Annoying Buzzing Sound in Dashboard

[mbarrows]

I purchased a 2016 Ford Fusion Titanium Hybrid in March 2016. It now has 7000 miles on it. I am experiencing an annoying buzzing sound coming from the dashboard near the glovebox area. This happens at 1800 - 2200 RPM's when the ICE (internal combustion engine) cuts in. At other RPM's or running on the electric motors via the battery there are no sounds. Does anyone know what causes this buzzing sound? I have unloaded the glove box so I know nothing is rattling/buzzing from there. It seems to be a vibration which the Atchinson type engine is causing at a specific RPM.

[sschnath]

I have it on a 2014 Fusion SE Hybrid. It's the biggest complaint I have about the car and it really takes away from a vehicle I otherwise enjoy. Have never been able to track it down, nor was I able to reproduce it for 2 different dealers. Others have reported it on this forum as noise around the passenger side A-pillar. Sorry to hear it's still around on the 2016 version. I would have thought they would have fixed it by now.

 

I agree it's ICE-related, you'll never hear it in EV mode. When I had the glove box off to replace the cabin air filter I tried to find a loose part in that area but could not.

 

If it's still happening on 2016 models there's no way Ford does not know about it. I tried to get it fixed before the warranty expired but as I said, couldn't reproduce it. Out of warranty now and I'm not willing to pay money to track it down. But it really is very annoying.

 

It will not go away on its own so keep pressing your dealer to identify it and fix it while you're under warranty and then please let us know what they did!

[lesjoh]

Could it be from the rear view mirror? The mirror (mounts to an object containing sensors, camera, etc.) on my 2013 SE Hybrid has buzzed/vibrated periodically when I drive on asphalt that's somewhat worn. It took me over two years to find the source of this annoying buzz. Sunglasses in the holder above the mirror vibrate occasionally.

[talmy]

Sunglasses in the holder above the mirror vibrate occasionally.

 

 

That's been our major buzzing problem. Easily solved by wrapping the sunglasses in a glasses cleaning cloth! Items in the door cubbies also will vibrate.

[sschnath]

Definitely not sunglasses (none in the holder). That would have been too easy! Nor the rear view mirror in this case. It's near the passenger side A-pillar. Sounds like the AC vent but pressing on the trim or the vent does nothing and it's likely behind the vent somewhere.

[smr2112]

Ah ha! I'm not nuts or alone! I have this too on my 2013 FFH. It comes and goes, sometimes I don't hear

it for days and it's fairly mild, but annoying as heck. Sounds like it's come from inside the dash or behind

the glovebox or something, just where you describe - can't really tell. Amazing that this lives on in the

later year models. Would drive the dealer nuts and waste alot of my time trying to get them to fix it.

The risk of tearing apart the dash isn't worth it. It's definitely something inside (as opposed to just

a lose screw or piece of side plastic).

 

But today I was wondering if it is indeed coming from the rearview mirror somewhere and projecting downward???

It often sounds like it is coming from a slightly different places and as I leaned toward the mirror today, I thought

it was the culprit.

 

By the time I hear it and try and grab the spot to see if I can quiet it, it stops and it is very RPM sensitive.

Only at specific speed and RPMs as you say. It sounds like a "metalic cable" - buzzing slightly. We must

all have the same thing going on.

 

Probably not something we can fix, but stay tuned and if you have any other ideas, speak up.

 

Not sunglasses, that is easy to spot and fix.

 

[sschnath]

A friend had an old Fiat Spyder that had a buzz in what he thought was the dash. He used to slam his fist on the dash to make it go away except when I was with him one day I was able to pinpoint it to the rearview mirror. Wedged a couple of toothpick points between the mirror and the frame - problem solved. I don't think that's the problem here although I would be more than happy to be proven wrong if it makes the thing go away. You really need a second person in the car to help trace it but it's so intermittent, partly because it only happens when the ICE is running.

