I have a one year old SX i30 and for the entire time that I have had the car I've had a frequent metalic rattle (one of the dealer service guys described it as jingle bells). It took me awhile to realize the connection but it only makes the rattle when the car body gets warmed up by being out in the sun. I have worked with the dealer (been in 6 times on this issue now) after I raised it during my 15,000km service. They replaced one of the struts that opens the tailgate and, when that didn't fix it, they took the hatch to a smash repairer and redid many of the spot welds. They had the car for a couple days and then it smelled like paint for awhile afterward - they said they had rewelded things and put a padding between the various pieces guaranteeing it won't rattle. It, of couse, still rattles.

It still is rattling pretty much whenever I park it outside for awhile (there is an undercover car part at home and work so that is not all of the time). It is very high pitched (sounds like a bell) and loud enough where I can hear it over the radio.

Then there is the rattle that comes from my glove box (even when it is empty) as well.

I am not sure how to proceed - these rattles really get to me and I think the dealer is about done with working with me on it. Do I have to just live with it? I am a bit concerned that they found dodgy/broken spot welds on my hatch - if they didn't weld that together properly what else didn't they? Once they found those they got more cooperative and offered to have them fixed. I both got a sense that they considered the matter closed and didn't want to hear from me again and I am startting to feel guilty about a 7th visit on this issue. I suppose I could go to another dealer or maybe that is worse/suspicious?

I have been happy with the car otherwise but these two noises, the rattle from the back in particular, are killing it for me and making me regret the Hyundai purchase every time I hear them...

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance...

This post has been edited by alwaysanon: Mar 13 2009, 09:04 AM

I'd try the not-so-obvious things as an experiment. Try putting the rear seats in their collapsed position for a while. See if you can hear more or less. Try driving without the spare tyre & tools for a bit as well. The less that can absorb the sound the more likely you are to be able to pinpoint it.

Then get yourself over to www.i30ownersclub.com (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I've got an irritating rattle coming from the rear of my i30 too. It only does it over rough road surfaces - and like most of these things - on some days it doesn't do it at all.

It sounds like a different noise to the one above though - more a quiet, clunky, tappy sound - I'm pretty sure it's not mechanical and seems to come from tailgate area. I've tried taking out spare and tools and that makes no difference. It's not suepension noise either. I've had back seats down and greased everythign and checked all screws tight. I'm now sticking bits of foam in various places to see if I can stop it to work out where it's coming from.

I haven't yet taken it back to dealer for them to look at it as I'm hoping to identify the cause first. I've had these things with cars in past and you can bet when you take it in, it won't do it for them.

Funny thing is, everything seems very well put together and well fitting and the tailgate seems to shut tightly with no obvious movement.

Frustrating ....

Otherwise it's a good car.

My i30's just crossed 20,000 km's and it's also got a case of the rattles. One from each front door, one from the glovebox, one from the dash, one from the rear somewhere, and another one that only happens when I have rear passengers.

I know from experience with my previous car (2006 Honda Civic) that taking rattles up with the dealer is quite a fruitless exercise. Generally you learn to live with it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)