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

[wilsonfocus86]

Originally Posted by Han.MK3

I too have had the clunk for like 10 months now. I'm just waiting for a permanent fix since I can't afford to lose my car for over a day for something that I know won't work.

I was under the car today building my custom exhaust and I didn't have good light but it looked like the front sway bar bushing was messed up. Any one know if that is a possibility for the clunk?

Sent from my PC36100 using FF Mobile

Anything is possible since they can't seem to "pin point" this issue. Seems too advanced for the boffins at Ford.

[Boomertwo]

In 2 hours I'm dropping my car off at the ford dealership just down the road to have them replace the passenger side strut and bearings.

I took it in 2 weeks ago to make the third attempt to reproduce the issue and the tech finally put some chassis ears on the car. Even when we were on a road that was nice and smooth we could hear it plain as day through his device. I also spoke with the tech and he said that this issue could be just poor design but he wasn't too familiar with this problem yet but he already had another Focus waiting for him to do the same work on.

I'm so glad that this is under warranty but I hope this works. If this can't be fixed properly either through Ford or aftermarket parts then I may consider jumping ship before the warranty ends as I don't want to pay to replace these bearings every couple months. Don't get me wrong I'm sure they are pretty cheap to buy as aftermarket items however I just don't have the space or place to work on a car.

I'm all for breaking out the tools and getting my on if I was allowed to work on my car in the parking lot lol :)

Oh I also asked the tech if he could tear apart the driver said as well and check but he said he couldn't do that as the TSB said only to replace the parts that were defective. He did say that if I wanted him to do it I would have to pay out of pocket for it but I'm sure if he found evidence of it going bad or that the bearing was broken as well then the warranty would cover it.

I only see this as a gamble as if there is nothing wrong then I'm out of money but if there is then I'm not. I have no idea on how much they would charge me for that.

[gtncpa]

Got my car back Saturday ... no noise ... yet ... fingers crossed.

[HRK1138]

After lurking in this thread and others, I'm finally posting.

We're so wary to bring our car in again for the 'oh all these cars make that noise' that I'm tempted just to bypass the dealer and order the FRPP suspension upgrade and two fresh bearings and throw those on the car. Our local dealership is horrid with customer service. (Perry Ford in San Luis Obispo)

But she's clunking worse than my old mini truck w/ the torsion bars turned down. :(

[FordCustomerService]

Originally Posted by JNBradow

Thomas...The parts are in and I am going to take the car in on Thursday.

Originally Posted by Sonic_HedgeHog

Car is back in my possession but I'm at work til eleven... We'll see if it worked or not. I didn't get a copy of the paperwork cause my advisor said he was keeping the ticket open for a couple days in case something isn't to my liking...

Originally Posted by gtncpa

Got my car back Saturday ... no noise ... yet ... fingers crossed.

Originally Posted by Boomertwo

In 2 hours I'm dropping my car off at the ford dealership just down the road to have them replace the passenger side strut and bearings.

I took it in 2 weeks ago to make the third attempt to reproduce the issue and the tech finally put some chassis ears on the car. Even when we were on a road that was nice and smooth we could hear it plain as day through his device. I also spoke with the tech and he said that this issue could be just poor design but he wasn't too familiar with this problem yet but he already had another Focus waiting for him to do the same work on...

Excellent news; please let me know how it turns out for all of you! I hope there will be no clunk in your future travels.

Originally Posted by Shantheman2012

I stopped back by my dealer today and talked to the service manager. I wanted to inform him the TSB only fixed the issue for about two weeks. He seemed surprised to hear it, but when he realized I wasn't trying to get him to fix it 'again'...(i told him I'd be patient for a bit and see if Ford addresses this once and for all) he told me to call the Ford 800# and tell them about my experience.

I called and they took the information and even called my dealer to verify the TSB had been done...

Originally Posted by wilsonfocus86

Exactly. When I told my CSM that I could hear the noise back, he asked if I wanted to "Bring it in to have the springs changed out again", I said No. I'll just wait, again, to see if anything further progresses on Ford's side...

If you haven't sent your VIN to me by PM, please do so at your earliest convenience. I'll document all relevant information concerning this suspension noise for further review.

Originally Posted by Han.MK3

I too have had the clunk for like 10 months now. I'm just waiting for a permanent fix since I can't afford to lose my car for over a day for something that I know won't work...

Originally Posted by HRK1138

...We're so wary to bring our car in again for the 'oh all these cars make that noise' that I'm tempted just to bypass the dealer and order the FRPP suspension upgrade and two fresh bearings and throw those on the car. Our local dealership is horrid with customer service. (Perry Ford in San Luis Obispo)

But she's clunking worse than my old mini truck w/ the torsion bars turned down. :(

Are your Customer Service Managers involved with this? If not, please PM me your VIN, mileage, phone number, and dealer info; I'll forward these details to them immediately.

Thomas

[TiPilot]

My car was in for the fix about two weeks ago now. So far, the clunking hasn't returned, though I only ever noticed it when turning at very slow speeds - like wheel full over, in a parking lot or turning into my driveway. So, at least so far, good news from me...

Dec '11 build, Ti, no handling package, standard 17" ContiPro tires.

Now if I could just get Ford to fix all the other, much more annoying, squeaks and rattles!

[slow3v]

I have this very annoying rattle up front now as well. It's VERY noticeable while braking (slowing to a stop) on rough pavement.

The only thing that worries me, is my car isn't covered under the TSB - it's a newer build date than the TSB specifies. I feel like I'm going to have difficulty with the dealer & covering it or even looking at it seriously. Once it goes in for its first oil change in about 1k more (bringing me to ~4400 mi) I'm going to mention it. Any tips on bringing it up?

[Shantheman2012]

Originally Posted by TiPilot

My car was in for the fix about two weeks ago now. So far, the clunking hasn't returned, though I only ever noticed it when turning at very slow speeds - like wheel full over, in a parking lot or turning into my driveway. So, at least so far, good news from me...

Dec '11 build, Ti, no handling package, standard 17" ContiPro tires.

Now if I could just get Ford to fix all the other, much more annoying, squeaks and rattles!

Glad to hear it hasn't returned. I took mine on a 1000 mile trip the next day after having mine done...and on some pretty rough city roads too. My theory is I just accelerated the return of the clunk. It might have lasted longer if I didn't go.

You have other rattle issues? I haven't noticed any others yet. Those type of things usually drive me nuts too.

[TiPilot]

Originally Posted by Shantheman2012

Glad to hear it hasn't returned. I took mine on a 1000 mile trip the next day after having mine done...and on some pretty rough city roads too. My theory is I just accelerated the return of the clunk. It might have lasted longer if I didn't go.

You have other rattle issues? I haven't noticed any others yet. Those type of things usually drive me nuts too.

Yea, I've driven 500 or so miles since the fix - we drove up to MI about two dats after the fix. So far, so good... but mine wasn't terrible in the first place. I just noticed some clunking pulling into my driveway one day and then saw the TSB stuff and figured I might as well have them fix it.

The other rattles - yeah, like the creaking headliner/console, something near the A-pillars that's become more noticeable with miles, and one in the right passenger door that's outside (it varies with speed) that's existed since I bought the car. Over 10K miles now and still no fix even though Ford acknowledges that it exists!

[killjoy]

Returned the Ford to the dealer again to fix the noise. Tech says he hears nothing and I need to take off work to ride with him and point it out.