[kephrentv]

Hi guys,

Sorry for my English, i'm french.

I have a Volt 2018 for 3 months. For the past month I have weird cracking issue in back of my car. I feel that this problem came when it start to be cold here -15 and more.

Do you guys know what can be the problem? I've look at the side panel but it looks OK. I've heard story about the hatch ?

Thankl you.

 

[bmaltais]

Hi. Funny. I have something similar but coming from the front left wheel (driver side). It is some sort of "knock" noise like i you hear when there is a bad ball joint... but it can't be that. It happen if I accelerate, break, while turning, but not all the time.

And what is strange is that I don't hear it at all when I get out of my heated garage. It only start after the car is out in the cold (-15C or below) for a while. Very annoying.

I also have a Volt 2018 but only 3 weeks old.

 

[Eagleco]

We had a rattle noise over bumps on our 2018 Volt and it turned out to be the hatch. The two adjustable bumpers on the hatch had to be turned so it would close more tightly. They are on either side near the bottom of the hatch itself. They are easily turned by hand. Colder weather would tend to make this more likely, as everything contracts a bit in the cold.

 

[lagagnon]

Eagleco is probably correct. Also ensure all the tire stuff under the mat floor is screwed in tightly. Then take the side panel off completely, and see if that reduces noise. I had to make some modifications to that side panel to get it to fit snugly.

 

[Steverino]

Is the car kept in a heated garage?

In Gen 1 Volts, the thermal expansion/contraction of the spoiler on the hatch can make a sound like an acorn hitting the back of the car. So moving from a warm garage to the cold outside can cause the plastic spoiler to contract quickly making a pop or bang or crack sound.

 

[pcasey]

My new 2018 Volt is almost two months old, and I've had the rear hatch rattle on and off since Day One. It comes and goes. I've adjusted the bumpers, and this has helped, but the rattle returns from time to time. It seems to be worse as outside temps get colder.

I occasionally would hear a sharp crack that seemed to come from under the dash. It sounded exactly like a rock hitting the windshield, which we get a lot of here in New Mexico. Turned out to be the plastic bottle of water expanding while sitting in the cupholder in the center console. I think most noises are caused by the contents of the car rather than the car itself.

I don't have much else to complain about, though. The car is darned near perfect.

 

[JRRF]

My 2017 has a rattle in the rear right when going over small bumps. It sounds like a bad ball joint or loose/bad strut bushing. I guess it could be the hatch, but I never checked that. Frankly the sound seems to be external to the cabin. I haven't had a chance to take it to the dealer, but will eventually.

 

[Sly Bob]

Just thought I'd post a quick note here to say thanks to those that suggested that a rattle in the rear could be the hatch rattling. It's been bugging me for a while, the only noise that this car makes as it goes down the road. A simple 10 second adjustment to wind the stops out about 1/2 turn each side, about 4 clicks each, solved all by problems.
Thanks again guys for the idea, I read this thread years ago and had almost forgotten about it.

 

[JRRF]

Just thought I'd post a quick note here to say thanks to those that suggested that a rattle in the rear could be the hatch rattling. It's been bugging me for a while, the only noise that this car makes as it goes down the road. A simple 10 second adjustment to wind the stops out about 1/2 turn each side, about 4 clicks each, solved all by problems.
Thanks again guys for the idea, I read this thread years ago and had almost forgotten about it.

I did this once but now find I need to do it again.

 

[Sly Bob]

I did this once but now find I need to do it again.

When I looked at the bumpers you could tell that they have been compressed ever so slightly which I suppose what the issue is. I know that when closing the hatch it has a more solid sound than it did in the past.