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Gen 3 Dashboard rattles & creaks

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by L8rnr, Sep 17, 2009.

  1. L8rnr

    L8rnr New Member

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    III
    My Prius 3 with 4500 miles seems to be finding ways to agravate me with an assortment of dashboard noises whenever I ride over anything other than completely smooth roads. I cannot seem to locate them no matter what I do. Dropped tire pressure to 34 Lb. The thought of my dealership dismantling my dash...:(. Anyone have any similar experience? Help...!
     
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  2. PriMPG

    PriMPG New Member

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    Yep, my Prius IV has the same annoying rattles and creaks with less than 3000 miles. The dashboard creaks all the time whenever I return to the car after it being left out in the hot sun all day at work. It's sad that a car that costs nearly 30k can't have a more solid interior. Unfortunately I'm sure this is due to the need to keep the weight down to achieve MPG's.

    I honestly don't think there is much a dealer would do except have your car all day and say they couldn't hear anything. Typical dealer BS whenever you have a rattle.
     
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  3. MikeDS

    MikeDS Member

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    Seems to be a common issue...several threads on here about it. I'm also disappointed...when I bought a toyota I thought I was buying from a company where fit and finish was a big thing...mine creaks and rattles like mad with 1400 miles...
     
  4. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    Every vehicle I have ever own has rattled, squeaked, etc. My dash also rattles. Seems to be more pronounced in the cool temps.
    Oh well.
     
  5. Felt

    Felt Senior Member

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    Fortunately, my G3 IV is pleasantly quiet. I just hope that it continues. While I have not done it yet with the G3, with past vehicles I have routinely tightened screws and bolts. Rattles can be so difficult to find. I also have a 2006 Dodge 2500 PU and I was absolutely certain the passenger window was rattling ... to the extent that I spoke to a glass company about taking the interior panel off and trying to solve the rattle. Then, I noticed a visible bolt that holds the outside mirror was so loose I could turn it with my hand. I tighted it, and the rattle is completely gone.

    Also, I try not to drive down gravel, wash-board roads.

    Good luck.
     
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  6. MikeDS

    MikeDS Member

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    I live in Los Angeles which has the roads of a third world country. Every rattle, squeak, and creak comes out here....
     
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  7. djasonw

    djasonw Active Member

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    I would imagine that any car over time will develop rattles and squeaks. I have to say, my 2004 (73k miles) does have a few dash rattles when driving over very rough road surfaces. I fixed it. Didn't cost anything! I merely raised the volume of the radio.

    Side note. I've noticed that German cars in general (I've had the three major ones) seem
    to be much tighter and resistant to squeaks and rattles.
     
  8. bob brown

    bob brown Member

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    I'm sorry to hear of this issue. My 2004, (only has 45,000 mi.), is as squeak and rattle free as the day I took it home. Perhaps the much higher rate of production as compared to when mine was built has brought down quality? I hope not, as I am still waiting for my 2010 to arrive.
     
  9. tumbleweed

    tumbleweed Senior Member

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    My '05 Prius was squeak and rattle free, unfortunately not true of this one. The center console lid rattles and I have been "fixing" it for 3 weeks now. There is something on the passenger's side that rattles and I can't find it, and something toward the back. This is the worst car for interior rattles I have seen since my '98 Honda Accord and everything in that car rattled.

    As Spiderman said it's worse when it gets cool, just wait till winter. My experience has been dealers are of little value when it comes to finding and fixing these kinds of problems, I'll just keep looking or learn to like loud music.
     
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  10. renpriv

    renpriv New Member

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    I agree with that. I've had my A3 Sportback from new and 2 1/2 years later it's still rattle free very solid feeling.

    The T4 I test drove rattled like an old tea trolley and that only had 700 miles on it. It was because of that I did not go ahead with my purchase. Build quality & ride are at the top of my priority list.

    It is such a shame, really great technology spolit by poor cabin build :mad:
     
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  11. Jon S

    Jon S Member

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    The rattling on this car drives me NUTS!!! My previous VW Passat was rattle free for 80,000 miles...
     
