2015 YUKON NOISE IN CABIN

yukontruckman · November 21, 2016

Do you have a 15/16 model with the buffeting issue and if so, have you attempted the tire fix and/or any drivetrain fixes?

I have a 2015i Tahoe that exhibits booming and slight buffeting. I am of the opinion that the two are the same and that the buffeting is just rapid body booming. I don't have any drivetrain or tire vibrations that would cause buffeting all the time. I do have plenty of the low speed cabin booming when going over bumps or more often rough pavement. The interior cabin booms/vibrates like a drum on a brick road.

I have not had the dealer try anything (Roof TSB's, Rear End, etc) as I believe this is a major design flaw and GM is just throwing darts at the problem for two years now. I think the tire road force balancing can help with the buffeting issue, but you will never get the booming out of these trucks.

I read recently in this thread that some thought new body mounts for 2017 may fix the problem, but that does not appear to be the case with this 2017 Suburban I have right now.

Edited November 21, 2016 by yukontruckman

swdan1 · November 21, 2016

Any opinions on putting a better quality tire on these vehicles? I have 2016 Z71 Tahoe with buffetting. Dealer RFB the stock tires which seemed to help, but, not eliminate the issue. Slight pressure sensation still there.

I am contemplating putting on BFG KO2's or even Nitto Terra Grappler G2's that might help absorb some of the bumps better? Or, would the heavier tire with thicker sidewalls make the ride quality even stiffer and introduce more buffetting? Just not really sure which way to go here.

Thanks.

yukontruckman · November 21, 2016

Any opinions on putting a better quality tire on these vehicles? I have 2016 Z71 Tahoe with buffetting. Dealer RFB the stock tires which seemed to help, but, not eliminate the issue. Slight pressure sensation still there.

I am contemplating putting on BFG KO2's or even Nitto Terra Grappler G2's that might help absorb some of the bumps better? Or, would the heavier tire with thicker sidewalls make the ride quality even stiffer and introduce more buffetting? Just not really sure which way to go here.

Thanks.

A couple of guys here have reported improvements with Michelin (Pilots?). I have the Continental 20's on my Tahoe and have not been impressed. I have had one loaner Tahoe and one loaner Suburban now with 18" wheels and the Goodyear tires and I think the booming is worse. I can't say it's solely because of the wheels/tires, but I would have expected the 18" wheel/tire combo to be better not worse.

Leslie Wasson Green · November 21, 2016

If disabling active fuel management eliminated buffeting , i suggest you to use range technology it's work better than M5.

Would you kindly explain why the range technology works better than just manually putting it in manual? I'd rather not spend $200 on putting an after market part on.

boazEarl8 · November 21, 2016

I have KO2s, improved my buffeting but I was also strict about getting RF values below 15 but you need to run 20s

If you have 22s, get the Michelin LTXs ... people are swearing by these as making a huge improvement to booming and buffeting, reviews over at tire rack are the best I've ever seen for any tire

Any opinions on putting a better quality tire on these vehicles? I have 2016 Z71 Tahoe with buffetting. Dealer RFB the stock tires which seemed to help, but, not eliminate the issue. Slight pressure sensation still there.

I am contemplating putting on BFG KO2's or even Nitto Terra Grappler G2's that might help absorb some of the bumps better? Or, would the heavier tire with thicker sidewalls make the ride quality even stiffer and introduce more buffetting? Just not really sure which way to go here.

Thanks.

boazEarl8 · November 21, 2016

You answered the question in your question ... it's automatic

Would you kindly explain why the range technology works better than just manually putting it in manual? I'd rather not spend $200 on putting an after market part on.

Leslie Wasson Green · November 21, 2016

You answered the question in your question ... it's automatic

I'd gladly save $200 by taking the 10th of a second that it takes to put it in manual.

Wrench589 · November 22, 2016

Although it would be costly, would installing dynamat decrease the booming at low speeds in the cabin? Id be willing to shell out the money if I knew it would work.

When the dealer did the TSB to reattach the roof to the cross bows, I had them apply Dynamat to the roof. Didn't improve the buffeting much, if at all. I didn't see it after so don't know how much they applied and exactly where, but a few other folks on this thread used Dynamat and as I recall, did. It solve the problem. From what I recall, the only claim of solving it completely is by one person who jammed some wedges between the roof and the (optional) roof rack cross rails. I was hoping he would post some photos but nothing yet.

Wrench589 · November 22, 2016

Good morning everyone.

I picked up my Yukon on Friday with bad news.

After the last exhaust fix and engine mounts GM has no other fixes currently available.

I will say my truck is somewhat better after everything they have done to it. (you can read my prior posts to see what they have done).

I road with a GM field rep for 15 or so minutes and she heard the buffeting when speeds were maintained and the vehicle was in V4 mode.

However when they road in it again the same day with another field engineer and the PicoScope(measures sound) the PicoScope registered the vehicle within normal range.What I think happened during this test drive is the rep didn't maintain the speed long enough for the machine to register the sound for a long enough time for it to register.

