[Vann]

It's not the glove box itself, but it sounds like there's something rattling/rubbing in there when you're driving over rough roads. It was even worse on my 2016 mdx tech sh-awd.

Can't hear it at all if you're driving on smooth roads.

The sound could possibly be even louder in the summer when things expand because of the heat.

Just would like to know if anybody else has had this issue and if so how did they fixed it or dealt with it.

There has been a similar thread 10 years ago, but no solution for 3rd gen. Glove Box door rattle

But I don't think the sound is coming from glove box door itself.

Thanks for the responses.

 

[mrgold35]

How loud is the sound? Is it loud enough to be heard over the ELS system at normal volumes. Is it one of those sounds that is hard to un-hear once your know it is there? Does it sound like it coming from the same area to the front seat passenger?

My first creaking/rattling sound was from both of my front side windows. The would make a weird sound in a stiff side or headwind at hwy speeds. The sound would go away when I pressed against the glass with my hand on the upper lefthand corner. Added some Honda Shin Etsu lithium grease to the corners of the felt tracks and that worked for +3 years.

I sometimes still hear more of a creaking/rubbing sound in my 19 MDX hybrid (+42,000 miles). I hear it from coming from one location like behind the infotainment or under the front center console area and the wife seems to hear it from another from her sitting position. It is not consistent and we haven't heard it for a few months. We figured the sound is bouncing off something is making it hard to pinpoint or maybe it is the active noise cancelling system issue?

 

[ronvanr]

Step one, empty your glove box - make sure there is nothing in your glove box that's making the sounds while going over a bumpy road. Also, make sure there is nothing under a seat or in a pasenger side door pocket that could be causing the sound.

 

[Dan in Denver]

Long shot on this one. I had a ‘12 Pilot with the same issues. It was two loose screws on the passenger pillar. If you remove the plastic cover on the pillar on the passenger side, there may two screws that loosened over time…..

 

[mdxstang]

Step one, empty your glove box

Step two - take out your cabin filter and make sure it's not associated with that. Maybe a rodent placed some nuts in there.

The cabin filter is behind the glove box and is simple to remove.

 

[Vann]

It's not loud enough to hear over the ELS sound system, but I usually drive without music on, I have tinnitus and just don't enjoy music as much anymore. Also, if I have the A/C or heat fan speed on high enough, it's hard to hear over that as well.

I've been driving with an empty glove box since I bought mdx 1 month ago. It feels like the dash itself is vibrating in front of the passenger's side when I drive on poorly maintained roads. And I've taken out the cabin filter and the plastic covers in the glove box as well, to see if those were causing any rubbing and vibration, and those were not the cause.

I'll check the screws in the passenger pillar, see if that's an issue as well.

But I remember, changing my tires on the 2016 mdx tech sh-awd, from the oem CONTINENTALCROSS CONTACT LX SPORT to MICHELIN DEFENDER LTX and the softer ride did lessen the vibration sound.

I'm a bit hesitant to take things apart, because it feels every time you take stuff apart and put it back, it's just never as tight as it originally was and now I'm just inducing more vibration in the area from loosening plastics and rubber seals.

Thanks for all the ideas

 

[mdxstang]

I'm a bit hesitant to take things apart, because it feels every time you take stuff apart and put it back, it's just never as tight as it originally was and now I'm just inducing more vibration in the area from loosing plastics and rubber seals.

I agree with this point. It's a matter of annoyance level as to whether it's worth pursuing too much.

Maybe try putting something in the glove box, like the owner manual (if you have one) or other non-rattly heavier item. Maybe that'll make a difference.

 

[andysinnh]

Open the passenger door and look forward of the door hinges between the fender and the chassis. There's a stiff piece of foam in there that's sort of stuffed in place to absorb sound. See if that piece is moving around at all (and for comparison, check the driver's side for the same foam piece). I was chasing a similar sound on my '19 right after I got it, and in the end it turns out that foam piece was floating around behind the fender, and over bumps you'd get this odd sound that seemed like it was coming from the glove compartment. Had the foam replaced and it was quiet as a mouse.....

Added a pic of the foam piece when it was loose. That sliver of foam you can see towards the left should be fully stuffed in so you can't see forward. In my case it got "unfolded" and was flopping around....