2023 Denali ultimate dash rattle/sound

[jjobev]

I have 2023 Denali Ultimate. I am noticing a sound coming from the center of the dash when I go over bumps. It sounds like the noise you would get if something is loose and bouncing in the cargo area…only from the dash. My guess is the center channel speaker. I already had to have the drivers door panel replaced for a rattle caused by too much space between the panel and the window. The dealer fixed that problem but said they couldn’t hear the dash issue when they test drove it. At the time I wanted the vehicle back to see if door issue was resolved and didn’t have time to deal with the dash. Will have the dealer check it out again but thought I would check here to see if anyone else has had similar experience. I am not crazy about the idea of taking the dash apart. Thank you

 

[WalleyeMikeIII]

I have 2023 Denali Ultimate. I am noticing a sound coming from the center of the dash when I go over bumps. It sounds like the noise you would get if something is loose and bouncing in the cargo area…only from the dash. My guess is the center channel speaker. I already had to have the drivers door panel replaced for a rattle caused by too much space between the panel and the window. The dealer fixed that problem but said they couldn’t hear the dash issue when they test drove it. At the time I wanted the vehicle back to see if door issue was resolved and didn’t have time to deal with the dash. Will have the dealer check it out again but thought I would check here to see if anyone else has had similar experience. I am not crazy about the idea of taking the dash apart. Thank you

I've got a plasticy type rattle from the center stack too...sometimes its more like a squeak...its def plastic on plastic type noise...only on bumps. Been getting a bit worse as the weather is warming up here. It's on my list to take in to the dealer, but I don't hold high hopes. I can mimic the sound a bit w/ light pressure on the piano black trim around the AC controls, but holding pressure there doesn't make it stop when I hit bumps.

I need to get someone else to drive and really get down there to hear it...but it is so dang infrequent that its going to be tough...let me know if you figure it out.

 

[jjobev]

I've got a plasticy type rattle from the center stack too...sometimes its more like a squeak...its def plastic on plastic type noise...only on bumps. Been getting a bit worse as the weather is warming up here. It's on my list to take in to the dealer, but I don't hold high hopes. I can mimic the sound a bit w/ light pressure on the piano black trim around the AC controls, but holding pressure there doesn't make it stop when I hit bumps.

I need to get someone else to drive and really get down there to hear it...but it is so dang infrequent that its going to be tough...let me know if you figure it out.

If anyone has had the big 5 point harness car seats, the head support in those would rattle when you’d hit a bump. That is what it sounds like to me in the dash. Like something in the dash can move around enough to make the sound. I don’t know how easy it is to pop off the grill around the center channel speaker. Just something to deal with that I don’t feel like dealing with.

 

[Tahoe14]

I had a plastic on-plastic squeak in my 2015, sprayed some silicone spray on the area of the squeak, wiped off the access which does not hurt the plastic, and problem solved.

 

[jjobev]

I've got a plasticy type rattle from the center stack too...sometimes its more like a squeak...its def plastic on plastic type noise...only on bumps. Been getting a bit worse as the weather is warming up here. It's on my list to take in to the dealer, but I don't hold high hopes. I can mimic the sound a bit w/ light pressure on the piano black trim around the AC controls, but holding pressure there doesn't make it stop when I hit bumps.

I need to get someone else to drive and really get down there to hear it...but it is so dang infrequent that its going to be tough...let me know if you figure it out.

I love this vehicle but it the most expense with the most dash rattles of any vehicle I've ever owned. I recently had 2021 Tahoe premier and in the last two months have rented a premier and LT suburban with no rattles.

I have tried to slide foam in places like where the dash contacts the AC vents to see if it helps and I could isolate the problem. It makes a slight difference on the more traditional rattling sound but I am still getting very distinct rattle/clunking sound to the left of the center channel speaker when I go over bumps at speed (really bad on interstate driving when going over uneven road). I also slid some foam into the space where the wood tray that covers the wireless charging space slides back into the center stack. The dash thumping is enough to make me consider finding a different vehicle. But before I do that I am going to give the dealer a chance to see if they can fix it because I love the vehicle otherwise. I tried to tell myself to live with it, but I can't do that on a vehicle like this. As a reminder I already had the drivers door panel replaced because of rattling and there being too much space between the window and door frame. It isn't perfect but I have moved on from that unless it gets worse.

