2023 ford mustang mach-e front wheel loud joint "clunk" when turning at startup

[Theolddog]

I've got a 2023 GT High Performance All Wheel Drive with 8,000 mi. When starting up slow into a sharp right or left turn, (such as coming out of my garage) there's a loud clunk in the front end easily felt in the steering wheel. Loud enough and also felt by my wife in the passenger seat. Can occur when on my asphalt drive turning out on to the asphalt street. It's a shocking jolt that rocks the front of the car. It's like the front tires are gripping the road and don't want to go into the turn. Doesn't always happen. Mostly occurs when steering wheel is full left or full right. Any ideas?

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[c max]

Does the thumping sound like when you have a flat tire ??......I, and others, have had a similar problem......mine was the brake pad, rotor issue......
there is a TSB, in fact I believe there are several TSB's on this problem......I would print out the TSB and bring it to your dealer......

my dealer sent a mobile tech and a loaner to my house......they did not want me to drive it.....even though it is a brake problem, not necessarily an EV problem, the dealer wanted it worked on by an EV tech.......took a day and a half for the tech to get to it, found the problem, took a day to get the part, a day plus to repair.......so for 3 and a half days I drove a new Bronco.......

BTW, I have a 2023 Premium.......(never had the problem with my 2021 Select)

 

[MellowJohnny]

This was an early problem with half-shafts on the '21s - covered under SSM 50513 - 2021 Mustang Mach-E - Clicking Type Noise From The Front On Turns - Built On Or Before 15-Sep-2021. Maybe it's similar.

Lots of threads around on similar sounds emanating from the front-end...

 

[Lee Ann]

Does the thumping sound like when you have a flat tire ??......I, and others, have had a similar problem......mine was the brake pad, rotor issue......
there is a TSB, in fact I believe there are several TSB's on this problem......I would print out the TSB and bring it to your dealer......

my dealer sent a mobile tech and a loaner to my house......they did not want me to drive it.....even though it is a brake problem, not necessarily an EV problem, the dealer wanted it worked on by an EV tech.......took a day and a half for the tech to get to it, found the problem, took a day to get the part, a day plus to repair.......so for 3 and a half days I drove a new Bronco.......

BTW, I have a 2023 Premium.......(never had the problem with my 2021 Select)

That’s exactly what happened to me on my 2021 with less than 10k miles and I have posted on the forum. My dealer would not cover it and I ended up paying $850 for all new brake pads and 4 warped rotors. I wrote Ford in Michigan and they said it’s usual wear and tear and they would not cover it. I’m hoping that everyone who has this problem reports it to NHTSA so hopefully A recall will be issued

 

[c max]

That’s exactly what happened to me on my 2021 with less than 10k miles and I have posted on the forum. My dealer would not cover it and I ended up paying $850 for all new brake pads and 4 warped rotors. I wrote Ford in Michigan and they said it’s usual wear and tear and they would not cover it. I’m hoping that everyone who has this problem reports it to NHTSA so hopefully A recall will be issued

That's too bad, mine was covered, no charge for anything......my understanding was a defective part, or at least, not up to standards.....I didn't see the damaged part, but service rep. said the damage on my car looked exactly like the photo on the TSB...... maybe we had different problems.....is it strange that you had all 4 brakes at the same time???.....

 

[jmatero]

It’s the tires/abs. Mine did it since new and I switched to the all-season version of the Pirellis and cured. When the tires are cool, they are hard and rub/lose traction and the abs intervenes. There’s a clunk, car jolts, etc.

 

[Teleks]

I'm experiencing something similar with my 2021 GTPE. I can't quite tell if it's actually the same thing - this thread is a little confusing to me. But OPs descriptions sounds like what I have!

I would describe it like this: If I turn the steering wheel too far, there's a 'clunk'. Not much of a sound actually, more of a feeling.. mostly felt through the steering wheel. If I wouldn't be pointing it out, my wife wouldn't notice. It's not super straight forward to reproduce, but happens pretty frequently when turning the steering wheel all the way into either direction. Like, at a certain threshold - let's say 80% turned to the right - if I go any further, the 'clunk' happens. So far I've only noticed it at very low speeds, e.g. like OP says when pulling out of a parking spot etc., but I assume those are just the only situations I turn the wheels that much.

