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Growling noise when accelerating from a stop....

2943 Views 43 Replies 10 Participants Last post by Denman, 9 d ago

Denman

Discussion Starter · 2 mo ago

Has anyone else heard this very intermittent growling noise upon acceleration from a stop? It's very hit or miss but definitely coming from the rear wheel area or somewhere in the back end of the vehicle on the underside. It's about 1 or 2 seconds in length and is gone after you hit 1 or 2 mph most likely. It almost sounds like a cross between a quiet fog horn and a growl. I'm guessing it happens every 10 or 15 stops, if that. Any thoughts? Oh, and it doesn't seem to matter whether I have Autohold engaged or not. Thanks for your feedback. I'll be at the dealer tomorrow just to get a quick fluid and tire check before my next road trip to PHX so I'll ask them if there's any bulletin about it.

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21 - 40 of 44 Posts

FlNiro

· #21 · 2 mo ago

Even with my "trusted" dealer I would never say do a 5k mi. service or anything general like that. Always say I want an oil change or tires rotated or what you want specifically. Always say exactly what you want done.

Reactions: 1

SDeemer

· #22 · 2 mo ago

Excellent advice.

This is a pretty good chart for "normal" maintenance: https://www.kiastore.com/service/maintenance-schedule/

When my 2023 Niro approaches 8000 miles, I will show them my bottle of contaminated clutch fluid from 3000 miles, and add "Please flush the clutch fluid circuit."

FlNiro

· #23 · 2 mo ago

SDeemer said:
Excellent advice.

This is a pretty good chart for "normal" maintenance: https://www.kiastore.com/service/maintenance-schedule/

When my 2023 Niro approaches 8000 miles, I will show them my bottle of contaminated clutch fluid from 3000 miles, and add "Please flush the clutch fluid circuit."

That's a pretty good chart! Is that the dealer you use?

Denman

Discussion Starter · #24 · 2 mo ago

That is a good chart. It's interesting that the intervals are 8,000 miles. It seems like my last generation Niro was 7,500 if I remember correctly. I see the engine clutch actuator fluid is inspected at 8K and replaced at 16K. I don't know if replace means flush or not, but I'll definitely make sure it's done. Most everything else at 16K is "inspect" other than oil change and tire rotation. I always do those things but sometimes pass on the air conditioner filter replacement. I was told when I had my 2020 Niro that it's simple to do yourself. Not sure how the 2nd Gen is though.

Techy

· #25 · 2 mo ago

Denman said:
I always do those things but sometimes pass on the air conditioner filter replacement. I was told when I had my 2020 Niro that it's simple to do yourself. Not sure how the 2nd Gen is though.

If you mean the cabin air filter - it is very easy to change.

Denman

Discussion Starter · #26 · 2 mo ago

Yes, I think that's the filter they were referring to. Glad to hear it's easy to do.

FredO

· #27 · 2 mo ago

Perhaps it would be useful to have a labeled photo of the various fluid reservoirs although there is a drawing in the manual, from which I identified some things under the hood of my 2020 PHEV.

Hood Motor vehicle Automotive tire Automotive lighting Automotive design

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Techy

· #28 · 2 mo ago

FredO said:
Perhaps it would be useful to have a labeled photo of the various fluid reservoirs although there is a drawing in the manual, from which I identified some things under the hood of my 2020 PHEV. View attachment 8548

Well done!
I note your coolant is a little below the min level.

Reactions: 1

FlNiro

· #29 · 2 mo ago

FredO said:
Perhaps it would be useful to have a labeled photo of the various fluid reservoirs although there is a drawing in the manual, from which I identified some things under the hood of my 2020 PHEV. View attachment 8548

Hey give this guy a JOB!! LOL. Simple but yet so informative.

FredO

· #30 · 2 mo ago

Techy said:
I note your coolant is a little below the min level.

Yes, inverter coolant. Engine coolant [email protected] min.

Ron S

· #31 · 2 mo ago

I'm hearing the same noise on mine, usually when moving on from a stop at a stop sign. It's so infrequent that I haven't given it much thought. I'm doubting that it's related to rust, as this isn't an area where road salt is used.

Very interested if anyone figures out exactly what it is.

Techy

· #32 · 2 mo ago

Ron S said:
I'm hearing the same noise on mine, usually when moving on from a stop at a stop sign. It's so infrequent that I haven't given it much thought. I'm doubting that it's related to rust, as this isn't an area where road salt is used.

Very interested if anyone figures out exactly what it is.

While salt may make it worse, if you live in an area of high humidity, the rusting rotors will be amplified.

Reactions: 1

FlNiro

· #33 · 2 mo ago

Here in Fl. you get a light coat of surface rust just sitting overnight

Denman

Discussion Starter · #34 · 2 mo ago

Ron S said:
I'm hearing the same noise on mine, usually when moving on from a stop at a stop sign. It's so infrequent that I haven't given it much thought. I'm doubting that it's related to rust, as this isn't an area where road salt is used.

