Gen 3 Dashboard rattles & creaks

I could have sworn that my rattle was coming from the passenger door but I noticed it seemed to stop if I put weight on the center arm rest/storage cover. I opened it up and put some folded up paper towel under the front area of the little tray, extending into the area where the catch mechinism engages. So far, that seems to have stopped the rattle. I will trouble shoot it more in a couple of weeks when I get back from a trip.

 

Has anybody bought there car in yet? There are alot of complaints but i wonder if Toyota even knows this is a problem.

 

It might not matter. I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure our warranty doesn't cover rattle and creeks.

 

What's amazing to me....

The complaints are not specific to any one type/model, it appears to be all over the board from the II-V. I have a V and have learned that some of the noises I have found, yes I had to seek them out as well, were self created, from something I left inside the console tray under the armrest portion, or the glove box (either one) or in the bottom of the console itself.

I have retracted the Tonneau Cover over the rear hatch area and that stopped a rattle back there so I only use it as needed to cover the area. I am about to order the pads on this site to place in the bottom of the console and glove box. One Suggestion I might add, is that I added adhesive "bumpers" inside the glove box (the type you put on furniture, pictures etc), and that has virtually eliminated the little rattle from the cover closed and from road vibration etc. You may wish to try that..

But almost in every case it was something I or other Occupants placed in the car and it rattled. I too, did note that the center console/shift area sometimes creeks and am working on a workaround for that and will post what I found works there.

But in summary, I don't have all these noises that are being complained about and trying to understand why there would be such differences in all honesty...But the conversation about this is good and we can maybe all pick up some tricks to combat the issue in the end.

 

perhaps this thread from 2006 on the Rav4 forum may help someone...

does your 06 rav4 rattle? - Toyota Forums :: Toyota Nation

 

I’m just inches ($$$) away from buying a 2010 and giving up my faithful 04 Prius. Rattles absolutely drive me nuts and now I’m “Rattle Shocked†about trading Old Faithful for a rattle trap and feel sorry (taken) when I take delivery. I found that on a test drive on a sunny day with my shades on that seeing the gauges was difficult at best. I’m now giving a second thought to an “up-gradeâ€.

 

I had rattles that sounded as though they were coming from the right dash or the front of the roof liner. After trying different things to locate what was rattling my wife pressed down on the circular cover just forward of the arm rest and most of the rattles stopped. I am not sure if it is only the pivoting cover that is rattling or the whole structure. The cooler it is outside that noisier it is.

 

I'm wondering if these rattles are due to the way the dashboard is constructed. I don't think it is poor build quality, but poor design is probably the culprit. I bet if you drive a Lexus sedan you won't hear rattles like you hear in a Prius. I once leased a 1999 Lexus RX300 and after it accumulated over 40,000 miles it definitely was NOT rattle free. As I mentioned previously in this thread, German cars are virtually rattle free. Toyota should dismantle a BMW dash and learn a few lessons. I do not agree with a previous poster that due to the fact that the Prius is a hatchback it is more prone to squeaks and rattles. I've owned an Audi Allroad and it was tight as a drum. Besides, most of the rattles people are complaining about seem to be coming from the dash. I'd be pissed. I definitely want to get a new Prius when mine expires, but I will give the Fusion a good look if these issues aren't addressed.

 

What is amazing to me reading these posts on the rattles is that these are practically new cars with rattles; 1400 miles is new. Would the warranty apply if it happened on the test drives?

 

So far I have not been filled with confidence in Toyota from reading though the wheel squeak thread....

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...wheels-during-rolling-start-7.html#post970936

 

I would hope it would be for the bumper to bumper 36k warranty. GM has always fixed and paid for any issues i have had with there cars. I can't see Toyota saying just deal with it.

I am waiting for maybe a fix for the floating console creak/rattle from them before i go in, i have a few other rattles and noises too. This is the only thing about my car i can honestly say gm did a better job, in 4 new cars from them i have never had a car this bad sounding inside the cabin. I'm worried how much worse it will get in the winter.

 

Your post describes the -exact- situation I have been experiencing with my car. It's a design issue, the engineered plastic parts were poorly designed and made of cheap, brittle plastics. I am profoundly disappointed with my car because of this. Every crack in the road elicits a noise from the armrest area with nothing inside! I've jammed paper towels in there, and keep trying something new every day. The temps in Northern Va are dropping into the 50s and it's worse than the Summer.
I would sell my car tomorrow with 5k miles in a heartbeat if I could. Toyota quality? Not in this car. It's more like a cheap rental car from the airport at this point. I will never buy a Toyota again.

 

Still amazes me that some are experiencing this and others not so much. If it was a build issue, then we all would be experiencing it. It's mind boggling to those who are experiencing this I can assure you. I had a few little ones but they are gone now. Today I did have one and finally figured out it was the passengers metal seat belt clip hitting the side door frame. I slide it down and was quiet as normal. The console area has remained quiet and as promised in a earlier post if it comes back I have an idea and will let you know if it worked...

 

this is terrible.

i have a Prius on order with a $500 deposit.

after reading this thread, I'm seriously thinking about calling the whole thing off.

WHAT a buzz-kill. :-(

 

My Prius creaks going over driveways and such but that doesn't bother me.

I have an intermittent rattle which drives me crazy when it occurs. It can be best described as someone tapping their fingernail very lightly at quick speeds on a piece of plastic.

What is strange is that this rattle will come and go as it pleases. Today I went to the store and had the rattle on the entire journey over. Came back and it was gone.

Mine is somehow related to the passenger seat. I can hit the passenger seat and the sound is replicated...only when it is present though. One day I'll try to take the time to figure it out.

 

Maybe we should mail this thread to toyota japan ? Waky waky time...

 

best idea yet! I am planning on printing out this entire post and bringing it to my dealer. I thought I had a lemon but now realize that's not the case. Let's face it Toyota cut corners to keep costs down.

 

I too hear some odd creaking/rattling/buzzing sounds from time to time in my IV. And, they do all sounds like "plastic on plastic" rattlings. Nothing so far that has really made me regret my purchase though. I guess some people are more sensitive to that kind of audio annoyances. This has been an issue for all models of Prius as I can best determine- I can see that even Luscious Garage in San Francisco even has it on their list of jobs they do, hunting down and de-rattling a dash...
Luscious Garage | Hybrid Specialists | Modifications
Towards the bottom of that page is this:
Dashboard Padding
Hybrid owners are occasionally haunted by noises behind the dash. Rattle hunters, we arm ourselves with foam adhesive, tape, and padding. Visible interior remains original and unmarred.
Available on all models
Time: 60 minutes per concern
Total: $120/hour

 

Our model IV is absolutely quiet in the cabin (1400 miles). Sorry to hear from those that have the noises. Perhaps a poll should be started to determine exactly how widespread this problem is.