Driveline vibration ST

[AdrenalineJunky]

Vibration most notable at light deceleration or acceleration around 25ish and can be felt at highway speeds under light throttle.
Confirmed by dealer. Confirmed to not be present on a fresh ST on lot by myself and service manager.
Fast fwd to In shop for 6 weeks. Chassis ear confirms vibration causing light rattle coming from center to rear of driveline. New drive shaft installed, no change.
Now, dealer beginning to say it's normal and all ST have this vibration. Dealer tells me district area service rep has an ST, and it's normal, his does it and they ALL vibrate. I'm calling bullsh!t.

Instigating a buyback now, but would prefer it fixed.
Anyone other ST vibrate out there? Ty.

 

[NCcarguy]

I'm with you....a $60,000 vehicle should not vibrate. I have started a case with Ford Customer service by sending a certified letter with my complaint to:
Ford Motor Company, Customer Relationship Center, P.O. Box 6248 Dearborn MI. 48121
I gave them 15 calendar days from the receipt of my letter to fix the issues or I would proceed with our state lemon law. Which will start with a case with BBB autoline, where they attempt to mediate.

 

[steweod]

Have you had your tires rebalanced? Do not know how many miles you have on it or driving conditions but if you lost a weight you can have speed dependent vibration. Take it to somewhere like a discount tire and have the rotate and balance your tires and see if it makes a difference. It's a cheap check but a simple one. Especially since things like pot holes and the like can really mess things up.

 

[NCcarguy]

With mine, you can tell its not the tires. I have a tire balancing machine, and I'm not even taking them off to test them myself.

 

[AdrenalineJunky]

Definitely not tire balance. Pop it in neutral same speeds and smooth as silk. Most definitely something in driveline.

 

[Bruce Criscuolo]

Vibration most notable at light deceleration or acceleration around 25ish and can be felt at highway speeds under light throttle.
Confirmed by dealer. Confirmed to not be present on a fresh ST on lot by myself and service manager.
Fast fwd to In shop for 6 weeks. Chassis ear confirms vibration causing light rattle coming from center to rear of driveline. New drive shaft installed, no change.
Now, dealer beginning to say it's normal and all ST have this vibration. Dealer tells me district area service rep has an ST, and it's normal, his does it and they ALL vibrate. I'm calling bullsh!t.

Instigating a buyback now, but would prefer it fixed.
Anyone other ST vibrate out there? Ty.

Yes mine just entered the shop for this issue.

 

[AdrenalineJunky]

So the driveshaft utilizes a rubber coupler as opposed to a traditional u joint. Some of these are problematic from what I was told. I had a replacement that was also bad. There is a problem getting parts in a timely manner and I suspect that a manufacturer lot or lots of faulty driveshafts got through.

 

[Bruce Criscuolo]

So the driveshaft utilizes a rubber coupler as opposed to a traditional u joint. Some of these are problematic from what I was told. I had a replacement that was also bad. There is a problem getting parts in a timely manner and I suspect that a manufacturer lot or lots of faulty driveshafts got through.

You have the same issue? Did you ever get a good replacement?

 

[metroplex]

Sounds like a typical Ford response saying it is normal and all STs do this.

 

[peterk9]

You have the same issue? Did you ever get a good replacement?

Hi Bruce. This member began the thread with this issue. I'm guessing it was fixed since he mentioned his initial replacement was also bad. Not sure though.

Peter

 

[AdrenalineJunky]

My ST had none of the issues talked about on this forum. Neither did either of the 2 loaners we had extensively. We had a driveline shudder or vibe which traced back to a faulty rear driveshaft according to my service manager. Getting a replacement took near 3 weeks so that and diagnosing among different techs including an area zone service rep put me into the lemon law time zone. I asked to just get another driveshaft and I'll wait. New driveshaft turned out to be improperly balanced as well so my service rep just suggested a buyback so as to not wait another 2 week or so. I would have waited more as I was provided with outstanding loaners that were trouble free but also realized that new incentives were now out and I could repurchase a late build ST for less.
Yes it was inconvenient but things happen and I understood Ford would make me whole on a new deal, which they did. That ST will go back to ford where their engineers will repair the issue and then re-sell it.
I was very satisfied with the whole process so I was quite comfortable with purchase of another ST.
My thoughts are that my original driveshaft should have been sent out to a local driveshaft specialist for balance and or repair and the issue would have been quickly resolved. But thats not how warranty and dealership agreements work, oddly enough.

 

[Cobra Jet]

Your driveline vibe *might* be associated with SSM-48623 (see attached):

 

[peterk9]

Why in the world would they put sound deadening material inside a tire in the first place? Sound like a problem just waiting to happen.
Thanks for that find Phil.

Peter

 

[Cobra Jet]

Why in the world would they put sound deadening material inside a tire in the first place? Sound like a problem just waiting to happen.
Thanks for that find Phil.

Peter

Good question and I’ve NEVER heard of sound deadening material being used in TIRES...

Now some Ford driveshafts are known to have cardboard inserted into them during assembly which is somehow supposed to alleviate vibrations (there are vids online showing people cutting open Ford DS’s with the findings)....

At first I thought the SSM had a typo and meant driveshaft, but it’s definitely referencing TIRES...

Totally news to me as well... maybe someone else can contribute more info about these 21” Pirelli Tires?

 

[peterk9]

I've added the SSM to the TSB etc thread.

 

[Spacey]

WTF? Sound deadening material IN tires? Who would ever expect that? What would happen if someone had a roadside flat and tried to use sealant in the tires. Sounds nuts, but maybe it's the new "normal".

 

[kevattor]

Vibration most notable at light deceleration or acceleration around 25ish and can be felt at highway speeds under light throttle.
Confirmed by dealer. Confirmed to not be present on a fresh ST on lot by myself and service manager.
Fast fwd to In shop for 6 weeks. Chassis ear confirms vibration causing light rattle coming from center to rear of driveline. New drive shaft installed, no change.
Now, dealer beginning to say it's normal and all ST have this vibration. Dealer tells me district area service rep has an ST, and it's normal, his does it and they ALL vibrate. I'm calling bullsh!t.

Instigating a buyback now, but would prefer it fixed.
Anyone other ST vibrate out there? Ty.

Any update? I have same problem.

 

[AdrenalineJunky]

Any update? I have same problem.

We purchased another new st 8k miles since and its been perfect. Love it.
Find a good service dept.

 

[kevattor]

Yes mine just entered the shop for this issue.

Did they find the problem?

 

[peterk9]

Did they find the problem?

Welcome to the Forum.
First member from Pickering, I believe.

Peter