Texdriver

Everyone who reads this forum sees the clunking from the rear posts and complaints. So I was wondering if this problem is restricted to 4WD models or do 2WD models get this as well.

We have a 1 yr. old 2WD, base with no problems in this area, to date.

Any input is appreciated.

markAZ

No problems with ours either.

Texdriver

Thank you Mark for your response. But please indicate 2WD or 4WD.

weather

We had the AWD and we had the rear noise....The clunking has to do with the reactive dampers from Sachs and doubt that the correlation will be between FWD and AWD.

kareshi

Would be good to post the mileage instead of year and whether you drive in extreme cold weather

KeithL

RDX Tech AWD 7 months old 7500 miles mostly well maintained roads and both rear shocks have been replaced in last month due to noises from them.

Texdriver

Kareshi, Good suggestion if people want to include that. My thought on this is that 2WD (FWD) doesn't have this problem and that it's related to the 4WD (AWD). So that's the info I'm looking for.

hand-filer

It's the shocks that are the cause of the noise. The AWD and FWD use the same shocks. It has nothing to do with the type of drive system.

musty hustla

AWD no noise

ryans_tsx

I have a 2WD and did have the clunking problem.

Murrow

- 2014 FWD
- 7,800 miles
- No noise -- at least for now

5 Acuras

iTrader: (1)

2014 AWD/Tech, shocks replaced because of rattling sound at approx. 7800 miles, all quiet since then and just hit 10K miles today. Purchased 08/2014.

CharlieZ

2014 AWD....7500 miles...no clunking

KeithL

I am wondering how many people have it and do not realize it and just take it as suspension noise from the roads. the gf did not hear it until I pointed it out to her what to listen for.

acura0614

2014 FWD/with Tech, started making rear end noise at about 1200 miles.
Fixed by the dealership about four months ago. Now at one year old it has 4300 miles on the car, and no noise.

Going to have my first oil change and tire rotation at the dealership this
morning.

Mac.

saxman48

2013 AWD/Tech, 15 months old, ~11K mi, no noise so far, but not driven in extreme cold climate.

mikejmack

2013 AWD w/Tech. I notice it from November to March. Much better in the warmer weather. Have had them both replaced, and as others have stated, it didn't make much difference.

KeithL

Interesting that some hear it in cooler/cold weather. I am in Georgia and ours was making noise even at 70-80 degrees.

weather

KeithL....Its not that we didn't hear in the summer months but the problem became even more noticeable in extreme cold weather. Scary though....I know!

I would have given anything to have someone from Acura/Sachs being able to come for a ride with me and see their explanation of these GREAT reactive dampers.

KeithL

Dealer came with me, but agree I wanted district Acura person involved and they refused. Mine as making noise all the time any temp. If Infiniti would have updated the head unit in the 15 Q70 to be more in line with the Q50 I would be back in an Infiniti in a flash. I plan on checking out the 15 Genesis and will see where I go from there. Acura is really not focused on customer service.

Comfy

AWD tech 2014. Car is too new to give an opinion in this matter. So far nothing clunks. .

Texdriver

Thanks for all responses so far. So obviously the shocks are the main issue, worsened by cold. But it also seems most of the responders with the problem so far have 4WD (AWD). I saw one, Ryan S with 2WD and the noise. Some didn't indicate which they have.

So either many more people here have AWD or it's more prevalent in AWD vehicles for some reason. I don't know how cars are built but possibly there is some relation between the suspension on AWD and the shocks, that causes the shocks to malfunction.

No yelling about "you don't know what you are talking about" because really, I don't, just an observation so far.

rosen39

I think it is where you live that determines how vehicles are ordered and sold. When I used to visit people in Florida, I would go to the dealer's lot's and wonder why the cars down there were not as expensive as up north. They don't order as many 4 wheel drive, or AWD cars down there. The Ford Explorers were 2 wheel drive, the Mercedes dealers had few (if any) 4-Matic cars on the lot, and Volvo dealers had very few AWD vehicles. No snow........no need for AWD.

Type X

2014 awd Tech w/ 8700 miles on it
Just hit a year of ownership & the ONLY time we have the noise is when its cold out.

Warm weather its a pleasure to drive.

acura0614

Seems I might have used the wrong term in my post, I thought "FWD" meant Front Wheel Drive and "AWL" meant All Wheel Drive. 2WD ? .

It was starting to get colder down here (50F-60F degrees) when I first noticed the rear end noise, but it was fixed by replacing the struts.

Mac.

Spirited Driver

All they would say is that it's a "normal characteristic of the car". What a JOKE!

kosh2258

2014 AWD w/tech built in March 2014.

I notice the "slam" in the rear end occasionally with the right combination of road surface conditions.

I'm going to buy the KYB shocks recommended by Hand-filer and swap them in.
I can live with a slightly firmer ride if it gets rid of the slam.

Based on everything I've read so far, the slam appears to be from a combination of firm mount bushings and the shocks developing a degree of hydro lock under the right set of conditions. They essentially go stiff and transfer the force into the body mount instead of damping the force as intended.

weather

...and I would punch them in the face and say "...and that's my characteristic!"

BTW....Just kidding. I do not condone violence *lol*

Dorsey

We have had our 2013 FWD Base RDX for 24 months and 19000 miles with no clunking. Car has never seen cold weather though. Only repair needed has been a new fender liner under warranty to replace one that would not stay in place. Very pleased with the RDX.

hand-filer

Lol!

KeithL

I wonder how many people have the issue and do not realize it and just assume it is normal suspension noise?

fricart

2014 FWD base model. Clunking since new. Dampers replaced 2 months ago. So far so good. Noise did not decrease with warmer temperatures.

Scheffy

2013 base FWD, 34k on the clock. Mild clunking in cold weather but not bad enough for me to make a stink about it.... yet. Most of my local roads are pretty smooth though, so I have to weigh wasting tons of gas money and time taking it in for the inevitable "normal characteristic" speech multiple times against a few clunks each ride.

WSZsr

2014 Base FWD. 2500 miles. Austin TX. No noise

MEGAREP

2013 Base FWD 41K cold weather clunk only