[Search by Occurrence] Volkswagen Abnormal Noises

Even if a Volkswagen’s strange noises sound similar, the cause can vary greatly depending on when the noise occurs
. Is it a rattle only while idling, a rattle at low speeds, or
a whistling sound at high speeds?
Narrowing down the noise by situation will help you identify the cause much faster.

In this article, we’ve categorized the most common VW noises that people report by situation. You can quickly find the cause and estimate repair costs by searching for the condition that best describes your symptoms,

such as “air conditioning on,” “when decelerating,” “the moment you turn the steering wheel,” or “when going over a bump .”

Abnormal noises are often an early sign, so
early detection can help prevent the problem from getting worse.
If you hear any strange noises, be sure to check out this guide.

The introduction to abnormal noise diagnosis

Search by sound quality
(clack/rumbling/high-pitched/rumble)

Search by situation
(low speed/high speed/starting/deceleration/steps)

Search by part
(engine/suspension/A/C/drive system)

👉See the comprehensive abnormal noise diagnosis page

Noise while idling

The main noises that only come from the belts, plastic parts, and engine mounts when the car is stopped.

• Idling × Belt area × Rattling noise
• Idling × Interior/plastic parts × Vibration noise
• Idling × Engine mount × Rattling noise

Abnormal noise when starting

At the moment when the vehicle starts moving from a stop, it is likely to be the engine mount or the heat shield.

• When starting × Engine mount × Rattle noise
• Accelerator pedal × Engine/heat shield × Rattle noise (in many cases, this occurs immediately after starting)

Abnormal noise when driving at low speeds

This is the speed range where initial symptoms of suspension problems are most likely to appear.

• Low speed × suspension × creaking noise
• Low speed × suspension × tapping noise
• Low speed × suspension × rattling noise
• Low speed × suspension link × rattle noise

Abnormal noise when driving at high speed

Typical symptoms include wind noise and deterioration of hub bearings.

• High speed driving × Wind/Moor × Whistling noise
• High-speed driving × Interior trim/component resonance × Vibration noise
• High speed driving × Hub bearing × Rumbling noise

Abnormal noise when turning

Centrifugal force exposes “looseness in the suspension and deterioration of the bushings.”

• Curve × Undercarriage bush × Screeching noise
• Curves x Suspension/Hub x Rattling noise

Abnormal noise when driving straight

Snaking and initial rattle in the suspension.

• When driving straight × Suspension × Tapping noise

Abnormal noise when stepping on the accelerator or accelerating

Be careful of the whining sound from the intake system and turbo.

• During acceleration × Turbo/intake system × Whinny sound
• Accelerator pedal press × turbo/fan × whirring sound
• Accelerator pedal press × Engine/heat shield × Rattle noise

Abnormal noise when decelerating or braking

Brake-related noises typically include squealing and grinding.

• When decelerating × Brake × Squeaking noise
• Braking × Pads/Rotors × Squeaking noise
• Braking × Pads/calipers × Grinding noise
• When decelerating × Brake/bearing × Grinding noise

Abnormal noise when air conditioner is on

Typical examples include problems with the blower motor and flaps.

• Rattling noise when turning on the air conditioner
• Hissing noise when air conditioner is on
• Air conditioner ON × Blower fan × Rumbling noise
• Air conditioner ON × Blower/flap × whistling noise
• Air conditioner ON × Blower motor × Rattling noise
• Air conditioner ON × Blower fan × flapping noise

Abnormal noise when operating the steering wheel

There is a lot of noise around the hydraulic pump, EPS and belts.

• Steering × Belt/Hydraulic × Squeaking/Grrring
• Steering wheel operation × EPS/pump × Whirling sound

Abnormal noise when going over bumps

The cause is shock, bushing and interior resonance.

• Bumps x Shocks/Bushes x Banging noise
• Bumps × Interior/Suspension × Creaking noises

Abnormal noise after passing through a puddle

There is a lot of temporary slipping noise from wet belt brakes.

• After a puddle × Belt/brake × Squeaking noise

Sound after engine is stopped

Most of the time it’s the sound of catalyst heat shrinkage. This is usually normal.

• After engine stop × Catalyst/exhaust system × Clanging noise
• After engine is stopped × Heat shrinkage × Squeaking noise

General road noise while driving

The hissing and rumbling sounds are caused by the tires, road surface, and bearings.

• While driving × Tire/road surface × Rushing noise
• While driving × Wheel bearing × Going noise

The next step in abnormal noise diagnosis

If you are aware of any strange noises, reading the following in order will help you find the cause as quickly as possible.

1. Summary by body part (this page)
2. Details page for the relevant sound quality
3. Individual symptom articles (e.g., slow speed x rattling / fast speed x whistling)
4. Repair costs by part (suspension, engine, electrical)
5. Structure and failure explanation for each part (technical article)

Details of defects by vehicle type

Even if the “way” of the malfunction is similar, “which model has the most common problems” differs slightly depending on the model.
The following page summarizes the trends by model and common malfunction cases among other owners.

Golf 5	Golf 5 R32	Golf 5 GTI	Golf 5 Variant
Golf 6	Golf 6R	Golf 6 GTI	Golf 6 Variant
Golf 7	Golf 7R	Golf 7 GTI	Golf 7 Variant
Golf 8	Golf 8R	Golf 8 GTI	Golf 8 Variant

You can scroll

Golf Touran	POLO	POLO GTI
T-roc	T-cross	Tiguan
UP!	UP! GTI	Passat
The Beetle	Sharan	Arteon

You can scroll

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. Even if the sound is the same, does the “situation” that causes it change the cause that much?
Yes. When it comes to abnormal noises, the clue is often “when it occurs” rather than “which part it is.” For example, the cause can vary greatly depending on the situation; for example, if the noise only occurs at high speeds, it could be the wind or bearings, while if it only occurs over bumps, it could be the shock or bushings.

Q2. If there is an abnormal noise but the car can still be driven, is it okay to leave it for a while?
Even if the car can still be driven, problems with the suspension, brakes, and turbo can deteriorate quickly, and if left unattended, repair costs can skyrocket. We recommend having it inspected early, especially if you hear a “grrr” or “whining” sound.

Q3. Are there any tips for finding the source of the noise yourself?
The key is to observe the situation as closely as possible. Diagnosis will be smoother if you note down reproducible situations such as “speed,” “accelerator on/off,” “presence or absence of bumps,” and “air conditioner on/off.”

Q4. Should I have my car inspected at a dealership or a specialist shop?
If you want genuine parts and peace of mind, a dealership is the best choice. If you want to keep costs down and have your car inspected by someone familiar with import cars, a VW specialist shop is the best choice. If the problem is minor, a general shop can handle it.

Q5. If an abnormal noise occurs in multiple situations, which items should I refer to? We
recommend that you first check the “situation that is easiest to reproduce,” and then check the surrounding items based on that possible cause. There are cases where multiple areas are deteriorated at the same time, so if it is difficult to determine the cause, it is best to have the vehicle inspected.