Well I seem to have a rattler. Actually I seem to have a bunch of noises I'm not too happy with, and the dealership isn't being very helpful so far - they've had it a few times and have always come back with some excuse, e.g. "that's normal" or "couldn't nail it down". Hopefully someone here has some ideas...

1. A "flutter" somewhere around the front passenger side door. Appears at around 40mph. 100% reproducable. Not very loud but surprisingly annoying in an otherwise very quiet car.

2. A harsh resonant buzz somwehere inside the dash. Usually set off by a truck pulling away nearby, but some music does it too. Rare, but it sounds cheap and nasty.

3. A loud/intense low frequency engine/drivetrain related noise. Again, rare, but the first time it happened I thought the exhaust had blown. No effect on power or steering or anything else, just a noise. Has only happened a couple of times - lasts for maybe 10-20 seconds then goes away.

About 5000 miles on the clock. It's a great car otherwise - to some extent a victim of it's own smoothness. In my old Explorer I would probably never have noticed these noises over the general background noise level.

 

I have 14k after 12 months of ownership --- not a rattle or sqeak -- still smells new!

 

1. moonroof
2. Driver and passenger seat

so far (and hopefully that's only it)

 

The 05 along with the present 06 GX that I have is tight as a Lexus should be and I expect it to stay that way. If not, I will be hounding the dealer to repair it.

 

I have the moonroof rattle, and I have been to the dealer numerous times to have it fixed. In the end it came down to something about the RSES and how becasue of that they could not secure something... ambiguous I know but the dealer fixed it the best they could and said that it will not rattle as long as the sunshade is closed.

I also have a really annoying one that just developed in the passenger side door, most likley because my son does not understand that when he rides in my car the door does not need to be shut using all of his upper body strength, and because he also does not understand that the volume of the stereo does not need to be set to deafening levels when he drives it.

 

I've managed to track down the "harsh resonant buzz" a bit more. It's coming from somewhere around the passenger side sun visor, not the dash. Specifically it sounds like it's coming from the clip near the middle of the windshield. No idea what's causing it though, and it looks like it would be a ***** to get at...

 

The best way to fix rattles is not to rely on the dealer... they could send a few guys out in it for a test drive and none of them would figure it out because they dont know exactly what to listen for, nor do they have the ultra-sensitive hearing that some people like yourself normally do. Use felt pads that can be tucked into seams, such things like that. If you hear a resonant buzz rattle, it is most likely that STUPID weatherstripping in the door panels... those things drove me nuts until i eventually ripped it all out and stuffed the door full of polyester.