I've had my car serviced more times than deemed reasonable for a creaking noise that won't go away. I've had subframe bushings replaced, lower control arms replaced, and even a rear tailgate serviced. After all this the car still makes noises when turning up an inclined driveway / entrance. It sounds like it's coming from my behind my head somewhere in the door frame. It occurs on both sides of the car with a bias towards the left I suppose since I'm sitting on that side. The door panels have been removed and still the noise can't be isolated. Does anyone have any experience with this whatsoever? It sounds like a fatigue crack to me (engineer's will know what I mean) from other experiences with metallurgy. Here is a YouTube link. It happens 3 seconds into it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBAqYkA-XBY

 

Can you reproduce the noise any other way, or is it only when pulling in the driveway like that?

Does it always make exactly the same noise? That utube almost sounded like the ABS motor hammering... ??

Can you reproduce it by turning the steering wheel lock-to-lock with the car not moving? Try moving the steering wheel slow and fast. If so, have someone else do that while you listen outside, trying to pinpoint where it's coming from.

 

Thank you so much for the reply. I haven't been able to reproduce the noise any other way but I can reproduce it consistently and it always makes the same noise. I will try what you recommended to do. I've only tried turning the steering wheel fast/slow when moving in a big empty parking lot with no luck.

I had people in the car with the door panels off and it sounds like it's coming from behind my head somewhere in the car frame between the front/rear door or potentially the floor panels. The noise happens for such a short period of time that it's hard to dissect. I will post a couple more YouTube videos that were taken sequentially.

 

Two new YouTube videos for viewing

Occurs 8 seconds into video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM05oDs4Olk

Occurs 4 seconds into video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1SOsMWuHoE

 

I have an 09 V70 with the exact same problem. I hear more of the creaking coming from behind and to the right. I took it into the shop for a service and they looked at me funny. They said they adjusted and tightened the heatshields underneath the car. This was months ago and it still does it. It annoys the **** out of me b/c I can't figure out where it is coming from. I've checked the door panels, I've pulled on the wheels, everything is solid on the inside. It happens turning out of a driveway with a gutter, turning when traveling over uneven pavement, etc. No noise when going straight. It's the wife's daily driver and she doesn't care, it doesn't bother her. But if something is broken I would love to know what it is since by 15 month old rides in this rig.

 

Here's what i would try; see if you can reproduce the noise with:

• the driver's door slightly ajar
• try same thing with the passenger, or back doors too.
• try with the sunroof slightly ajar or in different positions, other than closed.

If any of the above situations don't make any difference then might want to take it to a auto frame specialist to see if they can find any stress cracks in the unibody.

My first post was trying to rule out this noise may have been coming from the front suspension; beyond that, want to look at rear suspension, and then any other moving parts (i.e. doors, sunroof, etc.)

Good luck and let us know what you find...

Just thought of something else; sure it's not coming from the seats?

 

Great suggestions!!! Thank you so much. I'll let you know what I find out this week by testing it. I'm 99.9% sure it's not the seats though. I wish it were though.

 

It almost sounds like a quiet thumping/clatter from the rear end. I heard it as soon as I pulled out of the dealer, but it was such a pain in the *** when I had it in there for service I didn't go back. It's only when making tight turns and over bumps. I'll try what you suggest and maybe will try a collision shop see if they can find anything. This sucks b/c I Lemon Lawed my truck for a leak in the roof that couldn't be fixed then bought the Volvo. Loved the truck and love the Volvo, but this creaking is driving me nuts!!!

 

Got the car back today and the following statements were made on my invoice:

DRIVER'S DOOR STRIKER OUT OF ADJUSTMENT

The car did NOT creak when the driver's door was open which lead them down that path after removing my seats, door panels, headliner, seat belt assembly and the kitchen sink! ;-) I did my usual route after getting it back and it has not creaked... yet. Keeping fingers crossed!

 

That's what i suspected... they may have lubricated the door latch/jamb area too. Good luck.

Jeez, i can't believe they didn't find this a long time ago; this is supposed to be part of the regular service at a dealer; is that where you took it?

 

It was at the dealer. I'm making sure to use every inch out of that 5 year warranty. I actually got a follow up phone call as well apologizing for the length of service. I think their service department is undergoing some changes from the chatter I heard there. I was also told that some of the V70s and XC70s need to have that adjusted right from the factory. I planned on test driving some XC70s this weekend because of a potential move and the need for AWD. I'll see if they creak. ;-)