2012 Ford F-150: engine knocking or ticking

Filed Oct 23, 2019 · Engine · 117,000 miles · OH

I am the third owner of this vehicle. We purchased vehicle with around 114,000 miles. Within a week and a half, the engine started knocking while driving/engine running. Upon further review, the engine needed replaced. Due to the fact we do not know previous owner(s), unsure if it was a maintenance issue or a manufacturer issues. Mechanic could not be definitive.

Filed Aug 27, 2019 · Transmission · 73,000 miles · MI

Upon startup engine makes a terrible rattle knock noise , upon investigation we came to the conclusion that timing chain stretched and or tensioners and cam phasers may have failed. That is until the oil pressure is high enough to correct this issue

Filed Jul 30, 2019 · Engine, Transmission · 152,000 miles · CO

While driving at 60mph the transmission shifted into first without warning, causing a sudden loss of control of the vehicle almost causing multiple accidents as I was in the middle of rush hour traffic. The sudden down shift over spun the motor, resulting in a lower engine knock which a certified ford technician believes is the result of a bearing failure. Even though the technician performed a cylinder leakage test in which no indication of valve interference was identified, the ford engineer he was dealing with said he had seen this issue before! This is the same recall issue that has caused multiple accidents! There are dozens of blog posts where this issue has caused, at the very least, multiple trips to the dealerships and in rare cases (not including mine), engine failure. I have calculated the engines RPM's using the formula: axle ratio x vehicle speed x transmission ratio x 336.13) / tire diameter = engine speed. At the time of the incident, the engine's RPM's were at an estimated 9,074 RPM's [(3.55 x 60mph x 4.17 x 336.13)/32.9]. The tachometer only goes to 7,000 RPM's! There are two recalls (19n01 and 19s07) that can cause intermittent shifting into first. The day before the incident, I went to the local ford dealership and was told they couldn't get me in for recall fixes because they needed to "take care of their paying customers first." I have talked with four different ford customer service representatives, the answer has been the same; "there is nothing ford motor company can do for you at this time." I feel ford has been very neglectful in taking responsibility of this issue, not only for myself but the countless other people that have had similar problems.

Filed Apr 24, 2019 · Engine · 52,905 miles · MD

A ticking/knocking noise on passenger side of engine. Took to ford dealer with 52,905 miles on 7/12/16 and stated fuel injector noise. Took to same ford dealer on 11/7/18 for same noise, only louder, and dealer detected no unusual noise. Took to different dealer a 3rd time on 3/27/19 for the same problem and stated "noise found to be normal characteristics" and was given a copy of "special service message 47787 which addressed a "tick tap and/or typewriter noise at idle" issue. This problem was brought to the attention of ford while it was still under manufactures warranty and the sound is only getting worse which is why I keep taking it to a ford dealership. The sound is not heard when the vehicle is first started, only when it starts to warm up and is quite loud at an idle. If this engine were to blow up going down the highway or interstate could potentially cause an accident resulting in injury and/or fatal crash.

Filed Mar 2, 2019 · Engine · 123,000 miles · WI

There is a tick/knocking noise coming from underneath my engine it sounds like. I just bought this from a dealer about a week ago and I'm very frustrated right now because I am working hard to make payments on this truck and now I probably have to replace the engine??? It has 123,000 miles

Filed Apr 17, 2018 · Engine · 95,000 miles · ND

Timing chain stretched due to poor design. Making a knocking sound during cold start. Cam sensor is triggering check engine light.

Filed Jan 7, 2015 · Steering · 10,000 miles · MA

Have had the truck for about a year now originally brought it to the dealership for a knock / pop/ rattle felt and heard through the steering wheel only in the colder weather , they replaced the steering rack . All was fine until the warmer weather hit in new england and 3000 miles later it came back . Took it back to the dealership the mechanic felt the knock/pop/rattle again . They replaced the rack again .. All was fine for about 3-5000 miles and once the really hot weather hit it has come back again and does it in all temperatures . So that is 3 steering racks at 3 different temperatures doing the same thing and ford had the nerve to say its a "normal " characteristic of the vehicle . Thats impossible seeing that each steering rack performs different in different temperatures . Ill also add that the feeling of the steering tightens and loosens with temperature change and when its windy the truck is almost impossible to control on the highway . There is hundreds and hundreds of complaints about this issue and nothing is being done about . I also find it funny how the new 2014 f150s have had a recall on the steering also.

Filed May 26, 2013 · Engine · 3,500 miles · WI

My wife and I were driving in maine on vacation hauling a 3600 lb 14 foot camper. It was early evening and raining, I was in a flat area coming into a steep hill so I accelerated hard and the engine staggered hard. It was like a hammering for several seconds and a total loss of acceleration. I thought I had actually broken the engine some how. A few seconds later the hammering stopped and the truck returned to normal. When I talked to my ford tech about it he said it was bad gas. The engine since then has had a ticking sound that the tech says is the fuel injectors working, I'm not so sure since it did not make that sound before the above described incident. It has not recurred, but I have been careful not to expose the vehicle to hard acceleration again, but that hardly seems to be an appropriate solution.

