Vibration at 30 mph

[soverh69]

Hi Soverh69,
2016 Genesis Sedan, 3.8 AWD, all options (!) 37,600 miles. Bought it when it had 24,000 miles on it, about three years ago. (I'm elderly now. Don't drive a lot.) I've had the vibration in the 30-34mph range but it comes and goes. Almost negligible all last winter, now vibrates for the first two miles of driving, disappears after that - and this has been in 80+ degree weather. Yeah. Makes no sense. Other reports, like yours, speak of the vibration when the car is cold. I've had that too but not last winter. Go figure!
Just to be sure, since I bought the car used I have not taken it to my local dealer with this complaint. I'm just waiting for people here to solve it.
I've been on this site for at least two years trying to find out if there is a cure. So far no joy.
In an otherwise terrific car (I LOVE the car!), it IS a big disappointment. Stay with us and Good Luck!
Pete

Thank you. Oh, I am loving the car. It is just that one thing that annoys me. Now I am spoiled with that awesome HUD, and will never be able to live without it.

 

[Geno]

I posted about this a couple of months ago. My 2016 Genesis (with ALL options - I love it!) still has the vibration. It occurs between 30 and 37mph. Back in the old days - and I am quite old - we would have chalked it up to a driveshaft but more specifically to a universal joint. I have not approached the dealer's excellent service dept. yet. (I bought it somewhere else.) I sure have been hoping someone here would come up with a solution. How many U-joints are there in this all wheel drive machine?? (If I were younger I would probably be under the car working on the problem. Sorry. I'm 87. I had to give that up a while back.)
The frequency of the vibration screams U-joint. I can't, in fact, imagine what else it could be.
Comments, guys???

Hello, I'm a new member. I have a 2016 Ultimate AWD with 34,000 miles and have had the vibration issue between 28-33 mph. Had both the drive shaft and transfer case replaced (Over $7K) and the problem is just as bad if not worse. It is not the tires. I'm just giving up and will put up with the vibration. Enough already!

 

[phdegraff]

Hello, I'm a new member. I have a 2016 Ultimate AWD with 34,000 miles and have had the vibration issue between 28-33 mph. Had both the drive shaft and transfer case replaced (Over $7K) and the problem is just as bad if not worse. It is not the tires. I'm just giving up and will put up with the vibration. Enough already!

Hi Geno, I share your frustration. Thankfully my vibration (exactly the same as yours) goes away with a few miles of driving. I too have pretty much given up on this, but no one has told us yet if newer models (newer than our generation's models) have the problem or not. It would affect my next car purchase.
Thanks for posting.
Pete

 

[Geno]

Hi Geno, I share your frustration. Thankfully my vibration (exactly the same as yours) goes away with a few miles of driving. I too have pretty much given up on this, but no one has told us yet if newer models (newer than our generation's models) have the problem or not. It would affect my next car purchase.
Thanks for posting.
Pete

Thanks for responding. We were planning to get a used GV80 for my wife. Now, we're not so sure. I love this car, but it's been a nightmare. Mine also had the steering "hanging up" issue as well. I really got lucky.

 

[phdegraff]

Thanks for responding. We were planning to get a used GV80 for my wife. Now, we're not so sure. I love this car, but it's been a nightmare. Mine also had the steering "hanging up" issue as well. I really got lucky.

I really like the car, vibration not withstanding. I have noticed that sometimes, cruise control active, and on a curve, the car will over-turn (turn more into the curve than it should), and I have to hold pressure on the steering wheel against it. Is that similar to your steering hang-up?

 

[Geno]

I really like the car, vibration not withstanding. I have noticed that sometimes, cruise control active, and on a curve, the car will over-turn (turn more into the curve than it should), and I have to hold pressure on the steering wheel against it. Is that similar to your steering hang-up?

I have the same over-turn issue, but more concerning is that on slight right and left-hand turns, the steering will not center, but hangs up, and needs to be tugged back to center. The dealer made some "adjustments", and while some better, it's still doing it. It's concerning enough that I won't allow any other family members to drive it.

