[dsystermann]

Bought my 2017 GT350 on June 10th. On July 20th, I noticed significant gaps on the left and right sides where the rear bumper meets up with up with the body. Local Ford Body Shop said this is a problem with Shelby's located in the desert southwest due to the excessive heat. It causes the plastic attach brackets to weaken and stretch. Anyone else have this issue, heard of this issue, or even know it is a real issue? It took almost two months, but the brackets were replaced today.

 

[johnny1]

A lot of people have the gap and some have tried to fix themselves and it starts to come back. Doesn't have any thing to do with the southwest desert. Most think the fascia is to heavy for the clips. I'm in the process of trying to get mine adjusted under warranty at a body shop on my 2017 cause its starting to sag and I live in southeast Kansas. But as others it will probably eventually start doing it again.

 

[barstowpo]

Someone posted a fix over on 6G.

 

[johnny1]

If its the one with pictures where he put a screw in the plastic where it wouldn't show by the bracket it came back after driving it awhile so he gave up.

 

[Svtride]

Can someone post pictures of the defect? I've looked at my 2017 and don't see any objectionable gaps.

Thanks

 

[johnny1]

I can't post a picture but if it will help if gaped on the top corner of the rear fascia the horizontal lines about a inch and a half wide will have a space and you can see a little bit of the tabs that are supposed to hold the seam tight.

 

[mspenc45]

I have the issue on my 2017, and am trying a three screw fix in the hidden area once the tail light is removed. I'll take some photos when complete. I've all but taken the bumper cover off and found that the last two bumper cover tabs do not engage the hooks on the under member (not sure what its called) on the last two positions nearest the tail light assembly. With some work you can get the one closest to the tail light to engage, but only with some up pressure, via a padded floor jack under the bumper valence. This alone will not hold as you can see the stress left on the tab and its slot once the floor jack is removed. My challenge now is getting the other tabs to re-engage as getting the tail light area hooked seems to cause issues for those tabs forward of it, towards the wheel well. I wonder if re-positioning the under member might help, but it does seem as if the bumper has shrink or something is nut not molded correctly.

 

[zeus79]

Has nothing to do with your location. Panel gaps in general are not the best on the Shelby. One of the members said it, supposedly the gap that your seeing is due to the weight of the bumper. Mine looks like crap.

 

[johnny1]

Not being negative but I don't know of any that has posted on any of the forums that have been able to correct this to where it doesn't sag again some after awhile no matter what they've tried. Before I traded my 16 it was brand new (3 miles) sitting on the showroom floor with the sag bad. My dealership has had a brand new 17 thats been sitting on the showroom floor for several months and it has it but not as bad as my 16 did. And my 17 bought new has it about like the 17 on the showroom floor.

 

[mspenc45]

I think the screws I've added will solve the problem. Not perfect, but much better. Again, I have this problem big time on my 2017 rear bumper cover nearer the tail light assemblies. Placing a floor jack under the rear valance, using a thick rubber pad to protect it, and slight up pressure will push the bumper cover into place, but cannot get the cover tab to clip to the actual hook that is part of the actual mount that is screwed to the body is near impossible. I did a basic disassembly of the bumper cover form the wheel well around to the tail light, just one 7mm bold and a push pin allows you to snap the cover off the under member. The last two clips near the tail light are not hooked at all, nor can they be. It seems as if the mount assembly is too far in, or simply too thick below the hooks, preventing the tab slot from engaging the actual hook. Same thing on both sides. Something is wrong with either the parts, such that they do not interact together as they should, or perhaps the positioning of the actual mount? I don't know what this thing is called, but it is black and has the hooks molded into it, and I am calling it the bumper cover mount. I developed a fix last night adding my own screws in the area hidden by the tail light assembly. The tail light comes out very easy, just three 10mm nuts, but the issue of the tabs not mating to the hooks in the mount drove me crazy and I removed the bumper cover up to the license plate area. Ford needs to take a look at their molds, tolerance stack ups, or assembly process. I had to file down he mount, basically making it thinner in order to get the cover tabs to engage the hooks. I also found that the rear mount was not tightened at the factory, this is the mount immediately below the left tail light.

Before:

After:

Screws:

 

[JimT]

I wonder if this can be done with Pop Rivets? I would think screws would loosen over time?

 

[hobbie1]

Curious - did your bumper stay put after the screws were added? Mine is now sagging.

 

[johnny1]

FYI if you don't already know Ford now has a TSB out that is supposed to fix it. But it involves a kit they have which includes new brackets. But it also requires some screws put in plastic, pop rivets, and some trimming of plastic tabs with scissors. A lot of us are waiting to see how those that do the TSB turn out and how it holds up. Ford claims it only takes 1.7 hr. to do and it just looks like a shady fix. The TSB is 18-2107

 

[hobbie1]

FYI if you don't already know Ford now has a TSB out that is supposed to fix it. But it involves a kit they have which includes new brackets. But it also requires some screws put in plastic, pop rivets, and some trimming of plastic tabs with scissors. A lot of us are waiting to see how those that do the TSB turn out and how it holds up. Ford claims it only takes 1.7 hr. to do and it just looks like a shady fix. The TSB is 18-2107

Mine is going in for the TSB repair tomorrow morning - dealer ordered the kit last week.

We'll see how it goes.

I decided to move forward as my gap was getting worse.

Will update when I get my ride back

 

[RyanSterling1966]

Please do, I plan on letting my dealer fix it as well. I don't need another car project.

 

[JimT]

Mine is going in for the TSB repair tomorrow morning - dealer ordered the kit last week.

We'll see how it goes.

I decided to move forward as my gap was getting worse

Will update when I get my ride back

Yes please let us know. I continue to sag, need the repair.

 

[VUUDUU]

I also have the exact same problem with my rear bumper, but I live i the south east. I also have a 2017 GT350

 

[16SNAKE]

Took mine in to dealer yesterday for TSB repair. Dealer ordered repair kit and are sending me to their contract body shop to have it done once the parts kit arrives.

 

[hobbie1]

Hi everyone - Got our 350 back today.

Our dealer is a local kind of small town Ford dealer - they did an awesome job - the fit now looks great.

Dealer did all the work on premise. They took their time.

I did not rush them just said take your time call me when it's done. They had it for a little over a day.

The saggy bumper is gone..... I would recommend the fix - will update if the gap reappear

 

[17snake]

Hi everyone - Got our 350 back today.

Our dealer is a local kind of small town Ford dealer - they did an awesome job - the fit now looks great.

Dealer did all the work on premise. They took their time.

I did not rush them just said take your time call me when it's done. They had it for a little over a day.

The saggy bumper is gone..... I would recommend the fix - will update if the gap reappear

That is good to know since this is a common issue for most of us.