Hi there, I've had my 2013 RDX FWD for about 3 months now and started noticing a clunking noise in the rear trunk area when you go from a dead stop. It doesn't need to be hard acceleration, any slight movement. It sounds like something is sliding and hitting metal somewhere.

Nothing is in the trunk or near it. Any ideas??

Thanks!!

 

Back seat latch loose or something?

 

JDM_chick...That could be hard for members to help you as "clunks" are hard to pin point even for the dealership as sound travels and what may be in the rear based on your hearing, it could be somewhere else. The easiest thing would be for you to get the dealership to look at it. I know it is not the answer you were hoping to hear but there are so many moving parts and possibilities that members here will simply throw a whole list of possibilities.

Keep us posted though.... Welcome to the forum as well...I see you are new to Acurazine

 

Maybe something loose in the spare tire storage well?

 

I've heard that too. I have emptied the back, taken the tire out, removed the license plate frame, left the cargo floor out and I still hear a clunk going over bumps. I also tried to adjust the hatch bumpers but that wasn't it either.

I had the dealer look underneath, but he couldn't find anything loose.

Any ideas?

 

So there is a reported clunk when accelerating and a clunk when going over bumps...from basic descriptions this sounds like two separate issues. KISS principal comes into play...the accelerating one is possibly driveline...check rear differential for broken gear tooth or slop in the driveshaft u joints...that would clunk under any type of movement from a stop if the awd unit is utilized for forward movement under a no slip condition on the vehicle. I'm not sure if it is. My suggestions come from my history building off-road jeeps, chasing clunks is part of the jeep ownership experience.

The bumps clunk would have me looking at suspension, shocks, sway bars and even possibly wheel bearings. It needs to be on a rack for this.

best of luck to both of you.

 

^awesome post, AmberB!!!

 

JDM has a FWD so guess it will not be the rear diff.. perhaps it could come from hatch latching mechanism - those are finicky - had it happen on a previous vehicle of mine - they swapped it out

 

I have exactly the same problem. Of course I brought it to the dealer and they could not reproduce it. Now I have an appointment to drive with the tech. Did you ever figure out what it was?