Annoying Rattling Sound from Rear (Dust Guards?)

[Ric232]

I have this annoying rattling sound coming from the rear of my 2010 when I go over bumps or even ripples in the road. In fact, the "ripples" can be so minor that you don't even feel them in the car because the suspension is absorbing them. I believe I've narrowed the source down to the plastic guards on the rear shocks. Has anyone else experienced this? Any thoughts for a fix? I rode in the back seat this morning with one of the rear seats down so I could hear better and it really makes some noise. I'm one of thse obsessive-compulsive rattle/squeak haters. To me, it just screams poor quality.

EDIT: It's not the plastic guards on the shocks after all. It's more of a metallic rattle. It seems to be coming from the rear wheel wells or thereabouts.

[ridgeback]

I have a similar annoying rattle. I was able to pinpoint it to inside the trunk somewhere around the rear speaker assemblies behind the rear seat headrests, on the driver's side. Does that match where you're hearing your rattle?

I took mine in to see if the dealer could find it (the one time the dealer didn't damage my car!), and even had the service advisor take a ride with me. When I'm in the car, it rattles all the time; of course when he gets in, it made the noise twice. He said he heard it but who knows? It's a different rattle too; it's not deep like rubber on fake leather, or rubber on plastic. It's higher-pitched like a cricket-sound, though not as loud.

What'd the dealer say? The usual -- "Could not recreate customer complaint." Nice.

[Ric232]

Our sounds are different. Did you try riding in the back with one of the rear seats down (preferably with someone else driving)? Next chance I get, I'm going to put both seats down and climb into the trunk while my wife drives.

[SHIFT_zoom]

Originally Posted by Ric232

Our sounds are different. Did you try riding in the back with one of the rear seats down (preferably with someone else driving)? Next chance I get, I'm going to put both seats down and climb into the trunk while my wife drives.

lol

[edangs]

i got the same noise coming from the trunk. -really annoying.

you can remove the spare tire cover/floor mat and bang your fist around the spare tire to trigger the noise.

but i still havent had any luck trying to isolate its source.

glad im not the only one.

[Ric232]

Originally Posted by edangs

you can remove the spare tire cover/floor mat and bang your fist around the spare tire to trigger the noise.

but i still havent had any luck trying to isolate its source.

I've removed everything including the spare tire and I still get the noise when I drive. I'll try banging around back there to see if I can trigger the noise.

[edangs]

i said what the heck and gave the plactic guard a look around.

only thing i noticed i can tighten was its plastic nut&bolt.

although when tightened, both rotate.

so i had to -and somehow manage to use one hand to hold the bolt to not rotate while tightening the nut.

all in all, IT WORKED FOR ME!

annoying noise is gone and its been weeks.

hope it never ever comes back.

[ntechnic]

That's good to know, thanks.

[Ric232]

Originally Posted by edangs

i said what the heck and gave the plactic guard a look around.

only thing i noticed i can tighten was its plastic nut&bolt.

Are you talking about the plastic guard on the top portion of the rear shocks? I don't see a plastic nut and bolt. Where is it? I would LOVE to solve this problem. Glad you did.

[edangs]

Theres a plastic nut and bolt inside to where green arrow is pointing. I only tightened the one in the driver side. It seems "tricky" where if you over tighten it, it will become loose again. So you have to feel the point where you have to stop tightening. -again, both nut and bolt rotates so you have to keep the bolt from rotating with the nut.

Hope this helps you.