2015 YUKON NOISE IN CABIN

Wrench589 · March 21, 2015

I have been having tranny issues on my 2013 Tahoe LT that I bought as a certified vehicle last year with 24,000 miles really like it but 2 tranny issues in less than a year and I only put on 8,000 miles since had me go back to the dealer and see what they can do on a new 2015 Tahoe. Well dealer was great to work with and the new 2015i Tahoe LT Z71 just arrived from the factory today and just go done with the test drive....so brand new build for those that think this issue if fixed....it is not!

Wow did I feel the cabin pressure and I only did 10 mile ride of speeds of 30-70mph. This is a fully loaded LT with Entertainment and Luxury package....looks awesome...rides great but now doubt I will get due to this issue! I am going back with my wife tomorrow to test again and if we feel the cabin pressure again we will pass and I guess stick with the 2013 Tahoe! Bummer but that cabin pressure and ear pressure was absolutely obnoxious! Someone mentioned maybe trying to pull the fuse for the noise canceling system....not sure about that but I guess I can try. I am going to try a 2015 Tahoe LTZ tomorrow as well as long as I am going back.

I pulled the fuse for the entire sound/infotainment system and it did not change the ear pressure/buffeting. I did hear more road and wind noise, as expected. One person (20Sierra14, I think) on this thread reported that by stuffing cotton into the three microphones, the ear pressure went away....I tried that and agin it did not resolve the ear pressure/buffeting. So, it is questionable what will work, if anything. If you can hear/feel it on the test drive, it is unlikely it will go away afterward. And since there has only been 1 person who has reported success out of several that tried and many that have reported the issue, the odds are NOT in your favour. My advice - wait another year or two, until GM figures this out ( if they ever do!).

jasondenali15 · March 21, 2015

There is no GM fix. Period. Do NOT take delivery. You will regret it.

kkwbl · March 21, 2015

_{I went with the 2013 Tahoe LTZ....they gave me a great price on my trade so easy decision. My wife did not even want to get into the 2015 based on what I experienced. I will just wait for the fix down the road.....thanks for the advice from everyone on this!}

dbdave · March 23, 2015

I completed most of the 57 pages and think I didn't see anything on this air vent possibly being the cause of the buffeting. I don't know for sure that the new 2015 Suburbans, Tahoes, etc. have incorporated this technology for cabin venting, but if they do, I suspect this thing could be contributing to the problem.

http://gmauthority.com/blog/2013/02/2014-corvette-c7-first-to-use-gm-developed-lightweight-smart-material/

It doesn't work as intended on the new Corvettes so there's a good possibility, if it's used in these vehicles, it's a failure, too. I would suspect the cabin pressure would be oscillating quite badly if this vent was opening and closing harmonically as the vehicle was traveling down the road.

I offer this as a thought just in case no one else has looked in this area.

I'm watching here because I will be replacing my current Suburban in the near future but not until some word of the fix for this problem.

Edited March 23, 2015 by dbdave

Wrench589 · March 23, 2015

dbdave, there was some discussion about vents previously. My own opinion is that I don't see a vent being able to "pump" enough air to cause a pressure sensation in the passengers ears, even if it was flapping open/closed or something similar that this new high tech material does. I will say, however, that I suspect the "triple seals" that GM have used on these vehicles may be playing a role in why this particulay vehicle exhibits ear pressure when other SUV's don't. I personally observed that if I crack the front windows open ever so slightly, the ear pressure went away. I could still hear the fluttering (buffeting), but the ear pressure sensation went away. NOw, it's tricky to do because the windws only have express down mode so they want to go fully open and usually when you stop it, it's already and inch or more open - then, there is a bunch of wind noise so tought o hear much over that! But on one occasaion I was fast enough to crack the window about 1/4" and worked well to eliminate the ear pressure.

Booming and droning sounds are nothing new to the automotive industry. As I've noted before, there are over 1000 Technical Publications in SAE alone on the topic. There are numerous causes and numerous cures. Even GM address "drone" and "boom" in several TSB's that I have stumbled accross recently. Same with Ford. I suspect same with all of them. Don't forget the media release posted about the GMC Terrain, where it talked about the boom and drone - GM knows about it all too well.

My daily driver is a 2009 Explorer, and since I've been dealing with the Yukon, I have noticed that it exhibits all the same boom and drone noises as the Yukon. It's another "body-on-frame" SUV; a shoe-box on wheels! HOWEVER, the difference is that it not not as severe. It only booms or drones when the road is really rough. And, even at it's worst, the droning does not seem to produce ear pressure. But let's face it - it's no where near as stiff and tightly sealed as the new generation GM Tahoe, Yukon and Suburban. Coincedence? Not likely.

