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Ford Escape Noises and Sounds
My 2007 Ford Escape has a noise that seems to come from behind the instrument panel when driven over 40 mph.
Its sounds like a speedometer cable that needs to be lubed. Any ideas?
Its sounds like a speedometer cable that needs to be lubed. Any ideas?
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The sound is like fingernails tapping on glass or a piece of plastic tapping on metal. I have tried every cure posted in this forum. Since most of the time I am in the car alone it has taken me some time to isolate its location. It appears to originate under the headliner on the driver’s side and gets louder when the moon roof inside cover is slid back.
Has anyone else had this issue? Could it be a related to a wire run that powers the moon roof?
Any input would be appreciated.
Question: Is this rumble likely caused by wheel bearings going bad (how to confirm) or is it something else? (how to confirm the "something else" possibilities?)
I've read forum messages, but didn't see "how to confirm" info and am unclear about what else (other than wheel bearings) might cause such noise.
I will re-rotate the tires back to their original positions and listen for change / improvement.
I'll post results of my investigations.
Thanks for your message.
TP
I'm watching to see what happens with your car.
I notice my noise changes when make turns on high way.
I'll be sure to post final results of my situation.
After moving tires back to their original positions, the noise was gone. The tires have 70,000+ miles on them and haven't worn totally evenly -- and I've been horrible about rotating them over the miles...only rotated once or maybe twice.
So that's the end of this particular story...for those who might have a similar concern.
Tom P.
My vehicle is a 2005 Escape XLT. Since earlier posts, I've bought a 2009 Escape LTD with Michelin tires ... no noise problems at all. Overall much quieter than 2005. That could be Michelin tires (better than tires on 2005 Esc) or better noise dampening on newer model years or better on LTD vs XLT.
Tom
There are no studies or any proof that tire rotation extends tire life The tires will take a set but there is nothing wrong with this.
I learned this by having rotated my tires many years ago and having problems I was
told that I need new shocks, drive shaft wheel bearings etc.but all that was needed was to put the tires back in their original position. For about the last 40 yrs. I have not rotated the tires on any of my cars.
I don't enjoy rotating them either, and I've heard the urban legend claim (and would like to believe it since I don't enjoy car maintenance), but my personal experience on my minivan is that the fronts would wear out a lot faster than the rears if I didn't rotate them. And I prefer to buy tires in sets instead of pairs.
Tread wear on an Escape would likely be more even than my FWD minivan, but check out the link.
If you have a rear-wheel drive vehicle, rotation may not make a big difference in extending tire life. Since the rear wheels have the traction, the rear tires will take their share of wear from providing traction to move the vehicle forward and back. The front wheels provide the traction to change direction of the vehicle, hence, the front tires will take their share of wear from providing the traction needed to change direction of the vehicle.
However...
If you have a front-wheel drive vehicle (as in our Escapes, even in 4WD trim the system is front-wheel drive biased) rotation of tires may indeed extend the life of your tires. Since the front wheels are providing both duties of providing traction to move the vehicle forward and back, as well as providing traction to change direction of the vehicle as well. It makes sense why front tires wearout a lot faster then rear tires. This is why it is important to rotate your tires every 5000 miles on a front-wheel drive car in order to obtain the longest possible tread life out of them. The only con of doing this, is that in some occasions it may generate tire noise since the tires are wearing out differently in the new location...but only until the tire aclimates to the new location.
I found this forum when searching for info on the "Hoot" noise. I live in Ontario Canada and purchased an Escape in March, before transferring to Saskatchewan for work. I bought something new as I wanted something dependable and did not want to worry about having to bring the vehicle in for fixing.
I have now brought the vehicle in twice and it is in now having the chain replaced to eliminate the hoot noise. The dealer here in Saskatoon informed me that the fix does not always work and that after having the fix done, Ford will not pursue the problem any further. I contacted the dealer in Ontario and he advised me to have the fix done. He said that the dealers try to dissuade you from having the fix done as it is very expensive and time consuming, but that it should in fact rectify the problem. After reading the posts here I am not so confident that it will. I will post back in a day or two when I get the vehicle back.
The hoot bulletin was issued to the dealers on Dec 7th of 2009. I bought my vehicle in March 2010 and was not made aware of the problem. The dealer said that they would not tell anyone as not every salesman would know about the problem. I asked .. . "If I came in today and wanted to buy an Escape, would they tell me about the noise?" Their reply "Like I said, the salesman don't necessarily know about the problem." That response kinda blew my mind. As the noise is not safety related, they seem to think it does not matter.
I also brought the vehicle in for the following:
- driver's side window closes "hard" and squeaks over bumps. They ordered a new molding, but now cannot find it
- the fabric moonroof panel is lifting on the rear passenger corner
- the molding on the driver's side of the windshield is warped and very loose. After I touched it and moved it, the remote start cable fell from the roof and was just hanging when I brought it in. It was a very poor installation job at the factory
- i drove 15 km down a gravel road. Did not drive hard and there were no bumps. The hatchback will not stop squeaking now.
- having the tires rotated, currently 9000 km on the vehicle
- also brought in for the tranny recall to have it reset
I take care of my vehicles and I am very disgusted in the service and quality of the vehicle. It looked like the remote start installation was rushed. I never the noticed the warped molding as I was never in the passanger seat before. I had a few days to buy a vehicle before I moved and was rushed and did not notice some of the defects.
I would be interested in learning how others are dealing with the hoot problem and would like to offer any assistance that I may be able to provide. Whether it be details or a letter. I bought the vehicle in Ontario Canada which happens to be the only province without a "lemon law."
Has anyone started the "Ford Product Resolution process found in the warranty?
This is one step that needs to be followed before utilizing the CANVAP service in Canada.
The Hoot noise is still there ! ! !
My main beef is that this problem was in the 2009 models and Ford just carried in to the 2010 models. Are the top car engineers unable to slove the problem or is it just to costly ? ?
This should be a Lemon Law or Class Action.
I am a loyal Ford owner, and my Escape is my seventh Ford product. However, it will probably be my last.
Ford says that the noise will not damage the transmission, but I find that difficult to believe, as I have readh hundreds of complaints in the Internet about transmission problems with the Escapes.
Bye bye Ford. You have lost a loyal, long-time, customer because of your unwillingness to solve a known problem.