 

[smirn0ff]

on my 2015 Genesis 3.8 AWD this starts from some time, I'm the only owner, doesn't bother me alot, because it goes out for 3-4minutes of driving. it is noticeable if you drive without music on and get harder when daily temperature goes lower and lower. You can hear it perfectly during winter. Seems it is up to something which needs to get warmer to stop doing it. Never go to dealer trying to find it out what it is, because its like little flute playing.
Till now 120k miles on my car - no failures.

 

[soverh69]

I wish that I had better news, but my 2016 Genesis 3.8 AWD is back at the dealership, for the 6th time, to fix this vibration. They have replaced the propeller shaft and adjusted the driveline angle with shims 4 times, maybe 5. They will add a shim, then take it away, call it fixed only for the problem to present itself immediately after driving out of the dealership and driving 30-35 mph. They are frustrated with me, but it is not me, but the car that has the problem. I didn't design it or build it, but I did pay for it. What good is the powertrain warranty if Hyundai can't actually fix the problems with it?

Anyhow, don't let anyone tell you that it is the tires, a flat spot, a bent rim or something to do with anything other than powertrain. It is a driveline problem, and here is proof:

The stock tires on the 3.8 are P245/45R18's with a circumference of 83.8 inches. So for every single revolution of your tires, your car will move ahead about 83.8 inches. My car's vibration is MOST pronounced at 33 MPH, but quite noticeable between 30 and 36, especially when cold. 33 MPH converted to inches per second is 580.8 (1 MPH = 17.6 inches per second). 580.8 in./sec divided by 83.8 in. (tire circumference) = 6.93, or approximately 7 rotations per second...let's call this Hz for the purpose of diagnosing the vibration. That means if you have a bent rim or flat spot on your tire, you will feel about 7 pulses per second at 33 MPH or a frequency of 7 Hz. The vibration that we experience is faster than that. How much faster? Let me suggest it is about 4 times faster, or about 28 cycles per second or about 28 Hz. Now you are getting closer to a frequency that you can feel AND hear or sense as a buffeting or low rumble, similar to a low bass note from a woofer. The (healthy) human ear can sense frequencies above 20 Hz and can sense it in other ways other than just hearing; in our gut, or in our case, in our butt. But why 4 times faster? Guess what the gear ratio is from your drive shaft to your rear diff? It is 3.91 to 1. So the vibration, flutter, buffeting (whatever you call it) that you are feeling AND hearing is happening at much higher a frequency that anything that your tires would produce at that speed. It's something connected to the driveshaft...something spinning at about 30 revs/sec. or 1800 RPM , if it is a first order vibration.

I explained this to the service department and they gave me a funny look. Have to see today if that is good funny or bad funny. They did take the car in to look at it for the 6th time, after all. Hyundai engineers know what the problem is. I am sure of it. But they are hoping that we do not complain and "just live with it." I won't be doing that. And this will probably be the last Hyundai product I buy, unless they step up and fix this annoyance. They say that this car is a Mercedes killer? Hardly. Step up, Hyundai.

 

[G-818259]

G-525840 Can you be a little more specific? Did they identify anything about the transfer case, or the flex joints in the nearby power train, that would cause the problem?

the propeller shaft has been repaired, at first that resovled the vibration, but 6 month and 7k miles later its back, the transfer case replacement was only causing the (diff lock ) feeling when turning, so not related to the drive vibration....

 

[Geno]

I have a 2016 3.8 AWD Ultimate with only 34,000 miles on it, with both the steering binding issue and the 30-35 mph severe vibration. The driveshaft and transfer case were replaced for over $7K. Further, a perfectly good set of Michelins were replaced just in case the tires were part of the problem. No difference. The car will sometimes vibrate so badly that it just shakes the car. The steering is so dangerous that I won't let anyone else drive it. Dealer said they fixed the problem with some adjustment, but it didn't help. I've turned all this in to Hyundai (Just take it back to the dealer), and the NHTSA. It's getting very discouraging. I guess it's just buyer beware.

