2015 YUKON NOISE IN CABIN

Elripster · November 5, 2015

Going through the protocol can be frustrating for sure. I am very much a get it done type of person so totally relate. However, the dealers and their staff need to be given the benefit of the doubt at least initially. Often their hands are tied by the OEM even though they really want to make happy returning customers. If you can forge a good relationship with dealers it will probably go a long way in encouraging them to advocate for you.

If this fix really does help lots of others maybe in time it will evolve into a standard response to problem but only time will tell.

Frank

Wrench589 · November 6, 2015

When I had the TSB to re-attach the roof skin to the bows done in the spring, I had my dealer install Dynamat on the roof. The buffeting was still present after that and still is to this day. So, not sure Dynamat is the cure. It definitely wasn't the cure for my vehicle.

bgsntth · November 6, 2015

Sounds like you gents have deduced a solution - excellent job. As I have a 2016 Suburban Z71, I have been following this thread since before I procured the beast. I do not have the buffeting, and wonder if it is a combination of 18" wheels and crossbars with surfboard pads on top (disrupt the air flow). I have noticed a lot of vibration on two prior long-term rental Yukons when exceeding 75mph, but nothing on my Z71.

This reminds me of the radiator fan fiasco that was plaguing all 2005 Subaru Outback turbos (OBXT). Within weeks (seemingly), everyone who had a year old OBXT was experiencing their radiator fans running continuously - first start-up on a 30 degree morning and the radiator fan was going full blast. Noone's dealer could find a fix, and I had taken my OBXT in 7 times to get it resolved. Finally, one gentleman's dealership figured out the fix on their own - no help from Subaru. The gentleman put a pdf of the workorder online, and everyone took it to their respective dealers with instructions to just "do this". My OBXT, of course, had a for sale sign on it at that point.

boazEarl8 · November 6, 2015

Can someone list what you'd have to do to re-attach the bows to the roof? I'd like my independent to look it, he's way more diligent than my dealer

Cl Houn · November 6, 2015

When I had the TSB to re-attach the roof skin to the bows done in the spring, I had my dealer install Dynamat on the roof. The buffeting was still present after that and still is to this day. So, not sure Dynamat is the cure. It definitely wasn't the cure for my vehicle.

I guess back to square one, let's see what happens when a few guys here try this. If they can post results

Edited November 6, 2015 by Cl Houn

The Zip · November 6, 2015

BoazE - post 113 from snuke1e is a good start

ajs800 · November 6, 2015

When I had the TSB to re-attach the roof skin to the bows done in the spring, I had my dealer install Dynamat on the roof. The buffeting was still present after that and still is to this day. So, not sure Dynamat is the cure. It definitely wasn't the cure for my vehicle.

Did they reattach or improve the existing attachment on all bows or did they do just the first one or two as many have reported to have completed? Elripster had his done the 1st time following the standard TSB and it too did not help. They removed liner again and noticed the sheet metal still deflecting so they either connected all bows or improved the attachment and it fixed it. Bottom line is he continued to have the buffeting after the bulletin was completed and until the liner was pulled a 2nd time and attachment was improved in all areas..

Edited November 6, 2015 by ajs800

Gmjunky · November 6, 2015

Ok here it is;

They did the roof thing, twice, they did the 2 tire replacement thing, they did the shock thing they did the rear end thing, they could not figure out the picoscope thing, they washed it with recycled water, they vacuumed with a straw and they replaced it with a 2016.

There is no fix for this thing, or at least there is no fix that they are willing to do.

Here is my process for getting a buyback http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/175222-2015-gm-suvs-buffeting-ear-pressure-noise-in-cabin/

ajs800 · November 7, 2015

Ok here it is;

They did the roof thing, twice, they did the 2 tire replacement thing, they did the shock thing they did the rear end thing, they could not figure out the picoscope thing, they washed it with recycled water, they vacuumed with a straw and they replaced it with a 2016.

There is no fix for this thing, or at least there is no fix that they are willing to do.

Here is my process for getting a buyback http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/175222-2015-gm-suvs-buffeting-ear-pressure-noise-in-cabin/

Did they add additional support to ALL roof bows? And did they line sheet metal with sound dampener? Do you have a 2016 now? If so, how is it?

