Axle Failure for the SECOND time

[B O N Y]

Very sorry to hear about this a second time.

Putting on the ice-cold actuarial (insurance PhD type)/failure hat.

From the official mfg. disclosure of % of failures and the posts on this board, it appears this effects a very small percentage of vehicles <1%.

The only way a manufacturer or supplier/vendor is going to respond is thru cold hard data. And to get their attention, all the failures need to be captured by the dealer warranty system which will be uploaded to a central claim count database sorted by VIN, powertrain subsystems, etc. If the claims exceed an insurance industry ratio for this specific product, then and only then will full and complete solution be engineered, offered or paid.

Further, from personal experience all super cars experience this in the first 2 yrs of the run and upgrades are incorporated. Happened with Murcielago steering column leeks, Ferrari software, etc. In addition a very small percentage of cars are true Lemons (ie, a concentration of: poor manufacturing quality, defective parts, low QC, and materials failure statistically occuring in one product). The mfg. knows this, reserves for it and eats these as test beds/prototypes and settles lemon-law suits for pr, dealer goodwill, and product liability/safety issues.

This system works, and allows for those liberal 3-10 yr warranty's out there. In rare cases, its catastrophic (Goodyear Explorer, Audi sudden acceleration) and the mfg. pays thru the nose.

Unfortunately, in a 4000 car run, we will not benefit from the 2yr nits/bugs workout and some cars, 5-10 will be true lemons.

Pile-ing on to the next/current failure will be frustrating and at best shave value of resale in 2017 when some newbie reads this link.

Get em into the dealer, lets get an accurate claim count and then you will be heard.

wonderful post, cool heads will prevail

 

[PILOTJPW1]

Very well said!!

Great thoughts!!

Ford collects statistics out the wazoo! and they will make the difference not us internet posters. If your concerned see a dealer, if not like me. Just keep revin her up. I am in need of dose of power!

Very sorry to hear about this a second time.

Putting on the ice-cold actuarial (insurance PhD type)/failure hat.

From the official mfg. disclosure of % of failures and the posts on this board, it appears this effects a very small percentage of vehicles <1%.

The only way a manufacturer or supplier/vendor is going to respond is thru cold hard data. And to get their attention, all the failures need to be captured by the dealer warranty system which will be uploaded to a central claim count database sorted by VIN, powertrain subsystems, etc. If the claims exceed an insurance industry ratio for this specific product, then and only then will full and complete solution be engineered, offered or paid.

Further, from personal experience all super cars experience this in the first 2 yrs of the run and upgrades are incorporated. Happened with Murcielago steering column leeks, Ferrari software, etc. In addition a very small percentage of cars are true Lemons (ie, a concentration of: poor manufacturing quality, defective parts, low QC, and materials failure statistically occuring in one product). The mfg. knows this, reserves for it and eats these as test beds/prototypes and settles lemon-law suits for pr, dealer goodwill, and product liability/safety issues.

This system works, and allows for those liberal 3-10 yr warranty's out there. In rare cases, its catastrophic (Goodyear Explorer, Audi sudden acceleration) and the mfg. pays thru the nose.

Unfortunately, in a 4000 car run, we will not benefit from the 2yr nits/bugs workout and some cars, 5-10 will be true lemons.

Pile-ing on to the next/current failure will be frustrating and at best shave value of resale in 2017 when some newbie reads this link.

Get em into the dealer, lets get an accurate claim count and then you will be heard.

 

[Speed Thrills]

http://blogs.edmunds.com/roadtests/428


Already news. Hope they get a handle on it.

 

[fjpikul]

Boy, I can't wait to go to Barrett-Jackson in 25 years and say "These are the original half-shaft bolts - never changed, never broke" and watch the bidding go through the roof since I'll have one of the few, original cars left. Please don't forget, there are those of us that have not had any problems. I'm not driving it now because of the bad weather, but I won't let this problem scare me.

