SDCEB

I got my new Q5 in May and have been wondering what that small, but irritating rattle is. I couldn't figure out why it didn't happen when someone was in the passenger seat. I tried putting my hand on the headrest and seatback and that took care of it.

I don't think that I should have to fix it myself, but I'm not sure how to present it to the dealer when I take it in for my 5K service. I don't want to have to go through the whole discovery process with them. Sometimes you hear it, sometimes you don't.

Any recommendations?

Thanks

Bravo33

Well, I have tried taking off the headrest and the rattle still shows up when I slightly tap or put pressure on the seatback. I am now sure it is not the headrest problem. But how do I fix the problem? Anyone has this problem?

D_Frost

It could be the guide rail for the headrest... but some other folks have experienced slight play in the frame of the seat.

UrbanExtant

I did, and it wasn't the headrest. It sounds a bit bizarre, and crude, but one day the rattle pushed me just too far, so I punched the passenger seat in the center of the back from the front several times, and believe it or not, it hasn't rattled since, and nothing appears to be broken. This was several months ago, and it hasn't reappeared.

Bravo33

Punch the seat huh? umm... that's not exactly the fix I am looking for...

UrbanExtant

Frankly, it wasn't the fix I was looking for either, but after two months of that incessant rattle, I took what I could get. The dealer had looked at it three times, and it was scheduled for a fourth. I was to to the point where I was looking into just buying a new front seat to have it put in, so, even if this was unconventional, I'm pleased it stopped the damned rattle.

johncaravello

I quess I will never have a passenger seat rattle with the way my now 3 year old son likes to kick the back of the seat. ( I usually move the seat forward and take off his shoes to keep my sanity)

goti

I just got my 2012 back today from the dealer for 15k maintenance and also asked them to look into a rattle that has developed from the passenger seat area. I had tracked the noise down to something in the seatbelt mechanism on the passenger side pillar area.

They replaced the top hinge of the rear passenger side door. They claim that was the cause of the rattle and my Q5 was the 3rd they have seen this problem with. I have only had it back a few hours but so far I have not heard a peep. Need to give it a few days before I call it 100% solved but I was pleased they were able to reproduce the problem and do something about it.

Not sure if this is the same problem anyone else is experiencing but thought I would share just in case these are not isolated issues.

tigerking

OK. I've take a few shots of where I inserted the rubber (where the red arrow is pointing). If you slide your hand down that gap (the gap is surprisingly large), you can feel the steel tube of the seat frame and I jammed the rubber sheet around the tube area. You may need to try a few different positions to get to the right spot.

There seems to be quite a few different areas at which rattles can occur based on the numerous posts, so if you can determine that the rattle comes from the center console side of the seat back joint area (note that my car is right hand drive in case you wonder why my passenger seat is on the wrong side), my fix may work for you.

Tiedeious