Sudden Braking and Loud Buzzing Grinding Noise

[Robert Jan]

Good day all,

I have exactly the same issue. Bought my car last April 2023 import from Germany. I live and drive in the Netherlands.
Puma 1.0 ST-line 125 bhp, automatic 7 gear from December 2020 with 28.000 kms (17.398 miles).
It happened 3 times now on the high way with adapted cruise control activated within 2 weeks time period. No strange movements from cars infront of me, no warnings in the dashboard.
Yesterday, twice and eactly as discribed as in this topic. After it happens the first time yesterday, I turned off driver assist, but this didn't help obviously.
After the second time, I now have turned off the active braking, so trying to find out if this helps. Do not know this yet.
Curious to know if some knows what it is and how to get rid of it, as it is ptretty annoying, dangerous situation may arise and it scares me when the buzzing noise suddenly comes in.

[Beppo601]

Hello. The following text was translated using Google Translate. Please excuse any errors.

I bought a Ford Puma Titanium 1.0L MHEV (mild hybrid) 125 hp with a 7-speed automatic in September 2024, first registered in May 2023, with 11,100 km on the clock when I bought it. The previous owner was the Ford dealer.

Twice so far, once on a country road uphill (probably at 70 km/h) and once on the motorway in a construction zone (right lane with adaptive cruise control behind a truck, so 70 to 80 km/h should be correct there too), the car suddenly slows down abruptly and a loud creaking noise can be heard from the front as if the automatic is trying to force a gear without "the clutch being pressed". Sorry, I can only speak of the analogy to a manual car, but the process will be the same with the 7-speed DSG.
The whole thing takes about 2 seconds, then it seems to find the right gear again and continues driving normally.

I described the problem to the Ford dealer, he said it was due to the adaptive cruise control and quote: "It's best to turn it off." Of course I didn't do that, but wanted to use the existing technology. So far, however, the error hasn't occurred again. The clock currently shows about 12,500 km, so I haven't driven much.

The 7-year guarantee is reassuring for me, because I don't want to have to pay for a broken gearbox....

Greetings from Germany

[rx100m7]

Twice so far, once on a country road uphill (probably at 70 km/h) and once on the motorway in a construction zone (right lane with adaptive cruise control behind a truck, so 70 to 80 km/h should be correct there too), the car suddenly slows down abruptly and a loud creaking noise can be heard from the front as if the automatic is trying to force a gear without "the clutch being pressed". Sorry, I can only speak of the analogy to a manual car, but the process will be the same with the 7-speed DSG.
The whole thing takes about 2 seconds, then it seems to find the right gear again and continues driving normally.

I have had over 4 years experience with Auto DCT Pumas. This has happened to me, probably once or twice a year while using adaptive cruise control (90% of my driving). It is usually into direct sunlight, and strangely in just two locations. I think I dropped the collision detection sensitivity which helped and learnt to ignore it.

Ich habe über 4 Jahre Erfahrung mit Auto DCT Pumas. Das ist mir passiert, wahrscheinlich ein- oder zweimal im Jahr, während ich die adaptive Geschwindigkeitsregelung (90 % meiner Fahrten) verwendet habe. Normalerweise steht er in direktem Sonnenlicht, und seltsamerweise nur an zwei Orten. Ich glaube, ich habe die Empfindlichkeit der Kollisionserkennung fallen lassen, was mir geholfen hat, und ich habe gelernt, sie zu ignorieren.

[Beppo601]

I have had over 4 years experience with Auto DCT Pumas. This has happened to me, probably once or twice a year while using adaptive cruise control (90% of my driving). It is usually into direct sunlight, and strangely in just two locations. I think I dropped the collision detection sensitivity which helped and learnt to ignore it.

Ich habe über 4 Jahre Erfahrung mit Auto DCT Pumas. Das ist mir passiert, wahrscheinlich ein- oder zweimal im Jahr, während ich die adaptive Geschwindigkeitsregelung (90 % meiner Fahrten) verwendet habe. Normalerweise steht er in direktem Sonnenlicht, und seltsamerweise nur an zwei Orten. Ich glaube, ich habe die Empfindlichkeit der Kollisionserkennung fallen lassen, was mir geholfen hat, und ich habe gelernt, sie zu ignorieren.

Hello and thank you for the answer. I only read it today because I didn't get an email saying that someone had responded to my entry.

If the problem occurs again, I will adjust the sensitivity of the collision detection. I found this in the user manual under "FORWARD ALERT SENSITIVITY".

At some point I also had a pre-collision alert when I was driving towards the setting sun without a car in front of me. But the car didn't brake and didn't make any noise.

Best wishes

[Wim]

Have exactly the same problem with my newly bought Dutch Ford Puma 92kw/ 125 hp automatic gear from August 2023. While driving adaptive cruise control (which I do almost 90% of the time), following a truck with approx. 90 km/hr, sudden braking happens (brake lights light up - can see that thx to my rear dashcam) and a terrible loud buzzing/ grinding noise happens. All takes 1 second and then the car continuous normally. Ford garage has no clue why this happens. Have driven now 35.000km and it happened 7 times. Interval between events seems to become less and less every time. From approx. 3000km in the beginning, it is now down to approx. every 200 km's. Reflections/ light changes are not a cause in my view: it happens in full sun but also in cloudy weather. Garage says the noise comes from the activation of the breaks. I doubt that (but who am I , with no technical background). It is very dangerous for traffic behind me, because they do not expect this sudden braking. What I do notice is that 3 out of my 7 occurrences happend at almost the same spot A, 2 out of my 7 occurrences happened at almost the same spot B and 2 occurrences happened at random locations. I read something similar in one of the blog's on this subject. What is weird however, it does not happen always at spot A or B (while driving exactly that same route).
If anyone has made any progress on a solution, please share. Thx

[Beppo601]

If anyone has made any progress on a solution, please share. Thx

Hallo Wim.
Das hilft dir sicher nicht weiter, aber bei mir ist das Problem seit meinem letzten Post nicht mehr aufgetreten. Seit dem sind mehr als 1.000 km gefahren und auch an den Stellen, an denen es vormals passierte, war alles okay.
Wenn sich etwas ändert, werde ich es hier posten.

[Wim]

If anyone has made any progress on a solution, please share. Thx

Hallo Wim.
Das hilft dir sicher nicht weiter, aber bei mir ist das Problem seit meinem letzten Post nicht mehr aufgetreten. Seit dem sind mehr als 1.000 km gefahren und auch an den Stellen, an denen es vormals passierte, war alles okay.
Wenn sich etwas ändert, werde ich es hier posten.

Hallo Beppo601: Danke fur Ihre nachricht. Ich bin gespannt. Grusse , Wim