2016+ Ford Moostang GT350 - Whats the Voodoo?

So I was having a discussion with a buddy about the best sounding engines and the 5.2 flat plane Voodoo was one of my all time greats.  I mean it just sounds like Viagra...

Anyhow, it got me searching the interdweebs to see what these were running price wise (with the whole Coronavirus effect) and I noticed there were a lot of low mileage used versions at dealers with "manufacturer buyback" history.  Made me curious as to what the major issues are that one would want to be aware of, so of course I came to the source of all knowledge, the braintrust at GRM.  So what are the known issues with the GT350 & GT350R?  You know, asking for Stampie ...I mean a friend.  ;)

think some of them suffered oil consumption.

10/10 would own one though after coaching a student in one. 

I think the plasma coated aluminum cylinder walls are the problem leading to oil consumption if I'm not mistaken.  I'd steer clear.

Wasn't there also a lawsuit against Ford on these because Ford said they were "track ready" but after a lap or two, everything would start overheating on them and it would go into limp mode? And yeah, they had oil consumption troubles,

Hot take: I don't think they sound that good either.

Yes there was: https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a15342028/shelby-gt350-owners-sue-ford-for-overheating-on-the-track/

It was for differential/transmission overheating. It only effect 2016 w/o the track pack. 2017+ the track pack was standard.

Patientzero said:

I think the plasma coated aluminum cylinder walls are the problem leading to oil consumption if I'm not mistaken.  I'd steer clear.

I was researching GT350'S heavily last fall, and this is the issue that pops up frequently on the forums. It's most common with the Voodoo motors but not unheard of with Ford's other V8's. Most cars don't seem to have an issue but the ones that do need motor replacements, which was taking months under warranty. There are reports of individual owners needing multiple new motors under warranty and still having the issue. For similar performance/$, the ZL1 Camaros seem way more reliable. I ended up with a 981 Cayman S which is less performance for similar $, but way more car overall IMO.  Flat 6's make pretty cool noises too.  :)

I drove an acquaintance's 2019 just a little around town. It really does sound like Viagra to me, particularly with the exhaust set to loud. It's also completely bonkers to drive one around town. You can't get the engine up in RPMS unless you are just being an arse, and down low it only felt a little hotter than my S197. In fact, his wife hated it so much he traded it in less than 6mos after buying it new.

But lord it was cool. If I had dumb money I'd have one just to go drive in the mountains so I could let it sing. I hate to hear about the oil issues because it's (was?) on my short list of hero cars I might conceivably own one day.

As much as I love Mustangs and flat-plane cranks, I'd just buy a Camaro SS 1LE and not worry about all the GT350 issues.

DaveEstey said:

10/10 would own one though after coaching a student in one. 

Experienced student or new student?  I would be pretty terrified to strap into the passenger seat of a car like that with a novice!

There are some videos and reports of engine failures very early that Ford isn't covering.

Oil consumption is common and has lead to engine being replaced and sometimes Ford just saying that's normal.

I have also seen multiple reports of bearing failures on very low mileage engines that have been denied. Ford has cited abuse because of track use to multiple owners as reason to deny warranty claims.

I really like the idea of the gt350r but after all the reliabiltiy reports, I'd steer clear

I love the noise it makes. I loved driving one that belonged to Ford. I'd never own one.

Rumor has it that Ford hired Ricardo (UK engine gurus) to help them come up with a design with a flat plane crank. They presented Ford with options and said "under no circumstances should you put a flat plane crank in a regular mod motor - it will vibrate itself to death." Ford management saw dollar signs and told the engineers to do it anyway. So you have an engine that revs to the moon but even with all its balance shafts and tuned mass dampers is still a vibration machine. I'd be seriously surprised to see any of them last 100k miles. 

ShinnyGroove (Forum Supporter) said:

I was researching GT350'S heavily last fall, and this is the issue that pops up frequently on the forums. It's most common with the Voodoo motors but not unheard of with Ford's other V8's. Most cars don't seem to have an issue but the ones that do need motor replacements, which was taking months under warranty. There are reports of individual owners needing multiple new motors under warranty and still having the issue. For similar performance/$, the ZL1 Camaros seem way more reliable. 

This is pretty much exactly how we ended up with our ZL1.  I was also looking pretty hard at GT350s, but was leery of the engine problems.  ZL1 showed up on the local Chevy dealer's lot with 2700 miles... easy decision.  

FWIW, an Alpha chassis ('16 or newer) SS 1LE will run with a GT350 for a bit more than half the money.  And GM has been way better than Ford for warranty issues on track driven cars.

That Voodoo does sound good though...

