2015 YUKON NOISE IN CABIN

The Zip · November 24, 2014

yukontruckman/luvgmc - I disagree that some folks don't hear, the issue is not simple. I think the ability exists for this to happen in all of the GM fullsize SUV line, but all sound in these vehicles are managed. If there is a lack of sound or lack of a combination of sounds, there would be no need for the Bose system to manage anything. If the Bose system is not managing any sound, there is no buffering to hear.

jasondenali15 · November 24, 2014

Focus less on "noise"...it is barely noticeable. But it is there... It is the pressure in your ears. Believe me, if your truck has the problem you would know it. Not wind, not whistling. It is a pressure which will cause you headaches (and dizziness for me). It was simply terrible. I got all of my money back due to the issue. You don't think GM would give $70k back for simple noise, do you?

For those who have this issue, stay on them. Our tax dollars bailed out this company! Remind them. Demand a quality product!

Carz24: call GMC customer service immediately. Get a claim number.

carz24 · November 24, 2014

Hi everyone, I am carz24,

I wish I would have done some google searches before I ordered my new Denali. I specifically waited because i wanted the 8 speed transmission and some of the new toys that came with the mid-year update.

Here was my first post on another thread before I was directed here.

I just picked up a 2015.5 Denali XL and as soon as I drove it home I noticed a resonance noise that drives my ears crazy. Its a low frequency "drumming" noise that is there at most speeds but gets really noticeable around the 68-75 mph. At its worst it can almost feel to my ears like the buffeting when a rear window is left open. I took it to the dealer and they agree its not like it should be but have no idea what it could be, so they are going to contact GM to see if they know. I test drove a 2015 Yukon XL SLE to see how that one sounds and it was every bit as bad. So I am curious if anyone else is experiencing the same thing?

Here are some of my observations; my Yukon Denali XL has the 22's and I thought maybe its the big tires, maybe its the V4 mode, maybe its active noise cancellation.

1. Its not the V4 mode because if I drive it in manual mode and don't let it go past 7th gear it stays in V8 mode and sounds every bit as bad as in V4 mode.

2. I test drove the Yukon XL SLE model with 18" tires and NO active noise cancellation and NO magnetic ride shocks and it was even worse than mine and the sales person commented that he could actually feel the "drumming" in his chest. So I felt like that took away some of the questions in my mind concerning wheel size, active noise cancellation and the magnetic ride option.

3. I also notice the same pressure feeling in my ears when I hit bumps.

4. I notice it at most speeds, but it continues to build pressure in my head and seems to peak from about 68-75 mph. It may be present above that but I did not drive it faster to test it.

5. I notice a slight vibration with the vehicle as well but it is so hard to tell if its road conditions or if its the vehicle.

6. My hunch is that they have a resonance issue with the frame, suspension and or body vibrating at different frequencies that drives the buffeting or resonance issue. Just my guess,

How GM missed or ignored this buffeting noise is beyond me....it hurts my head when I drive it!!

Edited November 24, 2014 by carz24

Suburban2015 · November 24, 2014

I believe I helped my problem when I first got my 2015 LTZ Suburban by installed roof racks. Somehow this helped with the pressure vacuum I was experiencing.

Jamac4567 · November 24, 2014

Hi everyone, I am carz24,

I wish I would have done some google searches before I ordered my new Denali. I specifically waited because i wanted the 8 speed transmission and some of the new toys that came with the mid-year update.

Here was my first post on another thread before I was directed here.

I just picked up a 2015.5 Denali XL and as soon as I drove it home I noticed a resonance noise that drives my ears crazy. Its a low frequency "drumming" noise that is there at most speeds but gets really noticeable around the 68-75 mph. At its worst it can almost feel to my ears like the buffeting when a rear window is left open. I took it to the dealer and they agree its not like it should be but have no idea what it could be, so they are going to contact GM to see if they know. I test drove a 2015 Yukon XL SLE to see how that one sounds and it was every bit as bad. So I am curious if anyone else is experiencing the same thing?

Here are some of my observations; my Yukon Denali XL has the 22's and I thought maybe its the big tires, maybe its the V4 mode, maybe its active noise cancellation.

1. Its not the V4 mode because if I drive it in manual mode and don't let it go past 7th gear it stays in V8 mode and sounds every bit as bad as in V4 mode.

2. I test drove the Yukon XL SLE model with 18" tires and NO active noise cancellation and NO magnetic ride shocks and it was even worse than mine and the sales person commented that he could actually feel the "drumming" in his chest. So I felt like that took away some of the questions in my mind concerning wheel size, active noise cancellation and the magnetic ride option.

3. I also notice the same pressure feeling in my ears when I hit bumps.

4. I notice it at most speeds, but it continues to build pressure in my head and seems to peak from about 68-75 mph. It may be present above that but I did not drive it faster to test it.

5. I notice a slight vibration with the vehicle as well but it is so hard to tell if its road conditions or if its the vehicle.

6. My hunch is that they have a resonance issue with the frame, suspension and or body vibrating at different frequencies that drives the buffeting or resonance issue. Just my guess,

How GM missed or ignored this buffeting noise is beyond me....it hurts my head when I drive it!!

I agree with all of your observations. In addition, I posted earlier that I found that the noise is almost unnoticeable in the second and third row. Can you check to see if that is the case with yours. We have been back to the dealership 4 times with no resolution as they tried everything GM told them to do. Now we are looking at a buyback scenario but what to get is the new issue. Does your vehicle have a sunroof or DVD ?? I still guessing but it seems to me that this is caused either by the sound waves from the center of the vehicle getting compressed in the front by the windshield and dash or the front of the vehicle has some vibration in the frame as you had stated. Whatever it is GM Knows and they are jerking all of us around including the dealerships.

