300+ miles and first rattling noise this morning.

this makes you an official member of the gen III club! congratulations!

 

Most of the rattles reported on here that I have read have been in the front dash or front seat areas. I do not remember reading any in the hatch area. Any chance that you are carrying something in the storage tray under the cargo area?

 

LOL.

Seriously, I have developed a similar rattle as well about a week ago although mine is more of a metal ting. I figure it will go away when it warms up... say in April sometime.

 

I'm assuming you checked under the hatch decklid making sure the spare and everything is secure? Also, pop open the left side storage area and make sure nothing there. I'm sure you've done this stuff already.

Like the OP, I've only had front dash noises and hope those will go away once we get into some good Carolina springtime warmer weather!

Happy Motoring,

Tom

 

Check this thread:
http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...4-rattle-tailgate.html?highlight=hatch+rattle
I posted solutions there with pictures. It's on page 2 or 3 of the thread. The problem stems from the hard plastic spacers used in the hatch rain track. They need to be buffered with felt tabs. Cold weather can bring on the problem.

 

Cold weather, hard plastics, stiff suspension. Unfortunately you will have rattles in your Prius. My other two cars have nowhere near the amount of rattles and creaks.

 

my 04 and 08 have no rattles at all. can't imagine what they did to cause so many in the gen III.

 

that's it, you're officially unofficial again.

 

I started noticing rattles from the passenger side area almost as soon as I drove the car home from the dealer. Was afraid I was victim of the dreaded glove box rattle I had read about! Turns out that almost anything I put in the glove box seemed to rattle. I lined both glove boxes with felt (purchase at hobby/craft store), and now I NEVER hear any noise from that area.

 

My '06 does not rattle, although it kind of squeaks a bit if I rest my elbow on the driver's window sill in warmer weather.

 

My 2010 creaks when I put my elbow on the armrest

I feel a trip to the dealership in my future...

 

Oh my goodness, I'm a bit disappointed to read about the GIII and its rattles. I sure hope that more development goes into silencing some of them. My old 2006 GII seemed tight, even with a lowered suspension and lower profile tires aired up to 48psi. The top of the dash did vibrate up and down, but didn't make any noise while doing so.

Yes, mine did the same thing, almost from day one. And it seemed to be present only on the driver's side, go figure.

That is a really annoying sound, especially in a car that's relatively smooth and quiet like the Prius.

 

Mine squeaks from the hatch in very cold weather but it never bothers me since I blast the radio or iPod.

 

I've been in beds that make the same sound!

 

My 10 rattles, when it is cold, near the rear view mirror. I have grabbed the mirror and head liner but it doesn't stop until the car warms up. I, also, have the occasional glove box rattle but opening the glove box and then closing it seems to stop it. I guess that is what the volume knob is for on the radio. Yea, I am an official member now.