Audio - Blown Center Speaker

[Two Trick Ponies]

So, after more thought on this issue and trip to work this morning, I think, as or when the voice coil of the front center speaker heats up is when it starts failing. It seams to be fine during the first part of my trip but, after a while, especially if the volume is up is when I start to get the distortion (mostly in dialog type broadcasts).

Just posting thoughts here.

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[VindictivePantz]

Mine is inconsistent (Job 1, 21) and I think it's a software issue.

It seems to happen when certain apps on my phone play through the system. For example, if I use Microsoft Teams, afterwards, all audio except phone calls sound like a blown speaker.

Rebooting Sync and/or my phone seems to fix it, but not 100% sure.

All I know is that the "blown speaker" sound is not consistent, leading me to believe it's a software issue with my phone or the car.

I am using an Android phone, and static was a major issue for months awhile back until Ford fixed it via an update (though not specified in the release notes.)

One of these days, there are a couple of test scenarios I want to run through to see if I can reproduce it. The challenge is that I've had scenarios where a Sync and phone reboot do not fix it, and I think another module in the car reboots/clears at some point and everything is fine again.

(Side note - even when the speaker is fine, its range sucks. Too flat on the top end and no depth on the bass side.)

 

[Ford Motor Company]

Mine is inconsistent (Job 1, 21) and I think it's a software issue.

It seems to happen when certain apps on my phone play through the system. For example, if I use Microsoft Teams, afterwards, all audio except phone calls sound like a blown speaker.

Rebooting Sync and/or my phone seems to fix it, but not 100% sure.

All I know is that the "blown speaker" sound is not consistent, leading me to believe it's a software issue with my phone or the car.

I am using an Android phone, and static was a major issue for months awhile back until Ford fixed it via an update (though not specified in the release notes.)

One of these days, there are a couple of test scenarios I want to run through to see if I can reproduce it. The challenge is that I've had scenarios where a Sync and phone reboot do not fix it, and I think another module in the car reboots/clears at some point and everything is fine again.

(Side note - even when the speaker is fine, its range sucks. Too flat on the top end and no depth on the bass side.)

Hi there! This definitely doesn’t sound like the experience we want you to be having– If you'd like to, go ahead and send a message to us with your VIN and approximate mileage. I’d be happy to look into this for you. Thanks!

 

[JTMFLY]

I am having the same issue, started about 3-4 weeks ago.

 

[MachEmpanada]

Oh wow, I have the same issue with my front center speaker. The start up and system sounds are all garbled like a blown speaker. But the radio sounds fine though so I was confused if it's really blown or not.

 

[KBGooner]

This is exactly why I joined this forum. Drove home with my 2021 MME last week and 3 days later I started hearing the rattling. Immediately thought the Ford dealership sold me a car with a blown speaker. But it only happens about 80% of the time. Thought maybe I should hop on here and see if anyone else had the issue.

I see Ford has reached out to multiple people on this thread. Interested to hear if anything came from it.

 

[KBGooner]

Oh wow, I have the same issue with my front center speaker. The start up and system sounds are all garbled like a blown speaker. But the radio sounds fine though so I was confused if it's really blown or not.

Anyone get back to you? Just bought this thing and wondering how much of a fit I should throw with the dealer. Half the time it's unlistenable.

 

[Two Trick Ponies]

I was told by Ford that I would need to have the dealership diagnose the issue and replace the speaker. Sure sounds like that is what it is. I'll be calling for an appointment today for the diagnosis. I'm sure they will have to order the speaker as well.

 

[Corwin]

I had the exact same issue with my center speaker which started as an intermittent distortion, sometimes really bad, sometimes barely noticeable, sometimes no distortion at all.

I took my car to the dealership to diagnose my centre speaker. They ran their tests and couldn’t ‘duplicate’ the issue. They closed the service request, stating that an OTA upgrade would resolve the issue.

Some posters have shared that the issue could be caused by the Bluetooth connection from their phone, or the 12V battery was low, as well as the likelihood that the speaker is blown.

I ended up ordering a replacement Center Speaker (JX7Z-18808-BO) and when it arrived, I removed the front console trim to gain access to the Center speaker. I could clearly hear the distortion from the Center speaker, especially from the touchscreen beeps and chimes. If I applied a little pressure on the edge of the speaker cone, the distortion would immediately go away, so definitely a physical issue and not phone or software issue.

I replaced the Center speaker (took about 5 minutes) and all is good! No distortion, everything sounds as it should.

Thought I’d share, as I found the sound distortion issue to be such a big annoyance and did not know if it was caused by my phone, software updates, or the physical speaker itself.

 

[EVSmurf]

Just passed 2 years after getting my GT and I'm getting the same center speaker noise. Not fun when playing lullabies for a sleepy 1 year old.

So would this be covered by warranty on 2 year old GT with 22.5k miles? I'd rather know for sure than go to dealership, bring in the car, and then have them tell me it's not covered after wasting hours or a day there.

 

[Vgkfan]

Should be covered under 3year/36,000 mile warranty If the speaker is bad.

 

[the golden eel]

I've been running into this same issue for the last several months. It is definitely worse when the car is cold. With a warm car I don't believe I hear any distortion at all.

Seems the general consensus of this thread is that it is a physical speaker issue, and not software/electronics.

I'm over 36,000 miles so no warranty for me.

 

[the golden eel]

And for those who have replaced with an identical stock Ford speaker, have you run into the same problem again?

If it truly is an issue with the speaker, and there were this many failures, it seems reasonable to think another stock speaker will also fail.

 

[awp0]

Started happening to my car after the HVBJB recall a couple of weeks ago (which also included a software update). As others have stated, it seems inconsistent, but it's often very noticeable during the car's start-up sounds (dadadaaa, dadadaaa, dadadaaa) and while listening to audiobooks. My car is past the 36k warranty so I'll probably try to replace the speaker myself, but I'm wondering if I should try resetting the software first. Even though it sounds like a physical problem, it seems suspicious that so many people have encountered it shortly after a software update.

 

[the golden eel]

Started happening to my car after the HVBJB recall a couple of weeks ago (which also included a software update). As others have stated, it seems inconsistent, but it's often very noticeable during the car's start-up sounds (dadadaaa, dadadaaa, dadadaaa) and while listening to audiobooks. My car is past the 36k warranty so I'll probably try to replace the speaker myself, but I'm wondering if I should try resetting the software first. Even though it sounds like a physical problem, it seems suspicious that so many people have encountered it shortly after a software update.

I haven't had any SW updates in a long time. To me it seems entirely temperature related.

For example, if I precondition my battery and warm the cabin in the morning, those startup sounds are completely normal. But when I walk out to a cold car that has been sitting for a couple hours... very distorted.

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