Opti said:

Ford has cited abuse because of track use to multiple owners as reason to deny warranty claims.

Which, I want to point, should be completely against the law. 

I think it's BS companies can advertise a car as "Ready for track use" or something similar, then when you actually use the car the way it's advertised, they deny any warranty claims for abuse. 

Like the GT-R and using the launch mode. It's complete crap companies can get away with that type of stuff.

nderwater said:

DaveEstey said:

10/10 would own one though after coaching a student in one. 

Experienced student or new student?  I would be pretty terrified to strap into the passenger seat of a car like that with a novice!

Novice, but afraid of pushing the pedals too hard. Thank god. 

They come in two general flavors - the GT350 and the more track oriented GT350R - the red GT350 badge will denote an R model. R's will be collectibles. 

The oil consumption issue is real. It plagued many of the 2017-18 cars. Supposedly they fixed whatever the 'issue' was in the 2019 model year, but I've seen reports of 2019 350s having engine issue due to oil consumption as well.

Your standard assumption when looking at a used 2017-18 GT350 is that it was traded in due to oil consumption or is on its second (or third) engine.

if buying a used GT350, obtain an OASIS report from a Ford service dept. - it will tell you what its service history/warranty history is.

Go to Mustang6g.com for more info on these cars.

The only one I've ever driven was a 2017 GT350 and it was an absolute thrill. If I had the money and space, I woud one or more of these. In my opinion, this is one of the best 'bang for the buck' perforamnce cars there is. An American Ferrari.

Sound is biblical. Have had a chance to drive one at autox back in 2017. Love the dynamics, the power is more linear thanks to the lower midrange torque and the higher redline. 

Would I love to drive one again, absolutely. 

do i feel comfortable buying one... absolutely not.. motors are expensive and the oil issue is as widespread as they say. 

not something I'd take a gamble on myself. 

A friend of mine had one as his DD and occasional HPDE car. He blew two engines in a 6-month timeframe (and he has plenty of other cars that have no problems with him doing the same things with them). He got rid of it less than a year after buying it, said it was great but not worth the total lack of confidence he had in the car. 

spacecadet (Forum Supporter) said:

Sound is biblical. Have had a chance to drive one at autox back in 2017. Love the dynamics, the power is more linear thanks to the lower midrange torque and the higher redline. 

So it's a 5.2l bridge ported rotary, but encased in a brodozermobile if brodozers drove cars.  Got it.

In reply to z31maniac :

There is a YouTube channel woman.driven or something like that, that always pops up on my facespace feed. 

IIRC she did a handful of hpde events and started getting a misfire. She broke a piston and Ford denied the claim for abuse, so she tore it down herself and has been documenting it. I don't think she has it back together yet, but you can watch a few of her videos and get an idea of what failed and how she was treated.

That's really sad, I had high hopes for this engine

After reading this I did a quick search and came across this article:

GT350 Engine Failure: By The Numbers

If what is laid out int he piece is true things may not really be that bad.

Friend of mine has one.  $75,000 car that he dumped another $25K into making it a serious track weapon.  (cage, seats, brakes, more wheels, E85 tune, etc)  Tows it to events in an enclosed trailer.  Absolutely crushed me at the Time Trials at NCM last year.

Last fall his motor ate itself and Ford denied any warrantee coverage.  He can afford the replacement but it's eye wateringly expensive (something like 30 large).   

I know it takes all kinds but for $100 grand I guarantee I could go faster.  A lot faster.

Aaron_King said:

After reading this I did a quick search and came across this article:

GT350 Engine Failure: By The Numbers

If what is laid out int he piece is true things may not really be that bad.

I wonder how many of those roughly 17,000 cars are actually tracked vs how many are garage queens.  I suspect the rate of failure is a lot higher on cars that get "used".

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

spacecadet (Forum Supporter) said:

Sound is biblical. Have had a chance to drive one at autox back in 2017. Love the dynamics, the power is more linear thanks to the lower midrange torque and the higher redline. 

 

So it's a 5.2l bridge ported rotary, but encased in a brodozermobile if brodozers drove cars.  Got it.

Doesn't appear to be quite as reliable as a bridge ported rotary, though.

KyAllroad (Jeremy) (Forum Supporter) said:

Aaron_King said:

After reading this I did a quick search and came across this article:

GT350 Engine Failure: By The Numbers

If what is laid out int he piece is true things may not really be that bad.

I wonder how many of those roughly 17,000 cars are actually tracked vs how many are garage queens.  I suspect the rate of failure is a lot higher on cars that get "used".

Exactly. 

I would bet most people buy a car like this because of what it represents, not because they actually plan to USE it.