Car Has Developed a Vibration/Shake at Certain Speeds

[ChuckM]

I bought a 2015 AWD Lincoln MKZ 3.2 one year ago (certified pre-owned with 20K miles).  About 4 to 6 months ago, it developed a vibration or shake but would only occur when driving between 50 and 60 MPH.  I first paid for an alignment for $175 but that didn't fix it.  

 

I took it back in and they had me ride with a technician.  He thought it was occurring because of a problem with the engine brackets coming loose and the engine vibrating, so they replaced the brackets under warranty. That didn't fix the problem.

 

I took it back and they had me ride with the service manager.  He was skeptical that it wasn't normal but I expressed frustration that it wasn't happening the first six months I owned the car, and that at times the vibration is so severe it's uncomfortable riding.  They did a road force balance and I paid another $180.

 

But after a few days, I realized it simply changed the speed window.  It now occurs between 55 and  65 but at times is as rough as it ever was.  I'm taking it back in tomorrow but they've made it clear that I'm going to have to prove to the service manager that there's a problem because they think it's normal road feel and I'm just being picky.

 

Curious if anyone else has experienced this?  And if so, did the dealer ever find a fix?  This is my first Lincoln after 17 years of owning Infinitis, and I never had such an issue with any of the infinitis I owned so I'm getting a little frustrated.

 

Thanks!

[drolds1]

I have a 2014 3.7 AWD and this condition is most definitely not normal.  I'll get an almost imperceptible vibration on certain highway surfaces but that's just a function of the suspension tuning and low-profile tires on the car.  Generally, it's smooth as glass.The first step in diagnosing a vibration at speed is to determine where you're feeling it; in the seat, the steering wheel, the floor?

 

Their contention that it's normal is easy to confirm or refute.  If they insist it's normal,  ask them to let you drive an identically equipped car.  It doesn't sound like your dealer has any idea what they're doing.  Vibration/shaking issues are never due to alignment issues.  It's no surprise that an alignment would not cure the problem.  What are engine brackets?  Did you mean motor mounts?  Unlikely in a 2015.  Have they switched the tires around to see if the problem goes away or changes? You could have a defective tire. I assume they've checked for a bent rim.  Have they checked the driveline for any issues?   The AWD versions have additional components that could cause a vibration.

 

Is there a service history on this car?  Ask them to check OASIS to see if there's anything relevant.

 

There are plenty of things they need to look into here.  If you don't get satisfaction from the service dep't., you'll have to up the chain.   See your owner's manual on how to escalate a complaint. Let us know what happens.

 

Ironic about Infiniti since they're known for road vibration problems.

[ChuckM]

Thanks for the reply, and relieved to hear you are feeling the smooth as glass ride I initially enjoyed with my car.  The shake is in the seat or floor mostly, only slightly in steering wheel.  

 

When I was last in, he suggested we drive an AWD 3.7 but they didn't have one on the lot.  We drove a 2014 AWD but I think it was the smaller engine and it became obvious it was smoother at all speeds than mine is.  That lead to the force rotation.

 

And yes, motor mounts.  (Sorry, I'm not mechanically inclined or knowledgeable at all so feeling a little outmatched dealing with the service folks.)  I asked them about rotating the tires but they didn't think that would matter.  I had two new tires put on the rear, original equipment on the front so that is a new variable and could be a bad tire (replaced with same as brand/model as original equipment).

 

I found a mention elsewhere about something about the driveline on the AWD having some issues that cause this kind of problem, so definitely plan to push on that.  All service has been done by Lincoln; previous driver was a Lincoln Exec so they should have complete history.  No mention of bent rim so will pursue that as well.

 

And if need be happy to escalate.  I've been so happy up till now with my Lincoln and no regrets walking away from Infiniti.  But my Infinitis drove the same no matter how old, and that's what I expect of this car.

 

Thanks for the tips and info! Will post an update after my visit to Lincoln tomorrow.

[schteve]

Have them look at the transfer case mounts and the rear diff mounts. (My speed6 w/haldex awd system from ford) had pretty significant issues with rear diff mounts. The rubber Iso bushings would tear and cause terrible vibrations at different speeds. It seemed to be more pronounced during light acceleration or loading

[drolds1]

Thanks for the reply, and relieved to hear you are feeling the smooth as glass ride I initially enjoyed with my car.  The shake is in the seat or floor mostly, only slightly in steering wheel.  

 

When I was last in, he suggested we drive an AWD 3.7 but they didn't have one on the lot.  We drove a 2014 AWD but I think it was the smaller engine and it became obvious it was smoother at all speeds than mine is.  That lead to the force rotation.

 

And yes, motor mounts.  (Sorry, I'm not mechanically inclined or knowledgeable at all so feeling a little outmatched dealing with the service folks.)  I asked them about rotating the tires but they didn't think that would matter.  I had two new tires put on the rear, original equipment on the front so that is a new variable and could be a bad tire (replaced with same as brand/model as original equipment).

