2012 Titanium Front Strut Low Speed Noise (Clunk/Rattle)

[FordCustomerService]

Originally Posted by hand-filer

Good news! I just got a call from the dealership. They have ordered the parts to perform TSB 12-6-17. Even better news!
At this point it's no longer as urgent as it once was to have it repaired. I have decided to trade it in on a new Titanium Escape.

Wow; big decision! Remember to grab a new Escape badge right after you do it: http://social.ford.com/grab-a-badge/2013+escape/yes/. I hope you'll remain an active member in this forum.

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Bob

Anyone have a copy of the TSB?

You'll need to visit your dealer to find out more about this bulletin.

Originally Posted by jpolk84

They ordered the part. My sister knows someone up at the front office so she called him. He said they definitely should replace it if they have the TSB. So it worked out. Thanks for the offer, though!...This was my very first visit to the service department and I gave them checklist of things I needed them to look at.

You're welcome! Please let me know how it turns out for you.

Originally Posted by Bames_Jond

...So for me (thank you, helpful CSM), it will be more vacation time used for something other than a vacation and a drive across town to the next closest dealer...

I realize I have the '10 model, but my Focus has such similar suspension maladies to some of the ones you folks here have been experiencing...

Sent you a PM earlier today. Our dealers will do the best job possible.

Originally Posted by ricomtl

I'm going on week 3 of clunk free driving - every morning when I leave home, I turn off the radio and still listen ... just in case it was start over, but it seems like it was fixed!

Yay for me !

Cruising in the Focus is your new quiet time!

Originally Posted by zx3matt

Is this a TSB we are getting a letter about, or just one to take care of complaints/occurrences of the clunk and you have to go to the dealer and hope for the best? I get the clunk, but it isn't too bad YET...

Originally Posted by dyn085

You won't get a letter, if you have the clunk you have to approach your Service dept about it. It is just a service bulletin to help the mechanics diagnose the problem.

Hey guys -

If you haven't done so, zx3matt, please PM me your VIN, mileage, phone #, and dealer info; I'll loop in your Customer Service Manager. Thanks a bunch for your reply, dyn085! Totally agree with you.

Have a good weekend,

Thomas

[hand-filer]

Originally Posted by FordCustomerService

Wow; big decision! Remember to grab a new Escape badge right after you do it: http://social.ford.com/grab-a-badge/2013+escape/yes/. I hope you'll remain an active member in this forum.

Thomas

It's staying in the family. I'm giving it to my parents and using their 2010 Chevy Malibu as a trade in. So yes I'll still stop in here from time to time.

[tigertiger]

Originally Posted by Bames_Jond

. . . the clunking and popping sounds had seemingly been amplified (now it goes to 11).
Mike

Don't mean to make light of your situation, but I laughed out loud at this reference. (I'm guessing you included it for humor.)

I too have noticed the clunking sound and will be letting my dealer know next trip in.

Hope you get your problems resolved completely.

[jpolk84]

Taking my first road trip tomorrow. This will tell me a lot. I'm beginning to think I'll be trading this in. Only had it 3 months and will take a beating but I have to make payments on it and it should be something I like. I love the car's styling but it's just so under powered on the low end and the AC is crazy poor. We'll see.

[Bames_Jond]

Originally Posted by tigertiger

Don't mean to make light of your situation, but I laughed out loud at this reference. (I'm guessing you included it for humor)

Indeed I did - trying my best here to de-stress an ownership experience that is becoming a bigger pain in the rear with each subsequent service visit. It's nice to see there's another Christopher Guest fan on the thread though.

Well, Sir Clunksalot goes into a different service dept. tomorrow for repair attempt #5 (wish me luck)... I am a little nervous that the "note" the CSM left in the system after our somewhat less than pleasant conversation last Thursday may make shop #2 feel coerced into corroborating shop #1's official statement, but I don't want to put the cart ahead of the horse.

Out of curiosity, has anyone uploaded A/V of their clunking Focus on YouTube? I think real video showing when the noises occur and what exactly they sound like might be beneficial to other owners of affected cars (as well as Ford).


Still Clunking Along,

Mike

[kc5rui]

I'll try to get a good recording of the sound, mine has been clunking at low speeds/braking for about a month now. Currently has 8000 miles.

[wilsonfocus86]

Originally Posted by Bames_Jond

Out of curiosity, has anyone uploaded A/V of their clunking Focus on YouTube? I think real video showing when the noises occur and what exactly they sound like might be beneficial to other owners of affected cars (as well as Ford).

I know a few have tried/trying. I tried two methods. I literally duct taped my phone to the strut/suspension towers inside the engine bay area..(obviously there was an excess of engine noise, who knew, jk). Then, I duct taped my phone into the wheel well right next to the strut/spring assembly. I got a lot better recording, though not something that "sounds exactly like the clunk/pop I hear from inside the car whilst driving"; but more promising than the engine bay. Which leads me to conclude, that it is very hard to get an identical cluck/pop/rattle without say, some top of the line A/V equipment with audio editing software, la-di-da-di-da...

I'll try and get my video up sometime real soon, if only I can edit it.

[TiPilot]

Originally Posted by TiPilot

Update...

The dealer definitely has heard the sound in my car (ride along) and is working to fix the problem. However, the issue is that all the TSBs out for related problems apply to cars with build dates earlier than mine. Thus, even though they acknowledge the issue, they're trying to figure out how to cover it as a warranty repair. Hopefully they can straighten it out with Ford this week!

The service advisor heard the noise within about 15 seconds. We hadn't even pulled out of the parking lot at the dealership! I've also received phone calls from the regional CSM thanks to some initial PM action on here with the Ford reps. So, while it's not yet fixed, I'm definitely satisfied with the attention it's now receiving.

Was back at the dealer the other day. They know it's making noises, but Ford has told them that whatever TSBs apply to it don't apply to when/where my car was built. So, right now, they're stuck.

Looks like I'm going have to escalate this through my Regional CSM...

[Shantheman2012]

Originally Posted by TiPilot

Was back at the dealer the other day. They know it's making noises, but Ford has told them that whatever TSBs apply to it don't apply to when/where my car was built. So, right now, they're stuck.

Looks like I'm going have to escalate this through my Regional CSM...

TiPilot...i'm getting ready to take mine in for the clunking/clattering too. Can you tell me which dealer you went to in Dayton? Out of the three in the area...(Tipp/Interstate/Townsend) I'm inclined to try Interstate since I've had good experience with their shop. (I've bought cars from two of the three though)

PM me if you can. Love to know the advisor you talked to so I don't have to start from scratch and explain the issue to someone who is clueless.

[dyn085]

Originally Posted by TiPilot

Was back at the dealer the other day. They know it's making noises, but Ford has told them that whatever TSBs apply to it don't apply to when/where my car was built. So, right now, they're stuck.

Looks like I'm going have to escalate this through my Regional CSM...

What is your build date? The TSB covers cars built up to 4-2-12.