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gear whine

noobla3

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It sounds a bit like loose plastic vibrating and it occurs between 30 - 60 mph straight or turning.
I wanted to give a detailed update in case anyone is experiencing the same issue I had. Just a recap:

My truck experienced what sounded like a gear grinding / plastic vibrating sound when I accelerate or decelerate between 30 mph and up. It was very apparent it came from the drive unit due to that behavior.

I took my truck in the first time to Gilman service center in Berkeley and they checked to make sure the fluids in the drive unit was proper and determined everything was fine. My problem persisted after that.

Couple months later, I encountered the front motor disable OK to drive error after supercharging which reset itself after going to sleep. But I scheduled a service appointment in San Francisco along with the grinding / vibrating issue.

The service tech rode along with me and acknowledged the issue. The told me later they would replace the front drive unit due to the front motor disabled and this grind issue. The service took 5 days.

Attached is the screenshot of the tech’s note and resolution.

If you have a similar issue, don’t let service brush it off as it’s normal and other trucks exhibit the same sound.

My truck is completely rid of any grinding or vibrating noise from the drive unit. It sounds like my model Y now.

Hope this write up is helpful. I am very happy with the result.

Tesla Cybertruck gear whine IMG_2865
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Simicyber

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I wanted to give a detailed update in case anyone is experiencing the same issue I had. Just a recap:

My truck experienced what sounded like a gear grinding / plastic vibrating sound when I accelerate or decelerate between 30 mph and up. It was very apparent it came from the drive unit due to that behavior.

I took my truck in the first time to Gilman service center in Berkeley and they checked to make sure the fluids in the drive unit was proper and determined everything was fine. My problem persisted after that.

Couple months later, I encountered the front motor disable OK to drive error after supercharging which reset itself after going to sleep. But I scheduled a service appointment in San Francisco along with the grinding / vibrating issue.

The service tech rode along with me and acknowledged the issue. The told me later they would replace the front drive unit due to the front motor disabled and this grind issue. The service took 5 days.

Attached is the screenshot of the tech’s note and resolution.

If you have a similar issue, don’t let service brush it off as it’s normal and other trucks exhibit the same sound.

My truck is completely rid of any grinding or vibrating noise from the drive unit. It sounds like my model Y now.

Hope this write up is helpful. I am very happy with the result.

IMG_2865.jpeg
Took in 3 times for this noise and always told no issues showing.
 

noobla3

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Took in 3 times for this noise and always told no issues showing.
I don’t know if we had the exact same issue, but it’s very noticeable on mine and is definitely an issue since the replacement drive unit makes no such noises.
 

JCERRN

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I don’t know if we had the exact same issue, but it’s very noticeable on mine and is definitely an issue since the replacement drive unit makes no such noises.
I wonder why so many make the same noise between 25-40 mph, my FS awd did it, and my ‘25 awd does it too. I was told by SC it was normal.

The SC told me on my last visit that for noise complaints “its now our policy that they will be customer pay to diagnose unless we find a manufacturing defect, because so many of the noises are just turning out to be characteristic of normal CT operation” as if they were trying to discourage me from reporting noises.
 

noobla3

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I wonder why so many make the same noise between 25-40 mph, my FS awd did it, and my ‘25 awd does it too. I was told by SC it was normal.

The SC told me on my last visit that for noise complaints “its now our policy that they will be customer pay to diagnose unless we find a manufacturing defect, because so many of the noises are just turning out to be characteristic of normal CT operation” as if they were trying to discourage me from reporting noises.
My first service center also said it was normal even after I drive their showroom truck that didn’t make the same noise.

That’s why I tried a different service center. You can see the write up I had several posts up. It was very detailed as what they did. If you’re facing the same issue maybe you can talk to them about the findings.

I am lucky to have several service centers within 30 mile radius, 2 being around 10 miles away.
 


JCERRN

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My first service center also said it was normal even after I drive their showroom truck that didn’t make the same noise.

That’s why I tried a different service center. You can see the write up I had several posts up. It was very detailed as what they did. If you’re facing the same issue maybe you can talk to them about the findings.

I am lucky to have several service centers within 30 mile radius, 2 being around 10 miles away.
Yeah i have 3 but they are all about an hour drive without traffic. Unfortunately traffic on the northeast is becoming similar to southern california
 
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nallen

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My FS AWD had a vibration at freeway speeds and they replaced both front rear drive units. The vibration was gone but then the front drive made a constant gear wine chirping noise. I took it in several times as it got worse. It was loud enough that passengers would ask about it often. They told me there was no fix even if I paid. They ended up buying the truck back. It also has other noise issues they could not figure out. I hope it is solved with the newer trucks. I would like to buy another.
 