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[phdegraff]

There are two strings on this subject on this site: One is "Vibration at 30mph", the other is "Resolution to flutter at 25-30 mph".
The former has two pages of entries, the latter, 7. The first entry of the latter (Jan 1, 2020) says he started a new thread because the old one had too many entries. (Yes, we or the site manager should have combined all of these but it hasn't happened.)
What I can glean from all the entries is that this vibration/flutter happens, broadly speaking, between 28 and 35 miles per hour on AWD Gennies only, especially those in the 2015 to 2018 model years.
Attempts to correct the problem have ranged from installing new tires, straightening bent wheels(!), to adjusting drive train components, to completely replacing drive train components, including in at least one instance the transmission and transfer case.
No one has reported a complete, lasting solution, nor, to my knowledge, has anyone reported that they talked to a factory representative. Dealer, yes. Actual factory guy, no.
I could be wrong about any of the above and, if I am, please state your case, especially about any feedback of any sort from the factory. I have sincere doubts that after all this there will be a solution, but who knows?
Who is next?
Pete

 

[arcman]

I started this thread: Say Goodbye to the Flat Spotted Tires / Shuttering Theory

Not sure if it's in that thread but someone posted they cut the front half of the rear driveshaft apart and there was some sort of dampener inside of it that had failed.

After replacing the guibo on mine to the tune of $100, it did nothing. I didn't want to spend another $500+ on a driveshaft to find it didn't help either, so I just live with it. My car doesn't vibrate... just has the clicking noise for ten minutes or so.

Too bad the company in Korea who makes the driveshafts ( 대승) has no way to contact them.

I spent a ton of time on this and unfortunately got nowhere.

 

[Geno]

I have a 2016 3.8 AWD Ultimate with only 34,000 miles on it, with both the steering binding issue and the 30-35 mph severe vibration. The driveshaft and transfer case were replaced for over $7K. Further, a perfectly good set of Michelins were replaced just in case the tires were part of the problem. No difference. The car will sometimes vibrate so badly that it just shakes the car. The steering is so dangerous that I won't let anyone else drive it. Dealer said they fixed the problem with some adjustment, but it didn't help. I've turned all this in to Hyundai (Just take it back to the dealer), and the NHTSA. It's getting very discouraging. I guess it's just buyer beware.

Update. The car just spent another quality 2 weeks at the dealer, and I was told to just come and pick it up as they have no solutions for either the steering or vibration issues.

 

[phdegraff]

Hi Geno
Is this correct?: Hyundai says take it to the dealer. Dealer says can't be fixed?
That's called a 'Catch 22' I think. Your car sounds identical in features to mine - 3.8 AWD with all options.
Until your entries here I had not been aware of a steering problem. Mine will occasionally turn too much into a turn if cruise control is engaged, but no other steering problems. Is there a string on this forum for steering?
I'm also sorry to hear that your vibration can be so bad as to shake the entire car. Mine, the wife can barely notice it when I'm feeling it in my seat, which is about as bad as it gets. My vibration also goes away after four or five miles of driving.
I don't want to believe that the Hyundai factory rep turns his nose up at this stuff. But I sure will test drive the hell out of any replacement for it, Hyundai or not.

 

[soverh69]

Yeah, similar story here. Just going to pick up my 2016 AWD 3.8 for the 6th or 7th time. Dealer has clearly given up. Like I told them, they did not design or build the car, but it is VERY DISAPPOINTING that they can not figure it out, or that Hyundai corp. will not let them figure it out. Their hands are tied.

Now I will take it to a custom driveshaft shop to have them diagnose at my expense $$$. If I learn ANYTHING, I will let you know.

Sorry about the steering problem. That is a new one on me. This driveline vibration thing has obviously been an issue, the dealerships know about it, the mechanics/technicians know about it, so HYUNDAI knows about it, but nope; they won't fix it. Bollocks.

