Very subtle rattle/vibration from dashboard

[Dakkas Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dakkas]

Have a 2015 D4D and I get a subtle rattle/vibration when accelerating and it hits 1700rpm. Only these revs, nothing either side.
And sounds like coming from just beyond the steering wheel? But could be behind speedos on the dash? Hard to tell.
When I adjust the height and distance of the steering wheel it goes away for a while. Thinking maybe something in there?
Not too bad but of course it's the only rattle and sometimes annoying....

I get exactly the same thing. 2010 GXL. Can't pinpoint it - frustrating!

[chop Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close chop]

Had a similar rattle which turned into a squeak. For months thought it was coming from the centre dashboard/ console area.... One day I randomly found it was the "Roll Toll pay thingy" behind my windshield rear vision mirror. Months of anguish resolved
We men are simple creatures 😊.

[SaltBoxII Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close SaltBoxII]

Hi All!

Signed up this morning specially so that I could contribute to this. I've been searching for a similar vibration for two and a bit years and I think I've fixed it! Hoping this helps a few members.

From new, we had the same noise (along with many many others). My issue specifically was a very subtle buzz / vibration around 16-1700 rpm, and seemed to be exacerbated by rough roads of bumps. Running over reflectors at any rpm would do the same, so I figure it was resonating through the steering column.

Around a year ago, on a long road trip I was able to confirm that it was definitely the steering wheel. Several months later, half a dozen dealer visits ("road tested and couldn't fault") and jamming bits of sponge in the gaps at the top of the wheel, still no fix.. I was just about ready to fill the steering wheel with expanding foam!

Anyway, while stuck behind an accident on the M2 heading to central west the other night, I started messing about with it and ended up jamming a bent pen lid in to the top left gap of the horn / air bag cover. For the rest of the 3 hour trip, no noise! The next day I filled the void with some packing sponge and for the 4 hour trip back home; no noise. We practically drove the whole way home at 1600 rpm, and I couldn't make it buzz. I think it's gone!



Only problem now, is that the Prado seems to have a need to vent it's vibrations somewhere, so now something else is rattling away... The battle continues.

[Nifty07 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Nifty07]

Found the low RPM vibration which sounded like it was behind the dash and could feel it in the steering wheel.

The fix was easy. The first problem being the air cleaner box with the snorkel fitted. Had to slightly move the box so the intake through the guard was centred. I used a couple of pieces of plastic (was clear plastic hose cut so it could be inserted flat. These were installed to position the air intake where it penetrates through the guard so the round plastic pipe (air intake to filter box) sits centred. I used a bit of shim under the air intake filter box fitting screws to centre to intake.

The second was where the guard panel meets the roof panel on the pillar. I found the guard panel was slightly bent towards the windscreen which was causing it to vibrate against the panel from the roof. I removed the plastic moulding (near windscreen wiper) and slightly bent the guard panel up to provide some clearance.

Hey presto - no more vibration noise, no more vibration in the steering.

Very happy, and it cost nothing.

[Tholder Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Tholder]

I have just purchased a new 2016 Prado. I've just noticed the same noise. 1650km and 3 weeks old. Sounds like the rattle is coming from CD player.

[Tholder Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Tholder]

Ditto

[Ken1 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Ken1]

Well, I have had a 2013 GXL for a few months, and there is a squeaky vibration coming from (I think) the roof trim around the drivers side vanity light. It only occurs at around 1400-1500 RPM and only when the engine is under load (ie when we're moving). It sounds like there is a noisy cricket loose in the car. I though it might have been the vanity light itself as I had just levered it out to do the LED replacement thing with all the interior lights 2 day prior, but I drove around for 10 minutes with the light hanging out by the wires, and it isn't the fitting.

I'm thinking about pulling off the ceiling trim to try and figure out where this rattle is coming from. Does anyone have any hints/tips/instructions for dismantling the ceiling trim?

[Ken1 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Ken1]

Well, after an hour of driving around with the mechanic at the Toyota dealership, we finally found and fixed that squeak. At first we thought it was the airbox as it was a similar noise to that problem in previous models, but a quick look found that it had been addressed with some insulation, though a bit more was warranted. In the end, the mechanic found that a lump of silicon (presumably from when the windscreen had been replaced in the past) had jammed under a platic guard at the bottom of the drivers side pillar. Removed that and problem solved. At 1500rpm it was causing the guard to vibrate which was causing the pillar to vibrate, then the roof, then the ceiling trim.

[Pradoit Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Pradoit]

Hi mate, my 2016 D4D has got the same rattle. My one normally happens when the engine is around 1400-1600rpm. It comes from the bonnet at the right. It's so annoying. It's like a light metal paddle shaking or knocking there. Every time the engine goes through that area I feel so uncomfortable. Has got the Toyota dealership checked but still the same. They has tried to touch and check any possible point under the hood but still there. Frustrating.