 

I found a mention elsewhere about something about the driveline on the AWD having some issues that cause this kind of problem, so definitely plan to push on that.  All service has been done by Lincoln; previous driver was a Lincoln Exec so they should have complete history.  No mention of bent rim so will pursue that as well.

 

And if need be happy to escalate.  I've been so happy up till now with my Lincoln and no regrets walking away from Infiniti.  But my Infinitis drove the same no matter how old, and that's what I expect of this car.

 

Thanks for the tips and info! Will post an update after my visit to Lincoln tomorrow.

Did this start before or after the new tires?  All four tires on an AWD car should be closely matched WRT to wear (and size).

 

Article on AWD/tires. 

[ChuckM]

Good question.  Not exactly sure.  Replaced one tire initially, other one about a month later.  May have been about the time of the replacement that I had this issue or predated it.  Unfortunately, don't remember clearly.  Will see what the dealer says today and consider replacing the other ones if we can't find any other fix.

[ChuckM]

Took car in, went for ride with grumpy tech (first guy who handled the engine mount solution).  He didn't feel anything beyond normal road feel (sure, it's not the whisper ride of a Continental but these cars ride differently, more roughly he argued when I'd point out the shake).  They have no 3.7 AWD on the lot to drive, beyond the 2017's which have a different suspension.  The argument above for having mismatched tires got me thinking, so having them replace the two original tires so all four will be matched.  They are also checking to make sure the wheel/rim isn't bent.  I told them if this doesn't fix it, then I'm done with Lincoln and will go back to Infiniti.

 

FYI, he claims the driveline issue is a problem on the MKS and MKT, but not on the MKZ because the drivetrain is different.

 

Will post an update after I get it back tonight.

[tuminatr]

two things my car did this a bit and there were two causes. First I have the 3.7 AWD and the tire were worn unevenly LF 4/32 RF 2/32 LR 5/32 RR 5/32 and the Right Front would vibrate occasionally when I put new tires on the car it went away. This car the tire need to be within 2/32 of wear if not you can get awd issues maybe the vibration is caused my this.The other reason was my lane keeping system sometimes i think there is a vibration on the road but usually its the lane keeping system.

[ChuckM]

Follow up on this.  I replaced the two older tires so now all of the tires have the same tread depth, this time doing it at the dealer (they matched the price of Discount Tires).  It still has the shake/vibration when I first drive it and get to the 55 to 65 MPH range but seems to mostly go away once it warms up.  

 

The Lincoln dealer said they checked the rims to make sure they weren't bent. They also said they're pretty much done, there's nothing more they can do it at this point.  

 

So I think I'll go back to Discount Tire and have them check the original replacement tire, since it seems it was about the time this problem occurred (thanks drolds1 for pointing this out).

 

Will post an update after that visit.

[drolds1]

Thanks for taking the time to post updates. If it went away completely once it warmed up, it could be just be flat-spotting. So, do you still get some vibration even after warm-up?  I used to experience this with my 2000 Lincoln LS even after only being parked overnight.  I guess we can eliminate cold temps as a cause in Phoenix, especially this summer. ;)   (My son lives in Gilbert).

[hermans]

I had this issue when I lived in the Phoenix area. It turned to be bad tire belts. My iss also went away when the tires heated up. This issue is not uncommon in the desert Southwest.

[ChuckM]

Yes, we're still in triple digits so definitely not cold issue.  Hermans, did the tire store replace the tires due to bad tire belts?

 

And to answer the question about it going away completely, not 100% but 90% better after running for a while, at least from what I can tell.  (I travel via plane a lot for my job so I get little driving opportunity most weeks so tends to take time for me to make a complete observation.)

[Michael Katz]

Chuck your problem is most likely the rear driveshaft. Was a big issue on earlier 2007-2012 MKZ's and the dealers were replacing them under warranty and even out of warranty. Your car should ride smooth as silk with no vibrations. The dealer is telling you otherwise since they cant find or dont want to fix the problem. I would check the rear driveshaft!!

[gwsagea]

I am experiencing a vibration which resonates through my 2017 Lincoln MKZ 3.0 T FWD at exactly 73 mph. You can hear it and feel it. You do NOT feel it in the steering. SO far dealer has road force balanced and replaced all tires to no avail. Problem still exists.

It has done this since taking delivery on the new car in Jan 2017. At other speeds the vibration does not exist. Any ideas/recommendations would be helpful ! (as the dealership is unable to come up with a solution).

[ChuckM]

Interesting.  I wish I could say the dealer was able to come up with a resolution for my problem.  Frankly, never got solved.  I ultimately replaced the tires, had the tire deal rebalance things.  At the time they told me one of my wheels was bent.  When I reported that to Lincoln, they claimed to not find any issue.  Which I'm now realizing is the approach of this service department:  they can't seem to find any of the issues I have, such as brakes that squeal loudly when I'm backing up...it happens every day when I pull out of my garage but after two days of testing, they claimed they couldn't replicate it.