  12. L8rnr

    L8rnr New Member

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    It's sad to see so many other Gen 3 owners responding to this thread.
    I thought Toyota Q/C was above most other manufacturers. Especially Their cars made overseas. Regardless, after having my complete JBL audio head unit replaced today ( XM had died after only 45 days) I encouraged the service manager to kindly have the tech try to find my upper dash and consol creaks. Now it's 50% better, but there seems to be a groaning sound coming from the rear seat battery vent when making hard left turns.
    Never had any issues with my previous auto BMW 328i.
     
  13. L8rnr

    L8rnr New Member

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    Sorry to hear we're in the same boat . Dealer tried today and it's now half as bad as it was. Too much plastic I guess. See my post#12
     
  14. tumbleweed

    tumbleweed Senior Member

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    I agree, my BMW 330i was as tight and rattle free as you could wish for. To bad Toyota seems to be following G.M.'s quality control model. When I did my first oil change I found that 5 of 6 bolts that hold the front bottom cover on had fallen out, I took the last one out with my fingers. Someone at the factory had apparently forgotten to tighten them.

    I think when companies get to big and to arrogant they frequently de-emphasize quality and start lying to their customers.
     
  15. bedrock8x

    bedrock8x Senior Member

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    Toyota is trying to reduce cost by removing the usually required felt strips between panel joints. The 07 Camry took Toyota two years to come out withe a TSB to fix the creak in the upper dash and the center console cover by adding felt tapes. Toyota tried to ignore the complains but just too many owners are not satisfied and finally fixed it.
    Just write to Toyota and complain.
     
  16. Bobsprius

    Bobsprius BobPrius

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    Sorry to see such a volume of posts about rattles etc. Mine thus far has been relatively rattle free. The points that I found thus far that rattle are:
    Glove Box area, and Top glove box storage
    (Fixed wtih adhesive backed felt)
    Rattle from Passenger Metal Seat Belt Buckle
    (pulled taught and stopped)
    Rear Toneau Cover, make sure it's secure and if necessary add a small piece of felt to hold it tighter in the slot.
    Be sure to secure the rear storage areas in the deck area.

    Anything loosed in console will also make some noise, so put a cut piece of rubber in base, should help that.

    Other than the above I don't have any issues with mine, so hoping they will not come to light in the next couple months...
     
  17. Snapperoo

    Snapperoo New Member

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    With 217 miles, my week-old car is starting to rattle. Very disappointing.
     
  18. patay56

    patay56 New Member

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    Oh my goodness, I was looking forward to purchasing a 2010 Prius before I drove my squeaking, rattling Hyundai Santa Fe into a wall and now I am afraid!!!! Gas mileage is one of the biggest perks but I was also hoping for a better quality interior that would be tight and free of all the irritating noises. Has anyone been able to have the issues resolved completely? All of the posts here are from 2010 Prius owners that haven't even been worn in yet!
     
  19. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    The last couple of days have been down in the low 30's upper 20's and that dash creaks, rattles and cracks till the heat starts flowing. Man I can't imagine it at 10 below! :eek:
    But I still like my car! I will put up with this kind of mileage.
     
  20. rpm2

    rpm2 New Member

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    Vehicle:
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    IV

    We just picked up our 2010 Prius IV on Monday. There are definitely a few plastic creaks (mainly the right passenger side which oddly is consistent with other comments) and sometimes a very slight rattle in the center arm rest (if my arm is resting there it's quiet so this should be easily solved).

    Bottom line I can't say the noises are any worst than my 2004 Subaru Forester XT we traded. Then there was my old 1998 Volvo S70 which had the worst creaks you could imagine. The big issue was the rubber molding around the windshield. Even our other car a 2001 Saab 9-5 has creaks.

    Bottom line we're enjoying our car so far although early to pass an opinion. Oh the tank still shows full.

    Good luck