A number of Ford F-150 and Expedition drivers are reporting being blighted by a very weird issue. They say that their late model trucks and SUVs have been unexpectedly emitting loud noises that, in some cases, can exceed more than 100 decibels.
In complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and in forum comment sections, Ford customers have been referring to the unexpected blasts of sound as a “sonic boom.” More than a little unnerving, the issue can also be unresponsive to media system control inputs and, in some cases, owners have reported that the sound continues after they shut their vehicles down completely.
Described as “ear-piercing” and frighteningly loud, one driver told the Wall Street Journal that upon hearing the sound, he was certain that one of his windows had been smashed. Meanwhile, others have been so alarmed by the sound that it has prompted them to pull over to ensure that nothing is wrong with their vehicle.
Read: Over 500,000 Teslas Recalled For Being Both Too Loud And Too Quiet
Ford told us that it is aware of the issue, and that it is related to the amplifier in the affected vehicles. It calls the issue “statistically rare,” but it may affect the 2021-2023 F-150, the 2022 F-150 Lightning, and the 2021-2023 Expedition. NHTSA has received around 100 complaints relating to this problem.
If drivers experience the “sonic boom,” which is described as sounding like extremely loud static, they can go into a nearby dealer for a software update free of charge. Also available over the air, Ford told us that the new code essentially mutes unwanted sound coming from the amplifier by turning it into a filter that stops it from getting to the speakers.
Ford said that it doesn’t require a formal recall because it is not a safety issue. Meanwhile, the software update that solves it has been available at dealers since July 18, and Ford plans to roll it out to owners over the air in the coming weeks.
While it may not be a safety issue in the strictest sense, one driver reported using a sound level meter and finding that the “sonic boom” exceeded 100 decibels. With another reporting that the sound lasted as many as 15 minutes, that would be enough to cause lasting hearing damage, so drivers may not want to grit their teeth through the boom, and should probably pull over and exit the vehicle until the sound subsides.
