2021 F250 XLT Tremor, 7.3, 10R140
I first noticed this noise around 6 or 7000 miles...It could have been doing it earlier and I just didn't notice it since I'm seldom outside the truck with it running. The only time I've noticed the knocking is in Park at idle speed. I can't hear it in the truck. The transmission shifts fine and there are no DTCs. It doesn't make the noise all the time, but when it does it sounds identical to this video:

(This is not my truck, this is from member @djfergi from this thread: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-3-idle-2.html)

To me, it sounds just like a loose chain slapping a guard (like I've heard at work on our conveyors).

I first took it in at 8366 miles and the service manager listened to it and said he could hear the noise. I made an appointment and dropped it off a few days later at 8517 miles. They then said they couldn't hear anything/it was normal. It was there for 3 weeks (supposedly tech was out for awhile for family emergency). They documented the problem so I would be covered down the road., supposedly even if it was after warranty. I picked it up at 8528 miles.
I heard the noise again and stopped by the dealer at 8718 miles for the tech to hear the noise. He said he would clear some work out of the shop and look into it further.
I made an appointment and dropped it off a second time at 8854 miles. They performed TSB 21-1200. At first they adjusted the inspection cover, but said that the noise was still present -- so they replaced the torque converter and said that the noise was gone. It was at the dealer for about 2 weeks.
Unfortunately, a few days later I heard the knocking again and dropped it off for the 3rd time at 9034 miles. It's currently been there for a little over a week. They don't know what it is, but it's definitely not normal, despite the continued explanation that these transmissions are noisy. I left them with videos where the noise can be heard as evidence, because it never seems to do it when I get to the dealer. I've searched youtube and forums and heard a few that sounded similar, but I haven't really read anything conclusive.
I told them I was about fed up with it and ready to get rid of it, or I'd prefer a complete new transmission. They said Ford would most likely want it to be torn down and inspected to find the problem. At this point I'm not sure what is going to happen or if I'll even keep the truck. I mostly like the truck except for some terrible panel gaps, etc that I attributed to poor QC...But the frustration is building and my patience is getting thin. I have another car to drive, a 1984 Nissan Sentra diesel, which gets awesome fuel economy (45+), but it has high mileage and isn't the happiest starting during the winter. If something happens to it I'm up the creek.

I've researched lemon law (GA), but would rather not go that route, as the "offset" (mileage deduction) puts it at a lower price than the offer I got from Vroom, sight unseen. They were higher than Carvana, the dealer where the truck currently resides, and a higher end independent car lot. I still need to get some more quotes, though.

Any ideas? I'm open to suggestions. The dealer it's at has been very nice, but again, I'm very frustrated.

 

Dude I think this noise from what I’ve researched is the flywheel hitting some bolt. Someone said FORD had to adjust or use a shorter bolt for the flywheel.

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1671676-tsb-21-2100-kmocking-tapping-noise.html

Sold mine. They performed the TSB prior to sale and no change - noise still present and unchanged.

 

Mine makes the same noise.

 

I saw your thread and almost responded, but decided to make a new one since you sold your truck--which may be the route I also take. Wish they could figure this out, as its really irritating!

 

@BSHORT How many miles do you currently have? Have you ever taken it to the dealer?

 

2000 and no. Figure they'll say it's normal and operating as designed, so I'm just waiting for it to grenade itself.

First heard it about a month ago when I dropped something and went down to pick it up and had my head down close to the running board. Can't hear it inside and it doesn't always make the noise either. Odd thing is, the knocking is not rhythmic and random clunks. The way dealers are with parts right now, I'll just keep on driving until it stops. I do agree that the noise is annoying and makes you shiny new truck sound like an old pos.

It would be interesting to see if others have this noise as well. I can usually get the noise going by starting and letting the rpm's settle down on their own while remaining in park. About 10 minutes of idling and the noise will appear. You have to stick your head down there in order to hear it, which my not be fun right now depending on where you live (snow/mud).

 

Thanks for your feedback. Is yours also a 2021?
The way you describe the noise sounds exactly like mine -- a random knocking that kind of fades in and out. Most of the times that I've heard it have been after I drove to or from work (20+ miles), parked, shut truck off for a couple minutes, then started it back up. I only noticed this because I parked it at home one day, shut it off and got out, then noticed that I wasn't parked square. I got back in, moved the truck, left it running, then got back out to make sure I was in the right place and heard the noise.

The aggravating thing is that it doesn't do it all the time. Sometimes I can just go out and start it and it can be heard, but its always after the truck goes to normal (slow) idle speed. When it's knocking, it sounds pretty rough. It's very unnerving to me and I can't help but think that metal shavings are being generated somewhere. I wish they would get a transmission engineer involved that could shed some light on it.
I really like the 7.3, but the 10 speed is not inspiring confidence at this point, and has me considering a Ford ESP plan for peace of mind down the road.

 

I noticed the light knocking noise last winter around this time and I wanna say I had about 3000 miles on the truck. I now have nearly 14000 and the transmission is still running great. Honestly I hardly ever even hear it and it has not affected anything. I did take it in last Feb and dealer said could not duplicate or its normal. I did manage to put a video on youtube which is posted in a thread somewhere around here and you can hear the faint knocks. To sum up my experience I have driven 14000 miles and I tow about 4000lbs city daily. Truck runs great.

Although I was initially concerned about some of the odd behaviours and noises of this new 10 speed I would say my confidence in it has grown given its performance throughout the year. I am well adjusted to this transmission now and I like it. Additionally the only transimissions I've heard of failing usually had some really severe knocking noises/shifting problems and it was dead obvious there was some serious issues. We'll see how this year goes after another 10-15k. Good luck!

 

My 2020 has been doing since about 1000 miles. I have 18k on it now and the noise is still intermittently there. The dealers wont do anything with it unless it throws a code.

 

my 2022 makes the same noise.

 

Even though several people have said their transmissions are still making noise, has the noise lessened in either frequency of occurrence or sound level? Thanks

 

22. I've had it make the knocking sound immediately upon a restart as well..almost as if it wasn't quite in Park and slammed itself into park. It runs, shifts ok and doesn't do anything too abnormal. There is a "whirr" type sound if driving slow in gears 4-5. Reminds me of the 1st gear noise of an 80''s Dodge Diplomat.

 

Exactly the same comments I have. I have 9700 miles on mine as of today. I pull 15,000 lbs. 75% of the time. I have the ford extended warranty as well. Hopefully I don't have to use it....

 

Thank you. Your's and others' mileage makes me feel a little more at ease, but I wish Ford could tell us why the noise is there. I hope yours never has an issue.


Now that I'm aware of the noise, I check for it pretty frequently. It seems to be doing it as frequently and at the same volume as before the TSB. But it's only been doing it for probably 2-3000 miles.


Mine seems to act, shift, and operate normally as well.


I hope you don't, either. I don't tow very frequently (why I got gas engine, don't have to deal with DPF, DEF, etc... but knew that it was capable of towing anything I needed. I like seeing folks like you towing pretty heavy loads with no trouble.) but my fear is a breakdown while towing in the middle of nowhere. That ESP plan is good peace of mind. I got quotes today from Flood, Ziegler, and Lombard. Flood was the cheapest for me, and may be an option I consider further, depending on the outcome of my truck. I would like to keep it and enjoy it, but that transmission noise is on my mind every time I drive it. Wish I could turn off that part of my mind sometimes.


It does make me feel a little better knowing I'm not the only one, but I really do hate it that your truck is doing it, too; Especially being a '22 model.


The lack of a code does make their diagnosis harder, but I still refuse to believe that the knocking sound is normal. I hope yours remains trouble free.