I have my first oil change coming up soon and am going to get the service manager to ride with me.

Just checking to see if anyone else has had this as I am not crazy about taking off the dash.

 

[Tahoe14]

You take a chance of having the service tech scratch or damage the trim if they start taking things apart, there are horror stories on this forum.

 

[WalleyeMikeIII]

You take a chance of having the service tech scratch or damage the trim if they start taking things apart, there are horror stories on this forum.

If they do that, you have a convo w/ service advisor or service manager and make them get new part to replace the damaged one.

 

[like2detail]

My 2021 was like that as well, rattles in the console, rattles around the infotainment, rattles around the center channel speaker, rattles in the door panels... was able to get the local dealer to print me off a ton of schematics for the dash and door panels to make disassembly easier than trial and error. Over the course of a year at various times I pretty much removed every trim piece on the dash and put foam tape at a bunch of plastic contact points. It's dead quiet now, not a single rattle. I just tried to be patient, masking tape things up and use the proper plastic trim removal tools so no damage was caused.

The only noise I haven't been able to fix is a wind driven rattle in my drivers door/window area that only happens below 50 degrees. It's summer so I'm enjoying the quiet while I can!

 

[doverton17]

I have 2023 Denali Ultimate. I am noticing a sound coming from the center of the dash when I go over bumps. It sounds like the noise you would get if something is loose and bouncing in the cargo area…only from the dash. My guess is the center channel speaker. I already had to have the drivers door panel replaced for a rattle caused by too much space between the panel and the window. The dealer fixed that problem but said they couldn’t hear the dash issue when they test drove it. At the time I wanted the vehicle back to see if door issue was resolved and didn’t have time to deal with the dash. Will have the dealer check it out again but thought I would check here to see if anyone else has had similar experience. I am not crazy about the idea of taking the dash apart. Thank you

I have the same issue on my 2022 GMC Sierra Denali, which has the same/similar dash as the Yukon Denali. I only have 6K miles on my truck the noises started in the cluster and dash (instrument panel GM calls it) when temperatures started reaching 72-75+ degrees casuing the plastic to expand/contract. I also have a rattle in the driver-side door (seems to be around the speaker) that the dealership claims they cannot replicate but occurs every time I'm on the interstate and hit bumps or rougher roads. It stops if I press a against the speaker.

I have taken my truck to the dealership a total of 5 times now. On my 2nd visit, they claimed they could not replicate the dash plastic popping noise (which is false) but replaced the dash anyway (seems suspect to me, if they claim they could not duplicate the noise) After replacing the dash, the noise is still happening and driving me crazy! I have taken my truck in 2 more times since the dash was replaced and they still claim the noise cannot be duplicated. I told the dealership they likely wouldn't hear the dash noise at this point because the highs were only 65 degrees.

I contacted GM customer care at the recommendation of my sales rep but have gotten nowhere with them. They claim they could get a structural engineer out but it remains unknown if it will happen. Now we are well in fall / soon winter so the noise in the dash will not occur as often because the heat is what makes the plastic contract/expand and causes the popping noises. In my opinion, the issue is a defect for GM and so far they are not willing to take ownership of the issue. Meanwhile, we all spent 75K+ our Denalis and likely won't find a resolution or provide buy-back options unless other individuals with this issue start getting GM's attention. I even provided several videos of the dash noise occurring and that did not help my case because they say they cannot duplicate the noise. If you have this issue, take videos, get to the dealership, and make it known!

 

[Tahoe14]

Wait until it warms up and take the Service Manager for a ride and duplicate the noise.

 

[jjobev]

My wife thinks I am crazy but I am going to get rid of the vehicle. I can’t handle the sounds in the dash and mine has gotten worse. I also am skeptical of having the dash removed and then actually fixing anything. There is the popping plastic on plastic sound to the left of the center speaker and now something on the passenger side. My passenger door was rattling around the speaker but I stuffed foam around the speaker grill and that seems to have helped. I tried stuffing foam around where plastic comes together in the dash for defrost vents but that didn’t help.

 

[BrotriX]

Anyone have a rattle that sounds like it’s coming from the area of the rear view mirror? Any fixes?

 

[TheAgency]

I've had this problem on the dash center trim piece, surrounding the center channel speaker, on my 2021 and 2023 Denali, worse on the 2021. I accepted that I'm extremely fussy and for me, it's never turned out great when I've tried to warranty out these things that I can fix myself, with far more care and a better result.

