TSB Issued for Buzzing rattle in dashboard

Could not upload the videos but here is a link to the Google album
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Q0BnfoyIQk5XTpOu1

 

Thanks for the detective work! I have a rattle in the same location my 2016 touring. I’m not going to takeapart my dash, but will bring it back to a dealer. 95% sure from your post... are you pointing to the black plastic bubble in the center of the dash near the windshield, and saying that there is module under the dash with a loose wire or clip?

 

Glad to pass the info along! Yes, there is a box/module under the center dash that has some type of loose piece of plastic on the top that can rattle. If you can tap your hand on the location identified below and you hear a rattle then it's probably the same thing.

Location of mystery noisy module/box.

Prius_dashnoise_module by CoolPrius posted Dec 24, 2017 at 9:52 AM

Best picture I could get with my phone but the angle didn't allow to actually see the top of it. You can see where I put the blob of material though, it's sandwiched between the top of the dash and loose cover.

2017Prius_rattle_fix by CoolPrius posted Dec 24, 2017 at 9:34 AM

 

Well, well, well, I've had my 2018 for less than two weeks now, and the one and only thing I don't like about it is a buzz/rattle that to my ear, sounds a lot like what the OP described here. That said, I would hope and expect that the described problem would have been corrected on the assembly line by now. My car is a January 2018 built 2018 model. Could this still be the same issue?

 

Congrats on your new car! You’re correct, Toyota should have fixed any loose ends after 3 years. I’m wondering if your rattle/buzz is the under dash issue or the upper dashboard issue?

 

Quite possible. The car is still so new to me I really haven't sorted things out yet. Tentatively, it seems as if it's coming from the base of the A-pillar, perhaps the speaker up there, maybe as far back as the front of the door. As I'm sure you appreciate, these sounds are so tricky to locate and eliminate. . .

As you can probably see, I've been gone for a while, and still refamiliarizing myself with the forum. Any leads on info regarding upper dash rattles? Thanks!

 

Can someone else ride with you and try to identify the sound source. Maybe using a piece of plastic tube like a stethoscope?

 

Interesting thread......my story is just the opposite ......I have a Gen 4 2017-1/2......seems completely buzz/rattle free! .......yes, I know, I'm leaving right now to go buy a lottery ticket! ......

 

I have heard about the TSC but never heard the noise, I don't hear a lot of noises anyway and my wife who hears everything hasn't mentioned it. My car sat on the dealers lot for two years before I bought it, maybe they just fixed it one day when they had nothing to do? Nevermind.

 

Yep. Since day one when my mrs purchased hers in 2016. Sounds like the speaker grills are loose but they are not. Buzz rattle noise on uneven road surfaces. If memory recalls I used something to prevent the air ducts resonating but it's still there.

SM-N960U1 ?

 

I just did the tap test and the 2016 has the same thing. Any instructions on how to remove that top panel? The images dont show on this thread. Only images and videos I could see were on your Google photos page.

SM-N960U1 ?

 

The information I have says it is covered under the three year 36,000 mile warranty.
It also calls for replacement of the air duct part number 87211-47190.

 

The air duct is fine. It's the top of the dash. Is there a tsb for the dash also?

SM-N960U1 ?

 

Haven't heard of that one.

 

Oh yes , that panel. It buzzes like crazy. It doesnt seem to be really held in place well. Two screws, one clip and a one rear corner covered in a felt sponge fabric.

SM-N960U1 ?

 

The vent buzzing was an easy fix prior to the TSB even being put out. This is the first buzzing rattle I sorted out when wife took ownership of her Prius in April 2016. I just wedged something in between the dual vent exit holes.

SM-N960U1 ?

 

I found that solution perfectly acceptable the couple times I applied it in my aging 2004 model, during its golden years. NOT so acceptable in a brand new car! At least not to me.

 

It wasn't acceptable to me either. But instead of the techs tearing up my ride and using it for lunch runs ( test drives) to evaluate it , I did it myself.
My world is this, I dont like pricks messing with my car unless absolutely neccessary.

SM-N960U1 ?

 

Like my avatar suggests -- what could possibly go wrong...? Seriously, your point is very well taken.

 

So it's that common. I've had it like a year after I got my 2016. It's between top of the center vents and the odometer, more towards the passenger side. And yes, it's louder when the car is cold. I've asked the dealer and he said they need to remove the dashboard to investigate it, but he didn't recommend it and I didn't do it.