Single "Thunk" when slowing, at exactly 13MPH

[gubernator]

Hi All, I am experiencing a very strange issue with my brand new 24 Maverick Tremor.

When in normal drive mode I hear/feel a single "thunk" noise from below the vehicle as I slow down from speed (20MPH+). Interestingly, the noise seems to always occur at 13MPG regardless of braking force.

Even stranger, this noise completely vanishes if I either disable traction control, or enable "4WD" (lock PTU on tremor).

My vehicle doesn't even have 1000 miles yet - any ideas on what this could be, or should I just suck it up and wait for service at the dealership?

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[Ozarkbeard]

You should probably just suck it up and wait for service at the dealership.

 

[Deweyordeweynot]

If my XLT does anything 'not normal' before the stock warranty expires, it's going to the dealership. We opted out of the extended warranty because I'm good at saving money and would rather pay for it out of pocket, instead of arguing about "why is part A covered but part B is not" nonsense with the warranty company.

 

[Ford Motor Company]

Hi All, I am experiencing a very strange issue with my brand new 24 Maverick Tremor.

When in normal drive mode I hear/feel a single "thunk" noise from below the vehicle as I slow down from speed (20MPH+). Interestingly, the noise seems to always occur at 13MPG regardless of braking force.

Even stranger, this noise completely vanishes if I either disable traction control, or enable "4WD" (lock PTU on tremor).

My vehicle doesn't even have 1000 miles yet - any ideas on what this could be, or should I just suck it up and wait for service at the dealership?

Hi Jaden! I can look into your Maverick's noise concern on my end. To get started, could you please send a private message over with the name/location of your local Ford dealer and your Maverick's VIN?

 

[fsskate27]

Ever find out what this was?? I have the same issue in my 2024- took it to a dealer and they “didnt hear it”

 

[ListedGuru]

Hi All, I am experiencing a very strange issue with my brand new 24 Maverick Tremor.

When in normal drive mode I hear/feel a single "thunk" noise from below the vehicle as I slow down from speed (20MPH+). Interestingly, the noise seems to always occur at 13MPG regardless of braking force.

Even stranger, this noise completely vanishes if I either disable traction control, or enable "4WD" (lock PTU on tremor).

My vehicle doesn't even have 1000 miles yet - any ideas on what this could be, or should I just suck it up and wait for service at the dealership?

I too am wondering if you ever figured out the issue with the 13 mph thunk? Did it get worse over time? Here are a couple of threads on the matter:

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...the-rear-at-around-13-mph-when-braking.72905/

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...d-noise-when-decelerating.62929/#post-1057777

 

[gubernator]

I too am wondering if you ever figured out the issue with the 13 mph thunk? Did it get worse over time? Here are a couple of threads on the matter:

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...the-rear-at-around-13-mph-when-braking.72905/

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...d-noise-when-decelerating.62929/#post-1057777

I figured out the issue but you might not like the answer. I took it to the dealership and they had it for months. They completely ripped out and replaced the rear diff and the PTU, nothing fixed it. The only way I resolved the issue was by lemon lawing my truck and getting my money back...

For what it's worth, I ended up buying almost the exact same truck afterwards (2024 Maverick Tremor, this time a Lariat instead of XLT), and this truck has not had the same issue. Or any issue for that matter, over 10k miles in now.

I would bet money that this is a computer issue that my dealership just couldn't figure out. Wishing you better luck.

Tagging @fsskate27

 

[ListedGuru]

I figured out the issue but you might not like the answer. I took it to the dealership and they had it for months. They completely ripped out and replaced the rear diff and the PTU, nothing fixed it. The only way I resolved the issue was by lemon lawing my truck and getting my money back...

For what it's worth, I ended up buying almost the exact same truck afterwards (2024 Maverick Tremor, this time a Lariat instead of XLT), and this truck has not had the same issue. Or any issue for that matter, over 10k miles in now.

I would bet money that this is a computer issue that my dealership just couldn't figure out. Wishing you better luck.

Tagging @fsskate27

Holy smokes that's crazy. I'm glad you were able to get a new truck and one that doesn't have the 13 mph thunk. It's interesting that you mention your lemon truck not thunking when you enable 4WD (lock PTU on the tremor). I have a 25 AWD Hybrid but I can't enable 4WD like you apparently can on the Tremor (I didn't know the Tremor could do that). Of course I can disable traction control on mine and when I do the thunk magically disappears. You mentioning the thunk disappearing when you enbled 4wd on your Tremor to me is pretty telling. This tells me that the thunk does indeed have something to do with the AWD system engaging or something along those lines. So in the Tremor if you don't enable 4WD I assume it acts has a regular AWD like my truck? I've read some speculating that the AWD system might be programmed to engage itself at that magical 13 mph mark when slowing down to help when accelerating from the next take off. Then once up to a certain (unknown speed) the AWD system disengages while cruising at speed to save fuel and will only engage if slippage is detected or you slow down to 13 mph. Not sure if this is 100% accurate but it sounds logical?