So why are these new GM SUV's so bad? I think everything GM has done to stiffen and lighten this vehicle, along with reducing noises and sealing the cabin, all have contributed to a vehicle that is "overly sensitive" to the dreaded "boom and drone" the industry has been dealing with for years. And, it is so bad that it creates ear pressure to boot!

GM has their work cut out. They have to address the design for the next build, as well as figure out a fix for existing vehicles. My advise - hold off buying one until they getting it all sorted out.

Dadof4 · March 24, 2015

The dealer will try to tell you it is a 'normal operating condition of the vehicle.' That may be true, but a defect in the vehicle, and the fact that they don't know how to fix it is not a valid excuse.

If GM's recall department doesn't think it is a safety issue, they have another thing coming. My wife is experiencing severe headaches and vertigo since she has been driving out 2015 Suburban.

Our vehicle is driveable, sure....just have fun with the incessant headaches and pressure in your ears.

Anon2015 · March 24, 2015

The recall department is going to totally ignore you. You don't take issues like that to GM...you file them with NHTSA (online). GM can ignore you until the cows come home. They cannot ignore NHTSA. Stating your issues here is informative and helpful. Stating your issues with NHTSA is actionable.

20Sierra14 · March 24, 2015

I totally believe that the buffeting and the ANC work together to create the "total sensation."

Our Denali has ear pressure, but has zero buffeting. This leads me to believe that if you have the buffeting, even the cotton balls won't fix the pressure. To test my idea, I started the truck and banged on the headliner... Yup, ear pressure -- from a standstill and cotton balls! This assures (to me) that the pressure itself is 110% from the ANC... If you have buffeting and ear pressure, there is no way to "trick" the system to rid the pressure. This also helps the other theory, that if you have buffeting, the pressure is enhanced. I really believe the whole situation is a "reverb" effect -- whatever is exciting the noise that the ANC is trying to cancel converts into the booming/buffeting noise everyone is hearing.

Again.. just my ideas and input is purely subjective

badthorn · March 25, 2015

My 2015 Yukon XL I ordered should be in next week. After reading this, I will be taking it on an extensive test drive before I sign any papers. The only thing that worries me is some people are experiencing it after a few weeks of ownership. During my test drive I want to do my best to try and hear the noise if it is present. In order to have the highest probability of replicating the sound, I should drive around 40 mph and what else, windows up or down, ac on or off, radio on or off?

I ordered a SLT with 18" wheels, max trailering package, navi, and cross bars.

Thanks

Edited March 25, 2015 by badthorn

20Sierra14 · March 25, 2015

My 2015 Yukon XL I ordered should be in next week. After reading this, I will be taking it on an extensive test drive before I sign any papers. The only thing that worries me is some people are experiencing it after a few weeks of ownership. During my test drive I want to do my best to try and hear the noise if it is present. In order to do have the highest probability of replicating the sound I should drive around 40 mph and what else, windows up or down, ac on or off, radio on or off?

I ordered a SLT with 18" wheels, max trailering package, navi, and cross bars.

Thanks

Windows up, AC won't affect anything, radio off and yes, around 35-40mph... Our 1st SLT was on 20in wheels and had buffeting and ear pressure. This truck was brand new w/ 3 miles on it when we drove it 2hrs back home... We did not notice any issues on the way home, but everything started a couple days later w/ around 300miles on it.. See if your dealer is willing to do a "few-days" test drive before you sign anything.

Best of luck!

Wrench589 · March 25, 2015

"I totally believe that the buffeting and the ANC work together to create the "total sensation."

Our Denali has ear pressure, but has zero buffeting. This leads me to believe that if you have the buffeting, even the cotton balls won't fix the pressure. To test my idea, I started the truck and banged on the headliner... Yup, ear pressure -- from a standstill and cotton balls! This assures (to me) that the pressure itself is 110% from the ANC... If you have buffeting and ear pressure, there is no way to "trick" the system to rid the pressure. This also helps the other theory, that if you have buffeting, the pressure is enhanced. I really believe the whole situation is a "reverb" effect -- whatever is exciting the noise that the ANC is trying to cancel converts into the booming/buffeting noise everyone is hearing.

Again.. just my ideas and input is purely subjective :)"

You're right, the cotton balls did not fix ours, which exhibits both the buffeting sounds and ear pressure. Nor did diabling the entire ANC by removing the fuse to it.

Question 1 for you: have you tried diabling the ANC by pulling the fuse? I would be curious if the result is the same as cotton in the microphones.

