Annoying Wind Noise
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Driver School Candidate
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 27
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From: CA
The 4Runner was quite an enjoyable vehicle. I never noticed any wind noise that exceeded the vehicle's noise floor. The CRV on the other hand was a noisy buggy. That 4 cylinder engine was far from quiet but again I never detected any wind noise too.
One can argue the RX has a low noise floor to begin with making all other noise more noticeable.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 27
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From: CA
I should also mention when I'm driving, I don't drive with everything turned off trying to listen for every creak, rattle, or tussle in the vehicle. I like to have my fan setting on "lowest", not off, and the radio going at moderate volumes. At such an ambient level, I just find the wind turbulence annoying when I can hear it over my music.
After some more thought, I will bring this issue up again when I take my vehicle in for my 10K mile service. Maybe by then there will be some kind of TSB addressing this.
After some more thought, I will bring this issue up again when I take my vehicle in for my 10K mile service. Maybe by then there will be some kind of TSB addressing this.
Last edited by 20mpg; Jun 8, 2011 at 03:34 PM.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 7
From: AZ
I had a 4Runner prior to the RX. My RX is so much quieter than the 4Runner and especially with regard to wind noise, big reduction. I have completely removed my roof rails and crossbars, not sure if that is part of it.
Good Luck, I hope Lexus resolves your problem.
Good Luck, I hope Lexus resolves your problem.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 27
Likes: 2
From: CA
I already have my crossbars removed but left on the roof rails because I like the look of them. Did you notice more wind noise prior to removing all your roof hardware?
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 38
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From: TX
It's Not Hard to Believe...
My previous 2003 Honda Pilot with roof rails and all, had less wind noise but much more road noise. My family's 2006 Toyota Highlander with roof rails too, has less wind noise than my 2011 RX350's. There are times that I'm not annoyed but also times when I'm annoyed by excessive wind noise (by Lexus standards), especially on days where the weather is calm and I'm taking it easy on the freeway, going between 60-70 MPH. I've driven two 2011 RX350's with the silver roof rails, and they exhibited the same wind noise at 70+MPH on the freeway. I'm starting to believe all the RX's (with the silver roof rails or not) are prone to wind noise at freeway speed 70+MPH. Lexus only think people drive 55-60MPH on the freeway?
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Rookie
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Ca
I have to agree with the post from The X Men above. I drive 125 mile trip all freeway 75+ quite often to the Bay Area and I really do not hear any noise from the roof rack. This car so far is quiet and smooth with no wind noise from the windows or the roof rack with the rails on it. I also have a 2004 4-Runner with roof racks and it is pretty damn quiet also. I feel that for an SUV both of mine are quiet and very solid feeling and it is very easy to loose track of your speed out on the open road because they are so quiet.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 38
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From: TX
Will Drive More RX's
Maybe I should say that I need to test drive more RX's in order to have a more informed conclusion. But here's my problem...it's the wife's car so I only drive it on the weekend and drive it exclusively with the radio off as we are transporting two kids. So as one can imagine, it quieter than having music playing inside the car (along with my good hearing), any detectable wind noise will be audible. On rare occasions, I drive the car alone and turn up the music 30-35 for the volume and I usually don't notice any wind noise. I guess my expectation was way too high for the quiet cabin everybody talks about in a Lexus.
I have to agree with the post from The X Men above. I drive 125 mile trip all freeway 75+ quite often to the Bay Area and I really do not hear any noise from the roof rack. This car so far is quiet and smooth with no wind noise from the windows or the roof rack with the rails on it. I also have a 2004 4-Runner with roof racks and it is pretty damn quiet also. I feel that for an SUV both of mine are quiet and very solid feeling and it is very easy to loose track of your speed out on the open road because they are so quiet.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: May 2011
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From: Makkah
I personally am not trying to smear Lexus's reputation, but with all honesty, the RX's main problem lies in the very poor wind reduction, and it's causing me a lot of pain. I really don't feel that interested in letting the techs at Lexus check out this problem. All I need to know is where exactly the noise coming from? I bought 3 meters of foam tapes that are used to insulate some openings in mid-size RC air planes preventing wind from intruding and I thought it might work on my RX, but where shall put them? Any ideas?
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 27
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From: CA
Update on this wind noise problem that's been a torn on my side.
I basically stumbled into where the noise is coming from. On the driver side window, I hear wind rustling/whirling noise from the bottom of window while the window is completely rolled up. If I roll down the window just a smidge, say 1mm, the noise is gone!!! Roll it back up, and the noise is back.
This is easily reproduced in the morning while it's still relatively cold outside. Once the car has been out in the sun, it's no longer easy to reproduce this problem. Must have to do with the seals expanding when it warms up.
Now I can't wait until I bring this back to the dealer. I need to wait for it to get cold around here in N. California first. That should happen in a few more weeks!
I basically stumbled into where the noise is coming from. On the driver side window, I hear wind rustling/whirling noise from the bottom of window while the window is completely rolled up. If I roll down the window just a smidge, say 1mm, the noise is gone!!! Roll it back up, and the noise is back.
This is easily reproduced in the morning while it's still relatively cold outside. Once the car has been out in the sun, it's no longer easy to reproduce this problem. Must have to do with the seals expanding when it warms up.
Now I can't wait until I bring this back to the dealer. I need to wait for it to get cold around here in N. California first. That should happen in a few more weeks!
Driver School Candidate
Joined: May 2011
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From: Makkah
I also figured out the source of the wind noise, and that's the rear pillars of the front windows, both of them. I noticed that when I lowerd down the windows, air was causing a great buff like noise when it's hitting the pillars. When I raise up the windows, the sound is still audible. All I need to do is find a way to open those pillars and install the insulation foamies. Hopefully it'll work.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Sep 2012
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2010 RX350 Wind Noise Resolved
I have an early build (04/09) 2010 RX350. The wind noise at 60 MPH+ was substantial enough to cause me to wonder if something was amiss. There was no air leakage, too much noise compared to how quiet the rest of the car was. I took it into the Lexus dealer to be checked out. They called me back the next day and said that the wind noise level was normal. If I had not had a 2012 RX350 loaner that was substantially quieter I probably would have taken them for their word. I protested and they offered to do a ride-a long with me about this and another mechanical rattle issue they told me didn't exist either. Before going in I did my homework and found a TSB issued for early build RX350 models that had poor acoustic glass quality. The TSB recommended that the dealer replace both front windows with updated acoustic glass. After reminding him about the TSB, sure enough the tech confessed that the wind noise was more than usual and offered to replace the glass. It's now much quieter!
p.s. the mechanical rattle turned out to be a bad steering column. I'm glad I pursued both issues further!
p.s. the mechanical rattle turned out to be a bad steering column. I'm glad I pursued both issues further!
Last edited by CharlieP; Oct 3, 2012 at 07:39 PM.
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