we own a 2006 40h and we get this crazy wobbling sound that makes your brain want to explode. we have a dog booster chair in the rear seat on the passenger side (not driver) and when we roll down for the dog to look out, we get this horrible wobbly sound that makes your eardrums want to explode. hard to explain the feeling but there's a lot of pressure on your eardrums for both front seats passengers. but if you slightly roll down the drivers window just an inch, it balances out and the wobble disappears. but if you just open the passenger side rear window has anyone ever noticed this aerodynamic oddity? or can someone try this out on their car for us? simply roll down the rear passenger side window while driving and see if it creates strange pressure on your ears thanks!
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Google 'cavity resonance'

 

Just about every vehicle I have owned has done this.

 

crack open opposite front window and it'll stop resonating. Happens to just about every vehicle as this is science driven. Think of blowing air over an open bottle which makes it resonate. Same concept.

 

This resonance is more pronounced in the newer aerodynamic cars. These cars are really meant to be driven with window closed. They mentioned it several times in the "Car Talk" show on NPR.

 

^Correct. It's ironic how in-aerodynamic cars (ie older cars) would resonate less - thus use of wind deflectors would help with this problem as it creates air pockets.

If you don't mind the slightly ugly look of wind deflectors, that might be your solution if you like to drive with windows open. If you have sunroof, I personally feel it's a must have to get sunroof wind deflectors.

 

I once drove 2 hours towing our 30foot gooseneck trailer to haul the in-law's car home. They were headed on vacation and the mother in law was convinced the car was breaking down. A strange noise from the rear end of a front wheel drive car. I said it would have to be a wheel bearing. They rented a car and kept going. My dad and me got there and before loading it on the trailer, I took it for a spin, nothing. Ran,.drove like a champ. I drove it all the way home. When they got back, she couldn't believe it wasn't broken. Made me drive her around for half an hour. Finally, she lit up a smoke and I hit the rear windows down button and she yelled see, there it is. I Just shook my head and took her home.

 

it's the first car i've ever had do that. and regretfully, yes cracking the front window eliminates it but now i have the window in front open and thats just as annoying. sucks on hot days.

 

once you open a 2nd window, the problem goes away.....

 

There used to be a lot of cars that would come into the shop for the same exact problem...some people just don't get it.