2015 YUKON NOISE IN CABIN

FOURKNUCKLES · July 13, 2014

ANYONE ELSE HEARING LIKE A BUFFERING SOUND? MAKES YOUR EARS FEEL LIKE THE WINDOW IS DOWN, BUT IT IS NOT? I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER, THEY HEARD IT. WE GOT IN ANOTHER 2015 YUKON XL AND HEARD THE SAME NOISE. THE TECH SAID IT MUST BE A BUFFER OR SOMETHING, AND THAT GMC WILL HAVE TO ISSUE A FIX. ALMOST FEELS LIKE A VACCUM OR SOMETHING. IT'S THE SAME FEELING YOU WOULD ENCOUNTER WHEN A WINDOW IS DOWN AND YOU FEEL A RUMBLING SOUND IN YOUR EARS.

FOURKNUCKLES · July 13, 2014

Feels like the window is down and it's not. Rumbles in your ears. I took it back to the dealer and road tested it with the tech. They heard it as well. We jumped in another 2015 Yukon XL and heard the same noise. He mentioned that GM would have to get complaints and then issue a fix. He mentioned a buffer or something. Same feeling you would experience when only one window is down. That annoying noise, but my window is up. Have any ideas??

Doug_Scott · July 13, 2014

Can't offer much in how to fix it, but, there are things you need be on top of.

If a truck off the lot also makes the same noise/vibration, that should be enough for GM to look into it. Make sure your visit to the dealer was documented on the dealers side, and keep complete records of every conversation you have with anybody regarding this. Complete record means who you talked to, what title do they have, date, time, number called, what was said(don't know what laws in ohio say about recording conversations, but, in Ontario only one person involved in conversation has to consent), how long call was.

If you have another dealer in the area with the same vehicle as yours, go take it for test drive and see if it has the same noise. If it does, make a note of the VIN and include it in your communication with GM.

Also make note of what tires all these trucks have. Are they all the same brand/model? NVH(Noise Vibration Harshness) issues are not safety related generally, so don't count on a recall.

I think the "buffer" was supposed to be "buffeting".

FOURKNUCKLES · August 23, 2014

So, they have had my vehicle now for 10 days, and still have no fix. It's become really hush hush. 2 GM representatives have been at the dealership for several days. They removed the top liner and re-glued, video taped it, put hertz montitors or the frame, and still can't locate the issue. Every YUKON I have test drove, makes the same noise. Speeds that it is noticable is 30-45MPH. They said they are having issues with ALL of the drive trains. They sent one from the factory line and is being installed on Monday. Any ideas on what I should do now? Bought a $70K vehicle and I'm in a rental car.

The Zip · August 23, 2014

4 knucks - I am guessing these are some intelligent GM folks looking at your 70k truck the dealer has been experimenting with for ten days. But if the drivetran is the issue, why don't these guys apply some smarts and look at the Tahoe. I say this not because the Tahoe is better, but there is not a big difference in Yukon/Tahoe drivetrains. Those two vehicles have similar torque and is about even in transmitting their respective horsepower to the wheels. Other than some interior features and exterior lighting and grill, these trucks are interchangeable.

My point being, tell these guys to close the door and look at some Tahoe's to see what's working. This may help them to find out what's not working in your Yukon. I don't experience this problem at any speed in the '15 Tahoe.

FOURKNUCKLES · August 23, 2014

Last Friday, they traded me the Terrain that I was driving as a loner, and gave me a 2015 Suburban from the KY airport. It too, makes the same noise. So maybe it's the extended, XL and Suburbans, that have the issue. I have driven a Denali XL, Suburban and YUKON XL, and they all have the same noise. The service manager had video of my car with the liner down and it was "flexing" more than i guess it was supposed to. So they reglued and/or foamed, not sure, as they are being very hush hush, and the noise is still there. If I could do it over, not sure I would have spent the money I did. I DO TAKE FULL Responsibility, as I did not test drive the vehicle prior to purchasing. It had just come out, I was excited, my pregnant wife and 3 other kids sat in it and loved the size and DVDS, and I jumped for it. Who doesn't test drive before they buy? This guy.

The Zip · August 23, 2014

4 Knucks - point taken on the extended version. This version (extended) may not have been test driven by you but the GM mechanics at the factory had to discover this issue in R & D. But you make a point, if you say all extended versions you drove are having the issue and I say my Tahoe is not, then maybe the experts need to dig up the R & D on the wheelbase and additional rear cab space, the primary difference between the extended and non extended versions.

GM is carrying-on like they don't know the issue, evident by them having your vehicle for ten days and performing a quiet disassembly of your 70K new car you bought in good faith. Tell the local guys or the GM representatives to quit experimenting and call the the factory and speak to the person in charge of sound dampening, there has to be research.

Are there any Yukon or Escalade (as apposed to XL) owners experiencing this or according to 4 Knucks, there has to be some XL owners out there. Drive at between 30-45 then chime in. These type of forums, used correctly, keep customers informed.

