06 Sonata - Rear Clunking Noise

This is driving me crazy. After hitting smaller bumps going no more than 40
mph I hear what appears to be a recurring clunking/rattling noise almost as
if the rear suspension isn't absorbing the impact (it is though). It's a
definite rattle and related to hitting the bump. It's most pronounced in
the passenger rear as I had a friend drive me around while I was in the
trunk. I've heard some talk briefly about this, but no fixes have been
offered or suggested. It's been to the dealer to no avail and I've even
driven the same vehicle and the noise is present in that too. It's a GLS
with V6 and 17" tires. Anyone else experiencing this too?

 

It's probably the gas tank. Try again with a very full tank, and see if the
noise is cured.

 

sounds like a dealer service issue, with or without a full tank of gas is
irrelevant. take it and have them look at it.

also, how well do you trust you friend driving you in the trunk? that would
concern me a lot more.

 

Yep, I have the problem too.

It's not related to the fuel level... I tested that last night.

As soon as the weather warms up a little in May, I will be climbing
underneath the car and pushing, shoving, and tapping on things to find out
what's loose back there. I bet a little neoprene foam could work wonders.

If you listen for it, it will drive you nuts. Ignore it... if you can.

PS: Did you test the internal trunk release? Hey, Jimmy Hoffa could be alive
today if he would have had one.

 

This is driving me crazy. After hitting smaller bumps going no more than
40

Yep, I have the problem too.

It's not related to the fuel level... I tested that last night.

As soon as the weather warms up a little in May, I will be climbing
underneath the car and pushing, shoving, and tapping on things to find
out
what's loose back there. I bet a little neoprene foam could work wonders.

If you listen for it, it will drive you nuts. Ignore it... if you can.


PS: Did you test the internal trunk release? Hey, Jimmy Hoffa could be
alive
today if he would have had one.
--
Bob

-------------------------------------------------

Okay so here is the sccop,

I bought a 2006 GLS V6 in October 2005 and last week I had a "come to
Jesus meeting" with my dealer after my car has been in the shop 9 times
since I bought it. I have had all the same issues as discussed here and
more and here is the sccop.

The Clunking Noise:

A design flaw in the suspension system that Hyundai is aware of but no fix
for it yet. It is possible to minimize the noise in some cases. Part of
the noise may be coming from the jack and the styrofoam it is sitting in.
Try removing it. Also the spare tire cover (Black plastic shheting) that
covers your trunk has two plastic/metal clips that fit directly into two
holes that are in the frame of the car body. Try insulating them with
foam to prevent rattling. While these alone will not get rid of the
clunking it may help minimize it.

Two additional problems I have had:

With a full tank of gas you will hear a rumbling noise for about 20-25
miles after you fill up. This is the result of no baffles in the gas
tank. Again Hyundai is aware of it but no fix yet.

The last one is a high pitched whine that my car and others have developed
at around the 60 to 70 MPH mark (2K RPM). After much fighting with my
dealership and Hyundai they have finally admitted that this too is a
design flaw dealing with the Variable Intake Manifold. When the air comes
in it causes a high pitched whine. They know it and have not figured a fix
for it.

Hope all this information helps.

 

The clunking in the suspension is unfortunately a characteristic of the
vehicle. The noise transmits too well from the suspension through the
rear shock mounts and there is little insulation in the rear area of the
vehicle. I have no idea whether Hyundai intends to address these issues
with design revisions or whether such revisions can be made retroactive.

 

Wonder if poly urethane washers could be used to help isolate the noise
transmitted through the shock mounts?

 

HT, is there any indication as to why only some vehicles experience this
noise? A friend of mine recently picked up an '06 LX, and I hear this
noise while in his car, but not in my '06 GLS V6.

Eric

 

Thanks for the info. Good to hear that these issues have been reported
to Hyundai Motor co...My 2006 Sonata GLS V6, 1500 miles, has the first
two...clunking rear and rumbling gas tank when full. Please post any
solutions you have found...

Thanks,
Seppo

 

1 thing is for sure, we haven't heard the last of this one. The natives are
getting restless...

 

Doubtful that it's just a "noisy" suspension. I got a chance to ride in the
trunk and it's only from the passenger side, not the driver's. The noise
isn't a clunk and then it's over. It's goes on for a couple seconds
sounding as if something is loose. I highly suspect the exhaust system, but
haven't given it enough look-see yet. Perhaps the rubber isolators in the
hangars are to blame. Let me know if anyone else has any ideas.

 

It sounds like you may have an actual problem then, Zy. If that's the
case, the dealer should be willing to investigate until they determine the
cause and repair it. I've seen a couple with itching noises, but never an
actual abnormal clunk noise. I did have one car, however, where the
customer was complaining of an inaccurate fuel gauge and found the fuel
pump module broken off the mounting plate in the top of the tank, leaving
the module loose enough to bounce around the tank.

 

A coworker investigated the suspension noise on one car (V6, unsure of trim
level). He found it to be coming from both rear strut tower areas. And it
sounded like shock noise. Everything was tight. He also drove another car
with the same package and it sounded the same.

In fact, I thought the noise was present in all. But it's possible the
suspensions are different in some models, causing the noise to not be
present in all of them.

 

It is entirely possible that the sound is present in my car also. I just
have never noticed it. And I am usually sensitive to that kind of noise
too. I will listen for it further and see if I can reproduce it.

Eric

 

You guys have my sympathy, because noises like that can be a real nightmare
to fix.

Let's HOPE it's the shocks themselves. That would be the most painless
remedy for Hyundai, the dealers, and the customers. <fingers crossed!>

Even if the shocks aren't defective, perhaps another shock profile can heel
in the noise. That could also possibly fix that little "floaty" feeling you
get on smooth roads at cruising speeds.

 

[original post is likely clipped to save bandwidth]

That type of issue was exactly what I suspected with my 06 sonata.

It does not sound like an unusual noise or noise level to me! Rather, the
vehicle is so quiet in all other respects it really stands out. On many
cars, the same noise would be masked by others.

Given that, if the intent was to make a very quiet car, it is a defect in
design. Sure hope they can fix it.

gerry