I have a 2004 TL that now has just over 50K miles. I just noticed a rattle coming from the dashboard when I was in slow traffic on the highway. The rattle only occurred when the car was going approx. 50 or 30 miles per hour, was at almost exactly 1500 rpms and when I was lightly touching the accelerator. If I was accelerating or driving in any other manner, no rattle. Does anyone know what this could be?

By the way, I did drop the car off at the dealer about a week ago for the power steering recall. The tech apparently stripped the threads when doing the recall such that the car was apparently leaking power steering fluid. I brought the car back the very next morning as (I noticed the problem just as I was pulling into my driveway) and a new power steering unit was installed. I'm not real car savvy so I have no idea if this problem that the dealer caused (and later corrected) has anything to do with the rattle but the timing does seem suspect since I never had this rattle before the power steering issue.

I haven't yet brought the car back to the dealer for this rattle issue but will be. Any thoughts or help is greatly appreciated.

 

It's possibly coming from the under-dash panel above your feet. Mine rattles too and I have an '08. The panel needs some weatherstripping around the peg that goes forward into the support hole at the firewall (above where your right foot would be)