Bad Sway Bar Links At 13K Miles?

[Art Vandelay]

2023 Hybrid, never been raised, lowered or modified in any way. Just want to be clear, this is not thread bashing Ford or saying it's junk or anything. I'm genuinely curious about this.

I brought my truck to the dealership this morning for an oil change & tire rotation. When I dropped it off I asked that they also check the front end because I've been hearing a clunking noise when going over small bumps. They called right around their closing time and said they diagnosed the issue and the truck has bad sway bar links that will need to be replaced.

This really seems odd to me for a truck that's only 1.5 years old and with only 13K miles. I did a search of the forum and the Maverick FB groups and cannot find a single other mention of this happening except in instances where the owner raised or lowered the truck. But my truck is completely stock. with no modifications what so ever.

Anyone know what would case this? Is it possibly just bad sway bar links from the factory? I think my biggest concern is that there is a larger problem causing the sway bar links to fail prematurely.

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[Billy2mav]

2023 Hybrid, never been raised, lowered or modified in any way. Just want to be clear, this is not thread bashing Ford or saying it's junk or anything. I'm genuinely curious about this.

I brought my truck to the dealership this morning for an oil change & tire rotation. When I dropped it off I asked that they also check the front end because I've been hearing a clunking noise when going over small bumps. They called right around their closing time and said they diagnosed the issue and the truck has bad sway bar links that will need to be replaced.

This really seems odd to me for a truck that's only 1.5 years old and with only 13K miles. I did a search of the forum and the Maverick FB groups and cannot find a single other mention of this happening except in instanmy ces where the owner raised or lowered the truck. But my truck is completely stock. with no modifications what so ev

Anyone know what would case this? Is it ipossibly just bad sway bar links from the factory? I think my biggest concern is that there is a larger problem causing the sway bar links to fail prematurely.

We had the same problem with my wifes 24 xl hybrid with 13k miles.

 

[MetalsGeek]

Fascinating! I can't imagine such a bizarre failure. Did one of the rubber bushings crack and fall off? A photo would have been really informative, but it seems that opportunity has gone.

 

[Art Vandelay]

Fascinating! I can't imagine such a bizarre failure. Did one of the rubber bushings crack and fall off? A photo would have been really informative, but it seems that opportunity has gone.

I dropped the truck off on Friday but they kept it until Saturday to do the sway bar links. I was hoping to talk to the technician when I picked it up on Saturday but unfortunately I didn't make there until after the service department had closed. The notes on the paperwork from the service tech stated "Found play in sway bar links" and that they replaced them. So I don't know how loose they were but the noise I was hearing does seem to be gone now.

 

[TwoTone]

Anything manufactured by man will have a certain number of defective.

If this was a widespread problem, it'd be all over the forums.

 

[sva50233]

do we know if Ford uses plastic or metal swaybar links? do we know of an aftermarket company that makes adjustable swaybar links with polyurethane bushings?

 

[jonshep]

I have not had my Mav long enough to do any maintenance work on the front end so I don't know what it looks like under there. My old F150 went about 160k on OEM end links. Gave that truck to my son and he sold it with 240k on the replacement end links. I had to put a pair on the F250 rear sway at 170k because my sis-in-law took it rock hopping. Those were not worn, they were damaged. 13k on a Maverick sounds inordinately low mileage. That sounds more like they forgot to tighten them.

 

[EVAN.MAVERICK]

Hi, I have a 22 Hybrid with 60k miles on it. My sway bar links have just went bad. I can hear a clunking noise when I go over bumps and steer around corners. Going to replace them. I don't beat on my car or modify it at all either. I wonder if we got a bad batch of sway bar links.

 

[Tbone289]

do we know if Ford uses plastic or metal swaybar links?

Plastic swaybar links? I've seen metal links with plastic sleeves on the ends (like the ones on the Maverick), but I've never seen a plastic end link. I can't imagine how that would hold up to the stresses put on a sway bar.

Edit: They do exist...crazy. I've never seen one in person.

 

[Master Blaster]

Is it lifted, putting stress on the bushings that they were not designed for?

 

[Vaportrail]

do we know if Ford uses plastic or metal swaybar links? do we know of an aftermarket company that makes adjustable swaybar links with polyurethane bushings?

Housing is indeed plastic!!!

That's why it's wise to install a proper kit instead of springs only when lowering. Adjustable shocks and quality adjustable sway bar links will be worth it over time...

 

[tgordonstuff]

Just got my 2024 XL EB back from the shop with sway bar links going bad. Ford replaced under warranty at 27K miles. Bone stock truck. Tech said it was likely a manufacturing or install defect. Seemed way too early to me for this kind of failure.

 

[SoonerBrink]

I was searching for suspension topics that covered a similar issue on my vehicle. Mine is a 2023 XL Hybrid with 42K miles. I don't notice any noise going over speed bumps or dips in the road, but cracked concrete in a parking lot, I hear a clunking noise or a suspension noise that just doesn't sound normal. I thought I heard something very quiet not too long ago, but thought no way would I already be having any suspension issues on my stock vehicle. Perhaps the dealer can check it out on the next oil change.

Is this on the front suspension only? Seems like the front passenger side is louder than the front drivers side.

If it's not under warranty, it probably makes sense to go with aftermarket. Never had a suspension component fail on my other vehicles before 10 year / 100K miles. Would seem crazy to replace parts with the same thing that lasted around 30k, when they should last much longer.

Does the warranty paperwork show how much it the part and labor cost?

 

[Master Blaster]

Do you have something under the rear seat loose, or something in the bed side pockets rattling around?

 

[SoonerBrink]

Do you have something under the rear seat loose, or something in the bed side pockets rattling around?

I will double check

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