Vibration Between 40-50 MPH

[MechanicalBob]

Since new, my 2022 Tremor (bought new in April 2023) has had a vibration that shows itself between 40 and 50 mph. It doesn't matter what gear it's in, e.g. I could be going up a hill in a lower gear, on flat ground, or coasting down a hill in a high gear--it's always there in that speed range. The vibration isn't severe, just enough to bother me and get the passenger side seatbelt flopping against the pillar. It's especially noticeable on sections of newly repaved road that has a really smooth surface. It feels just like an out of balance tire, but I don't think that's what it is.

I've got just over 15,000 miles on it now, so have had the tires rotated 3 times and don't really notice a difference afterward.

If it were a tire balance issue, wouldn't it get worse as I go faster? It doesn't; this truck is really smooth riding above 50 mph (and below 40).

I once thought maybe the road isn't as smooth as it looks, and the LT-rated tires are just stiff, but if that were the case I should notice it at higher speeds too. Going over the same stretches of road in my wife's Forester suggests the street is really smooth.

Since it's always at the same speed, could that be one of the drivetrain issues I read about? The only other drivetrain issue I've noticed is a slight clunk when starting from a stop, like from a stop light. That feels like a little slop in the driveshaft or U-joint, but is minor.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. I'm basically on a "watch list" at my local dealer so I'm hesitant to bring it in. Almost every time I do they screw something up, I get mad, give them something less than a 5-star review, then go through the never-ending loop of telling them they need to do 5-star work to get a 5-star review, but they don't get that. The last time I went in for an oil change, the lady put in my information then says "just a minute, I need to get my supervisor". He comes over and says "It looks like you've had some problems here in the past..." and I had to assure him that things are good now and I won't give him a bad review as long as he does good work.

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[RangerBill]

The clunk at takeoff is likely due to the driveshaft spline needing to be lubricated.

 

[got3fords]

The last time I went in for an oil change, the lady put in my information then says "just a minute, I need to get my supervisor". He comes over and says "It looks like you've had some problems here in the past..." and I had to assure him that things are good now and I won't give him a bad review as long as he does good work.

That is total BS. That is no way to treat customers. When my dealer screwed me by leaving the sway bar loose and over-filling the transmission, they jumped on it to make it right. They did but I still left a less than perfect review. After a few of days later they sent me a follow up review to see if they had made it right.

 

[MechanicalBob]

That is total BS. That is no way to treat customers. When my dealer screwed me by leaving the sway bar loose and over-filling the transmission, they jumped on it to make it right. They did but I still left a less than perfect review. After a few of days later they sent me a follow up review to see if they had made it right.

I with I had your dealer.

 

[Rocketeer61]

I have a theory that dealers will blacklist you after you plunk down a year's salary for one of their iffy new vehicles if you pass on the upsells on the way out. But maybe that's just me.

 

[MechanicalBob]

Nothing would surprise me

 

[Gerder]

If it were a tire balance issue, wouldn't it get worse as I go faster? It doesn't; this truck is really smooth riding above 50 mph (and below 40).

No! usually the vibrations from tires are just in small speed window...

 

[Stevedbvik1]

Have the tires RoadForce balanced. I had the same situation with my 22 Tremor and found one tire that was way off. Dealer had done a conventional balance and it slightly improved it. Took it to Discount and they found the issue. Took info back to dealer and Ford replaced the tire.

 

[Kemo Sabe]

Since new, my 2022 Tremor (bought new in April 2023) has had a vibration that shows itself between 40 and 50 mph. It doesn't matter what gear it's in, e.g. I could be going up a hill in a lower gear, on flat ground, or coasting down a hill in a high gear--it's always there in that speed range. The vibration isn't severe, just enough to bother me and get the passenger side seatbelt flopping against the pillar. It's especially noticeable on sections of newly repaved road that has a really smooth surface. It feels just like an out of balance tire, but I don't think that's what it is.

I've got just over 15,000 miles on it now, so have had the tires rotated 3 times and don't really notice a difference afterward.

If it were a tire balance issue, wouldn't it get worse as I go faster? It doesn't; this truck is really smooth riding above 50 mph (and below 40).

I once thought maybe the road isn't as smooth as it looks, and the LT-rated tires are just stiff, but if that were the case I should notice it at higher speeds too. Going over the same stretches of road in my wife's Forester suggests the street is really smooth.

Since it's always at the same speed, could that be one of the drivetrain issues I read about? The only other drivetrain issue I've noticed is a slight clunk when starting from a stop, like from a stop light. That feels like a little slop in the driveshaft or U-joint, but is minor.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. I'm basically on a "watch list" at my local dealer so I'm hesitant to bring it in. Almost every time I do they screw something up, I get mad, give them something less than a 5-star review, then go through the never-ending loop of telling them they need to do 5-star work to get a 5-star review, but they don't get that. The last time I went in for an oil change, the lady put in my information then says "just a minute, I need to get my supervisor". He comes over and says "It looks like you've had some problems here in the past..." and I had to assure him that things are good now and I won't give him a bad review as long as he does good work.

Mine clunked on drive off. Vibration 44-65. Dealer tech said drive shaft carrier bearing, where the drive shafts join I think, was out of tolerance.
Replaced that under 5/60? Or 5/50 warranty. So far, so good. 2019 XLT.
Good luck!

 

[Doc]

Since new, my 2022 Tremor (bought new in April 2023) has had a vibration that shows itself between 40 and 50 mph. It doesn't matter what gear it's in, e.g. I could be going up a hill in a lower gear, on flat ground, or coasting down a hill in a high gear--it's always there in that speed range. The vibration isn't severe, just enough to bother me and get the passenger side seatbelt flopping against the pillar. It's especially noticeable on sections of newly repaved road that has a really smooth surface. It feels just like an out of balance tire, but I don't think that's what it is.

