Thudding/vibration while driving, happens inconsistently, goes away within minutes of starting

[nightsurge]

I just purchased a 2017 Explorer XLT with 34k miles the other day. On the test drive at around 60-65mph I noticed a very faint thudding/vibration but the car had just been given 4 new tires and I chalked it off mostly to alignment/balance issues. It did not happen at other speeds at that point.

After purchasing it, it did the same thing once at around 40mph, once at around 55mph, and then multiple times now when driving 70-80mph. Each time it happens, it tends to go away within a few minutes of driving, even if NOTHING else changes. Speed stays the same, weather stays the same, road condition is the same, etc.

The thudding/vibration does seem to get more rapid with the speed of the car, so the thudding is slower and more noticeable at 40mph and faster, a bit less noticeable but still decently loud at 70-80mph, which makes me think it is still wheel related somewhere, but since it isn't consistent in speed and doesn't even happen the majority of the time, it seems like it can't be balance or alignment related? I haven't gotten it looked at yet, wanted to get your opinions on it first.

It can be felt throughout the entire vehicle, hard to place a point of origin, but I'm hesitant to say it feels to be coming from the front of the vehicle somewhere.

Still has 2k miles (or until October) on the bumper to bumper warranty and then plenty more to go until the drivetrain 60k mile warranty expires, so if it is anything at all that may be covered I'd like it addressed sooner rather than later.

 

[Odrapnew]

Sounds like the typical tire flat spotting. Common on vehicles like ours(not just Explorers). Even my MazdaSpeed6 did it.
Mine will do the same for a miles after sitting for more than ~8hrs hours, and goes away within about 5 minutes of driving.

 

[peterk9]

Welcome to the Forum nightsurge.
Flat spotting as mentioned above is common with the 20" tires and smooths out within a mile or two of driving. If you still experience it after much longer than that, you may have another issue. It would not be a bad idea to get an extended warranty either before the factory one runs out. See; Ford ESP at dealer cost to forum members

Peter

 

[nightsurge]

Welcome to the Forum nightsurge.
Flat spotting as mentioned above is common with the 20" tires and smooths out within a mile or two of driving. If you still experience it after much longer than that, you may have another issue. It would not be a bad idea to get an extended warranty either before the factory one runs out. See; Ford ESP at dealer cost to forum members

Peter

Thanks! Noob question, but does the ESP ADD the years and mileage to current warranty? So if my 3 year 36k mile warranty is about up and I buy a 3 year 100k warranty, does that make me covered till 6 years or 136k? Or 6 years or 100k? Or just the original 3 years or 100k?

Obviously the last one would be awful since I only have a few months left in that case. The others are decent either way, just trying to make sure I know what I need.

 

[15Limited]

Thanks! Noob question, but does the ESP ADD the years and mileage to current warranty? So if my 3 year 36k mile warranty is about up and I buy a 3 year 100k warranty, does that make me covered till 6 years or 136k? Or 6 years or 100k? Or just the original 3 years or 100k?

Obviously the last one would be awful since I only have a few months left in that case. The others are decent either way, just trying to make sure I know what I need.

It’s from the time the vehicle is first put into service.

 

[Jon M]

Thanks! Noob question, but does the ESP ADD the years and mileage to current warranty? So if my 3 year 36k mile warranty is about up and I buy a 3 year 100k warranty, does that make me covered till 6 years or 136k? Or 6 years or 100k? Or just the original 3 years or 100k?

Obviously the last one would be awful since I only have a few months left in that case. The others are decent either way, just trying to make sure I know what I need.

It's the number of years and mileage from new, so 3/100 is 3 years 100k, from date of purchase. I went 6/100 so, it's until 2021/100k miles for my '15, which was purchased new in 7/2015

 

[peterk9]

Thanks! Noob question, but does the ESP ADD the years and mileage to current warranty? So if my 3 year 36k mile warranty is about up and I buy a 3 year 100k warranty, does that make me covered till 6 years or 136k? Or 6 years or 100k? Or just the original 3 years or 100k?

Obviously the last one would be awful since I only have a few months left in that case. The others are decent either way, just trying to make sure I know what I need.

As 15Limited posted, the ESP goes back to the "In Service" date of the vehicle. I have a 48 month lease and bought a 48 month, 80k kms ESP which effectively only extends the OEM warranty by 12 months. I believe that is the way it works as long as you are still with the factory warranty period. If however, you let that warranty expire, then I'm quite sure you can buy the ESP that will carry on from the time of the ESP purchase. The only slight drawback is that you will have to buy a "Used Vehicle" warranty and have the Explorer checked over at a Ford dealership. Member blwnsmoke is the one that is up to date on all this. He has a 2011 and has extended his ESP several times. You may want to check out the Ford ESP brochure online and look over what isn't covered to see if it is something you may want to purchase.
Extended Vehicle Service & Protection Plans | Service & Maintenance | Official Ford Owner Site

Peter