2026 AT4 Rattle Noise from Front Driver Wheel Well Area

[dpeters244]

I just got my AT4 four months ago. Aside from a few minor annoyances, like wireless Android Auto inconsistently connecting, putting 10k miles on it has been great. However, the truck has developed a tinny rattling noise that sounds like it is coming from the driver's side front wheel well. Honestly, it reminds me of two metal stove drip pans smacking together.

I took the truck into my dealership, and they couldn't find the cause. At first, they claimed they couldn't replicate it, but I was able to demonstrate it in about 30 seconds by hitting a pothole on their lot. They kept the truck for a few days, supposedly did some diagnostic work, but ultimately just documented the issue in case of future warranty claims. It really grinds my gears to have the brand-new truck I worked so hard for sounding like a beater when I drive down the road. To get to the bottom of it, I bought an action camera to film the suspension in hopes of spotting the problem, and I could really use some second opinions from anyone willing to watch a couple of short videos.

A little more context:

• The noise is consistently produced by bumps and dips, especially ripples or rapid washboard sections in the road.
• However, hitting the exact same spot will not necessarily produce the sound every time.
• I can hit a bump on the passenger side and it does not produce the rattle. It only happens when the driver's side, or the entire truck, hits a rough spot.

I took two videos: one from in front of the wheel and the other from the rear. I have searched the forums and found similar issues, but unfortunately, those resolutions do not seem to apply to my situation.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

AT4 Rattle Noise · Sep 15 – 18 📸

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[gemarsh]

Welcome.

 

[john151ama]

Welcome. I watched one of your videos. Kind of sounds like a chain hanging and slapping.

Have you moved your inspection more broadly? I am thinking spare tire. Lower it check in that area for something loose. Could be something sitting on top of the spare smacking the heat shield. Grab and shake exhaust etc. Really sounds like something is loose and slapping and you just need to find it. I would get on my creeper, have a good light, and a mallet to tap and hit and work my way around the rig.

Good luck, that would annoy the hell out of me

 

[Koolbreezeya]

Welcome

 

[dpeters244]

Welcome. I watched one of your videos. Kind of sounds like a chain hanging and slapping.

Have you moved your inspection more broadly? I am thinking spare tire. Lower it check in that area for something loose. Could be something sitting on top of the spare smacking the heat shield. Grab and shake exhaust etc. Really sounds like something is loose and slapping and you just need to find it. I would get on my creeper, have a good light, and a mallet to tap and hit and work my way around the rig.

Good luck, that would annoy the hell out of me

First, thanks for the warm welcome.

I initially checked the muffler, skid plate, and heat shield, but couldn't find anything. After that, I started focusing on the driver's side wheel well. When I drive over a rough spot on the passenger side, I don't hear the rattle. I only hear it when the driver's side—or the entire truck—hits a rough patch. It also sounds like it's coming from the front of the truck, not the rear.

The rattle has a rigid, constant sound. It doesn't sound like a chain or something hanging loose, which would typically cause a more random, unpredictable noise as the suspension bounces. With this rattle, the sound is always the same. The intensity varies depending on how severe the bump is or how washboard-like the road gets, but the pattern itself is completely consistent.

 

[john151ama]

First, thanks for the warm welcome.

I initially checked the muffler, skid plate, and heat shield, but couldn't find anything. After that, I started focusing on the driver's side wheel well. When I drive over a rough spot on the passenger side, I don't hear the rattle. I only hear it when the driver's side—or the entire truck—hits a rough patch. It also sounds like it's coming from the front of the truck, not the rear.

The rattle has a rigid, constant sound. It doesn't sound like a chain or something hanging loose, which would typically cause a more random, unpredictable noise as the suspension bounces. With this rattle, the sound is always the same. The intensity varies depending on how severe the bump is or how washboard-like the road gets, but the pattern itself is completely consistent.

Gotcha. May be worth pulling the wheel well liner if you are pretty sure it’s in that area. Pretty easy to pull the felt liner, small torx head screws holding it in. Lots of brackets and lines above and behind it. May have something in there making the noise but it is covered so can’t see it. Might take it out, check around, then do your camera set up again. Good luck!

 

[WillyBB]

Gotcha. May be worth pulling the wheel well liner if you are pretty sure it’s in that area. Pretty easy to pull the felt liner, small torx head screws holding it in. Lots of brackets and lines above and behind it. May have something in there making the noise but it is covered so can’t see it. Might take it out, check around, then do your camera set up again. Good luck!

Don’t be pulling off your fender liner before you purchase some of the plastic clips that hold the wheel well trim on. I went to a dealership and a body shop and nobody would sell them.
Clips and fasteners website was a breeze to deal with.

 

[john151ama]

Don’t be pulling off your fender liner before you purchase some of the plastic clips that hold the wheel well trim on. I went to a dealership and a body shop and nobody would sell them.
Clips and fasteners website was a breeze to deal with.

Good call, good to have those on hand. I do remove my liners without removing the trim though. There is enough flex in the fender flair you can pull the felt liner out and also push it back in leaving the fender flairs in place. I have removed them to replace the lights and remove the front grill and needed to use some replacement clips.