 

[Pete S.]

Emergency repair kit?

From all that I have read on this problem since finding the forum, which I am glad I did, the problem is real; but according to most, the fix seems easier, let's say, than what, changing out a 9" chunk on the side of the road. Who hasn't done that? I am approaching 9,000 miles (2005 #0507) with no issues related to this thread. However, I do have the kit with the new bolts sitting at the dealer, just in case. If I was worried about this happening, I think I'd carry an extra set in the car, and so long as a shop could get it up into the air even on an alignment rack, I'm certain we could perform the repairs fairly easily. Ford would certainly accept a credible repair shops statement regarding the validity of failure for it's own records; and of course placing the information on this forum would aid in the validation. I just hate that this failure has caused fear in some resulting in driving avoidance because the FGT's are just too much fun not to drive. I'll admit, I haven't gone further than 500 miles one way from home on any given trip. But the day will come. There are about 8 other FGT's I am in touch with in the greater DC area, some have been around Pocono, Summit Point, and Virginia Raceway; and as far as I know, no failures; mostly smiles. I believe even a class win at Pocono, but don't hold me to that.
There have been other failures, and quite a few flat tires. I appreciate all the information getting posted on this issue and hope my fellow drivers have all problems resolved to all of our satisfaction. After all, the drivers of the "Pace Car for an Entire Company" should be smiling. And treated well.

Pete S.

 

[Fubar]

I agree 100%, unfortunately the company is ran by bean counters and RIGHT has nothing to do with counting beans.

REMEMBER THE ALAMO, I mean PINTO!!!

 

[Gimbal]

Prowler, sorry to hear you had two axle failures! Could you please tell me if you had broken bolts or were they loose and fell out? If the bolts broke, did they break at the head? If the heads broke off could you send them to me and I will be happy to have an analysis done to determine if the bolt(s) were either fatigued or overloaded?
Thanks a lot,
John

 

[Gulf GT]

Prowler, sorry to hear you had two axle failures! Could you please tell me if you had broken bolts or were they loose and fell out? If the bolts broke, did they break at the head? If the heads broke off could you send them to me and I will be happy to have an analysis done to determine if the bolt(s) were either fatigued or overloaded?
Thanks a lot,
John

Now that's a great idea! If we had just such an analysis, a lot of speculating would end and some hard core answers would begin.

 

[Modo1]

Well the axle bolts issue happened to me tonight!! Can some one pass on the GT hotline number please?
It is so very frustrarting to put so much faith and money in to a product that fails you in such a shocking and sudden way. It must have been one of the most embarassing experiences of my life. I was driving my GT with only one of the top F1 drivers when she suddenly refused to move in any chosen gear!!?? Can you imagine if this would happen in an open road or middle of the night some where?? I guess that is what happens when you push your self to make a super car in "just 15 months"!! Well lets see if FORD will solve this issue on a permenant basis!?

 

[MK2_GT]

Modo, sorry to hear about this. You might get a better response if you start a new thread and not dig one up that is half a year old and another that is almost a year old. I am really trying to help and not trying to be a jerk.

The reason I say this is because your question is buried FIVE pages into the thread.

I hope this gets resolved for you quickly. I just looked around the web and found these, not sure if this is helpful or not. You might also want to purchase the accufab bolts and have a local installer just replace the one you have on.

FORD - 1-800-392-3673 - Customer Assistance Center, brochures, dealer locator, leasing and financing information.
FORD - 1-800-232-5952 - Customer Assistance Center, TDD for the Hearing Impaired.
FORD - 1-800-565-3673 - In Canada, Customer Assistance Center, brochures, dealer locator, leasing and financing information.

Here is the accufab web page where you can buy the bolts.

http://www.accufabracing.com/ford_gt.htm

If you repalce the bolts with accufab bolts , you will not have anymore issues.

 

[dbk]

See threads in tech, these are very old threads.