The interesting thing to me is what is causing this thunk and why doesn't it happen to all the AWD Mavericks? This sound is not normal it sure sounds to me like something could potentially wear down a break when you multiple that thunk over the years by tens of thousands of occurrences.

 

[gubernator]

Holy smokes that's crazy. I'm glad you were able to get a new truck and one that doesn't have the 13 mph thunk. It's interesting that you mention your lemon truck not thunking when you enable 4WD (lock PTU on the tremor). I have a 25 AWD Hybrid but I can't enable 4WD like you apparently can on the Tremor (I didn't know the Tremor could do that). Of course I can disable traction control on mine and when I do the thunk magically disappears. You mentioning the thunk disappearing when you enbled 4wd on your Tremor to me is pretty telling. This tells me that the thunk does indeed have something to do with the AWD system engaging or something along those lines. So in the Tremor if you don't enable 4WD I assume it acts has a regular AWD like my truck? I've read some speculating that the AWD system might be programmed to engage itself at that magical 13 mph mark when slowing down to help when accelerating from the next take off. Then once up to a certain (unknown speed) the AWD system disengages while cruising at speed to save fuel and will only engage if slippage is detected or you slow down to 13 mph. Not sure if this is 100% accurate but it sounds logical?

The interesting thing to me is what is causing this thunk and why doesn't it happen to all the AWD Mavericks? This sound is not normal it sure sounds to me like something could potentially wear down a break when you multiple that thunk over the years by tens of thousands of occurrences.

I think you are right on the money with your theory. You are correct that the Tremor behaves as a normal AWD maverick when the lock is not engaged. In 24 mavericks you can have the dash show when AWD is engaging. In my anecdotal experience from driving with this screen on, the AWD behaves exactly as you described where it is engaged on launch for traction and then disengages at speed for efficiency. Perhaps you can do the same on your 25 and see if the AWD engagement lines up with the thunk.

I absolutely agree that this is not normal behavior and concerned me for the future health of the truck, hence my choice to lemon law.

It's interesting to see so many users engaging and reporting the same exact issue on your thread. Back when I was having this problem I couldn't find anyone else experiencing this.

 

[ListedGuru]

I think you are right on the money with your theory. You are correct that the Tremor behaves as a normal AWD maverick when the lock is not engaged. In 24 mavericks you can have the dash show when AWD is engaging. In my anecdotal experience from driving with this screen on, the AWD behaves exactly as you described where it is engaged on launch for traction and then disengages at speed for efficiency. Perhaps you can do the same on your 25 and see if the AWD engagement lines up with the thunk.

I absolutely agree that this is not normal behavior and concerned me for the future health of the truck, hence my choice to lemon law.

It's interesting to see so many users engaging and reporting the same exact issue on your thread. Back when I was having this problem I couldn't find anyone else experiencing this.

Just rereading some posts and it really is interesting that after replacing both the RDU and PTU on your Maverick it still didn't fix the problem. I did see someone posted last night on another group that they were persistent and finally got their dealer to replace their RDU on their 2025 and it supposedly fixed the problem. It will be interesting to see if by replacing the RDU that it really does fix the issue once and for all.

 

[jmacerick]

Hi All, I am experiencing a very strange issue with my brand new 24 Maverick Tremor.

When in normal drive mode I hear/feel a single "thunk" noise from below the vehicle as I slow down from speed (20MPH+). Interestingly, the noise seems to always occur at 13MPG regardless of braking force.

Even stranger, this noise completely vanishes if I either disable traction control, or enable "4WD" (lock PTU on tremor).

My vehicle doesn't even have 1000 miles yet - any ideas on what this could be, or should I just suck it up and wait for service at the dealership?

It looks and sounds like all the rear diffs on the mavericks are having this issue. And it applies to the AWD tremor, AWD hybrids. The clutches on the rear diff are defective. I had my rear diff replaced already once at 15,000 miles and it went away for about 5,000 miles now the noise is back again.

 

[Suzukiridr14]

Hi All, I am experiencing a very strange issue with my brand new 24 Maverick Tremor.

When in normal drive mode I hear/feel a single "thunk" noise from below the vehicle as I slow down from speed (20MPH+). Interestingly, the noise seems to always occur at 13MPG regardless of braking force.

Even stranger, this noise completely vanishes if I either disable traction control, or enable "4WD" (lock PTU on tremor).

My vehicle doesn't even have 1000 miles yet - any ideas on what this could be, or should I just suck it up and wait for service at the dealership?

It maybe the transmission down shifting when you slow down. If so, I would"t worry.

 

[jmacerick]

It maybe the transmission down shifting when you slow down. If so, I would"t worry.

Hey this is something happening right now. Do you feel the thump on the rear end?

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