I find it's the metal retainer clips within the trim piece and you can fix it yourself with some patience.

Get a Skin wedge as your removal tool, also trim removal tool kit to help hold the sides of the trim up as you work your way around, and some squeak-reduction tape.

Carefully pry the piece up with the skin wedge, then insert a few of the red trim removal tools as you go around since the tension from the remaining clips will encourage the trim piece to want to pop back in. Wrap the metal retainer clips that you see in the squeak tape. Once you're done, just pop the piece back in and I can all but guarantee your problem is fixed for good.

I've had various little squeaks on every vehicle I've had, even the higher-end Germans have the problem.

SKINWEDGE: https://www.obsessedgarage.com/prod...Ye0qrV5eN0ZKpTNtECt5AOvGMpExS7rBoCs9MQAvD_BwE


TRIM REMOVAL SET: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07917TDL6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1


SQUEAK TAPE: https://www.amazon.com/5430-Squeak-...=squeak+reduction+tape,industrial,115&sr=1-12

 

[jjobev]

I am personally scared of breaking something or making it worse. Then suddenly I am the cause of the problem and not whatever it was in the first place. It also isn’t clear to me which parts of the dash are trim pieces and can be easily removed.

 

[BrotriX]

Thanks TheAgency! I had considered that location as another possible source of the noise. Appreciate the links as well!

 

[BrotriX]

Just to confirm… you’re referring to the entire plastic piece that contains the defrost vents and goes around the speaker?

 

[jjobev]

Just to confirm… you’re referring to the entire plastic piece that contains the defrost vents and goes around the speaker?
View attachment 412671

Thank you for posting this picture. I was going to do the same thing to confirm the piece that actually comes off. Before I start trying to remove a piece that shouldn’t be removed!

 

[jjobev]

I've had this problem on the dash center trim piece, surrounding the center channel speaker, on my 2021 and 2023 Denali, worse on the 2021. I accepted that I'm extremely fussy and for me, it's never turned out great when I've tried to warranty out these things that I can fix myself, with far more care and a better result.

I find it's the metal retainer clips within the trim piece and you can fix it yourself with some patience.

Get a Skin wedge as your removal tool, also trim removal tool kit to help hold the sides of the trim up as you work your way around, and some squeak-reduction tape.

Carefully pry the piece up with the skin wedge, then insert a few of the red trim removal tools as you go around since the tension from the remaining clips will encourage the trim piece to want to pop back in. Wrap the metal retainer clips that you see in the squeak tape. Once you're done, just pop the piece back in and I can all but guarantee your problem is fixed for good.

I've had various little squeaks on every vehicle I've had, even the higher-end Germans have the problem.

SKINWEDGE: https://www.obsessedgarage.com/prod...Ye0qrV5eN0ZKpTNtECt5AOvGMpExS7rBoCs9MQAvD_BwE


TRIM REMOVAL SET: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07917TDL6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1


SQUEAK TAPE: https://www.amazon.com/5430-Squeak-Reduction-Tape-0-25/dp/B00KCMJX0Y/ref=sr_1_12?crid=3EK80Y96IHBVI&keywords=squeak+reduction+tape&qid=1698336928&s=industrial&sprefix=squeak+reduction+tape,industrial,115&sr=1-12

I am going to give this a try. Will just try to pry the trim off slowly. Any other tips for removing and replacing? I do think if I can get this piece off it will give me access to where the sound is coming from.

 

[jjobev]

I gave a quick try but didn't feel like I was making progress on removing. Is there a certain side to start from? I read on a different forum for chevy SS that they started near the windshield side because there were hooks on the passenger side that just pop out once the windshield side clips are free. I got a little gun shy doing this and just curious if there is specific technique for starting it and where the actual metal clips are located that I need to undo. Thank you

 

[TheAgency]

Yes, to confirm, I'm referencing removal of the entire "t-shaped" piece that contains the defrost vents, speaker grill, and light sensor. I started on the passenger side, right of the center channel speaker grill (on the trim piece itself, not the speaker grill itself, the grill is attached to the larger trim piece that we are removing).

I've done it twice. Use the right tools. That skin wedge is amazing. Work your way around and lift to find where the clips insert, obviously, the insertions being where your pressure needs to be. Be gentle but assertive and it will work.