Maverick shuddering / skipping when going up hill

[elgin]

I haven't brought it in yet. I'm waiting until my first service, hoping Ford will have figured it out by then and have a TSB with the fix. The problem is obviously widely prevalent and their pumping out more Mav Hybrids every day so its in their interest to fix it fast to avoid the warranty claims by their dealers.

My temporary "fix" is to put my foot down a bit to engage the gas engine *before* I encounter that slight uphill on first drive in the morning.

I had this same thing happen to my 2 week old XL hybrid. I fixed it by backing off the sensitivity of the accident avoidance system . Turns out that when you start climbing up a steep hill, the Mav apples the brakes because it senses that you are about to run into the hill ahead. The combination of the computer applying brakes at the same time you are stepping on the gas creates the shudder.

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[8211badger]

I had this same thing happen to my 2 week old XL hybrid. I fixed it by backing off the sensitivity of the accident avoidance system . Turns out that when you start climbing up a steep hill, the Mav apples the brakes because it senses that you are about to run into the hill ahead. The combination of the computer applying brakes at the same time you are stepping on the gas creates the shudder.

huhhh. I'll have to try that. It makes total sense. I've experienced it a few times going up steepish driveways. I've always written it off as the TC since they are either gravel or rough asphalt.

 

[Haha48]

Had a load in the back made a grrthh type of noise slight shudder in third or forth gear eased off the throttle geared down was fine hit that gear it came back. I was on tow/haul mode. I thought it was the rear differential. It does that in mud and ruts. Apparently some of them leak fluid

 

[ThisWas]

I had this same thing happen to my 2 week old XL hybrid. I fixed it by backing off the sensitivity of the accident avoidance system . Turns out that when you start climbing up a steep hill, the Mav apples the brakes because it senses that you are about to run into the hill ahead. The combination of the computer applying brakes at the same time you are stepping on the gas creates the shudder.

Interesting! I was not aware of a sensitivity setting but found it under "Pre-Collision Assist" starting at p.243 in the owners manual.

I experienced the shudder 2 or 3 times in my XL Hybrid in my first month of ownership but not since then. I thought maybe the transmission was "learning" my driving style, or perhaps it was related to cold weather.

Each time it occurred on the hill near my house after a cold start on a winter's day. The first 50 feet of the hill is steep enough that the town rebuilt the road there, but the shudder occurred about 200 feet up the hill as if in delayed reaction to the steepness, if your theory is correct.

Again, I haven't had the problem in the past couple of months but if it re-occurs I'll try your fix.

 

[Burch20]

You may want your dealer to check your Transmission oil level. There is the chance it's under filled. Slim but there.

Second this. Wife's '13 Focus trans exploded. When they replaced they under filled the fluid. It exploded again within days. My '14 Escape did the same thing. When the mechanic was fixing it he told me the trans is super particular with the amount of fluid. Too much... Explodes. Too little... Explodes lol. Good luck. Apparently the new CVT design is better than the old so there's that.

 

[Dad]

I had this same thing happen to my 2 week old XL hybrid. I fixed it by backing off the sensitivity of the accident avoidance system . Turns out that when you start climbing up a steep hill, the Mav apples the brakes because it senses that you are about to run into the hill ahead. The combination of the computer applying brakes at the same time you are stepping on the gas creates the shudder.

Fascinating bit of information! Makes total sense and if it weren't for members like yourself, the rest of us might have kept on guessing and spending a good amount of time and effort trying to figure out the problem. Thank you for sharing!

 

[ShadowBlack XL440]

Hey thanks not sure what a cool over plug means? But I’m thinking it may be a tranny thing or driveshaft??

Cool over plug says the Echo-boost owner. HaHa......

 

[stats]

I had this same thing happen to my 2 week old XL hybrid. I fixed it by backing off the sensitivity of the accident avoidance system . Turns out that when you start climbing up a steep hill, the Mav apples the brakes because it senses that you are about to run into the hill ahead. The combination of the computer applying brakes at the same time you are stepping on the gas creates the shudder.