 

So I experience the vibration still at certain speeds and have just learned to live with it.  I wonder if a different Lincoln dealer service department would approach things differently but the next closest dealer is 40 miles from me and I can't take the time to find out.  This is my first Lincoln after owning Infinitis for 17 years (multiple cars), and I guess my conclusion is either accept less than I expect and have gotten in the past or try a different brand next time I buy a car.  Sad because otherwise I love my MKZ...

[drolds1]

Thank you for updating us after all this time.  I'm sorry to hear that the issue hasn't been completely resolved.  It sounds like your dealer is not living up to the "Lincoln Pledge." 

 

When I've had issues that stumped the dealer's service dep't., they've called the Ford hotline in Dearborn.

[ChuckM]

I suggested that they contact the hotline at one point and they claimed they'd searched all of the resources and couldn't come up with an answer.  I think in the end they just think I'm picky and being too sensitive.  One service guy even told me they did the road force balance just to try to appease me but didn't really expect it to solve the problem, since they couldn't feel what I was feeling.  That's certainly not living up to the Lincoln Pledge, given they charged me $180 to do an unneeded service.  (And then I replaced two of the tires after that in a quest to solve the problem, so really was wasted on those tires.)

 

Again, what I learned from all of this is that another Lincoln is probably not in my future.  Sadly.  (I've gotten the MKC as a loaner a couple of times and really like it, too, thinking it might be a good replacement for my wife's aging Hyundai Santa Fe, but service will be provided by the same service department so not likely I'd consider it.)

[JoeBrown]

I just reactivated this threat.

 

I now have the vibration problem. For me it occurs between 45 and 50 mph.

 

I did in fact have the right front tire replaced due to an issue with a pothole. I have less than 10K on this 3.7L 2014. Looking at what has transpired here I don't hold out much hope on getting it solved. :shrug:

Edited August 17, 2017 by JoeBrown

[drolds1]

Joe, with such low mileage, I doubt that it's any kind of driveline problem. My 2014 had about 27K when I turned it in and there were no vibrations whatsoever.  Maybe you've lost a wheel weight.  When you hit the pothole, was the wheel damaged in any way?  I had this issue with my 2010 MKZ after hitting a pothole and bending the rim. 

 

What are you planning to do?

[JoeBrown]

Today I took it to my local tire dealer and had him check the balance. Both front wheels were perfectly balanced. I didn't bother with the rear wheels.

 

The good thing is the vibration shows up at 45 mph and it's gone when I hit 50 mph. I will just deal with it in the short term.

 

If it doesn't get better in a few months I'll take it in to the dealer.

[drolds1]

I'd be curious to see what happens if you swap the front and rear wheels.

[easyrider]

If I may add my 2 cents, Joe. I honestly don't have an answer to help you solve your concern, However, I can only point out that I've done a lot of reading on the subject of road vibration much of which has been documented on other forums such as the Ford Fusion Forum and others, and while those particular incidents may not be exactly what you are now experiencing, the issue obviously presents itself from time to time.

In my case I had experienced what may be referred to as a quiver like sensation in the ride on my 2017 MKZ Hybrid, this since purchasing it in late June of 2017. While I've felt that much of what can be done has already been done to correct this issue, and the ride improved,

I honestly can't say it has gone completely away. To be frank, it's noticeable to both my wife and I at low speed, as well as highway speeds. It may very well be inherent in this particular automobile, not sure.

[ChuckM]

To answer your initial question about the outcome of my situation, Joe, I ended up replacing all of the tires.  (Previously, I'd replaced one, then two...finally replaced the last two.)  That was the suggestion of someone here since my car is AWD.  That did improve the situation.  But honestly, it never went away.  Was still feeling some vibration, mostly in the seat, at speeds below 50.   

 

I took it to the tire store recently to have them check balance and alignment and they discovered again said one wheel was bent; they'd said that during the previous incident, but Lincoln checked and said it wasn't.  So paid to have it fixed. That seemed to have a pretty noticeable impact.  It still has just a slight vibration, at the lower speeds, more pronounced when I first start driving and lessening the longer I drive.

 

I also wanted them to balance and rotate before putting returning the car to me.  But because a week passed (between taking the wheel off and replacing it--I travel most weeks and had to come back), and with some confusion at the tire store (including a power outage), I'm not 100% convinced they did.  So I'm going to take it back and have them do it again in case that solves the problem for good.

 

Based on this whole ordeal, I've lost faith in the dealer's service department.  I hope it's just this dealer and not indicative of Lincoln, but they are pretty apathetic and clueless and have done some questionable things, as pointed out earlier.  Unfortunately, the next closest dealer is about 40 miles away so I don't have a lot of choices.  But will impact my likelihood to stick with Lincoln when I replace this car.

 

Good luck on figuring out your problem!

[longislander]

Today I heard a noticeable "humming" sound, although no vibration, at exactly 64 mph. It wasn't there at either 63 or 65! I simply avoided going 64 to solve the problem but I tried it several times and the results were consistent, :headscratch:

[JoeBrown]

I will be taking my MKz to the dealer next week. I'll let you guys know what happens.