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Q: My 2010 Ford Escape hybrid with 70,000 miles has been a wonderful car. It’s never needed repair. Only new brakes and tires. But in the last year, it’s been making a clunk-clunk sound that comes from the very rear of the car. I hear it every time I go over a bump in the road.

I have grabbed everything in the back of the car and made sure nothing is loose. I’ve screwed down anything that might possibly make a noise, checked the rear window and rear hatch, and even replaced the window shocks and rear hatch shocks — to no avail. What could be making this clunking sound with every bump or turn?

A: Seventy thousand miles and never needed repair? Well, that’s about to change, Robert.

I’m assuming you’re not on a bowling team, so it’s not your spare ball rolling around back there. I’ll also assume you checked to be sure the spare tire is secure, if you have one.

But from my vast experience (or what my late brother called my half-vast experience), I’m going to guess you’re looking too high, Robert. You’re looking for something in the cargo area. I think it’s more likely that the sound is coming from under your car.

If you’re lucky, it’s something as simple as the tailpipe hitting the underside of the car. On a car that’s 12 years old, one or more of the hangers that hold the tailpipe in place could be broken or rotted away. That would allow the tailpipe to hit the car’s undercarriage, or something else near it.

If that’s not it, the noise could be coming from a worn-out suspension part. A bad strut or strut mount could make this kind of noise. So could a worn-out sway bar bushing.

But start by having your mechanic put it up on the lift and giving your tailpipe the “shake test.” Hopefully, it’ll fail that test, and your problem will be quickly and easily solved. Good luck.

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