Driveshafts, Couplers, Vibration

[Tellthemride]

Here is a catalog of all the posts where driveshafts and couplers were replaced to address noticeable vibration from affected owners.

To help members navigate the original Vibration thread, which is nearing 1000 posts.

Also related, Hyundai Pallisade vibration TSB. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10167250-0001.pdf

Just got my Telluride back. Engineer from Kia came out to help dealer. They ordered a new rear drive shaft but part is back ordered for 2 months. They rephased the original rear driveshaft for better balance and reinstalled it and told it is ok to drive it until the new shaft arrives in two months. Driving it home I tried various speeds between 65 and 75 which was the problem range. Vibration and noise is definitely reduced so I feel we are on the right path to fix my problem.

UPDATE...
I was told that they replaced the Rear Differential and installed the New Driveshaft. I was cautiously optimistic when I picked it up but After a 30 mile test drive at highway speeds up to 85 and mostly between 65 & 75, absolutely no vibration. Wifie is very happy to have her Telly back.

Had the same vibration issue with my May built Telluride. Brought it back to the dealer for the second time for the issue. This time they fixed it. This is what the did. The tried swapping tires and wheels, still there. They removed driveshaft and had it balanced, still vibrated. The replaced the 4 wheel drive coupler and now its gone. Put over 2500 miles on it since then and smooth, no vibration. They had the car for 2 weeks to do this. They provided a loaner for all this time too. Don’t know if this is everyone’s problem, but it fixed mine.

Mine had been in service on and off for many months with Vibration issue. Dealership were great at confirming it quickly and working with Kia on solution... which was slow though.

They replaced driveshaft and coupler and vibration moved from 68Mph to 75Mph. After some diagnostic rounds like taking all wheels of other Telluride to check if problem persists they have sent the driveshaft and coupler assembled and balanced together. This seems to have fixed 90% of the issue. I still may hear some noise above 70Mph... or may be imagining but it surely is much better than before and I would not have noticed this kind of sound in new car as abnormal.

They did not do anything new/custom in the design of the system. Per my paperwork, they just replaced with OEM parts, in this order:

1. OEM Driveshaft: 49300-s8050
2. OEM Coupling: 47800-4g500
3. OEM Coupling (same as above, but from a new "batch")
4. OEM Driveshaft (same as above)

(Note the prices on those parts btw!)

The vehicle was returned to me in between after #3 as fixed. But it was not... so it went back in and Techline tried again with a new driveshaft, which finally worked.

I didn't get a lot of info about what was wrong with the driveshafts. The guy doing pickup/dropoff suggested that if they are out of balance they can cause vibration and it took two tries to get one that was balanced.

I am attaching my diagnosis from Driveshaft Specialist in San Antonio.

7 Days after Kia HQ in Irvine received my written buy back/ lemon lawsuit request (certified mail along with copy of service docs, AG compliant, NHTSA complaints, email history with dealer) they replied back by email.

They said that 1 final attempt to repair the car would be made before they would consider buying the car back. They asked for my purchase contract and loan information.

Miraculously they were also able to schedule the field tech to come back to the dealer the following week (after dealer continuing to not have an ETA).

So my car has been there the last 4 days and it has been driven a total of 155 miles by the field tech. Today, I got a call and they FINALLY agreed to order a new driveshaft, coupler, and flex pipe. Of course this is what I originally suggested 4 months ago during my 1st trip there.

Will keep you all posted if it fixes the vibration. I should have her back by next weekend.

 

[JerseySXP]

You sir are the man.

This goes to prove that when warranted Kia will replace the driveshaft when necessary...they just need to be...pushed a little. It also comes down to the dealer you take it to...

 

[qwikhit]

Agreed; the dealer is the main ingredient here. Unfortunately not all dealers are willing to go the extra mile

 

[JerseySXP]

Agreed; the dealer is the main ingredient here. Unfortunately not all dealers are willing to go the extra mile

I am going to try my best not to bog down this new thread.

Service techs have their hands tied as well.

This issue must go through the Service Manager and Kia Tech Line. Those are potentially two stress inducing road blocks.

Any solid mechanic knows that taking down the Driveshaft and taking it for a spin would be their second step after balancing the tires...

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[Kwim]

Not really, dealers are the filter that saves money for the Kia.
I just don’t understand, the dealer is authorized to make a decision independently on all points, with the exception of paint. The paint is always sent to Kia for approval. The dealer now does not even ship the replaced items to Kia as it used to. The dealer must store the replaced part for 30 days and, if Kia has not requested to send it to them, will dispose of the part.

 

[snoskiur]

Here is a catalog of all the posts where driveshafts and couplers were replaced to address noticeable vibration from affected owners.

To help members navigate the original Vibration thread, which is nearing 1000 posts.

Also related, Hyundai Pallisade vibration TSB. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10167250-0001.pdf

Hello. Was your vibration very noticeable or was it subtle? Mine is almost indiscernible from road vibration, other than the fact that there is only vibration at around 70 mph. I can tell clearly that is is repetitive and not road vibration, but anyone who doesn't drive it often either says its that or they just don't feel it. I've been in three times and they can't feel it (they're missing it).

