While returning home from a road trip this weekend, I was traveling with the cruise control set at 80MPH. The truck was running great, no problems at all, but due to the traffic, I needed to try and pass someone. I gave the truck some gas, and when I did, I felt and heard a large clunk, a small loss of power, and the traction control light to the right of the tachometer lit up for a few seconds. It surprised me enough that I let off of the gas for a moment, and the light went away, and things returned to normal very quickly. The truck ran just fine for the remainder of the trip, another 200 miles or so, with no issues, though I did slow down a bit to 75MPH.

Trying to think this through, it was very windy on the drive home, with lots of crosswinds through this section of the highway. Is it possible that it was just a matter of timing, with the side-wind aspect of the stability control kicking in at the same time I hit the throttle? Does that sound plausible, or does anyone have an idea for what may have caused this? Anyone else experienced anything similar?

It's a 2018 XLT, 3.5L Ecoboost

 

Did the noise sound like a rock chip hitting the frame/body rather than from mechanic?

Possible one rear tire happened to roll over a small obstacle (road trash, sand...) when you were accelerating so the wheel slightly slipped and triggered the TCS?

If it didn’t happen again I think it should be ok.

 

Definitely sounded like a mechanical thing. It's possible that there was something loose on the road, but there wasn't anything that I can recall.

 

It's a transmission programing issue. Mine has the same issue and goes in the shop for a program update tomorrow. Problem occurs when truck is off the gas on cruise and you apply throttle.

 

You mean it is a software issue? Anyway good to learn it is a real issue that can be easily fixed.

 

The transmission is doing what it is told, as is the throttle body with the power rollback. What's happening is that in some specific circumstances the truck gets confused and sends conflicting information to different components. A software update is supposed to help but I guess I'll know in a few days. Accelerating out of cruise is when mine acts up as well, which is the give away. If there were a mechanical malfunction it would do it without cruise on. Also, a mechanical malfunction in the transmission doesn't cause the torque demand drop and subsequent throttle rollback. It's all software driven and in mine at least it once in a while doesn't seem to know what to do when I roll on the throttle in cruise, generally when the truck is off the gas. In my case, pulling a trailer makes the problem much more prevalent. E.G. When pulling on a grade I can step on the gas and it simply downshifts and takes off, however, when I crest a hill and the truck's cruise picks up a bit too much speed it lets off the gas a lot. If I then step on the gas, once in a while, it will drop power further and eventually slam a very low gear with a big bang. Turn off the cruise and it never repeats. It's done it once without a trailer in 23,000 miles but does it fairly often when towing.

 

Did you ever get it fixed?