2024 Mach E makes clunk noises when when stopping and going

[Wallie]

My dealership is saying it’s normal for a brand new Mach E to have pretty loud clunking noises when stopping or going.. Even turning the wheel on a stop makes the noise. is it normal? All my friends’ Teslas don’t have this noise - starting to regret not getting a Tesla.

You should never go back there. Find a new dealership which has knowledge of EV’s

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[skysdlymyt]

I heard a loud clunk one time, then my Mach-e displayed an error. I immediately took it to the dealer. One week later I had it back after warranty repairs.

A C/S SERVICE LIGHT IS ON, FORDPASS SHOWS, POWERTRAIN/4WD FAULT CAUSE: FAULTY REAR ELECTRIC DRIVE ASSEMBLY OIL PUMP

Thank you

 

[Mach-Lee]

My dealership is saying it’s normal for a brand new Mach E to have pretty loud clunking noises when stopping or going.. Even turning the wheel on a stop makes the noise. is it normal? All my friends’ Teslas don’t have this noise - starting to regret not getting a Tesla.

That appears to be normal brake pad noise. You're backing on a steep hill, and the pads are to the point where they barely have enough pressure to hold the car (ABS unit tries to adjust the line pressure just past the static point during a hold). They start slipping a little bit and you hear that noise. I'm willing to bet that if you back the car out on a flat surface it won't make those noises.

2025 is supposed to have an updated brake pad material to address this. The existing material is sort of grippy and has that noise characteristic in cases where the wheel is braked and just starting to turn. You will notice this when doing slow maneuvers on steep inclines. It may get better as the pads wear in more.

I believe a dealer will tell you this is a normal characteristic and there's nothing wrong.

 

[Mach-Lee]

@JohnFoxeSheets do you want to give your input on the brake noises from the hills? He also lives in SF.

 

[skysdlymyt]

That appears to be normal brake pad noise. You're backing on a steep hill, and the pads are to the point where they barely have enough pressure to hold the car (ABS unit tries to adjust the line pressure just past the static point during a hold). They start slipping a little bit and you hear that noise. I'm willing to bet that if you back the car out on a flat surface it won't make those noises.

2025 is supposed to have an updated brake pad material to address this. The existing material is sort of grippy and has that noise characteristic in cases where the wheel is braked and just starting to turn. You will notice this when doing slow maneuvers on steep inclines. It may get better as the pads wear in more.

I believe a dealer will tell you this is a normal characteristic and there's nothing wrong.

Thank you for your insight. I feel more reassuring reading your reply.

 

[skysdlymyt]

That appears to be normal brake pad noise. You're backing on a steep hill, and the pads are to the point where they barely have enough pressure to hold the car (ABS unit tries to adjust the line pressure just past the static point during a hold). They start slipping a little bit and you hear that noise. I'm willing to bet that if you back the car out on a flat surface it won't make those noises.

2025 is supposed to have an updated brake pad material to address this. The existing material is sort of grippy and has that noise characteristic in cases where the wheel is braked and just starting to turn. You will notice this when doing slow maneuvers on steep inclines. It may get better as the pads wear in more.

I believe a dealer will tell you this is a normal characteristic and there's nothing wrong.

Hi Mock Lee,
Thank you. Appreciate your insightful reply. My street is about 10 degree incline. The car makes the noise even on a 3-5 degrees. Does that seems normal?

 

[skysdlymyt]

Hi Mock Lee,
Thank you. Appreciate your insightful reply. My street is about 10 degree incline. The car makes the noise even on a 3-5 degrees. Does that seems normal?

Edward, not sure what dealer you took your car to but I would suggest going to Serramonte Ford in Colma. Call and ask for Jason Lakey. He is the Service and Parts Director and a long time personal friend of mine. Tell him Mark Boris referred you. Hopefully they can find your issue.

Thank you!

 

[JohnFoxeSheets]

@JohnFoxeSheets do you want to give your input on the brake noises from the hills? He also lives in SF.

Lee, a 10% grade in SF is almost considered flat. Even our 26% grade doesn’t make the top ten steepest hills here!

But to the question at hand, I don’t experience this particular sound, but the car does make lots of interesting noise on our hill (and hills in general). It is especially bad when the brakes are wet.

@skysdlymyt (clever username!), I will DM you and maybe we can get together and compare sounds on the same street at the same time.

 

[skysdlymyt]

Lee, a 10% grade in SF is almost considered flat. Even our 26% grade doesn’t make the top ten steepest hills here!

But to the question at hand, I don’t experience this particular sound, but the car does make lots of interesting noise on our hill (and hills in general). It is especially bad when the brakes are wet.

@skysdlymyt (clever username!), I will DM you and maybe we can get together and compare sounds on the same street at the same time.

Hi John, Thank you for the reply. My neighbor right across the street from me has MME also. His does not make these clunking noise. So is my other neighbor’s MME down a few blocks. It makes the same noises on an incline of 5% incline. My dealership initially stated they were going to order the caliper but changed the mind and stated that if they ordered the caliper and if it’s not the caliper, dealership would get back charged. So they picked another MME on the lot that makes some sound and called it normal. It’s like they have a suspension that something is wrong but choose to avoid the fix.

 

[skysdlymyt]

That appears to be normal brake pad noise. You're backing on a steep hill, and the pads are to the point where they barely have enough pressure to hold the car (ABS unit tries to adjust the line pressure just past the static point during a hold). They start slipping a little bit and you hear that noise. I'm willing to bet that if you back the car out on a flat surface it won't make those noises.

2025 is supposed to have an updated brake pad material to address this. The existing material is sort of grippy and has that noise characteristic in cases where the wheel is braked and just starting to turn. You will notice this when doing slow maneuvers on steep inclines. It may get better as the pads wear in more.

I believe a dealer will tell you this is a normal characteristic and there's nothing wrong.

Hi Mack, Thanks for your reply. The case is being review by Ford Motor.
You could very well be right that it’s brake noise. Even then, it’s an unacceptable brake noise level. For safety reason, all car manufacturers set 70 decibels sound level as acceptable and only 1 in 10 brakings can the level be 70 or above. If you turn up the volume on the video where the backup beeping reach 80 decibels (MME setting for this), the noise register at about 75 decibels. Just based on the sound level, it’s at least an unacceptable brake system.
Anyhow, just want to share what is considered normal brake sound level. Most people don’t realize this.

Have a wonderful holiday!

 

[skysdlymyt]

No, not normal. I’ve had two MMEs and neither made these noises. I’d go to a different, less stupid dealer.

You’re 100% right. Reviewing the video carefully shows that the clunking is caused by steering wheel being turned and car is completely stopped. Checked and confirmed it on my driveway. Could be ball joint or suspension issue. Taking it back to dealer this week.

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