Intermittent hum or howl from front end

[MN_Hockey_Fan]

Mine has been having similar issues for going on 2 years with my 2021 which now has 50K miles. 3rd time in for the problem was the charm I hope. They found 2 problems. Metal shavings in the front differential and the left front wheel bearing. They replaced the front driver hub/wheel bearing and rebuilt the front differential.

I just got it back, but it all seems fixed. Time will tell.

I'm guessing my issue got worse over time but I finally heard it again, then turned off the climate system and radio and really listened for it. Finally convinced myself I wasn't crazy and brought it in again. 1st two times they couldn't reproduce and essentially told me drive it till it breaks before
the powertrain warranty expires.

I had mine back a month later for the same problems. They replaced the driver IWE. Time will tell if I continue to have problems again. 1 week and problem free

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[Ruffiano99]

Has anyone heard of any updates on this issue? Has been happening to my truck for about 2 years now, of course brought it in and they didn’t hear anything so nothing got done. Was going to just purchase the parts on my own and replace it even though I still have a little powertrain warranty left. Dont want to waste money on parts if its not actually going to solve the problem.
Would like to trade the truck in but i know an issue will be made once anyone hears that noise. Very frustrating.

2021 Powerboost 58k miles.

 

[Moondawg]

I became a member of the Hum or Howl club recently. I have a 21 Lariat with 43k. Bought it used at 34k. Same symptoms mostly. I find the temp doesn't do it as here in New England its been between low teens to 50 recently. Yesterday 50 it did it and this morning 15 and did not. Last night I cycled between 4h and 2h multiple times. Read somewhere some service manager recommended this. Put it in 2h and drove around. Did some more cycling then parked it for the night. This morning at 15 degrees, drove off and nothing. It also didn't do it consistently ether. I bought the long warranty on it. So I guess I'm covered just a pain in the ass. Much like breaking axle bolts on it with max tow recall it has. Once a week I pop off the little center cap to see. Dealer won't replace because they didn't snap yet. Hopefully all this gets resolved.

 

[Ruffiano99]

Well just a heads up for anyone planning on attempting to do the IWE replacement on their own, my truck betrayed me mid project. Everything was going smoothly until the truck randomly decided to pump the brakes a few times while I had the calipers off. It ended up popping the pistons out and pissed out all the brake fluid in the tank. Couldn’t get the brake piston boots to sit back in properly. Ended up having the truck flatbedded to the dealership anyway, exactly what I was trying to avoid. Didnt know the truck randomly applies brake pressure for no reason to the front calipers. Whoomp whoomp.
Just one more reason to hate all these computerized trucks.

 

[Jerome10]

Came across this thread again and I suppose I'll add that my truck didn't do it one time this winter. And that includes me using 4x4 in some snow, very cold temps etc. Overall it was a mild winter for us but we still had at least a few weeks of very below-freezing weather with packed snow and slush on the roads. Nothing.

Prior winter it was doing it very regularly.

I half wonder if there was an OTA update or something that took care of this.

 

[Kelvin]

I ordered an electronic IWE for my 2021 F150 as a backup part.
To my curiosity, I disassemble the part, and it is easy to disassemble and re-assemble it back.

To my understanding, it has a motor to rotate the whole plastic rack up and down for the metal hub with teeth to move up and down to engage or disengage.

The plastic rack has a grooved track alone its side, and the track has a wave type of curve. This is the mechanism when the rake is rotated by motor, the rack will go up and down. And it has three small magnate, I believe they are for sensor to detect its position.

Therefore, there is no way this IWE is unable to engage or disengage. Unless the motor is not driving, or something is broken or not aligned properly.

 

[Ruffiano99]

Replaced both of my IWEs and the hum is gone now. Its been a month and a few cold mornings in the 30s. Good as new.

 

[keb]

I ordered an electronic IWE for my 2021 F150 as a backup part.
To my curiosity, I disassemble the part, and it is easy to disassemble and re-assemble it back.

To my understanding, it has a motor to rotate the whole plastic rack up and down for the metal hub with teeth to move up and down to engage or disengage.

The plastic rack has a grooved track alone its side, and the track has a wave type of curve. This is the mechanism when the rake is rotated by motor, the rack will go up and down. And it has three small magnate, I believe they are for sensor to detect its position.

Therefore, there is no way this IWE is unable to engage or disengage. Unless the motor is not driving, or something is broken or not aligned properly.

 

[keb]

Well, hopefully Ford will figure it out. Mine is a 2023 with a 6000 miles on it now and mine definitely sounds like the rumble strips in the cold morning but it’s not cold here anymore in Minnesota not yet anyway I’m still waiting to hear a Fix from the dealership.

 

[Riddick]

I had this happen on my 24 back in February. I drove from Virginia to Ohio and that's where it happened, truck at the time had 3k miles on it. When I arrived temps were in the 20s if I had to guess. When I got a few miles from the hotel heard the noise many of us have heard. the truck sat for a good 2 hours, when I drove it again after the same exact distance the noise happened again.

The following morning I drove the truck but hopped on the highway immediately, no noise. Once I parked it for an hour or so I drove it and had the noise after a few miles, temps were in the teens to low 20s. Each time within 15-20 seconds the noise went away on its own. The first time I heard it I did engage 4wd which seemed to make it go away.

Since leaving OH I have had 0 issues the past 2 months. For my truck, it 100% is dependent on temps. I will continue to monitor this I probably won't hear anything again until winter.

 

[Pasturepoodlepursuits]

I'm sure hopeful Ford figures this out too. My 24 has done it since it had 300 miles on the odometer, but only if I leave my vehicle out of the garage when it's cold out. The dealer here is a joke when I took it in, so hopefully Ford has a mandatory repair or replacement for this issue. Dealer here almost makes us want to sell all our Fords just to avoid them.

 

[keb]

I'm sure hopeful Ford figures this out too. My 24 has done it since it had 300 miles on the odometer, but only if I leave my vehicle out of the garage when it's cold out. The dealer here is a joke when I took it in, so hopefully Ford has a mandatory repair or replacement for this issue. Dealer here almost makes us want to sell all our Fords just to avoid them.

 

[keb]

I would stay on them get it documented at best. I have 6k on it now bought in August of 2024 had the problem winter of early 2025. I am giving them a year hopefully a fix will be available later 2025-2026 winter when the cold weather will be back in MN Other wise I may look at lemon law issues

 

[Jerome10]

FYI I see there is a new TSB 25-2513 for this, released November 7, 2025. Supersedes 24-2189.

Still nothing from my truck since winter of 2023-2024. Hoping it stays this way but last winter under warranty about to start...

Does the dealer have to verify the noise to do this work? Or if your truck has the feature code they'll perform the inspection? Getting it to regularly make the noise was always random.

 

[Riddick]

FYI I see there is a new TSB 25-2513 for this, released November 7, 2025. Supersedes 24-2189.

Still nothing from my truck since winter of 2023-2024. Hoping it stays this way but last winter under warranty about to start...

Does the dealer have to verify the noise to do this work? Or if your truck has the feature code they'll perform the inspection? Getting it to regularly make the noise was always random.

Can you post more info on the updated TSB, I cannot find anything online about it. Thanks.

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