 

[Geno]

In total, my car was out of service for close to 3 months trying to get the issues resolved. In fairness, the vibration issue improves after 8-10 miles of driving, but it's still there. The steering issue is the most concerning to me. It's random, but binds up on slight right and left turns, and has to be tugged back to center. Neither Hyundai America nor the NHTSA has been any help at all. I really appreciate the feedback. If anybody should find a fix, I would love to hear about it.

 

[luxonadime]

I wish that I had better news, but my 2016 Genesis 3.8 AWD is back at the dealership, for the 6th time, to fix this vibration. They have replaced the propeller shaft and adjusted the driveline angle with shims 4 times, maybe 5. They will add a shim, then take it away, call it fixed only for the problem to present itself immediately after driving out of the dealership and driving 30-35 mph. They are frustrated with me, but it is not me, but the car that has the problem. I didn't design it or build it, but I did pay for it. What good is the powertrain warranty if Hyundai can't actually fix the problems with it?

Anyhow, don't let anyone tell you that it is the tires, a flat spot, a bent rim or something to do with anything other than powertrain. It is a driveline problem, and here is proof:

The stock tires on the 3.8 are P245/45R18's with a circumference of 83.8 inches. So for every single revolution of your tires, your car will move ahead about 83.8 inches. My car's vibration is MOST pronounced at 33 MPH, but quite noticeable between 30 and 36, especially when cold. 33 MPH converted to inches per second is 580.8 (1 MPH = 17.6 inches per second). 580.8 in./sec divided by 83.8 in. (tire circumference) = 6.93, or approximately 7 rotations per second...let's call this Hz for the purpose of diagnosing the vibration. That means if you have a bent rim or flat spot on your tire, you will feel about 7 pulses per second at 33 MPH or a frequency of 7 Hz. The vibration that we experience is faster than that. How much faster? Let me suggest it is about 4 times faster, or about 28 cycles per second or about 28 Hz. Now you are getting closer to a frequency that you can feel AND hear or sense as a buffeting or low rumble, similar to a low bass note from a woofer. The (healthy) human ear can sense frequencies above 20 Hz and can sense it in other ways other than just hearing; in our gut, or in our case, in our butt. But why 4 times faster? Guess what the gear ratio is from your drive shaft to your rear diff? It is 3.91 to 1. So the vibration, flutter, buffeting (whatever you call it) that you are feeling AND hearing is happening at much higher a frequency that anything that your tires would produce at that speed. It's something connected to the driveshaft...something spinning at about 30 revs/sec. or 1800 RPM , if it is a first order vibration.

I explained this to the service department and they gave me a funny look. Have to see today if that is good funny or bad funny. They did take the car in to look at it for the 6th time, after all. Hyundai engineers know what the problem is. I am sure of it. But they are hoping that we do not complain and "just live with it." I won't be doing that. And this will probably be the last Hyundai product I buy, unless they step up and fix this annoyance. They say that this car is a Mercedes killer? Hardly. Step up, Hyundai.

Thank you @soverh69 for bringing math to the table. This hits home for me both from a profession side and an owner of a 2015 AWD experiencing the same frustrations.

 

[phdegraff]

Mine's a 2016 loaded AWD 3.8 with the 30-35mph *sometime* vibration. Do later models have this problem?

 

[G-239813]

G-525840 Can you be a little more specific? Did they identify anything about the transfer case, or the flex joints in the nearby power train, that would cause the problem?

sorry for the delay, transfer case is what was causing the jerking around right cornering, i have had the drive shaft propeller shaft done, 95% better then it came back 2 month after the trans case was replaced, currently at dealer for 3 weeks and still cant find the vibration wish os exactly the same as befor 38 to 44mph is the worst feel,,,this is just a nightmare!

 

[Geno]

G-239813. I so feel your pain. New tires, a new transfer case, and a new driveshaft have not solved the vibration problem, and the steering is still binding up on mine. Only 35,000 miles on the car. Over $7K spent so far, and no resolutions.