Excessive wind and tire/road noise

Gijun Lee · Apr 30, 2019

I purchased 2019 XLE Prem early April. I did not notice during the test drive. Maybe, I was just excited about the car. In the last couple of days, I have noticed that RAV4 has some issue with noise. Around 50 miles per hour or so, wind noise becomes excessive. It is a little bit better than windows opened. Around 65 milers per hour, the tire/road noise is so excessive that I can't hear the radio. In general, Japanese cars are noisier than domestics, but this is too much noise.

I chose Toyota because it has relatively less engine issues. But I started regretting the purchase. I did not expect this level of noise.

Do you guys feel the same way? Is there anything that I can do mitigate the noise?

PDPete · Apr 30, 2019

Maybe it’s the particular tires that came with it?

It’s no secret that engine noise is one of the critical points of this model, but in my experience, it’s mainly during acceleration that I notice that...at cruising highway speeds I don’t find the noise level disruptive at all. (Wind noise gets a bit rough when I’ve got my ski racks attached, but that’s expected).

If you’re getting “road noise” at highway speeds loud enough to drown out the radio, I can’t say that matches my experience...which is why I’d maybe question the tires...?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Sunken · Apr 30, 2019

Yup, it's louder than other in the segment. IF you lurk around the forum you will notice the same opinion.

Astrodoof · Apr 30, 2019

"Can't hear the radio" sounds a bit worse than usual. I have the same trim and don't have any issues. I'm not a fan of the low speed engine noise but highway noise is not a problem.

Granted, maybe my radio is too loud.

Colonel · Apr 30, 2019

Astrodoof said:
Granted, maybe my radio is too loud.

Is there such a thing? >

dsn · Apr 30, 2019

Gijun Lee said:
I purchased 2019 XLE Prem early April. I did not notice during the test drive. Maybe, I was just excited about the car. In the last couple of days, I have noticed that RAV4 has some issue with noise. Around 50 miles per hour or so, wind noise becomes excessive. It is a little bit better than windows opened. Around 65 milers per hour, the tire/road noise is so excessive that I can't hear the radio. In general, Japanese cars are noisier than domestics, but this is too much noise.

I chose Toyota because it has relatively less engine issues. But I started regretting the purchase. I did not expect this level of noise.

Do you guys feel the same way? Is there anything that I can do mitigate the noise?

Totally 'normal' for this car. I bought mine mid-march and what a disappointment, but I guess we gotta live with it! Not only wind noise, but the loud engine, the rattles in the driver door and the vibrating side mirrors.

Astrodoof · Apr 30, 2019

dsn said:
Totally 'normal' for this car. I bought mine mid-march and what a disappointment, but I guess we gotta live with it! Not only wind noise, but the loud engine, the rattles in the driver door and the vibrating side mirrors.

Don’t settle man. Raise hell at the dealership. My mirrors are rock still at 75 mph and there are no rattles at all. It’s anything but normal. Sounds like sloppy assembly somewhere.

dsn · Apr 30, 2019

Astrodoof said:
dsn said:

Totally 'normal' for this car. I bought mine mid-march and what a disappointment, but I guess we gotta live with it! Not only wind noise, but the loud engine, the rattles in the driver door and the vibrating side mirrors.

Click to expand...

Don’t settle man. Raise hell at the dealership. My mirrors are rock still at 75 mph and there are no rattles at all. It’s anything but normal. Sounds like sloppy assembly somewhere.

Yea, I have to setup an appointment to go to the dealer and complain about it. Believe me, it is really disappointing, specially coming from a previous disappointment with Honda. You gave me some hope with that comment. Thanks.

Quickdtoo · Apr 30, 2019

dsn said:
Totally 'normal' for this car. I bought mine mid-march and what a disappointment, but I guess we gotta live with it! Not only wind noise, but the loud engine, the rattles in the driver door and the vibrating side mirrors.

Wind noise isn't any worse than my previous Rav4s, engine noise is worse, but not after adding hood insulation, much quieter now, and I have no rattles or vibrating mirrors, so make your dealer fix the rattles and mirrors. :wink

Darayn · May 1, 2019

Gijun Lee said:
I purchased 2019 XLE Prem early April. I did not notice during the test drive. Maybe, I was just excited about the car. In the last couple of days, I have noticed that RAV4 has some issue with noise. Around 50 miles per hour or so, wind noise becomes excessive. It is a little bit better than windows opened. Around 65 milers per hour, the tire/road noise is so excessive that I can't hear the radio. In general, Japanese cars are noisier than domestics, but this is too much noise.

I chose Toyota because it has relatively less engine issues. But I started regretting the purchase. I did not expect this level of noise.

Do you guys feel the same way? Is there anything that I can do mitigate the noise?

Coming from my 2015 Hyundai Sonata, I do notice a good bit of wind noise above the driver side. The engine noise doesn't really bother me, but I am wondering if doing some sound dampening to the door would help the wind noise. There is another thread with a user doing sound dampening that could be very beneficial for those willing to try and deaden the sound. So far its the only complaint, but I can turn up the radio to about 18 with my phone all the way up and I can't hear the wind noise.

Sunken · May 1, 2019

That user is me lol. I finished the project and the road and wind noise did go down enough to be noticable. 8DB less acording to a reader.

