Without more information I will just assume that you have an AWD Escape. This sounds like a rear differential or hopefully just a rear CV joint. The sound probably gets faster as you go faster.

 

Paul, I do have an AWD escape.
I don't hear any noise at all when highway driving. Just street driving. It seems to happen when I make sharp turns, like pulling out of a parking space, u turn, making a turn from one block to the next. My guess is that on the highway I don't turn like that. Because of that, in terms of your question, I don't notice the sound get louder as I go faster.

 

What you are describing sounds very similar to something my '18 AWD FE does. I've noticed that it seems to show up more dramatically when I have just done a lot of highway driving (higher speeds, more subtle turns) and then navigate a parking lot (low speeds, much more dramatic turns).
For me it is almost a squeak and feels like the rear brakes don't want to let go for a second.

 

Interesting. For me it is more like a knocking with a pull. It almost feels like the breaks keep catching or if the wheels are hitting against something. . It only happens on sharp turns or going in reverse.

 

i just checked one of these vehicles out for the same concern, found the rear differential to be making the noise.

 

I'm still thinking differential. When you are on the highway or going straight the diff isn't doing much because the rear wheels are both going at the same speed. When you are turning the inside and outside wheels are turning at different speeds. The differential is a set of gears that allows the rear wheels to turn at different speeds.
I just had a thought, The traction control uses the brakes to stop a slipping wheel that is slipping and send power to the non slipping wheels. Try turning the traction control off and see if the problem disappears.

 

I noticed the same thing on my 2018 Intelligent 4wd Titanium, I have talked to the dealer and have an appointment for May 27th to look at it. We just returned from a road trip to Yellowstone. It was far busier then what I figured it would be for May, I would hate to be there during the summer.

 

I thought the traction control, might be it, but turning it off made no difference.
I brought it to AAMCO and they said it is not the transmission or differential. They think it is coming from the rear drivers side wheel. They said it might be a bearing or bent rim, but said to take it somewhere that does wheels.
It sounds like it is coming from both sides to me, but I am trying to bring it back this week.

 

I have a 2016 Ford Escape. For the past few months it has been making a sound from the back wheels when I make turns or back up. This is only noticeable when driving, but that may also be because I am not going fast when making sharp turns. It also pulls and sometimes when backing up almost feels like I hit something. The sound is a thumping that almost reminds me of when something is caught in a bike spoke. It seems like something is almost catching and letting go, or hitting.

I have brought it to my mechanic a few times. At first he replaced the rear brakes, but that was not the problem. At times, I had trouble reproducing the sound. It seems to not always show up when I first start driving and needs the car to warm up a bit. My mechanic thinks it is the transmission or drive train. Does that sound right?
Tom

Can you share what you finally found out to resolve it? We recently purchased a 2016 FE Titanium AWD for daughter. It has this same rumbling sound coming from rear wheels, likely driver's side. We tried disabling traction control, no resolve. Anything you can share? It reminds me of driving my RAM in 4x4 and turning slowly feeling the pulsing as it moves.

 

UPDATE: Ford mechanics identified our issue was the Differential. They've ordered all new parts, 2 weeks delivery, to complete repair. We'll see.....

 

I was getting a clunk at times backing up and like a rubbing noise when turning.....I have an appointment at 2 pm this next Thursday, they are going to change my rear differental and do a PCM update. Below you will find the TSBs.I think these TSBs will clear a lot of the problems we are having and it took months for them to come up with a solution.

 

Update: After service today and reprogramming, the clunk was still there, they are ordering the RDU part..... it's covered under my extended ESP warranty.

 

Thank you! I'm taking it to our trusted mechanic Monday - if it's the CV joint (he'll do the work - not covered by warranty), if it's the differential, we'll take it to Ford as that is covered by the power train warranty. We just don't know which one it is...I trust our mechanic to tell us, we've used him for years and family friend. What a crazy situation. Just want to get the correct repair. It just comes down to who we trust to get a correct diagnosis. I've been burned by too many dealerships in the past.

 

Our Differential replacement was covered by the dealer that sold us the Used Vehicle. Mechanic shared… had that not been replaced very soon, it may have locked up the rear wheels while daughter driving it. Looks like total repair charges could have been $1700. Good luck. Keep her Safe!

Hi again, how LONG was your car at the dealership until you got it back fixed? I was told it could be 3 weeks to MONTHS to get it back, but that I needed to get it there as soon as I could to get it in line to get fixed.

 

I wish these RDUs were rebuildable. 😥