Very interested if anyone figures out exactly what it is.

I still hear it infrequently as well and am trying to pay attention to the conditions when it happens. I do think I've heard it less since activating the brake cleaning system a few times. However the other day we had a bit of rain and I heard the sound twice that day so perhaps days with moisture (fairly unusual here in Denver) may be something to watch. Just like you experienced, it's always as I pull away from a stop and it usually startles me a bit as you might expect when a lower volume fog horn goes off in your ear. LOL. I'm not overly concerned but let's keep on it and maybe together we can figure out with certainty what it is. In the mean time I just think of them as little harmless car farts.

Reactions: 2

Ron S

· #35 · 1 mo ago

I just heard it yesterday, though only once among many stops. It was a bright sunny day with low humidity. This was when starting off from a stop at a crosswalk. This was in a residential neighborhood where the route has a slight rise in elevation. The car was switching occasionally between EV and ICE mode, so that might be a factor.

Denman

Discussion Starter · #36 · 1 mo ago

I drove to Phoenix last week so I had my first major road trip with the 2023. Overall everything was great although I will bring up a different question in a new thread soon. I heard the growl/fog horn a few times but no more than usual. I stopped at two Kia dealerships there to inquire at the service department if they'd heard of this issue and I was told that none had been reported yet. One of the service departments did tell me that they had worked on a couple vehicles of the older generation Niro with what sounded like a similar issue. Now, I'm really paraphrasing here but from what I understood the brakes in the Autohold mode were not releasing well after a stop and that the calipers (or whatever related brake parts) are not lubricated well enough at the factory (or at all) so they took the brakes apart and lubricated them and the problem went away. My question to them would now be, why would the brakes make that sound and why do I not feel any friction or hesitation when accelerating from a stop? It doesn't feel like the brakes are grabbing at all. And, I've never heard of a similar issue with Gen 1 and I owned one for a couple years and never heard the sound and I used Autohold all the time. But, I will turn if off for a while and see if I no longer hear the growl. I think the best thing we can do is mention the issue when our cars go in for service so that there's documented information in the system. The chances of a service technician driving the car and hearing the sound are slim so I have no idea how they will pursue a solution without replicating it but I'm sure they do similar things all the time.

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Reactions: 1

TM Niro

· #37 · 1 mo ago

Denman said:
I spoke with one of the key Kia service tech guys today at my dealership. All the fluids looked fine to him and although there was slight discoloration to the clutch fluid in the front reservoir he said it's in line with what he would expect and that it would be replaced (I'm not sure if that means "flushed") during my 15K service interval. When I described the sound from the back end he said there's a chance that air may have gotten into the brake system lines (I'm not quite sure of the exact lingo he used) and that if it continued they would take care of it by flushing it out or some such thing. He did encourage me to try the braking cleaning mode and other things you've described here but I just got the sense that based on my description of what it sounded like and when it occurred that it might not be the "rotor rust". Whatever it is didn't seem urgent and if it continues I'll have it checked when I do my first oil change after my next 2K trip.

TM Niro

· #38 · 1 mo ago

I have the same issue. It’s very random when it happens. I’ve tried different things to try and duplicate the noise, but it happens when you least expect it. I have videos of the noise and it’s exactly how you described it. I took it into the dealership and they have bled the abs system, but it made that noise a couple days later. I took it into a different Kia dealership for a second opinion and they looked at the rear brake system. They thought it might have been the rotor grinding against something but didn’t find anything wrong. I’m now thinking if it’s a wheel imbalance or an exhaust issue. I’m going to be getting a tire rotation soon so if the noise moves forward I’ll know it’s a tire issue. Other than that noise the car is great. Please keep me posted if you find anything and I will do the same. Thanks!

TM Niro

· #39 · 1 mo ago

Denman said:
I still hear it infrequently as well and am trying to pay attention to the conditions when it happens. I do think I've heard it less since activating the brake cleaning system a few times. However the other day we had a bit of rain and I heard the sound twice that day so perhaps days with moisture (fairly unusual here in Denver) may be something to watch. Just like you experienced, it's always as I pull away from a stop and it usually startles me a bit as you might expect when a lower volume fog horn goes off in your ear. LOL. I'm not overly concerned but let's keep on it and maybe together we can figure out with certainty what it is. In the mean time I just think of them as little harmless car farts.

That’s exactly what I told my wife when it happens! “Hey honey, the car just farted lol”

Bronnie

· #40 · 9 d ago

Ron S said:
I'm hearing the same noise on mine, usually when moving on from a stop at a stop sign. It's so infrequent that I haven't given it much thought. I'm doubting that it's related to rust, as this isn't an area where road salt is used. Very interested if anyone figures out exactly what it is.

Mine has started doing this too, no Snow or salt around on the roads here but I I do live near a haroubour and beaches. Car is garaged and has 4000km and is 6months old

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