Is this the same thing this thread is about? Not sure if people in here are all talking about the same thing. I'm reading 'brakes', 'tires', 'abs'. My feeling would be that what I'm experiencing is neither brakes nor tires, but the steering.

 

[Theolddog]

I'm kind of a car guy. This feels like play in the universal joints attached to the front wheels. Or loosened springs attached to the front wheels. I guess I'll take to the dealer for an inspection.
Thanks for the help.

 

[smoke20]

You did not say, but if you have the OE summer tires on your Mach during this time of year in NJ, you will very likely experience a significant and shocking thump at low speed with the wheels turned at or near full lock. This is due to suspension geometry and hardened sidewalls of summer tires in cold temps (these tires should be parked and replaced with all season or winter tires when temps dip below 45).

Of course it is possible you car is broken, just wanted to point out this phenomena that might help others.

 

[c max]

Not that I am doubting your knowledge of cars......I have lived inNJ my entire life and have never switched out tires for "winter or all season" usage......I have driven Mach E's since my Select RWD SR Feb. 12, 2021 and now my 2023 Premium RWD SR since June 28, 2023 and have never experienced what you describe......
I have almost no mechanical knowledge, other than maybe changing plugs and similar tasks back in the 60's, haha.....

Again, not questioning what you said, just saying I have never experienced it in my Mach E's or any other Ford I've driven......

 

[Ford Motor Company]

I've got a 2023 GT High Performance All Wheel Drive with 8,000 mi. When starting up slow into a sharp right or left turn, (such as coming out of my garage) there's a loud clunk in the front end easily felt in the steering wheel. Loud enough and also felt by my wife in the passenger seat. Can occur when on my asphalt drive turning out on to the asphalt street. It's a shocking jolt that rocks the front of the car. It's like the front tires are gripping the road and don't want to go into the turn. Doesn't always happen. Mostly occurs when steering wheel is full left or full right. Any ideas?

Good morning! If you send over a DM with your VIN and Ford dealer info, I can look into your concerns on my end.

 

[Theolddog]

Good morning! If you send over a DM with your VIN and Ford dealer info, I can look into your concerns on my end.

VIN: 3FMTK4SX8PMA20041
20" SUMMER TIRES (245/45R20)
Nielsen Ford of Morristown
170 Ridgedale Ave, Morristown, NJ 07960
+1-908-741-4903

 

[dkstudio]

My clunk is at every pothole, sounds like my suspension will come undone. In addition to the clunk, Im not happy that my 1 month old 2023 $70k MME GTPE chassis squeaks when stopping & starting to move. I’m somewhat regretting this purchase since I‘m still waiting for a new TCU, on back order.

 

[Mach1E]

I'm experiencing something similar with my 2021 GTPE. I can't quite tell if it's actually the same thing - this thread is a little confusing to me. But OPs descriptions sounds like what I have!

I would describe it like this: If I turn the steering wheel too far, there's a 'clunk'. Not much of a sound actually, more of a feeling.. mostly felt through the steering wheel. If I wouldn't be pointing it out, my wife wouldn't notice. It's not super straight forward to reproduce, but happens pretty frequently when turning the steering wheel all the way into either direction. Like, at a certain threshold - let's say 80% turned to the right - if I go any further, the 'clunk' happens. So far I've only noticed it at very low speeds, e.g. like OP says when pulling out of a parking spot etc., but I assume those are just the only situations I turn the wheels that much.

Is this the same thing this thread is about? Not sure if people in here are all talking about the same thing. I'm reading 'brakes', 'tires', 'abs'. My feeling would be that what I'm experiencing is neither brakes nor tires, but the steering.

Mine for sure does this. 2021 GTPE.

Easiest way to make it happen is literally every day when I exit my driveway.

The car is bouncing slightly (from the gutter between my driveway and the street) and I’m turned all the way left to go on the road.

Because it’s turned sharply, I’m accelerating slightly and the car is bouncing…… I figured it’s just stability control kicking in. Does our stability control use the brakes? My last car did and that’s what is sounds and feels like.

OP (or anyone else). Post a video. Hard to understand a sound without hearing it.

 

[Mach1E]

Here is a video. It’s much louder in person, but at the end the boom boom is the sound I get daily. It’s not the suspension for me because it doesn’t happen if I go over the bump straight.

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