Uneven/Abrupt Acceleration and Throttle Response

[bluesteel]

I've experienced this since I first got the Maverick, and I'm not sure if it's getting worse or I'm just getting more annoyed or concerned. When I start from a stop, rolling idle, or low speed (in first gear), I have to press the accelerator what seems like a considerable distance to get any real acceleration. Then it's like something "kicks in" and I get an abrupt burst of energy. I'm guessing this is with the pedal depressed more than two inches, maybe three, but I'm not measuring. This is when I am trying to accelerate gradually. I don't notice it, for obvious reasons, when rapidly accelerating.

Does this sound like what anything else is experiencing? I have not had this with any other vehicle, including my '17 2.0 EB Escape. I'm pretty sure it's not turbo lag and it's not transmission-related.

If it is "normal" (emphasis on quotation marks), would sport mode help? With an FX4 I don't have it, and it appears it's not a setting I can change in FORscan with the cheapo OBD2 unit I have (eBay $15 special).

Sponsored

 

[OleFordGuy]

Never experienced anything like that in mine, probably need to have that checked

 

[lavaspill]

Turbo lag?

 

[Bwicka]

Go to the dealer try another similar . Turn yours in for service if there is a difference.

 

[Justin says...]

Torque converter not locking up maybe?

 

[Oscarcat]

I've experienced this since I first got the Maverick, and I'm not sure if it's getting worse or I'm just getting more annoyed or concerned. When I start from a stop, rolling idle, or low speed (in first gear), I have to press the accelerator what seems like a considerable distance to get any real acceleration. Then it's like something "kicks in" and I get an abrupt burst of energy. I'm guessing this is with the pedal depressed more than two inches, maybe three, but I'm not measuring. This is when I am trying to accelerate gradually. I don't notice it, for obvious reasons, when rapidly accelerating.

Does this sound like what anything else is experiencing? I have not had this with any other vehicle, including my '17 2.0 EB Escape. I'm pretty sure it's not turbo lag and it's not transmission-related.

If it is "normal" (emphasis on quotation marks), would sport mode help? With an FX4 I don't have it, and it appears it's not a setting I can change in FORscan with the cheapo OBD2 unit I have (eBay $15 special).

I had a '22 Lariat EB FWD for 9+K miles while I waited for my hybrid order. I never had any issues with turbo lag. Always very linear response to the accelerator as one would expect.

Isn't the accelerator on the EB electronic, meaning no mechanical cable or linkage? There are position sensors in those systems and they can fail.

My guess is that an electronic part or a connector to an electronic part failed which means you will need your dealer to sort it out.

Have you done any mods or has anyone tinkered with your throttle body or did you change your engine air filter, etc? That could have created a problem.

Could your air intake or engine air filter be blocked by an object, plastic or paper bag, leaves or rodent nest, that got sucked into it? It could be that simple.

 

[Carlitos_92]

Go to the dealer try another similar . Turn yours in for service if there is a difference.

Was going to say the same thing. There are many aspects of stock EcoBoost power delivery I wish were better, but based on my truck I think they are all normal. OP's issues may or may not be. They should compare it to another Mav, whether test drive, other owner, etc.

 

[Delusioned]

What you are describing is very similar to my experience. I took mine to the dealer 4 times and they assured me it was normal, and even drove another one to confirm it was the same. Also had several non-car people in my life drive it and to them it felt normal or it was nothing they would have even noticed. Finally accepted that it was just a quirk of this drivetrain, a mix of the turbocharged engine mated to a trans optimized for fuel economy. I think how much it annoys someone depends on what other vehicles they are coming from, and how mechanically minded they are.

I loaded a performance tune that reprogrammed the trans to eliminate the skip shift functionality and adjusted other variables, and after that it drives a lot better.

 

[MetalsGeek]

Total conjecture: If the EB engine is drive-by-wire like the hybrid (no mechanical connection at accelerator pedal) you could just have a defective pedal position sensor, which would be a simple fix. I don't know if this parameter is output to an OBD2 reader in the real-time data, but if it is, this could confirm the issue.