FOURKNUCKLES · August 25, 2014

I just picked the Truck up.... And it's worse than before. The drive shaft is supposed to be put in on Wednesday, and even though I'm not a mechanic, I don't understand how this is going to help. They hand a brand new XL Denali sitting by mine in the back, and they claimed that it was fine. I asked to test drive it, the would not allow me to. The back seat belts are unhooked from where they removed the liner and there are greasy hand prints everywhere. They promised to clean it up, but how do you get that out of a liner? So, still nothing new, and they are really pulling me along. They said I should call and complain to GM and they gave me an 800 #. I hung up after 25 mins of being on hold becasue I am at work. I have to work to pay for this POS.

The Zip · August 26, 2014

4 Knucks - This issue has to be limited to your vehicle 'cause members and visitors to this site with a 2015 GM truck is not experiencing the problem or else there would be more comments. Or, not that many trucks are sold yet. Experiment with your car for over ten days for a buffering issue and the experts came to the conclusion the driveshaft was the problem? R & D history would have told them that days ago if that was the issue. At this point you have to go with it, take it back to the shop if the problem persist after driveshaft replacement.

In the meantime, get smart on your state lemon laws, you are not there yet, but keep all communication and require documentation for everything involved with repairing your new vehicle. If your situation reaches your state lemon law requirements, you will need to have documentation to back-up your claim. So start saving everything. GM has a responsibility to make your driving experience pleasurable (page one of your Warranty Booklet "GM is committed to ensuring satisfaction with your new vehicle"), basic bumper-to-bumper doesn't work in all cases. If the vehicle is not up to standards, then GM should buy back the truck and start fresh. Again, you are not there, yet.

I recommend electronic communication with corporate to leave a better trail than the 800 #, but here is a contact number per my manual. (1-800-222-1020). www.chevrolet.com was also listed. Remember, "GM is committed to ensuring satisfaction with your new vehicle", if they don't clean the liner to your satisfaction, then have it replaced. Whether a customer is 10K or 70k into a deal, GM has a responsibility to make good on an issue. GM sold your truck on the premise there was no issues and if there is an issue they will fix it within the warranty period. Well, that is also the expectation of the customer.

Upon completion of the driveshaft replacement and the problem still exist, contact corporate and demand they stand by their product

fondupot · August 26, 2014

I wonder if the cabin vents are causing an issue with the pressure inside the cabin, causing the buffeting sound.

subedriver · August 27, 2014

you're not the only one with this issue. we are also experiencing this in our 2015 Tahoe. Calling the dealership tomorrow to set up an appt. Google search is showing others with this issue as well. Hopefully there is a fix soon. Makes my wifes head hurt really badly.

The Zip · August 27, 2014

4 Knucks - the more folks chime-in can expedite a GM fix for the issue, the squeaky wheel gets the oil. Include these posts with any correspondence with GM. I am not experiencing the issue with my '15 Tahoe, but based on the previous post by "subedriver", Tahoes' are not exempt.

Since I have been driving a Tahoe consistently since '00, when I bought the '15 Tahoe earlier this year, I still owned a '01 and '08 Tahoe. That was three in the driveway so I conducted a pro/con Tahoe comparison. To stay on subject, the '15 Tahoe is head and shoulders above the previous versions with eliminating outside noise, they sealed this puppy up jelly tight. When I compared why, I noticed a few differences like the placement and thickness of weatherstripping, the smaller windows, and the top of the door trim wrapped around the top of the truck versus the previous versions door trim stopped a few inches from the top of the truck. Comparing cabin set-up and noise differences through the years may be an option for GM in figuring this out.

Your complaint sounds like cabin pressure, similar to flying in a plane and your ears won't pop. Cabin pressure will definitely cause headaches and ear rumbling. My '15 Tahoe cabin may be venting somehow since I am not experiencing this issue. In contrast, your vehicle is probably not venting. "Fondupot" mentioned venting in his post "I wonder if the cabin vents are causing an issue..." as another possible fix.

FOURKNUCKLES · August 27, 2014

I am told that I need to have the vehicle back to the dealership so they can install the new drive shaft. I still don't know how this will help, but I am not the specialist. They did mess with the 4 to 8 cyl modes, and now it shifts harder. They thought that maybe it was causing something to screw with the drive shaft. I feel like a test dummy, or at least my Yukon XL is the test dummy. Getting nowhere fast, loudest the truck has been, and GM will not call me back nor respond to an email. My grandfather who retired from GM is probably rolling in his grave.

Luvgmc · August 30, 2014

2015 slt yukon

Wow so i am not crazy!!! I just bought a gmc yukon and at 45-50 mph your ears feel like they need to pop. After driving about an hr i have such a headache i needed to pull over WTF GM i thought you tested your cars in a wind tunnel??? I will be dropping this yukon off first of the week 65k paid i cant believe this could happen!!! Let me know if anyone finds out the fix to this.

Edited August 30, 2014 by Luvgmc

FOURKNUCKLES · August 30, 2014

"luvgmc", I tried dropping mine off, several times. They say that there is a process and I can't just return the truck. Tell me what your dealer says. The more this goes on the more I feel like I'm going to be stuck with a car that the family wont ride in because of the headaches.