Filed Jan 31, 2013 · Steering, Suspension · 2,700 miles · MI

The vehicle from original purchase date in october of 2012 has exhibited a knock/clunk/vibration from the front suspension and steering that transmits up through the steering column and can be felt while holding the steering wheel and heard from the frontal area of the vehicle while driving. The steering wheel is also off center to the left and vehicle seems to pull left regardless of road crown and the front two tires are feathered across the tread. The first visit to dealer at 2700 miles the dealer reset the toe as it was toe out causing uneven tire wear. The vehicle was taken to the dealer at roughly 4700 miles for the knock/clunk/vibration and uneven tire wear again and it was found that pinch bolts were loose on the steering column causing the clunk. Dealer states the uneven tire wear was due to low tire pressure. After picking up vehicle the knock/clunk/vibration is still present. With the vehicle off and turning the wheel back and forth rapidly the knock/clunk can be heard from the front of the vehicle, however the dealer states this is normal noise from the ford epas steering rack. Asked dealer to compare to a new like vehicle on the lot. Dealer changed the subject. Sounds like faulty tie rod ends or faulty internal rack components from my past automotive experience. Owned a 2011 f150 with the same suspension and epas steering rack and the wheel was straight, and no noise was heard or vibrations felt while driving. Tires did not show uneven wear either. Dealer states I cannot compare my 2012 f150 to my 2011 f150. Dealer states an appointment is going to be set with the local field service engineer to test drive my vehicle to make a determination if any further action is to be taken. At this point the dealer is not providing any further assistance in resolving my concern. Issue has also been documented with ford customer care.

Filed Jan 14, 2013 · Steering · 3,240 miles · MA

Shortly after the purchase of this new 2012 ford f150 ecoboost, a knocking developed that could be felt through the steering wheel. This occurred while driving straight, and could be felt and heard under normal road conditions. It doesn't have to be a bumpy road, normal road conditions this occurs. It feels like a rattle or knocking coming from the steering assembly. I brought the vehicle to the dealer for it's first oil change, and to have the knocking issue looked at on august 8, 2012. The dealer noticed the noise and their repair made was to rotate the tires. August 15, 2012 brought the truck back for the same condition. The dealer noticed the noise during the road test and contacted the ford hotline. No repairs made. September 21, 2012 brought the truck back for the same condition. The technician could not duplicate the noise condition. No repairs made. October 25, 2012 after contacting ford customer care center myself, they instructed me to bring the truck back in and they will replace the tie rods. Tie rods replaced on this date. November 5, 2012 brought the truck back in for the same condition. Service department refused to test drive the truck, and told me that everything is normal and "operates as designed". January 14, 2012-still have knocking/rattle condition through steering wheel.

Filed Nov 10, 2012 · Steering · 400 miles · MI

The problem started with about 400 miles on the vehicle. I began noticing a loose/nibble feeling in the steering wheel especially over rough terrain, which is 90 percent of michigan roads. When temperatures get hotter the problem is more severe. I have had 4 power steering rack and pinions (epas) replaced and each time it fixes the problem but for only a few days and then it reappears. I have also had the entire steering shafts replaced and this did nothing. The problem has become much more severe as time has gone by. I am now experiencing the vehicle pulling and jumping while going over uneven surfaces in the road. There are over 1000 people with this exact problem on other public websites. I can now slightly move the steering wheel back and forth while the vehicle is off and you can feel looseness/nibble in steering and also a very loud knocking of parts coming from the rack and pinion (epas). Parts banging against each other is not normal! Everytime I put my 6 and 10 year old kids in my truck I fear for their safety along with my own. Ford motor company doesn't want to admit that they have an issue. I have heard from two representatives from ford that during production of these vehicles it was known that a number of defective rack and pinions (epas) were installed during the assembly. I have also ran into a person that oversees the quality department (won't mention where) but told me that ford is having all kinds of problems with their steering and told me to have them replace the epas system which I have already had done 4 times. I guess its going to take someone dying before ford will take action and fix their problems. Its very unfortunate but is the reason why I am reporting this. My next stop is the local news to share my story!

Filed Jul 31, 2012 · Steering · 4,000 miles · WI

The vehicle exhibits a knock or nibble that is felt in the electric steering system , this is very noticeable in the steering wheel when driving straight ahead on days when the temperature is above 70f. As the temp increases the severity of the issues increase. It is felt as if there is a major component in the steering system that is worn out or very near failure. The issues have not created a safety problem as of yet , however I believe that the possibility exists. The dealer staff have experienced the symptoms an two separate dates, they have taken no action on the matter. I have found over 600 similar complaints on a ford forum.