 

[Tellthemride]

Hello. Was your vibration very noticeable or was it subtle? Mine is almost indiscernible from road vibration, other than the fact that there is only vibration at around 70 mph. I can tell clearly that is is repetitive and not road vibration, but anyone who doesn't drive it often either says its that or they just don't feel it. I've been in three times and they can't feel it (they're missing it).

I don’t have the vibration issue others have been reporting. I did try to take a rough measurement of cabin vibration in the past at 40 and 65mph. I don’t think my results were abnormal though.

Vibration Water Bottle Test

Using @Kwim ’s suggestion (vibration thread) to measure vibration levels in my Telluride while driving at 40 mph and 65 mph. I do feel slight vibration, and it is definitely visible looking at the water bottle placed in the cupholder between the front seats. I don’t personally think it is...

tellurideforum.org

This is another example of particularly bad vibrations another user posted here.

Skip to 1m7s or 1m40s to see the examples. The shaking is so violent, you can here it in his voice as he is talking.

 

[snoskiur]

I don’t have the vibration issue others have been reporting. I did try to take a rough measurement of cabin vibration in the past at 40 and 65mph. I don’t think my results were abnormal though.

Vibration Water Bottle Test

Using @Kwim ’s suggestion (vibration thread) to measure vibration levels in my Telluride while driving at 40 mph and 65 mph. I do feel slight vibration, and it is definitely visible looking at the water bottle placed in the cupholder between the front seats. I don’t personally think it is...

tellurideforum.org

This is another example of particularly bad vibrations another user posted here.

Skip to 1m7s or 1m40s to see the examples. The shaking is so violent, you can here it in his voice as he is talking.

OK. I'm hoping someone will respond with the same type of vibration I have. Thanks!

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[TelLX]

Question for all you guys experiencing the vibration / shudder at certain speeds...
Does it happen consistently whenever you're driving at those specific speeds...or is it sporadic?

 

[Wee]

Question for all you guys experiencing the vibration / shudder at certain speeds...
Does it happen consistently whenever you're driving at those specific speeds...or is it sporadic?

Consistent but is more noticeable at some speeds than others

 

[Flyer25108]

I have a 2022 SX and mine does it consistently between 67-80 mph. I feel a small vibration in the steering wheel and a larger vibration in the floor board/gas pedal. A growling/humming sound is also present during these speeds so I'm going to have this looked at during the first oil change/tire rotation. I have already had the tires road forced balanced and that didn't remedy the issue.

 

[Wee]

I have a 2022 SX and mine does it consistently between 67-80 mph. I feel a small vibration in the steering wheel and a larger vibration in the floor board/gas pedal. A growling/humming sound is also present during these speeds so I'm going to have this looked at during the first oil change/tire rotation. I have already had the tires road forced balanced and that didn't remedy the issue.

Good luck. Kia just kept telling us we had defective tires and refused to do much else.

There's a TSB available that addresses the issue, TechLine runs the show for warranty.

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[Flyer25108]

I saw the TSB but I thought it only pertained to 2020-2021 models?! I have a pretty good relationship with our local dealer so hopefully they can take care of the issue!

 

[Wee]

I saw the TSB but I thought it only pertained to 2020-2021 models?! I have a pretty good relationship with our local dealer so hopefully they can take care of the issue!

I hope they're able to get it solved for you, I have a good relationship with my technicians too, but they have to send everything to the engineers in California to sign off on it. And that's the hurdle

 

[TelLX]

Consistent but is more noticeable at some speeds than others

Thanks for that. Was just curious because although I haven't experienced it, my neighbor who has a new Telly told me he was driving home on a smooth highway a few weeks ago when suddenly he felt a thump under his feet and the steering wheel started vibrating and pulling for the rest of the drive home. He was going to take it to dealer service but it hasn't happened again. I asked him if he ran over something but he said definitely not. Strange!

 

[Flyer25108]

72mph seems to be the sweet spot! Feels like I'm driving over small rumble strips which makes the ride quality not so great. Most of my daily driving is highway so it annoys the shit out of me. I had a previous Telluride and it didn't do this so hopefully we can figure things out!

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[TrayA]

72mph seems to be the sweet spot! Feels like I'm driving over small rumble strips which makes the ride quality not so great. Most of my daily driving is highway so it annoys the shit out of me. I had a previous Telluride and it didn't do this so hopefully we can figure things out!

Did you ever get it figured out ?

 

[Wee]

Did you ever get it figured out ?

Unlikely (would be my guess)
Kia fought us like hell about it and just kept saying "your tires are bad"
Their field techs are hell bent on not spending money

 

[NickyRay]

I have a 2022 SX and mine does it consistently between 67-80 mph. I feel a small vibration in the steering wheel and a larger vibration in the floor board/gas pedal. A growling/humming sound is also present during these speeds so I'm going to have this looked at during the first oil change/tire rotation. I have already had the tires road forced balanced and that didn't remedy the issue.

Same thing over here. We bought new tires...it is still vibrating and shaking the whole car. It usually happens at high speeds but is not constant. Sometimes it lasts along time, then goes away and comes back 20 - 30 min later. We notice it more on the freeway and especially when we have longer road trips. It is scary!