So basically they can't do anything else for me.

They offered to make a car payment for me. While that is a nice gesture, it doesn't fix my Yukon.

******There is a workaround to prevent the noise from happening and it works 100% for the buffeting noise). The booming over bumps is something that won't change and I guess I will have to get used to.

Here is what you can do to band-aid the buffeting issue.........

When you turn your vehicle on. Shit from P or M ( This shifts to manual). Press the "+" button on the gear shift until the info screen reads "M5". If you are planning on going over 60 MPH, place it in "M6". And drive along your merry way(it will shift like normal in the manual mode). This prevents the vehicle from going into the dreaded V4 mode.

Yes I am loosing some MPG, but I have no more buffeting issue.

I am well aware that I should not have to go through all this trouble to drive my $65,000 vehicle, but I am willing to do it for now as I have too much going on in my life to take on the Lemon Law process.

So I guess General Motors beat me down...they won.

I don't notice any difference in the amount of buffeting between V8 and V4 mode.

But, after reading every post on this thread, going on 2 years now, is seems some vehicles reposed more than others. The key is respond - all the various sources of vibrations that could excite the buffeting are excited in the buffeting on these particular vehicles. Tires. AFM. Driveshafts. Ring and pinion gears. All possibilities. The root of the probe is whatever is responding - roof is the prime suspect. Or, some kind of natural frequency of the body, either a bending mode or even a torsional mode. And of course, the body and frame are intertwined as a system, so its all one big pile of .... Well, you know.

By now, I suspect the engineers at GM know exactly what it is. And it's too complicated to simply fix at the dealership level. If it is a fundamental natural frequency of the body, then there may not be a practical fix. So, they will throw as many tires as it until they wear you down and you either give up and drive it or sell/trade it. And eventually, they just fade into the background, another Pinto in the history of the Detroit big three....

SierraMyst · November 22, 2016

I don't notice any difference in the amount of buffeting between V8 and V4 mode....

By now, I suspect the engineers at GM know exactly what it is. And it's too complicated to simply fix at the dealership level.

The v4 buffeting is only an issue with 5.3L. The 5.3 exhibits more drone in v4 mode than the 6.2L. M5 in the 6 speed and M7 on the 8 speee eliminates it. My 6.2 didn't have the v4 drone, but the loaner I had did. It was 5.3. And I could hear it in v4 mode. Switching to M5 and turning off AFM cut it off. But the buffeting at 70 was still there. So basically, the 5.3 folks have three separate issues. Low speed booming, 40/70mph buffeting, and v4 buffeting/drone.

The booming buffeting issue appears to be so great that it's that GM doesn't even want to fix it at the factory. Because the 2017s have it as well. Either that, or they don't know what it is, or don't care to fix it.

I'd gladly save $200 by taking the 10th of a second that it takes to put it in manual.

The range module keeps the vehicle from going into v4 mode at all times. V4 mode causes drone. Which contributes to buffeting. When cylinders are off it contributes to build up, it also make the torque converter shudder at low speeds.

Having the range device just keep it off all speed and keep use of your 6 gear, is worth it in my opinion. And when you take it to the dealership, you can unplug it and keep your warranty.

So it keeps v4 mode at all times and speeds. Which is simpler clicking back and forth. You may experience a 1 to 2 mpg drop keeping it off at all times, but it's well worth it.

If you have 22s, get the Michelin LTXs ... people are swearing by these as making a huge improvement to booming and buffeting, reviews over at tire rack are the best I've ever seen for any tire

Michelin redesigned the tires. Some say it was in response to the poor performance of the Goodyears.

The Michelin Premier is the tire designed for the Yukon and Suburbans. An all weather soft compound tire thats structurally designed to handle like a truck tire.

On 22s it's a major improvement. On 20s, it's a miracle. The thing is that the road force is directly contributing to the buffeting. RFB numbers below 15 are helping. And the Michelins the only ones that are getting below 10 in RFB.

A couple of guys here have reported improvements with Michelin (Pilots?). I have the Continental 20's on my Tahoe and have not been impressed. I have had one loaner Tahoe and one loaner Suburban now with 18" wheels and the Goodyear tires and I think the booming is worse. I can't say it's solely because of the wheels/tires, but I would have expected the 18" wheel/tire combo to be better not worse.

The vibration is the only thing being affected by the tires.

I have 22s and have a constant vibration from 65 and up.

1st loaner had 20s. No vibrationse up 78.

2nd loaner had 18s, and had no vibrations up 81.

The more side wall the better it absorbs the vibrations that were being caused by stiff body mounts.

I have a 2015i Tahoe that exhibits booming and slight buffeting. I am of the opinion that the two are the same and that the buffeting is just rapid body booming. I don't have any drivetrain or tire vibrations that would cause buffeting all the time. I do have plenty of the low speed cabin booming when going over bumps or more often rough pavement. The interior cabin booms/vibrates like a drum on a brick road.

