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Rattles, Rattles Everywhere!

Discussion in 'Prius v Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Nivonia, Jun 13, 2012.

  1. Nivonia

    Nivonia Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2012
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    Location:
    Ontario, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    N/A
    My 9 week-old v now rattles more than any car I have ever owned at any age, and it's negatively affecting my appreciation of the vehicle. I have a rattle from the centre arm rest cover, the passenger seat (how a seat can rattle I have no idea), and two more in the back of the car that are going to be a bear to track down.

    Has anyone else discovered any rattles? I see that rattles plague the regular Prius, particularly the 2011.

    It's one thing to drive around in a decade-old Ford Escort that rattles; quite another to find that your new Prius v is shaking itself to bits. If only the trim were as solid as the drivetrain!
     
  2. n0na

    n0na Junior Member

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    Location:
    WA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    My Prius v has rattles, too. I thought it might be from the unused seat belt latches, but I anchored them down so that they couldn't rattle but it didn't cure the problem. I have one rattle in the driver's door and at least one somewhere around the front passenger's door. The rattles aren't too loud or too frequent, but I'm sure that in a couple of years the car is going to sound like a piece of farm machinery.
     
  3. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
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    Three
    Unfortunately they're all like this.
     
  4. anewhouse

    anewhouse Active Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    CNY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    How can you make this claim?

    My v doesn't rattle at all.
     
    ou812 likes this.
  5. plsinger

    plsinger Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2007
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    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    No rattles here either.
     
  6. parnami

    parnami Member

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2009
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    Location:
    .Lancaster, PA (Amish Country) :)
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    NO RATTLES!!
     
  7. Cap'n

    Cap'n Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2012
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    Location:
    TX
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    No rattles ... but only 1,040 miles.

    I hate rattles.
     
  8. Dennis Bresenhan

    Dennis Bresenhan New Member

    Joined:
    May 31, 2012
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    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Notice his member name.....
    :rolleyes:
     
  9. Chazz8

    Chazz8 Gadget Lover

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2008
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    Location:
    Central New York
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    I must have nice smooth roads here in the suburbs of Syracuse NY, because I have NO RATTLES. I thought I might get some rattles going after I went to work on our Prius v's at Andy (anewhouse) and his 50 yards (feet?) of dirt road he warned me about leading up to his house. But still no rattles.

    So I claim that there are Prius v vehicles that do not rattle.

    What am I supposed to notice about Andy's member name? I notice the great contributions he has posted.
     
  10. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Northern Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Experiences vary, but Prius in general have trouble with rattles. They contain a lot of lightweight plastic, and it doesn't take much to get it moving.

    I find driving my Jeep makes my Prius seem much quieter. You could always give that a try.

    Tom
     
  11. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Can I drive your Jeep? :)

    After hearing all the complaints about rattles in the 2010-2011 I was worried I'd have them in my 2012. 12,00 miles into it and I have real rattles. :) they must have fixed them or I am just lucky to have warm weather.
     
  12. Erikon

    Erikon Active Member

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    Location:
    Rochester, NY
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    In addition to the lightweight plastics, Toyota uses clips instead of screws to attach many of the interior panels and parts. When the body flexes it can cause rattles where they aren't held as tight as they should be. Warm weather and smoother roads does help to reduce the noise, and many are lucky to have a Prius that was assembled correctly. Unfortunately many times a clip is bent or not seated properly during assembly, and that contributes to this maddening issue! Seriously, how much weight is saved as opposed to using a few dozen screws?
     
    helijeff likes this.
  13. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Certainly, but it will have to be in this area. I don't even want to think of how much gas it would take to drive out to you. I call it the "anti-Prius".

    Tom
     
  14. pardreamer

    pardreamer Member

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    Location:
    San Diego
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    no rattles for me so far after 1300 miles.
     
  15. schinia

    schinia Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2011
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    Location:
    cape carteret,nc
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    no rattles here. except for the T, some funny chugging!
     
    Offline likes this.
  16. MarathonMarty

    MarathonMarty Prii 4-timer

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2009
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    Location:
    Spokane, WA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    I am now on my 3rd Prius. My gen 2 was fairly quiet but my 2010 gen 3 was a real rattler after only a few months. My Prius v, which I've owned since the beginning of November, has yet to develop one single rattle or vibration, even during cold weather. It is the quietest vehicle I've ever owned. And we have some terribly pot-holed streets here in Spokane. I have no nits to pick with my Prius other than the moaning noise that develops during damp, chilly weather and that's no big deal. Vanishes within a a few meters of driving.
     
  17. JACoH

    JACoH Enjoying the mileage

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Oregon
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    My 2010 had many, many rattles throughout it's 40,000 mile life, and it drove me crazy. I had the dash apart twice and it kept improving, but never acceptable. My new "v" has not rattled once in its maiden 4000 miles. I love it.
     
  18. swg

    swg 12 Prius / 13 Volt

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    Location:
    Atlanta
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Both our prii are rattle free....


    iPad ? HD
     
  19. dialing_wand

    dialing_wand Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2012
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    Location:
    Montreal, QC
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    N/A
    Our "v" has rattled like crazy since we picked it up.

    I'm just glad its a corporate lease; while I love to drive the thing, the cheap feeling of a new car making so much noise would drive me nuts if I owned it, but Toyota FS is the one who's going to have to convince someone else to buy it down the road.

    I remain astonished how solid it can feel but how cheap it can sound. Now, take this into consideration: our roads in Montreal are some of the worst in Canada. So, its probably contributing to increased "loosening" along with more chances to rattle along the way.

    I still really like the "v" and think for a class of 1 it does pretty well.
     
  20. Reagle

    Reagle Junior Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Rochester, NY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I noticed two- passenger side seat belt latch rattling when touching the interior plastic (so I now wrap the belt around seat bolster when not in use) and also sunroof when opened. Otherwise pretty quiet, but's only been maybe 2k miles