Rumbling Noise from Rear of Vehicle

[xp0nex]

I’m curious if anyone else has experienced something like this.

What started as an intermittent issue is now happening more frequently. One morning, as I started driving my 4Runner, I noticed a loud noise coming from the rear of the vehicle that got louder with speed. The best way to describe it is the sound of MT tires or driving over a highway rumble strip. There are no vibrations or anything else unusual—just the noise.

I ran an errand, came back out, and the noise was completely gone. I didn’t hear it again for a couple of weeks. At first, I assumed it was just the OEM tires reacting to cold morning temps and that they needed to warm up.

Since then, I’ve installed new wheels and tires, and the ride is smooth and quiet—until the noise randomly returns. It usually disappears later in the day after driving for a while, but it’s happening more and more often now, which makes me wonder if it might be related to the rear diff.

I’ll eventually take it to a Toyota dealer for diagnosis, but I’m curious if anyone else has run into this.

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[Tarekith]

I’d check to make sure the spare tire is secure too.

 

[xp0nex]

I’d check to make sure the spare tire is secure too.

I checked and it is secure

 

[JakeShirt]

Ive had the same issue and haven’t been able to identify it. From the drivers seat it sounds like the right rear wheel bearing or rear diff groaning but the next time I drive it’s quiet and I wont hear it again for several days. It’s pretty loud when it does happen.

 

[xp0nex]

Ive had the same issue and haven’t been able to identify it. From the drivers seat it sounds like the right rear wheel bearing or rear diff groaning but the next time I drive it’s quiet and I wont hear it again for several days. It’s pretty loud when it does happen.

Yes, exactly that. The sound is definitely coming from the rear, and it seems like it’s on the rear‑right side, but that might just be the way it carries from the seating position. It comes and goes, and I haven’t been able to pinpoint it either. My main concern is that it could turn into something serious—like the diff locking up or causing a safety issue.

I do plan on calling the local Toyota dealer and making appointment to bring it in.

 

[JakeShirt]

I will add that my wife thinks that the noise source sounds much higher up in the vehicle and is most likely wind noise.

 

[brumey]

You might want to capture the audio in case the vehicle does not do it at the dealer.

 

[xp0nex]

I’m also wondering if this could be related to the ANC system and whether it’s experiencing some kind of glitch. From what I understand, it uses microphones to detect cabin noise and then plays inverse sound waves through the speakers to cancel it out. The rumble I’m hearing is coming from the rear‑right area, which also happens to be where the factory subwoofer is located (for my case anyway since I have the JBL).

I don't have a Carista OBD2 module so I can't turn it off and verify it.

 

[RunnerRocks]

Piped-in fake engine noise ? It's rather loud in SPORT mode.

 

[xp0nex]

I know Sport mode can change the sound profile, but that’s different from ANC. I wasn’t in Sport mode anyway — I’ve been driving in Normal mode the whole time.

I was thinking — what if the ANC system is glitching and the subwoofer is playing inverse sound waves incorrectly? Instead of canceling cabin noise, it might be creating the rumble.

 

[horbit]

If you don't want to purchase Carista to check this, you can try depinning and taping off the related wire on the factory amplifier. This is under the driver seat. Looks like it may be the signal wire for the ANC microphones.

 

[JakeShirt]

I’ll disable ANC/ESE with Carista and see if the noise returns. Will reply with any updates.

 

[xp0nex]

I’ll disable ANC/ESE with Carista and see if the noise returns. Will reply with any updates.

That would be great!

 

[Randeezy]

I’m also wondering if this could be related to the ANC system and whether it’s experiencing some kind of glitch. From what I understand, it uses microphones to detect cabin noise and then plays inverse sound waves through the speakers to cancel it out. The rumble I’m hearing is coming from the rear‑right area, which also happens to be where the factory subwoofer is located (for my case anyway since I have the JBL).

I don't have a Carista OBD2 module so I can't turn it off and verify it.

That’s exactly what it was with my noise, I keep seeing posts about it. It glitches out and makes weird noises. The Tacoma forums have a bunch of posts too.

 

[xp0nex]

That’s exactly what it was with my noise, I keep seeing posts about it. It glitches out and makes weird noises. The Tacoma forums have a bunch of posts too.

I was a little worried it might be something mechanical, even though it didn’t really make sense. I’m glad it turned out to be just a glitch.

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