2025 AWD Hybrid making thunk or thud noise from the rear at around 13 mph when braking

[icecoast]

I’ve quit paying attention to it. I’m almost positive it’s just the AWD components re-engaging after it’s dropping into lower gear since it’s basically a front wheel drive truck at cruising speeds. Just seems that roughly 1 out of 4 happen to get the ones that are noisy about it

I’m with you there. Mine also doesn’t do it in sport mode or whatever it’s called, which I’ve been using a lot lately.

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[retiredmike]

I’m with you there. Mine also doesn’t do it in sport mode or whatever it’s called, which I’ve been using a lot lately.

Mine is at the dealer as we speak for this condition. I want documentation that it won't affect the truck down the road (after warranty).

 

[retiredmike]

I’m with you there. Mine also doesn’t do it in sport mode or whatever it’s called, which I’ve been using a lot lately.

Why does it have to
re-ingage?

 

[Mox4615]

Because at cruising speeds the Maverick is basically a FWD. Once you drop into the low gears the rear axle will re-engage and go back to an AWD mode.

if you look at the AWD screen on the dash you will see that the rear wheels are not used after getting up to speed

 

[PanchoBarrancas]

Can confirm my '22 ecoboost AWD developed the thunk around 60,000 km / 37,000 miles, replacing the rear diff fluid removed the thunk entirely and it's been going well for 20,000 km / 12,000 miles.

I'm starting to think that the RDU fluid lasts longer in hot weather, as winter temps never drop below freezing in my area. Otherwise it's surprising to me y'all are getting the thunk so much sooner than I did.

I remember reading about this multiple times here in the forum, with most people, but not all, having the thunk go away with fresh fluid.

By the way, the rear wheels also get engaged at any speed when you floor the gas.

 

[ListedGuru]

Mine is at the dealer as we speak for this condition. I want documentation that it won't affect the truck down the road (after warranty).

Please report back and let us know what your dealer says. Also I see that @PanchoBarrancas mentioned replacing the rear diff fluie at 37K miles removed their thunk entirely and it hasn't come back in 12K miles. I know mine didn't do it when it was new but 3 or 4 months into ownership it started the 13 mph thunk with only 3K or 4K miles on it IIRC. I can't image my rear diff fluid was bad already at 4K miles and if my unit was grossly underfilled it seemed like the thunk would've happened from new (if the fluid was the cause).

 

[Mox4615]

I changed RDU fluid in mine and it didn’t make a difference. It is odd that it doesn’t make the noise at low outside temps.

-insert x files theme music

 

[HeyBales]

Because at cruising speeds the Maverick is basically a FWD. Once you drop into the low gears the rear axle will re-engage and go back to an AWD mode.

if you look at the AWD screen on the dash you will see that the rear wheels are not used after getting up to speed

Are the graphics accurate enough to show the speed where it will disengage AWD going faster, like if you have a back road slowly going up in speed?

And then does it show accuracy coming back down in speed - does it show the AWD engage about 13 mph if you do a really slow decrease in speeds?
(again back roads required probably going 15 mph, 14, ect, probably need digital speedo view).

I know wrong season, but since temps are a factor in the AWD being engaged - could it be doing it at faster speed and not heard thru the road/truck noise, or felt on anything but smooth road, since not expected at a faster speed?

 

[JonnyC]

I changed RDU fluid in mine and it didn’t make a difference. It is odd that it doesn’t make the noise at low outside temps.

-insert x files theme music

I would imagine it's keeping the AWD engaged at near freezing temps to account for icy/snowy conditions. The temp were it starts is just below 40 F.

I really need to get mine to the dealer one of these days, because I too am worried about it becoming an issue when I'm out of warranty.

 

[Mox4615]

So if the display is accurate once you get over 25ish mph the rear wheels aren’t being used anymore at all. Even if you go to pass a car going 35-40 it’s all FWD. So what I think what’s happening is once you get to 13 mph mark it’s when the transmission shifts into 1st and at that point it’s re-engaging the rear axle to become AWD again.

 

[PanchoBarrancas]

Are the graphics accurate enough to show the speed where it will disengage AWD going faster, like if you have a back road slowly going up in speed?

And then does it show accuracy coming back down in speed - does it show the AWD engage about 13 mph if you do a really slow decrease in speeds?
(again back roads required probably going 15 mph, 14, ect, probably need digital speedo view).

I know wrong season, but since temps are a factor in the AWD being engaged - could it be doing it at faster speed and not heard thru the road/truck noise, or felt on anything but smooth road, since not expected at a faster speed?

In my '22 ecoboost it is accurate enough for that, that you see at which speeds it engages or disengages, and it shows you a bar showing the amount of power being sent to front or back in real time.

 

[PanchoBarrancas]

So if the display is accurate once you get over 25ish mph the rear wheels aren’t being used anymore at all. Even if you go to pass a car going 35-40 it’s all FWD. So what I think what’s happening is once you get to 13 mph mark it’s when the transmission shifts into 1st and at that point it’s re-engaging the rear axle to become AWD again.

AWD does engage under heavy acceleration, when you press the gas about 50% in or more at any speed.

 

[Mox4615]

AWD does engage under heavy acceleration, when you press the gas about 50% in or more at any speed.

Maybe yours does, but mine doesn’t. I tested different rolling speeds on my way to work not 30 mins ago. The rear wheels don’t engage over a certain speed.

 

[retiredmike]

I have had my 25 AWD Hybrid for 5 or so months now and it's started making a fairly loud thump or thunking noise that sounds like it's coming from the rear when I'm slowing down (braking). Like clockwork the thud (thump) happens when I slow down and hit 13 mph. The noise seems to be louder and more pronounced when I'm slowing down from say 45 or 50 mph as opposed to say 25 -30 mph but the noise happens almost every time. Has anyone else experienced this noise and if so were you able to figure out it's cause?

Also if I turn out traction control after before I start driving the noise magically disappears. This was also the case for the two others users that indicated they have this issue in the thread linked below.

I did find another thread where two members mentioned they have the noise but neither member seems to be active here on Maverick Truck Club so not sure if they were able to figure out the cause and get it fixed. Here is a thread where it's talked about a little bit:

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/forum/threads/2025-hybrid-awd-thud-noise-when-decelerating.62929/

Members @ScoobyMateo and @Mox4615 both mentioned they had the issue but no follow up.

I also saw these on a facebook maverick thread where this person has the issue with their 25 AWD Hybrid but again not seeing a resolution:

My 24 2.0 awd does it. Waiting on responce from dealer,yea right.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

How your AWD system works at speeds and re-engagement thump when slowing down at 13 miles an hour.

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