2012 Titanium Front Strut Low Speed Noise (Clunk/Rattle) - Page 37

slowmazda3 · 06-01-2012, 10:22 AM

I have received the runaround from my otherwise excellent dealer. Ken at Hawk Ford tried to BS me, letting me know that the horrendous hollow clunking over bumps was normal because my car was a manual transmission Focus and they would all do that. Lo and behold, with the car off and in neutral, rolling over the same bump would cause the clunk as well. I was told that they could not resolve it and I could try my luck with Ford Customer Service.

Guess the suit and tie discredits me as being technically saavy...

Dysan911 · 06-01-2012, 10:41 AM

slowmazda3,

Can you demand that they pull another new one off the lot and demonstrate the same sound? Or put it in writing that its normal? If they refuse I would contact Ford Customer Service.

fcbaldwin · 06-01-2012, 03:31 PM

The wife and I went on a 60 mile roundtrip shopping and lunch outing today. Mostly good roads and varying speeds, 35mph to 55mph with several stops at shopping areas in and around the small town of Manteo, NC. The noise from the front end was constant, with a predominant "tic-toc, pop, clunk, squeak". The wife remarked (unsolicited) "is something loose in this car?" We could hear it at speeds up to 20 - 25mph, but most pronounced when going slow like into and out of parking spaces or pulling up over a bump in a parking lot. I really don't look forward to the ordeal to come with trying to get it fixed.

Rememo · 06-01-2012, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fcbaldwin

The noise from the front end was constant, with a predominant "tic-toc, pop, clunk, squeak".

I drove my wife's Mazda 3 hatchback for the first time in a long time last weekend, and the first thing that hit me was that the front end was totally silent. I have become so used to the constant noise from the Focus front end that the silence from the 3 hit me like a brick. C'mon Ford... figure it out!

Kaaru · 06-01-2012, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slowmazda3

I have received the runaround from my otherwise excellent dealer. Ken at Hawk Ford tried to BS me, letting me know that the horrendous hollow clunking over bumps was normal because my car was a manual transmission Focus and they would all do that. Lo and behold, with the car off and in neutral, rolling over the same bump would cause the clunk as well. I was told that they could not resolve it and I could try my luck with Ford Customer Service.

Guess the suit and tie discredits me as being technically saavy...

ROLF !! I have the excellent DCT and I have the clunking issue. The tranny type is not relevent IMO

HornedFrog05 · 06-01-2012, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dysan911

slowmazda3,

Can you demand that they pull another new one off the lot and demonstrate the same sound? Or put it in writing that its normal? If they refuse I would contact Ford Customer Service.

One of the dealerships I went to did a ride along with me in a brand new vehicle (exact same package) and it did not make the sound. A couple days later they called and said that 3 vehicles in service for non-related issues all made the sound. They deemed it as normal-ish and a non-safety issue. BS!

Quote:

Originally Posted by fcbaldwin

The wife and I went on a 60 mile roundtrip shopping and lunch outing today. Mostly good roads and varying speeds, 35mph to 55mph with several stops at shopping areas in and around the small town of Manteo, NC. The noise from the front end was constant, with a predominant "tic-toc, pop, clunk, squeak". The wife remarked (unsolicited) "is something loose in this car?" We could hear it at speeds up to 20 - 25mph, but most pronounced when going slow like into and out of parking spaces or pulling up over a bump in a parking lot. I really don't look forward to the ordeal to come with trying to get it fixed.

It's annoying. Try driving clients around (mostly from Germany) and hearing them all ask if my car was "broken." So embarrassing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rememo

I drove my wife's Mazda 3 hatchback for the first time in a long time last weekend, and the first thing that hit me was that the front end was totally silent. I have become so used to the constant noise from the Focus front end that the silence from the 3 hit me like a brick. C'mon Ford... figure it out!

It's very close to the same car, what gives!!!!

PratoN · 06-01-2012, 04:51 PM

I almost wish my car had this issue (not really) so I could help pinpoint it. Anyone between Milwaukee and Chicago want to let me lie on your hood / under your car while you drive 25mph so we can find it? Jk - but seriously.

bball40dtw · 06-01-2012, 05:01 PM

HornedFrog05, the Germans should be used to it. At least your Focus doesn't have an evil electrical system or High Pressure Fuel Pump disasters. Every German car I have ever owned (7) has had weird quirks.

It took two years for VW to figure out a solution for a similar issue on MKV Jettas, Golfs, and Passats. The crazy part is that they are still building the MKVI Golf/GTI/A3/A4 with the same bolts that are the problem. Its a $13 fix if a customer has an issue with the noise.

bball40dtw · 06-01-2012, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rememo

I drove my wife's Mazda 3 hatchback for the first time in a long time last weekend, and the first thing that hit me was that the front end was totally silent. I have become so used to the constant noise from the Focus front end that the silence from the 3 hit me like a brick. C'mon Ford... figure it out!

I've not heard many people wax ecstatic about the NVH qualities of the Mazda 3. However, it has to be way better than your current state of Focus crunchiness.