What wheel size and options did your yukon have?

.

Edited November 7, 2015 by ajs800

ajs800 · November 7, 2015

It seems that work above and beyond the standard tsb are necessary to improve buffeting issue. Who knows, maybe there are other unknown issues causing this issue.

Edited November 7, 2015 by ajs800

xspecmor · November 7, 2015

Hey Zip, while driving I notice the previous generation and the generation before all had openings in the front bumper in addition even the Ford Expedition and Navigator's have opening in the bumper. GM may not have been aware when making these vehicle a small design cue could cause such an issue.

I did a anti buffeting search this is not only common in GM but other make Porcshe Honda Tesla etc, I read an article where GM was installing antibuffeting kits on Chevy Volts under warranty maybe this is something they need to do with the Tahoe Yukon and Escalade

Zig10 · November 8, 2015

Going through the protocol can be frustrating for sure. I am very much a get it done type of person so totally relate. However, the dealers and their staff need to be given the benefit of the doubt at least initially. Often their hands are tied by the OEM even though they really want to make happy returning customers. If you can forge a good relationship with dealers it will probably go a long way in encouraging them to advocate for you.

If this fix really does help lots of others maybe in time it will evolve into a standard response to problem but only time will tell.

Frank

First time poster here. I have 850 miles on my 2015i Yukon XL SLT and first noticed the pressure / booming at about 200 miles. Mine only seems to have it from 40-45 MPH, though it does have an annoying highway vibration as well. Fortunately no pressure at those speeds. Taking it into my dealer this coming week and have already forwarded them this thread. The service manager said this is the first one they've had in for the issue, but said he is willing to try anything to make it right.

Frank, can you PM me or post the info for your dealer that was able to fix your vehicle? I would like to get them talking if possible.

What a PIA for a brand new $70k vehicle.

sas06 · November 8, 2015

In my suburban LS 2015, I had vibration and buffeting. After changing tires and hardwork on trying to balancing the wheels the vibration went away. This certainly reduced the buffeting from extremely annoying level to much more acceptable level.

Now it occurs mostly on certain roads with certain imperfections that sends ripples through the body. It is well known and noted in edmunds reviews (http://www.edmunds.com/chevrolet/suburban/2015/suv/rating/2/) that only tiny little imperfections on the road will be noticeable in the body.

I drove with the mechanic sitting with me and he had a pretty good idea of which roads were bad for the car and which ones were good. He asked me to drive on certain roads and told me in advance that the buffeting would happen and it actually happened. Then he asked me to drive on certain other roads and told me that buffeting will not happen on those roads and it did not happen.

His explanation is that the rear of the car is light, and when coupled with light and sensitive suspension on these cars the body goes into certain pattern of vibrations due to certain road imperfections that sounds like buffeting. However, I think this could also be due to thin and not very well supported sheet on the roof as other fellows have suggested in this forum.

Perhaps the road conditions and vibrations make things worse and more noticeable. Removing vibrations seems to have improved the situation a lot.

When I bought it, it was a horrible car, spent sleepless nights due to it, but now the car drives much much much better and buffeting it not a major concern anymore. Perhaps I might live with it. However, will love to try a solution to the buffeting.

Wrench589 · November 8, 2015

Sas06,

Totally agree that reducing vibrations will reduce the "buffeting", but it's still there. Interestingly, the mechanics comments are pretty consistent with the description in Edmunds. In fact, I think the Edmunds description captures the phenomenon quite well, as I definitely get the sensation of a shudder as well as the buffeting (drone). As discussed previously, the buffeting is really a series of drones.

Here is what Dmunds has to say: "Over smooth pavement, body motions are well controlled and the all-terrain tires absorb sharp impacts. Rippled and imperfect roads can send vibrations through the body and materialize in the form of a shudder in the rear of the cabin."

And that shudder becomes the "buffeting".

yahtzee · November 8, 2015

I picked up my '16 XL Denali after another 2 weeks in the shop. It appears that the vibration issue was resolved by them calibrating/balancing the driveshaft. It is noticeably different. The buffeting issue still remains and I am dropping it back off tomorrow for them to pick back up on that. I literally just wanted the truck to drive since I have only had it in my possession less than half the time I've had it (leased 9/15/15).