[indyfan31]

Hi Everyone, good to be here.

My wife and I just got a 2009 Escape Hybrid Limited. It really is an awsome little SUV, but there is something that is bothering me. At speeds around 50 mph or higher with the rear windows rolled down there is a tremendous "thumping" noise that fills the cabin. It actually hurts your ears and causes the music from the stereo to distort. It'll be going back to the dealer but I'd like to have info on hand when I get there.

 

[CrashNburn]

thats the sound of the air "breaking" into the vehicle, it happens on lots of square style vehicles, like ours, and pick up trucks and even an escalade, and i know that an 09 sebring does it as well. just crack your front window ever so slightly and you will change the way the air breaks around the vehicle.

 

[stone]

Thanks for that response CrashNburn. :thumb: Yes, i get that same air " breaking into the vehicle " situation on my escape. This is only during the spring and summer seasons, when rear windows are down. All four windows have wind deflectors. As you mentioned, i adjust the windows to reduce the issue.

 

[indyfan31]

Thanks for the responses.

You've GOT to be kidding me, this is a known issue, and nobody at Ford drove the vehicle with the windows down? I've tried it with the windows at different heights, and with only one window down, same noise. The front windows don't affect it at all, I've tried them.
This seems like a rather dangerous symptom, from the pain in my ears I would think it could cause hearing damage in a short period of time. The best way to describe it would be to slap both of your ears simultaneously with your open palms. You won't want to do it more than once, it hurts.

Thanks again for the responses, if anyone knows of a solution please let me know.

 

[ScotchtapeLoser]

The noise is actually references in the Vehicle Manual pg 62 as wind buffeting noise. To prevent the noise you can open the moon roof or the front windows slightly.

The first time I heard this noise was in a 2008 Honda Accord 4dr, but it was much worse. It seems to be an issue with all modern designs.

 

[jonas1022]

The noise is actually references in the Vehicle Manual pg 62 as wind buffeting noise. To prevent the noise you can open the moon roof or the front windows slightly.

The first time I heard this noise was in a 2008 Honda Accord 4dr, but it was much worse. It seems to be an issue with all modern designs.

Exactly! The modern car/truck is designed to be driven at speed with the windows closed. Cuts the drag. They are so slippery, that the open window upsets the air flow and causes the pulsation that you are complaining about. There is no exit for the air that comes into the car causing a build up of pressure. This is then overcome by the exhausting of the air out the same window, only to repeat the cycle again. Drives me nuts.

My old 94 F-150 has vent windows in the doors that I open with the side roll down windows. No issues with the pressure flucuations as the vents draw the air out. They actually create a low pressure cabin!

 

[CrashNburn]

i miss having those triangle windows.l they are great for dirty smokers like me lol. as for the windows, i read somewhere on the internets that they took a few vehicles on a closed course and ran them around with the windows down, and the air off, and then with windows up and the air on. the vehicles used less gas with the windows up and the air conditioning on, on the highway. in town no difference, but cruising, just use the air conditioning.

 

[Squishy]

The windows aren't really meant to be rolled down above 40 MPH or so. Above that, running A/C is more efficient. A set of wind deflectors might upset the airflow enough that you can open the rear windows at higher speeds - anyone with a set installed care to test this out?

 

[Colleen]

The windows aren't really meant to be rolled down above 40 MPH or so. Above that, running A/C is more efficient. A set of wind deflectors might upset the airflow enough that you can open the rear windows at higher speeds - anyone with a set installed care to test this out?

Squishy, it is still noisy at higher speeds. Our kids have been in the back seat and tried it before and we told them to put the damn windows back up.

 

[Squishy]

I guess if you really wanted the windows down, opening the hatch glass should get rid of the noise.

 

[BLKXLT]

The windows aren't really meant to be rolled down above 40 MPH or so.

Tell that to my dogs and kids. :rant:
The thumping really is unbearable, as bad as in my S70 Volvo... hmmm its pretty much a box too.