Buzzing sound behind dash

I have a 2020 Toyota 4Runner with a buzzing vibration sound behind the dash. Have taken it in twice to my nearest Toyota dealer only to get the runaround. Anyone else having similar issues?

 

Might want to be more specific where behind the dash.

 

Sorry I thought I posted video of it. It is directly behind the drivers side.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLa3yXwvGno

 

It sounds like a metal heat shield clunking underneath. Or maybe the driver side wheel well rubber flap & plastic pin vibrating.

 

Sounds exactly like the heat shield but unfortunately not that. I havent checked the wheel well yet but seems to becoming from inside the cab. It sounds like maybe a small screw is vibrating loose somewhere behind the gauges.

 

If it vibrates at slow speeds or idle or at idle and gunning the engine I’d also suspect a loose object inside. But if it’s only at highway speed when wind comes into play I’d suspect the wheel well flaps. Good luck. These noises can drive you nuts. Let us know your findings.

 

Ya it does it even at low speeds. hard to tell in the video but the noise is definitely coming from somewhere inside the cab. My MT tires are about worn out so they are for sure making the vibration worse. But it shouldn't be making the noise to begin with. I've owned 2 Tacoma's and 2 Tundra's over the years and have never experienced anything like this before. Usually they are a very "tight" rig even after many miles. This one only has 36,000 on it. I really don't want to get new tires until I or the techs at Toyota figure it out. Last visit they pulled the air bag out and felted inside. That did absolutely nothing. The rattle or "vibration" is coming from inside the dash in my opinion. But I will definitely post if I get it figured out. I was just hoping that someone else with a newer 4Runner may have run into this before. I'm sure it's going to be a real pain in the ass trying to pinpoint it. Thanks everyone for the input.

 

Check your steering control. Mine does the same thing. If you press on the outside part ( not the buttons) it should go away.

 

Hey there,

I have the exact same sound coming from my 2020 4Runner as well. Have you been able to find a solution yet?

 

Hey, I had a similar sound occurring during similar conditions — driving at highway speeds — and turns out it was a small plastic cowl in the bottom corner of the windshield that had deformed over time and ended up vibrating against the glass. Worth checking out!

 

I had this happen also.

 

@BGINK did you ever find out what it was? Mine is doing the SAME thing, and getting nowhere with the dealership

 

Sounds like something buzzing or loose in the dash.
Check your Flapping Engine Splash Guards. See if they move because of loose fasteners, mine did on my 14 and fixed it in less than 5 minutes!

See link:

 

@Saker thank you! I’ll look into it! I’ve been searching the internet for days for an answer haha

 

Not a problem. It would surprise me if they are not loose and causing the sound.

 

This plastic piece on the bottom corner of the windshield can make sound even when not deformed. Mine made noise after driving in dusty conditions all day. It sounded like somebody tapping on the glass. Hosing the area off with water cleaned it out and made the noise disappear.

 

That noise on the video was the exact same irritating sound I was hearing at hwy speed. One person (saker)on this thread was 100% correct. It was loose plastic fasteners on the rubber mud engine protecter (aka Flapping engine splash guards)that I was able to wiggle all around creating that noise. Its located right behind the driver front wheel/ tire. The 5 or 6 plastic fasteners all were loose and worn out. Pop them out with a screw driver and replace them. Noise completely gone. Glad I saw these threads because it was driving me nutty. It really helps having these people's threads posted. Thanks everybody. Especcially saker. This person nailed it!!

 

Update...Unfortunately the sound came back so what I posted about the loose flapping wheel well flaps that @Saker recommended did not fix that issue. Sounds more like it's coming from inside the dash. I really thought that was it because it seemed to go away for a while.

 

Does anyone else have any ideas. I have the identical same sound as the video. I mean identical sound.

 

Good luck! Chasing noises is always such a pain. Dealers aren’t helpful either. I had a noise in the dash in one of my last cars and the dealers just doused everything with spray oil (spray and pray). Didn’t work, car smelled like shit. I was pissed.

 

Sounds like loose mettle just rubbing the right way to make that noise. My old Acura made this noise when a screw under the glove box got loose. Lots of stuff under the dash, check all fasteners for a loose fit.

 

@Stinger Did the sound disappear at all when you replaced the fasteners? Based on your post it was around three weeks of silence then the sound came back. You could try swapping out the fasteners again, maybe with even a different type or brand. I think many of us here had that annoying sound. I was at my wits end until I found a thread about it. I've been rattle free for two years now but I'm sure it'll be back eventually at which point I'll swap them again.

 

First I am retired and really don't drive that much. But yes the noise seems to come and go. I checked the fasteners that I replaced on the flaps and they are very tight. The original old ones were very loose and really thought that was it. I have also tried replacing the fasteners on the plastic cowl under the windshield wipers. Getting ready to go on a very long trip and interested to see if it gets more consistent. But I can say the video in these treads that was posted is the exact same sound mine makes. So I know there are other people with this exact issue. If anyone has any additional info please post it.
Thanks everybody..

 

I had a vibration eerily similar to the “4runner vibration” video in the thread. Driving me nuts for weeks. Come to find out, the vibration was in the steering column. If your steering wheel is adjusted all the way down and in toward the dash, the adjustment lever vibrates. Simply pulled the column slightly up and out. Have not heard the vibration since.

 

Does it sound like this ? https://youtube.com/shorts/K2vyKwJrXzc?si=KoIfb_DYYjP0Um2R
I have been banging my head about this for a while

 

Have you ever figured it out ?

 

Same here.Did you eve figured it out ?