[2014FordFusionSE]

I'm not hearing things then :)

 

I hear the buzzing sound too but it sounds like it's coming from somewhere inside the center AC vent.

[lkatze2]

I have the same buzzing sound, more like a vibration, but definitely same sound, same area. Just like everybody else, it happens only at a specific engine RPM and is coming from behind the dash or AC duct. Goes away when I decrease or increase the RPM's. It is very difficult to recreate the noise, so I am sure the dealer is not going to do anything about it. It will probably take a TSB from Ford to locate the problem.

[Riggo]

I have the same problem. I've found if I hold on to the middle console arm on the passenger side (does this make any sense?) then it goes away. That arm (there is one on each side of the middle console) that connects the center console up to the stereo area. Hopefully that made sense. But I think it has something to do with that. I am unsure how to make it stop buzzing though, the only way I can make it stop is if I hold onto that arm while it's happening.

It happens only at a certain RPM too just like others have said.

[smr2112]

Yep, I confirm this more or less. I took some very thin and small pieces of foam packing, like 2"x3" or so and shoved it in the small

gap on the right side of console opening. The right vertical piece edge aside the console opening. I shoved them in with a putty knife

and this tightened things up a bit. I think we are talking about the same area.

The noise is not 100% gone, but is much better. The noise to me, appears to be highly temperature and definitely speed

related. If you move your body a bit while you grab the thing, that will change it.

 

How ridiculous this all is...right?

 

I have the same problem. I've found if I hold on to the middle console arm on the passenger side (does this make any sense?) then it goes away. That arm (there is one on each side of the middle console) that connects the center console up to the stereo area. Hopefully that made sense. But I think it has something to do with that. I am unsure how to make it stop buzzing though, the only way I can make it stop is if I hold onto that arm while it's happening.

It happens only at a certain RPM too just like others have said.

[fastFusion]

I have it on a 2014 Fusion SE Hybrid. It's the biggest complaint I have about the car and it really takes away from a vehicle I otherwise enjoy.

I also have got 2014 and I must say that on my vehicle this buzz took place not only when the ICE started to operate, but also on bumpy road. In attempt to do something about it, I broke the center console piece plastic. And the sound became even more annoying. So I went ahead and got a brand-new console piece(https://www.carid.com/center-consoles/), and put thin foamy vibration-reducing foam strip (adhesive). And I must say, this is probably the only thing in the car I do not regret breaking!

Edited December 30, 2016 by fastFusion

[devinron]

I saw that console the other day while browsing on the net. Any pics with the console installed?

[rickc]

I have the same issue and wondering if anyone has resolved the problem. I get the same vibration behind the glove box. Only on ICE. It may go away for days or weeks and then come back louder than ever. Before I take it to a dealer and spend a lot of money I was hoping to have some idea what the cause could be. I have tried all the fixes mentioned so far and nothing really helps.

[Sky14FFH]

I have this problem too. 2014 hybrid.    Vibrating sound around 2200 rpms coming from the right front of the cabin, not sure if it is the seatbelt tensioner for the passenger seat or somewhere near the glove box.  Really hard to zero in on the location.  If the ecoboost 2.0 gets such good gas mileage why did they put an atkinson cycle in the hybrids?  I'd prefer a smoother engine that got as good mpg.

[rickc]

To update my post. I found a mechanic who said it was the motor mounts. We replaced them and the sound went away for about a day. He then took my passenger door apart and test drove it. Put a hand on the speaker and the vibration stopped. It seems the speaker was broken. Not blown so you couldn't tell just by listening. We replaced the speaker and the problem was solved.

[Sky14FFH]

rickc:  Thanks. Is it possible all the speakers are broken or loose?  Do you know how it was broken (eg. mounting bracket)?

[Xilviu]

Replying to this old topic: I think I found the cause of the annoying buzzing sound. This is on an European Mondeo, MY 2015, manufactured in 2016.