I have not had the dealer try anything (Roof TSB's, Rear End, etc) as I believe this is a major design flaw and GM is just throwing darts at the problem for two years now. I think the tire road force balancing can help with the buffeting issue, but you will never get the booming out of these trucks.

I read recently in this thread that some thought new body mounts for 2017 may fix the problem, but that does not appear to be the case with this 2017 Suburban I have right now.

The body mounts in the 2017 did not fix the buffeting. That's a sheet metal issue. All it did was fix the vibrations. And paired with 20s like the one we just test drove, all vibrations were gone at all speeds.

The buffeting is all contributed to the flimsy sheet meat and the way it was fixed to the frame.

The booming is being caused by the exhaust and under body components getting jarred at bumps. GM has dampers they can add to the exhaust to reduce the jarring on bumps.

FogDucker on here had it done. My dealer finally had the engineer admit they exist and is working on getting a set.

The buffeting at high speed is buffeting is being caused by the roof sheet metal veritcal flex due to wind and tire bounce.

The roof isn't getting fixed by GM. Don't know why. But RFB the tire below 15 is reducing the vertical up and down shake which is keeping the buffeting down. Hence the Michelins balancing below 10 is huge.

LONG STORY SHORT.

This is a 3 prong attack.

We're working in getting a vehicle exchange /trade assit from GM. The general manager from my dealer.

We'll go to a 2017 with 20s with supposedly improved body mounts. This will fix the vibration issues.

We'll then switch the tires out to Michelin Primiers. They RBF down to 10 or better. That'll eliminate the buffeting.

And then my dealer will install the acquired dampers that will reduce the booming.

Range AFM module will eliminate any other issues tied to v4 mode.

Sad that this is the way it has to be. I have 4 kids and their no other vehicle on the market that gives you three rows and a full trunk like the Suburban or Yukon XL.

Edited November 22, 2016 by SierraMyst

TOBTEK · November 22, 2016

Well I am extremely disappointed in GM. I opened a case with GM customer assistance at the direction of my dealer. He informed me they have tried everything that can be tried as directed by GM but he cant get the booming and buffeting out of it. The GM case worker called me today and informed they are closing my case. She said mine doesnt boom and buffet as loud as the others so they are considering it acceptable. I was shocked that someone could use such logic. I informed her I was extremely unsatisfied and that answer is simply unacceptable. She didnt care and said my case is closed sorry your unhappy with their determination.

What a joke GM has become. Its not like I was bringing it in for some noise they couldnt find. They acknowledge it is not fixed but simply dont care. Im so furious over this.

Do you know these people you are dealing with at GM Early response center are NOT employees of GM? They are a outside firm GM hired to defuse direct heat off themselves.

This is EXACTLY the position GM took with us also. The GM field engineer said " your Escalade isn't nearly as bad as others I've driven " so that's supposed to make this 100k vehicle acceptable ?

GM IS A TOTAL JOKE! I for one am done with them. When they buy this THIRD Essy back (two 2015's and now this 2016... All lemon law buy backs), I'll be hard pressed to ever give GM another one of my dollars.

What kills me is, everywhere you look here in So-cal there's a sea of new GM suv's. All to unknowingly family's that thought their new SUV they just purchased was worth the insane money they spent for it. It's really sad GM keeps taking advantage of unknowingly American families. While they keep pumping out vehicles THEY KNOW are flawed!!!! All the while posting record earnings, and the fat cats in the ivory tower get their Mega bonus. It's disgusting !!!

John Dell · November 23, 2016

And, I hate to say it but I would expect the very thin sheet metal to rust thru a week after you get that stone chip.

zfasts03 · November 28, 2016

Was in my `16 Suburban for 1500 miles over the past 6 days. Definitely booming at low speeds and rough/bumps in the road. Everything else is good. Averaged 20-21 mpg overall. Very pleased with the vehicle.

Do they all boom at low speed or just some people are more sensitive to this than others.

No buffeting or vibrations. AFM is kind of a pain, but appreciate the better fuel economy.

Loves the highway, especially 70-85 mph.

Saw LOTS of these vehicles on the PA and Ohio turnpike.

Michael Klug · November 29, 2016

We took the plunge and went with a 2016 Suburban LT with 20k miles. Wanted one since having a rental on vacation last year, but I was nervous about the aforementioned potential problems. We test drove it for a day before deciding, just to be sure.

-It has no buffeting at any speed. The video of the buffeting and roof vibrating earlier in this thread is crazy!

-No booming, even over rough roads

-The vehicle definitely has a vibration when it switches to V4 mode with slight pressure on the accelerator. We decided that this wasn't a deal breaker. I previously drove a 2015 and 2 2016's and all three had the same issue.

Overall we are very pleased with the truck and glad we chose one with some miles (depreciation) on it and a CPO warranty to 48/100.