Anon2015 · November 24, 2014

For those of you have this problem who also have experienced headaches, dizziness, and/or disorientation, I would urge you to report this to NHTSA. The symptoms you state you've had can result in fatigue, loss of situational awareness, and distraction which could lead to a serious, if not life threatening, accident. I don't have a dog in this particular circus and hence have no grounds to do so myself.

EddyYukon · November 26, 2014

Picked up our 2015i. Don't have too many miles on it yet. But so far, zero indication of the pressure issue.

Specs of our truck that may/may not cause/prevent issue:

Yukon

Delani trim

8 speed

Short box

no roof racks

sunroof

No issue with audiopilot both on and off

20" wheels

Oh, and I really like the 8 speed.

Anon2015 · November 26, 2014

I had the opportunity to test drive a 2015i Yukon Denali (8-speed) yesterday. The sound/pressure issue was not evident in this version. I will have an opportunity to further test it on Friday and Saturday. Based upon yesterday, I don't suspect the issue will occur in this specific truck.

jasondenali15 · November 27, 2014

Great news, Fellas. Mine is on it's way. Thanks for the update. Hope my new one will be as perfect as the ones you both recently drove/own. Knock on wood...

EddyYukon · November 27, 2014

Great news, Fellas. Mine is on it's way. Thanks for the update. Hope my new one will be as perfect as the ones you both recently drove/own. Knock on wood...

In your honor... Tomorrow I will sacrifice a turkey to please the truck gods.

Good luck!

Ccamp5 · November 28, 2014

Glad to have found this! We purchased a 2015 Suburban LT Labor Day weekend and are having the same issue of the buffering noise, but also a terrible vibration at almost all speeds. The 3 times we have driven on long trips I have gotten terrible headaches, and on the last trip had to lay down in the back it was so bad. We have taken it to the dealer now 5 times and they cannot figure it out. (The first being the day after we bought it.) The service manager says he feels it & hears it, but can't find a fix. At first they thought it was the rims since we have 22's, but we put 4 different sets of 22's, & 1 set of 20's and the problem was still there. We even drove another suburban on the lot and it did the same thing. At this point it has become a health hazard. Not sure what to do from this point on!

Anon2015 · November 28, 2014

Just a nit ... it is buffeting not buffering. (Not picking on you but, you'll need to use the correct term when you file claims.)

You need to check the lemon laws in your state to determine the course of action to have GM buy back the Suburban. You should also file the issue with BBB Autoline, and with NHTSA. At this point, you also need to write down the dates/times/people you have spoken with at the dealership, gather up all your sales paperwork, and all service records you have from the dealer. Going forward, you want to document all contacts with the dealer and/or GM/Chevrolet with respect to this issue.

Best of luck and hope you find a Suburban without this problem.

Anon2015 · November 28, 2014

Potentially of interest -

http://www.teslamotors.com/forum/forums/solution-pressure-buffeting-issue-some-cars

...and another...

http://jalopnik.com/why-do-slightly-opened-car-windows-make-that-awful-soun-1447498738

Anon2015 · November 29, 2014

Ok...so I took the 2015i out for a bit more and varied driving to see if I could get the buffeting problem. So, I went to where I parked it overnight, kicked the tires, lit the fires and started rolling. I no sooner got up to 34 MPH and OMG. The buffeting was horrible ... my arm hairs started moving due to the pressure, the truck started shaking hard enough to make cocktails.

Two F-15, 200' AGL at full military power can certainly rattle a Yukon.

Ok...in any case, this 2015i did not exhibit any of the buffeting some of the others have. I didn't look up the build date; but, it was certainly within the past 4-5 weeks.

20Sierra14 · November 29, 2014

Update on my situation w/ 2 New Yukons:

I was hoping to get away from this thread when we traded in our '15 SLT for a '15 Denali due to the SLT giving us headaches! Well, the Denali is no where near as bad on the buffeting/drumming noise, but the pressure in my ears is still there! My wife isn't complaining while riding in the Denali as she did in the SLT, but for whatever reason, she's getting random dizziness spells a couple times a week while at work and home! As of yesterday, she accidentally merged into the other lane and scuffed into a public transit van and put a nice little scratch on the rear quarter panel of the Denali. She keeps telling me she doesn't remember merging into the other lane... Now granted, this could have been that she was using her phone, or whatever, but she's having trouble actually recalling what happen -- It's concerning to say the least..

But here is my theory -- As "carz24" was most recently referring to, I too believe it's the Active Noise Canceling/Sound system in the trucks that is producing the pressure in our ears. Once the road noise/cabin noise gets up to a certain speed or noise level, the sound system itself is compensating for the noise and trying to drown it out. I'm by no means a "sound professional", but I have couple other experiences w/ noise canceling in some other devices...

Hear me out here (no pun) -- I assume my ears must be sensitive because my cell phone (which uses noise cancellation for the background noise) seems to effect (pressure sensation) my ears while driving down the road (in any vehicle, and before we bought the Yukon). So much so, that I have to use the speaker phone while riding down the road... Just last night, I was using a set of high-end headphones, my wife walked into the room to ask a question, so I pulled one of the headphones off one ear. As soon as I did that, a pressure sensation shot through my head!

So leads to the next issue where folks are stating that the front seats are worse than the back seats -- If it were a mechanical issue (roof, shocks, wheels, etc), it should effect all seating positions. The member who stated that the backseats have no little to no issue, but the front seats do -- this just happens to be where the majority of the sound system resides ... ??

Does this seem crazy??

Edit:

Refer to this video --

The engineer refers specifically to a "boom" the engine makes, thus using the Noise Cancelation system to drown it out.

Can Active Noise Cancelation be turn off??

Edited November 29, 2014 by 20Sierra14