Question 2: Did you bang on the headliner without stating the vehicle, to compare the result when the vehicle is running? I found the boom/ear pressure to be present with or without the vehicle on when I bang on the headliner.

Edited March 25, 2015 by Wrench589

Wing350 · March 25, 2015

The recall department is going to totally ignore you. You don't take issues like that to GM...you file them with NHTSA (online). GM can ignore you until the cows come home. They cannot ignore NHTSA. Stating your issues here is informative and helpful. Stating your issues with NHTSA is actionable.

Please forgive my comments as I know you mean well but I've been following this thread for a long time and heard people reference contacting the NHTSA but I've never seen anything show up on their website relating to this issue. I don't even see the Service Bulletin PIT5318 that GM produced back in August 2014.

I noticed the death toll on the Chevy Cobalt ignition switch thing is up to 64 now. If you follow that story and the actions of both the NHTSA and GM, you'll have a good idea of what to expect from both organizations.

.

Edited March 25, 2015 by Wing350

20Sierra14 · March 25, 2015

"I totally believe that the buffeting and the ANC work together to create the "total sensation."

Our Denali has ear pressure, but has zero buffeting. This leads me to believe that if you have the buffeting, even the cotton balls won't fix the pressure. To test my idea, I started the truck and banged on the headliner... Yup, ear pressure -- from a standstill and cotton balls! This assures (to me) that the pressure itself is 110% from the ANC... If you have buffeting and ear pressure, there is no way to "trick" the system to rid the pressure. This also helps the other theory, that if you have buffeting, the pressure is enhanced. I really believe the whole situation is a "reverb" effect -- whatever is exciting the noise that the ANC is trying to cancel converts into the booming/buffeting noise everyone is hearing.

Again.. just my ideas and input is purely subjective :)"

You're right, the cotton balls did not fix ours, which exhibits both the buffeting sounds and ear pressure. Nor did diabling the entire ANC by removing the fuse to it.

Question 1 for you: have you tried diabling the ANC by pulling the fuse? I would be curious if the result is the same as cotton in the microphones.

Question 2: Did you bang on the headliner without stating the vehicle, to compare the result when the vehicle is running? I found the boom/ear pressure to be present with or without the vehicle on when I bang on the headliner.

1) This topic is crazy, but going back a few months, I was one of the first to try the AMP fuse pull.. It helped my situation for only a couple days, then the pressure came back. Muting the mics w/ the cotton balls has been the ONLY solution I've found to work -- and it's been working for a few months now.. No more headaches.

2) No, I have not tried it without the truck running.. I was trying to focus everything possible to get the ANC to "hear" the "boom" I was creating, instead of the noise the truck is making going 35-40mph. I can sure try it though. BUT, hearing your situation, this focuses the ear pressure is being produced by the ANC even more! How can a truck that isn't even rolling create pressure? Nothing is moving?!? Ahhhhh-- the ANC trying to keep the cabin nice and silent!

TOBTEK · March 25, 2015

Here's pictures of shocks and springs. Like to find other Escalade and Denalli owners to compare what's on theirs.

I'm having more frustration with the low speed power issue. Driving me nuts.

Anon2015 · March 25, 2015

Please forgive my comments as I know you mean well but I've been following this thread for a long time and heard people reference contacting the NHTSA but I've never seen anything show up on their website relating to this issue. I don't even see the Service Bulletin PIT5318 that GM produced back in August 2014.

I noticed the death toll on the Chevy Cobalt ignition switch thing is up to 64 now. If you follow that story and the actions of both the NHTSA and GM, you'll have a good idea of what to expect from both organizations.

.

Exactly the point Wing. NHTSA is required to track and maintain all filings. The fact you don't see any popping up is be cause only one or two have been filed! So you are exactly correct...if only a few people file, they aren't going to have the complaints online (I do know of two). You think they learned nothing over the whole Cobalt matter?

Please forgive my comments as I know you mean well but I've been following this thread for a long time and heard people reference contacting the NHTSA but I've never seen anything show up on their website relating to this issue. I don't even see the Service Bulletin PIT5318 that GM produced back in August 2014.

I noticed the death toll on the Chevy Cobalt ignition switch thing is up to 64 now. If you follow that story and the actions of both the NHTSA and GM, you'll have a good idea of what to expect from both organizations.

.

Exactly the point Wing. NHTSA is required to track and maintain all filings. The fact you don't see any popping up is be cause only one or two have been filed! So you are exactly correct...if only a few people file, they aren't going to have the complaints online (I do know of two). You think they learned nothing over the whole Cobalt matter?