I've got just over 15,000 miles on it now, so have had the tires rotated 3 times and don't really notice a difference afterward.

If it were a tire balance issue, wouldn't it get worse as I go faster? It doesn't; this truck is really smooth riding above 50 mph (and below 40).

I once thought maybe the road isn't as smooth as it looks, and the LT-rated tires are just stiff, but if that were the case I should notice it at higher speeds too. Going over the same stretches of road in my wife's Forester suggests the street is really smooth.

Since it's always at the same speed, could that be one of the drivetrain issues I read about? The only other drivetrain issue I've noticed is a slight clunk when starting from a stop, like from a stop light. That feels like a little slop in the driveshaft or U-joint, but is minor.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. I'm basically on a "watch list" at my local dealer so I'm hesitant to bring it in. Almost every time I do they screw something up, I get mad, give them something less than a 5-star review, then go through the never-ending loop of telling them they need to do 5-star work to get a 5-star review, but they don't get that. The last time I went in for an oil change, the lady put in my information then says "just a minute, I need to get my supervisor". He comes over and says "It looks like you've had some problems here in the past..." and I had to assure him that things are good now and I won't give him a bad review as long as he does good work.

The same thing happed to me, I had them balanced and that took care of it .

 

[MechanicalBob]

Have the tires RoadForce balanced. I had the same situation with my 22 Tremor and found one tire that was way off. Dealer had done a conventional balance and it slightly improved it. Took it to Discount and they found the issue. Took info back to dealer and Ford replaced the tire.

I will check that out. Thanks.

 

[MechanicalBob]

UPDATE: I had a road force balance done at Discount Tires. Three tires were within spec, one was out a bit. The tech didn't give me a printout, he just showed me what he scribbled on paper. The three "good" tires were from 11 to 17 pounds(?) while the "bad" tire was 24 pounds. I'm not sure that's the correct units but it's what he told me. He said the threshold is 20 pounds and anything over that is considered "bad". He also said there's nothing he could do about it besides do a normal balance.
I still seem to notice some vibration around 45-50 mph, and now a definite vibration at 70-75, so I guess that would suggest that the tires are at least part of the problem I was having. I only have 16,400 miles on the truck/tires so I hate to just get rid of them. Is there any chance Ford would replace the bad one?
Any other suggestions?
Thanks for everyone's input.

 

[CHrisin]

Since new, my 2022 Tremor (bought new in April 2023) has had a vibration that shows itself between 40 and 50 mph. It doesn't matter what gear it's in, e.g. I could be going up a hill in a lower gear, on flat ground, or coasting down a hill in a high gear--it's always there in that speed range. The vibration isn't severe, just enough to bother me and get the passenger side seatbelt flopping against the pillar. It's especially noticeable on sections of newly repaved road that has a really smooth surface. It feels just like an out of balance tire, but I don't think that's what it is.

I've got just over 15,000 miles on it now, so have had the tires rotated 3 times and don't really notice a difference afterward.

If it were a tire balance issue, wouldn't it get worse as I go faster? It doesn't; this truck is really smooth riding above 50 mph (and below 40).

I once thought maybe the road isn't as smooth as it looks, and the LT-rated tires are just stiff, but if that were the case I should notice it at higher speeds too. Going over the same stretches of road in my wife's Forester suggests the street is really smooth.

Since it's always at the same speed, could that be one of the drivetrain issues I read about? The only other drivetrain issue I've noticed is a slight clunk when starting from a stop, like from a stop light. That feels like a little slop in the driveshaft or U-joint, but is minor.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. I'm basically on a "watch list" at my local dealer so I'm hesitant to bring it in. Almost every time I do they screw something up, I get mad, give them something less than a 5-star review, then go through the never-ending loop of telling them they need to do 5-star work to get a 5-star review, but they don't get that. The last time I went in for an oil change, the lady put in my information then says "just a minute, I need to get my supervisor". He comes over and says "It looks like you've had some problems here in the past..." and I had to assure him that things are good now and I won't give him a bad review as long as he does good work.

I have the same in EU Ranger Raptor 2021, I have replaced tires 3 times without success, I rebuilt Fox shocks and after that the vibrations decreased but they are still there. I think it is something related to the front suspension.

 

[Stevedbvik1]

UPDATE: I had a road force balance done at Discount Tires. Three tires were within spec, one was out a bit. The tech didn't give me a printout, he just showed me what he scribbled on paper. The three "good" tires were from 11 to 17 pounds(?) while the "bad" tire was 24 pounds. I'm not sure that's the correct units but it's what he told me. He said the threshold is 20 pounds and anything over that is considered "bad". He also said there's nothing he could do about it besides do a normal balance.
I still seem to notice some vibration around 45-50 mph, and now a definite vibration at 70-75, so I guess that would suggest that the tires are at least part of the problem I was having. I only have 16,400 miles on the truck/tires so I hate to just get rid of them. Is there any chance Ford would replace the bad one?
Any other suggestions?
Thanks for everyone's input.

Take the info back to the dealer and see if they will go to bat for you with Ford. If not see if Discount Tire can contact General Tire and get it replaced. Mine that was replaced had 7600 miles on it and was just under a year old.

 

[MechanicalBob]

Take the info back to the dealer and see if they will go to bat for you with Ford. If not see if Discount Tire can contact General Tire and get it replaced. Mine that was replaced had 7600 miles on it and was just under a year old.

I'll give that a shot. Unfortunately, Discount didn't have a printout to give me; they just wrote the numbers on a piece of paper...

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