I have a one month old 2009 Ford Escape 4x4. After one week it developed an "annoying" noise in the rear end. The noise sounds like an Owl's "hoot" or a "tooooot". It happens "only" on accelerating from a dead stop. It happens at approx. 5 to 6 miles per hour. I have been to the dealer twice. Interestingly one of the dealer's employees has a new 2009 Escape as well, with the same problem. I verified that by taking her car out with the service mgr. It makes exactly the same noise as mine. Said that it must be a characteristic of the 4x4 Escape. The service mgr. checked service bulletins and Ford hotline. Nothing reported. He said that his best bet is that it is the "actuator" in the rear axle. Also said that they would not replace axle since a new one would do the same thing(!). I am upset. I paid $36,000.00 (Cdn) for this car and expect that it would be a little more reliable. Has anyone experienced anything similar? Thanks.
Well, to me, it is reliable as it still runs! If I owned a vehicle that didn't make any noise, I'd be laughing! The 4x4 Escape has an on demand system which distributes torque automatically. I'd try two things, first, do a very slow acceleration from a stop and monitor the sound. Then, once stopped, put the go-pedal to the floor. If the noise persists or is worse then I'm sure it's axle related. By putting the pedal to the floor the vehicle will distribute more torque to the rear to keep momentum going with as minimal wheelspin as possible.
You would have a serious problem if the axle noise got louder as speed increased. Depending on the mileage, the vehicle may still be in the break-in period. If the problems still persists at 8-10K then I'd take it to another dealer for another diagnosis.
Finally...Someone else out there reporting the same issue!
I leased my 2009 Ford Escape XLT, V-6, 4x4 at the end of December. With less than 100 miles on it, I noticed the exact same problem/noise, which seems to be coming from the rear end. I also had mine back at the dealer and they could not diagnose the issue. A test drive of at least one other XLT 4x4 on the lot showed the same noise. Again, no technical service bulletins on this as of yet.
I do notice that the noise does not occur everytime when accellerating from a dead stop. Sometimes when accellerating quick off the line or when turning immediately from a dead stop, the noise is not present (or is much quieter). I am hopeful this can either be resolved, or will go away over time once the vehicle is broke in....I'm not holding my breath!
I am happy with the Escape in every other way, but have to say that this is somewhat discouraging to hear this noise at nearly every accelleration from stop. I would be even happier if someone could at least diagnose the issue! Until then, keeping an eye on sites and forums and will check with dealer from time to time. Anyone else??
Thank you for your replies and input. And yes, if I accelerate "gently" from a dead stop the "noise" is barely audible or not heard at all. But, if I accelerate normally from a dead stop, such as when leaving a red light and proceeding on green, the noise is there and very noticeable. I have also noticed that If I accelerate quickly from a dead stop the noise will still be there but it will be shorter in duration. On right hand turns it is more pronounced as well. I am awaiting Ford's Customer Relations reply to my letter. I want to remain positive here and assume that sooner or later there will be a fix for this. Otherwise I agree, The Ford Escape is a great vehicle and this is the third one, and perhaps the last, that I have owned.
halleva. With the vehicles just coming out onto the market, and with the more sophisticated AWD system, perhaps all Ford has to do is reprogram the PCM and re-map the AWD program. After reading the problems here, again, it seems that the FWD biased AWD system might actually be RWD biased, so when you press the gas down, the system is a bit jittery and sends too much power to the rear axle than what it really should. As the driver you won't notice this unless you find some snow and put the hammer down. Perhaps that thought will add some insight to what might be going on. I know a while back, Ford had to reflash some of their transmission control modules as per a TSB (technical service bulletin). If Ford is smart enough, they'll find a solution fast before a small problem turns itself into an all out recall in a couple years.
Again, if it was me, I'd be happy living with the noise until Ford finds a solution, as I don't count any one noise a reliability issue. It's when the noise turns into a drive-ability problem which I know that's what you guys are concerned about; and there's also the safety factor here as well. Keep your dealer updated with any abnormal sounds and document (for yourself) when and at what times you took the vehicle in to get looked at, along with what the service manager told you. This way if Ford does find a solution when the vehicle is no longer under warranty, you'll have grounds to fight for them to do the repair as you'll be able to prove that the problem initiated right from the get-go. That is unless it turns into a recall, which it won't cost you anything more than more of your time.
Yes, I too have that same noise in the 09 Escape. 1500 miles and still "hoots". Dealer went on a "Hotline Assistance Request" site they had(fordtechservice.dealerconnection.com). The response was"Some Escapes with the 3.0L may erxhibit a single hoot noise on light acceleration from a stop; just before the 1-2 shift. This noise will not occur any other time and does not occur under heavy acceleration. The noise may be heard on 4 X 4 vehicles at the rear axle due to noise transfer through the rear differential unit (RDU). This is a normal characteristic of the vehicle under this driving condition.
We should complain loudly to Ford so they embark on correcting this issue.
I got a 2009 escape, 4x4 xlt..4 cyl..i got no noise at all...i bought mine in September. Had to wait 2 months to be built. So maybe they corrected it since? Mine was built the 2nd week in october 2008. I got 6000kms on it now..so i don't know. All is good for me lads...
Just adding that my vehicle does this as well. 2009 Tribute-S GT AWD. It does seem to me to be some kind of resonance in this engine/transmission combo. I wonder if it's even related to exhaust or maybe even the swaybar picking up a resonance and passign it into the rear body.
I had a 2006 i AWD with 5-speed and there was no such noise in that vehicle. The basic AWD system is the same since 2005 (electronically controlled wet-plate clutch connected to a power-take off on the transmission) so I do not believe it to be the cause. I suppose with the right scan tool it could be tested though, monitor the power take-off clutch control signal PID in relation to the sound.
Granted the TCS/DSC is a new add-on so there is more going into the equation on the 2008+ control but I see no reason why that would account for the noise in dry/non-slip conditions.
BTW the system can never go more than 50:50 power distribution, the front wheels always get torque, and as a result the torque to the rear can vary from 0-50% only. There is no provision to disconnect the front wheels (you'll need BMW x-drive for that which is a rear-wheel drive biased system, ours is FWD-biased).
As an update to this problem, I wrote Ford's Customer Relations at HQ in Oakville Ont. Canada. After not receiving a reply to my first letter I followed it up with a second which got their attention. I received a telephone call from someone who identified himself as executive manager at Ford Oakville Customer Relations. He confirmed that they are aware there is a problem as noted in some Escape models with the 4x4 option. He "said" that engineering is aware of the problem and trying to come up with a fix but..........he said that he could not guess when that would be. I expressed my "displeasure" and that I do not relish having to put up with this for an indeterminate amount of time. I also advised him that I will consider my options and what I will do next. My next course of action may be to file a case with the Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan, an arbitration body which deals with customer complaints about car dealers and/or manufacturers due to manufacturing defects. They have the power to order repairs or the replacement of defective cars.
Interestingly I was informed by a salesman at the Ford Dealership where I purchased my car that the same problem is popping up on a Lincoln model as well.
Hey guys, just a quick msg to say that I too I'm afflicted with the same noise, under the exact same circumstances. I went to the dealer once but strangely on that particual day the noise was hardly heard...
still most of the time, unless I accelerate smooothly from the stop, a small "hoot" is heard from under the car. Aside from that the car is perfect
...
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Rear End Noise in 2009 Escape 4x4
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