Gijun Lee · May 2, 2019

I thought about bringing the car to dealership for check. Reading all the posts, this is normal for Rav4 or I am a little more sensitive to noise. It would be a perfect car if Toyota put more insulation into the car. Well, maybe I am expecting too much

. Thank you for all good replies.

dcmb2003 · May 2, 2019

Gijun Lee said:
I purchased 2019 XLE Prem early April. I did not notice during the test drive. Maybe, I was just excited about the car. In the last couple of days, I have noticed that RAV4 has some issue with noise. Around 50 miles per hour or so, wind noise becomes excessive. It is a little bit better than windows opened. Around 65 milers per hour, the tire/road noise is so excessive that I can't hear the radio. In general, Japanese cars are noisier than domestics, but this is too much noise.

I chose Toyota because it has relatively less engine issues. But I started regretting the purchase. I did not expect this level of noise.

Do you guys feel the same way? Is there anything that I can do mitigate the noise?

Take off the cross bars if you have them. Helps a lot with wind noise. Engine noise will come down with more miles and as you adjust to it. Don't floor the pedals at lower gears but press gently to allow the car to shift to higher gears which are quieter.

cobb1887 · May 2, 2019

dsn said:
Yea, I have to setup an appointment to go to the dealer and complain about it. Believe me, it is really disappointing, specially coming from a previous disappointment with Honda. You gave me some hope with that comment. Thanks.

I've been trying to get a fix on the mirror shakes since January with nothing from either the dealer or manf.

Still at a standstill as now (2) dealers can't do anything with it being a "characteristic" and manufacturing doesn't deem it an issue to warrant seeking a TSB. I've even had direct contact with the regional ARM to no success.

They are comfortable with the fact that their mirrors shake on certain trims from Japan. It doesn't happen on all which is why some are fine as mentioned in the thread.

Quickdtoo · May 2, 2019

Side mirror rattles are apparently caused by loose mounting which should be explored by service and easily corrected, it explains why not all side mirrors rattle as well.

https://www.rav4world.com/forums/19...7737-guide-removing-door-panel-quest-fixing-my-rattling-mirror.html#post2688853

cobb1887 · May 2, 2019

Quickdtoo said:
Side mirror rattles are apparently caused by loose mounting which should be explored by service and easily corrected, it explains why not all side mirrors rattle as well.

https://www.rav4world.com/forums/19...7737-guide-removing-door-panel-quest-fixing-my-rattling-mirror.html#post2688853

If that's in the door, it makes me think they're tightening the frame? Curious as it appears on my end to be wind circulating behind the mirror itself and causing the shaking. May take these instructions to a non-Toyota service center to see if they notice anything.

billimack · May 19, 2020

Gijun Lee said:
I purchased 2019 XLE Prem early April. I did not notice during the test drive. Maybe, I was just excited about the car. In the last couple of days, I have noticed that RAV4 has some issue with noise. Around 50 miles per hour or so, wind noise becomes excessive. It is a little bit better than windows opened. Around 65 milers per hour, the tire/road noise is so excessive that I can't hear the radio. In general, Japanese cars are noisier than domestics, but this is too much noise.

I chose Toyota because it has relatively less engine issues. But I started regretting the purchase. I did not expect this level of noise.

Do you guys feel the same way? Is there anything that I can do mitigate the noise?

Its the door seal in corner by your ear. I have same problem.

rav4gen5.com · May 20, 2020

billimack said:
Its the door seal in corner by your ear. I have same problem.

There is a discussion going on about installed Type D weather seals along the inner door area to improve the seal. We did an install and it does help but it's still there.
=/

thaoletx · May 29, 2020

Gijun Lee said:
I thought about bringing the car to dealership for check. Reading all the posts, this is normal for Rav4 or I am a little more sensitive to noise. It would be a perfect car if Toyota put more insulation into the car. Well, maybe I am expecting too much . Thank you for all good replies.

I rented a RAV4 LE to test drive from Dallas to Houston, my previous car is Highlander LE, oh boy the noise is so bad, I went to this forum to complain. Engine noise, wind noise, I can't talk to my passenger without raising my voice. I ended up buy a hybrid, less noise, but I still went ahead a put deadening stuff in the doors, floors (search for a deadening project from Sunken). It helps alot.

Camry2020 · Aug 30, 2020

Gijun Lee said:
I purchased 2019 XLE Prem early April. I did not notice during the test drive. Maybe, I was just excited about the car. In the last couple of days, I have noticed that RAV4 has some issue with noise. Around 50 miles per hour or so, wind noise becomes excessive. It is a little bit better than windows opened. Around 65 milers per hour, the tire/road noise is so excessive that I can't hear the radio. In general, Japanese cars are noisier than domestics, but this is too much noise.

I chose Toyota because it has relatively less engine issues. But I started regretting the purchase. I did not expect this level of noise.

Do you guys feel the same way? Is there anything that I can do mitigate the noise?

I have a 2020 Camry XSE with the same wind noise at highway speeds. It’s very obnoxious and annoying. It’s been into the dealer 3 times. Problem is with Toyota USA. Their logic is they all do it, so it’s normal and Toyota USA doesn’t give a damn. I was thinking about trading it for a Rav 4 but sounds like Toyota has lots of wind noise issues. This is my first Toyota. It is also likely my last Toyota.

Excessive wind and tire/road noise

Gijun Lee

PDPete

Sunken

Astrodoof

Colonel

dsn

Astrodoof

dsn

Quickdtoo

Darayn

Sunken

Gijun Lee

dcmb2003

cobb1887

Quickdtoo

cobb1887

billimack

rav4gen5.com

thaoletx

Camry2020

Top Contributors this Month

Recommended Communities