of times in the past year. I will probably just invest in an MGW at some point and install myself.

 

[lenFeb]

Thanks for the detailed explanation. This bear the question in my mind, what other parts in GT350 Ford put to save the cost

 

[matthewr87]

Thanks for the detailed explanation. This bear the question in my mind, what other parts in GT350 Ford put to save the cost

Well seeing as how it is a 526 HP track car for ~60K with a ~30K engine, I'd say quite a few

Fit and finish is definitely lacking. But again, if we had this car made by anyone else other than Ford (or maybe Chevy) it would cost north of 100K.

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