Clunking from the back end

[tlinko]

Since Oct of '23 on my '22 SXP Telluride, I've been dealing with popping / clunking noise that happens when first accelerating or shifts occur in the body weight of the vehicle. I've taken it to 2 different dealers at least 8 different times. They always blame the shocks. The rear shocks have been replaced 6 times total and 4 times in the last 5k miles. The noise always comes back within a few days of being replaced. I'm not doing anything other than road driving around Raleigh, NC. My thought is the shock is covering up something else, but I have no idea what it could be. Any mechanically minded people have a guess as to what else it could be, or have experienced something similar with different results?

I know the shocks suck on these things based on the extended warranty up to 150k miles. I love the car, but am about the give up because of this.

 

[MrMCar]

I've been frustrated a few times over the years trying to isolate/fix customer noise complaints. By far the best tool to ferret out odd noises is the Steelman "Chassis Ear." Just about every dealership has one. They have large alligator clips that you attach to various points in the suspect area.
Flip on the headphones and change the channels to find where the noise is originating.

Noises: Always get someone interested in your problem. Take a technician or knowledgeable service advisor for a drive. MAKE the noise HAPPEN. MAKE them HEAR it.
Ambiguity, Gone.

P.S. Unfamiliar with the particular Telly case. However, most usually rear shock noises aren't the shocks themselves. Rather the mounting and/or bushings. Which get replaced with shocks, so "it was the shocks", right?

Good luck and report back...

 

[MNBackpacker]

Read up on the AWD coupler issue. Especially if you notice the issue when turning and accelerating and it feels like it's slipping. That could also be it.

 

[DarkMossJustin]

Since Oct of '23 on my '22 SXP Telluride, I've been dealing with popping / clunking noise that happens when first accelerating or shifts occur in the body weight of the vehicle. I've taken it to 2 different dealers at least 8 different times. They always blame the shocks. The rear shocks have been replaced 6 times total and 4 times in the last 5k miles. The noise always comes back within a few days of being replaced. I'm not doing anything other than road driving around Raleigh, NC. My thought is the shock is covering up something else, but I have no idea what it could be. Any mechanically minded people have a guess as to what else it could be, or have experienced something similar with different results?

I know the shocks suck on these things based on the extended warranty up to 150k miles. I love the car, but am about the give up because of this.

If you have the rear self-leveling suspension and the Nivomat-style shocks manufactured by Mando, see my previous thread.

A tech drove around with me and quickly identified the noise.

Insulators/shocks/other suspension parts replaced and problem gone.

I paid the labor for the repair initially and KIA covered the parts, then a year later a got a letter from KIA offering to reimburse what I paid for labor.

Took me a bit to locate the receipts and recently sent them to KIA. Hopefully I get the promised reimbursement.

If you have the “self-leveling” rear shock assemblies, i’m 99% sure the problem can be fixed. Perhaps they didn’t replace everything that needed to be replaced? Or gave you replacement shocks with the same defect before everything got corrected?

I’d have a service tech check the shocks/suspension again

______________________________

 

[MrMCar]

I paid the labor for the repair initially and KIA covered the parts, then a year later a got a letter from KIA offering to reimburse what I paid for labor.

There's more to keeping good records than increasing resale value. It's not uncommon for a owner to pay out of pocket for a resolution to an issue (being on an early wave, so to speak) and then later the issue becomes more widespread/identified, sometimes a TSB or voluntary recall may come about.

Under federal laws provisions are made to reimburse the customer for the NOW covered repairs. It takes some time and work on the part of the consumer however, many of my customers did receive refunds eventually.