My guess is we're not talking about the same thing. The only time it happens is when transitioning from Electric to Hybrid when cold on a slight grade. And the shudder I'm experiencing is definitely not brake application or ABS modulation--has to be somewhere in the CVT. If it was a collision avoidance sensitivity issue, it would be happening anytime the sensors were triggered regardless of drive mode. If a grade was seen as an imminent collision it would respond, not just in the morning or when cold transitioning to gas from electric. In my case, I travel over this spot many times a day as I head in to town. Only does it as described above not at any other time. Also, from everything I've read of people with the issue only affects Hybrids.

 

[Falvette]

This has happened to me also. 3 times so far. Each time starting from stop. A heavy shudder like driving over a washboard on start. Taking foot off the gas stopped the shudder. Just over 2000 miles on my 22 Maverick XL Hybrid. Anyone have an answer yet?

Have you heard anything more about this problem. I have the Hybrid Lariat with just over 1500 miles on it. It has done this shuttering twice when first starting off in the morning and the engine is cold. It stops as soon as I let off the gas and then start off again. Thanks for any info sharing info about this problem.

 

[Scrambled]

My shudder started a few weeks ago, and is getting worse. 14k miles on ecoboost AWD with 4k tow. The shudder started at 70-80 MPH with less than half throttle on flat ground. It was pronounced enough that the passengers asked about it.

Today, it is at all speeds. It happened once at take off from a red light. Powering through and making the trans downshift does not help. It doesn't feel like TC shudder. I assume it is either losing fuel pressure or not getting spark to at least 1 cylinder. There are no CEL showing.

Anyone else have any ideas before I take it to Ford to get a "cannot duplicate customer complaints" invoice?

 

[Mikknj]

Not saying this is the case, but it brings back nightmares of the torque converter (tc)shudder problems of the approx. 2012 to 2014 vehicles using "transmission technologies" as defined in the cafe standard. The trans shift coding wouldn't allow the trans to properly downshift under certain conditions (e.g., going up slight inclines at speeds of 35-50 mph) which eventually destroyed the tc and trans at generally under 35k miles . I come close to buying 2 used vehicles which had damaged transmissions, but thanks to Internet searches, discovered what was going on.

There is no torque converter in the Hybrid.

Hi there! Can you send us a PM with your VIN and Ford dealership information? I’d be happy to look into this Maverick concern on my end.

This is still happening to us all -me included, 3 times this week - same conditions. I expect Ford should have a fix soon, I'm beginning to think this is a more serious issue and having a hard time fixing the issue.

 

[Deerslayer1980]

I got WOT when I see hills coming. I could care less about MPGs. I get 26-27 driving it like a race car. LOL

 

[Bad Actor]

Sounds like a classic misfire due to coil breaking down under load. Check for stored codes, intermittent faults may not light the CEL. If your mechanically inclined, you can pull the coils and check for proper resistance and burn marks or cracks in housing.

 

[Ford Motor Company]

My shudder started a few weeks ago, and is getting worse. 14k miles on ecoboost AWD with 4k tow. The shudder started at 70-80 MPH with less than half throttle on flat ground. It was pronounced enough that the passengers asked about it.

Today, it is at all speeds. It happened once at take off from a red light. Powering through and making the trans downshift does not help. It doesn't feel like TC shudder. I assume it is either losing fuel pressure or not getting spark to at least 1 cylinder. There are no CEL showing.

Anyone else have any ideas before I take it to Ford to get a "cannot duplicate customer complaints" invoice?

Good morning! Can you privately message us with your VIN and the name and location of your Ford dealer? I can look into this shudder concern on my end. Thank you!

 

[SLINGSHOT]

Good morning! Can you privately message us with your VIN and the name and location of your Ford dealer? I can look into this shudder concern on my end. Thank you!

Only took FOMOCO 8 months to chime in. Must be their Rapid Response Team.

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