2025 2.3 Start-up CLUNK

[Seymour]

I have the same intermittent startup clunk on my 2025 Ranger 2.3 and figure that it’s driveline lash. I’ve laid beneath the truck while remote starting and the driveshaft occasionally twitches on start up which causes a clunk to emanate from the front u-joint. I also found posts on F150 forums describing the same issue. I’m not sure whether to accept it as a bit of character of the truck, or to be concerned about excessive tolerances or drivetrain issues. I’m not very mechanically inclined so if anyone has insights they’d be greatly appreciated.

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[saxdogg]

I wonder if it's related to the auto start/stop system being mechanically linked and unlinked from the drivetrain...

 

[Ron Quixote]

Mine never happens on an ASS re-start, probably because the truck is already in gear.

I did try shifting into 4WD and then back into 2WD yesterday, and haven’t heard it since, despite about 6 starts. So that’s good. Perhaps it is transfer-case related. Almost like some solenoid didn’t fully disengage the last time I shifted from 4WD to 2WD. We shall see.

 

[RonEee]

Yes! I have the same thing happening. It's a 2025 XLT that I bought new in October and it's got 1,800 mi on it. And like everyone said, it doesn't happen every time, just occasionally and it feels like the transmission is jumping into gear but it's in park. It's a little startling when it happens and you don't expect it.

The service manager at the dealership where I bought it said it's normal for the 10 speed transmission. The two mobile technicians who have been in my driveway doing recall service don't know anything about it. I don't think it's normal.

At the rate the recalls are coming for this truck I fully expect The transmission thump is going to be on the horizon at some point.

 

[Ron Quixote]

Yeah, it definitely ain’t normal.

 

[Maybe]

Have to keep an ear out.

 

[Ron Quixote]

Have to keep an ear out.

There are two versions that occur. One is pretty distant and not alarming. The other is very loud and hard, like the transmission or transfer case is trying to jump out of the truck. You won’t be able to miss it.

 

[Texasota]

After mine sits a more than a day I have been putting it into neutral before starting the engine (accessory mode->neutral->crank engine) and it has not happened again but its also been only a week since I started this experiment.

 

[saxdogg]

Bet we'll see a TSB soon if it's this prevalent....I have 550 miles and so far nothing on my '26. Fingers crossed...

 

[Ron Quixote]

Bet we'll see a TSB soon if it's this prevalent....I have 550 miles and so far nothing on my '26. Fingers crossed...

I agree. But how much damage and/or wear is being done to the transmission in the meantime? This is really frustrating.

 

[Ron Quixote]

Gotta be honest, it sucks to wince every time you start the truck, waiting for the bang and clunk. Carvana will give me $1,600 more than I paid for the truck in December. It’s tempting.

 

[h1k3rb]

Gotta be honest, it sucks to wince every time you start the truck, waiting for the bang and clunk. Carvana will give me $1,600 more than I paid for the truck in December. It’s tempting.

Whatever you replace it with will likely cost more than it would have in Dec too. Plus sales tax you won't get back, nor tag/title/admin fees/etc. Overall it doesn't seem that bad to me but if it really bothers you and you're ready for a change anyway...

 

[Ron Quixote]

Whatever you replace it with will likely cost more than it would have in Dec too. Plus sales tax you won't get back, nor tag/title/admin fees/etc. Overall it doesn't seem that bad to me but if it really bothers you and you're ready for a change anyway...

Brother, I pray it doesn’t start happening to you. Your points are all fair, except for saying “doesn’t seem that bad.” Trust me: it’s bad.

 

[Aftermath865]

I’ve got the same thing on my ‘25!
Bought it Dec 31st. And up until about a month or so ago it had only done it 6 times. But within this last month or so, it’s become more frequent. Maybe 5-6 times a week. I had a 2019 Ranger for 6 years and and it never did this. A friend of mine heard it and told me that his F-150 will do it from time to time as well. Truck drives and shifts like butter, much better than my ‘19 actually, but this sound can sound be gnarly. If the truck is going to do it, the clunk sound will occur immediately after start up, before even shifting into gear or anything else. I’ve shared a video of mine doing it below. Not only can you hear it, but you can actually see the phone shake from the jerk. Sometimes, as mentioned above, it’s not near this pronounced. It’s definitely soundsmetal on metal and appears to be directly underneath me. I haven’t taken it to the dealer yet as our dealers around here are garbage, that and I can’t get it to do it consistently, so I know they’ll just tell me they didn’t hear it. I’ve got about 4,500 miles on it right now, but it did it before the truck even had 1,000 miles on it.

 

[h1k3rb]

Brother, I pray it doesn’t start happening to you. Your points are all fair, except for saying “doesn’t seem that bad.” Trust me: it’s bad.

If you check the replies above you'll see it is happening to me. Sometimes it's loud and a bit alarming (akin to the clip in the post above) but doesn't feel damaging, just annoying. Obviously shouldn't be there.

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