 

[sapperforward]

I've experienced this since I first got the Maverick, and I'm not sure if it's getting worse or I'm just getting more annoyed or concerned. When I start from a stop, rolling idle, or low speed (in first gear), I have to press the accelerator what seems like a considerable distance to get any real acceleration. Then it's like something "kicks in" and I get an abrupt burst of energy. I'm guessing this is with the pedal depressed more than two inches, maybe three, but I'm not measuring. This is when I am trying to accelerate gradually. I don't notice it, for obvious reasons, when rapidly accelerating.

Does this sound like what anything else is experiencing? I have not had this with any other vehicle, including my '17 2.0 EB Escape. I'm pretty sure it's not turbo lag and it's not transmission-related.

If it is "normal" (emphasis on quotation marks), would sport mode help? With an FX4 I don't have it, and it appears it's not a setting I can change in FORscan with the cheapo OBD2 unit I have (eBay $15 special).

Same thing happening with me 2024 lariat Fx4 seems to be hesitating when at a light or stop sign when getting ready to take off unless you practically floor it sometimes and then it takes off when the turbo kicks in ( and you can add sport mode and eco if so inclined with forscan -- a few videos on how to go about it out in the wild. I was assuming that the lag was normal but I'm guessing it's not -- also pay attention to if you smell antifreeze at all when you park it coming from the front end if you're having the same issue I'm having you won't see anything in the fluid level will stay sound but the smell is there and I can't figure it out neither can the dealership go figure

 

[zzbaluba]

I've experienced this since I first got the Maverick, and I'm not sure if it's getting worse or I'm just getting more annoyed or concerned. When I start from a stop, rolling idle, or low speed (in first gear), I have to press the accelerator what seems like a considerable distance to get any real acceleration. Then it's like something "kicks in" and I get an abrupt burst of energy. I'm guessing this is with the pedal depressed more than two inches, maybe three, but I'm not measuring. This is when I am trying to accelerate gradually. I don't notice it, for obvious reasons, when rapidly accelerating.

Does this sound like what anything else is experiencing? I have not had this with any other vehicle, including my '17 2.0 EB Escape. I'm pretty sure it's not turbo lag and it's not transmission-related.

If it is "normal" (emphasis on quotation marks), would sport mode help? With an FX4 I don't have it, and it appears it's not a setting I can change in FORscan with the cheapo OBD2 unit I have (eBay $15 special).

I have been experiencing the same thing as of late. I've had my Maverick for a little over 1 year. And, I didn't notice it until recently.

 

[Superg0]

I blame this feeling on the tranny and the turbo. If I'm driving in normal mode I get this same "confusing" lag. It's almost like the tranny is confused to know how to start off.

I have an XLT FX4 and added Sport Mode and paddle shifters. Sport mode and there is no perceivable hesitation, the truck runs and shifts closer to what I would call normal. Sport mode however eliminated 8th gear and you are constantly running in a lower gear to keep rpms up. I drive 90% of the time in sport mode. When I'm on the highway though, its regular mode.

I believe this 8 speed tranny is your culprit.

 

[Darnon]

Total conjecture: If the EB engine is drive-by-wire like the hybrid (no mechanical connection at accelerator pedal) you could just have a defective pedal position sensor, which would be a simple fix. I don't know if this parameter is output to an OBD2 reader in the real-time data, but if it is, this could confirm the issue.

The accelerator position sensor is double redundant. If there was an error with one internal sensor, the PCM fails over to the correct one and would set a DTC. Similarly the electric throttle body is triply comparative; a digital position signal and two negatively-coefficient analog measurements.

 

[RRaynor2]

I have the exact same issue, and it's almost cost me an accident or two (making a left turn with traffic coming and the truck barely moves for half a second or so).

I swear it got much worse after the recall that reprogrammed something. I think it was powertrain.

 

[bgn]

Similar issue. It feels like driving my old Accord, which had a broken rear engine mount...

I don't think it's turbo lag. The shift/power distribution seems to be more violent than a turbo spooling up.

Sponsored