 

Below the glovebox, above the passenger's feet, there's a plastic 'tray' which hides the lower part of the glovebox. This tray is held by two 'fishbone' plastic clips, which are inserted in metallic plates welded to a steel beam. These small metallic plates are probably the issue. I just used a plastic zip tie pulled tight around each of them and the buzz seems to be gone now.

[Shipbuilder59]

Hi, our 2014 Fusion has the buzzing sound but on the drivers side dashboard area and only on ICE. Quiet on EV. Any ideas please? I’ve looked for loose cables and wires around the firewall, but no luck. Thanks!

Edited December 20, 2021 by Shipbuilder59

[MeeLee]

2019 Hybrid, also A pillar noise on both passenger and driver side. Started at around 60k miles; much more pronounced now at 75k miles.

you can temporarily make it go away by squeezing the pillar plastic back into place.

I was thinking about using some expanding foam in between the dashboard and the A-pillar crevices, to push it back into place.

Edited December 21, 2021 by MeeLee

[mnb76]

On 3/8/2020 at 11:41 AM, rickc said:

To update my post. I found a mechanic who said it was the motor mounts. We replaced them and the sound went away for about a day. He then took my passenger door apart and test drove it. Put a hand on the speaker and the vibration stopped. It seems the speaker was broken. Not blown so you couldn't tell just by listening. We replaced the speaker and the problem was solved.

I have the buzz in my 2014 SE with 88K miles.  It started about one month ago out of the blue.  When the ICE is running at low rpms, I will hear the loud buzzing.  Yes, very annoying.  Interesting that a speaker would cause this.  But I am definitely hearing the noise from inside the dash above the glove box.  I've fiddled with the HVAC (changing from fresh air to recirculating, fan speed) and sometimes it appears that it helps temporarily.  But the sound always comes back.  I feel that I'm doomed to have this noise until I am done with the car.  But I love the car (except for replacing the transmission twice - under warranty - when the car was 4 years old).

 

Update:  You might be right about the speaker.  On the Ford Fusion Forum (no Hybrid), I found someone reporting this problem with a movie attached.  It sounds just like what I hear in my car.  I might just swap out my door speakers to try to fix this.

 

see 

https://www.fordfusionforum.com/index.php?app=forums&module=forums&controller=topic&id=21768#comment-119694

Posted by Niss240sxse - 2014 Fusion speaker buzz

Edited November 8, 2022 by mnb76
More info

[hal9000]

I have this same issue on the 2014 ffh that I purchased a few weeks ago. Sound coming from the driver side door or dash when the ice operates at low rpm. Doesn't matter of the radio is on or not, but seems to drop in volume of I adjust the balance all the way to the right (could be my imagination). The guy I bought it from flips fleet surplus vehicles and says he's seen it before and replacing speakers always fixed it. But it sounds more reminiscent of a wire or linkage vibrating against a panel to me  I have a couple sets of speakers on the shelf and am planning to swap them out. But im going to see about repositioning any loose wires under the dash first for good measure.

Edited November 12, 2022 by hal9000

[aschulz261]

It wouldn't surprise me to see a speaker fix it.  These cars have automatic noise cancelling that runs no matter if the radio is on or not.

[Serge]

Has anyone solved the rattling problem?

[MeeLee]

On 4/11/2023 at 5:33 AM, Serge said:

Has anyone solved the rattling problem?

I have.

 

Just buy some felt carpeted floor protectors, like these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09Y1NZ8Y7

 

You only need 2 to 3 of the smallest ones, and can use the rest for your furniture.

 

Insert 1 to 2 of the floor protectors, in the gap between the dash and the a-pillars, glue side on the dash. Push em deep enough down that they're not sticking out and only visible at closeup. They should squeeze in just fine. If not, get a small lever to increase the gap space for a moment, until the pieces are in place.

I used another protector, to push the small ones down deep enough.

 

For $10 all rattling is gone, and I can only see it if I peer carefully down the gap between the dashboad and a-pillar.