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My FS AWD had a vibration at freeway speeds and they replaced both front rear drive units. The vibration was gone but then the front drive made a constant gear wine chirping noise. I took it in several times as it got worse. It was loud enough that passengers would ask about it often. They told me there was no fix even if I paid. They ended up buying the truck back. It also has other noise issues they could not figure out. I hope it is solved with the newer trucks. I would like to buy another.
Yes, my pax definitely heard and asked me about the noise. It was quite embarrassing actually.

Mine however didn’t make a chirp noise (unless I’m misunderstanding what chirp means) but rather a sound similar to a loose plastic piece stuck in the drive unit rattling around at 30mph and above.

Anyhow I’m glad they bought your truck back. I thought that if they bought mine back, I’d immediately order another one from inventory for now cheaper!
 

Simicyber

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My FS AWD had a vibration at freeway speeds and they replaced both front rear drive units. The vibration was gone but then the front drive made a constant gear wine chirping noise. I took it in several times as it got worse. It was loud enough that passengers would ask about it often. They told me there was no fix even if I paid. They ended up buying the truck back. It also has other noise issues they could not figure out. I hope it is solved with the newer trucks. I would like to buy another.
Same I’m looking to buy another one but want to make sure this has been resolved.
 

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Here's what mine sounds like if it turn the radio and AC off. I've been told by the service center twice this is normal. I've heard it in several other AWD models. If I hard accelerate, I don't hear it at all. If I hold speed or decelerate in the 25-40 range, I can hear it.

 


SCTesla

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Here's what mine sounds like if it turn the radio and AC off. I've been told by the service center twice this is normal. I've heard it in several other AWD models. If I hard accelerate, I don't hear it at all. If I hold speed or decelerate in the 25-40 range, I can hear it.

It is normal. Same on 3 CTs for me.
 
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nallen

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Here's what mine sounds like if it turn the radio and AC off. I've been told by the service center twice this is normal. I've heard it in several other AWD models. If I hard accelerate, I don't hear it at all. If I hold speed or decelerate in the 25-40 range, I can hear it.

Old dirty robot.
Are you willing to share the last 5 of your VIN or around what number your build is? Mine sounded the same and was 12,800 AWD
 

jameskk

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So my Cybertruck makes this exact same noise and has since day 1. I noticed it on my way home from delivery and promptly made an appointment to have it looked into. I was told it was the inverter and was normal. I was also told that all Cybertrucks make this annoying sound. A few months ago, I was given a Cybertruck loaner for a week while they replaced one of my rear doors and it never made this noise. At this point, I have decided to live with it for a variety of reasons, but mainly because I don't hear it every time I drive.


Here's what mine sounds like if it turn the radio and AC off. I've been told by the service center twice this is normal. I've heard it in several other AWD models. If I hard accelerate, I don't hear it at all. If I hold speed or decelerate in the 25-40 range, I can hear it.

 

Ken in Miami

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Mine has always sounded like that and also my golf cart has identical sound of truck.
Low speed turns make a clicking noise and sometimes the air suspension makes a pop.
Over 20,000 miles and only go to service centers for rotation. Friends and family with same truck have varying degrees of electric vehicle noises but nothing that is a grinding sound. I wonder if there is a TSB on this issue?
 

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FYI -- mine (AWD) makes the exact same noise, especially around 30-35 when there is a light throttle or slight regen. It is not the normal electric engine whine, its a "chirp" or warble in addition to the whine. Also, on mine, it seems to come and go. The other day I was noticing it wasn't as loud and was hoping whatever it was, was starting to work itself in and go away. But today, I noticed it come back again :( Wondering if its very temperature sensitive, but I have noticed it at very cold temps, as well as days in the 60's.

I also have a model Y and while the trucks motors sound more aggressive and louder, thats not what I hear in your video, or my truck. The baseline louder motors and regen sound I like more in the truck, its the high pitched "wheep wheep" sounds that drive me nuts.

I brought it to service last week along with a video, and the service intake tech definitely heard it on video and the test drive, but the main service tech "who owns a cybertruck himself, so he knows what he is talking about", says its normal and they discharged me after the main tech took it for a drive.

Hope this helps, let me know if you get anywhere with yours....
My AWD FS (vin 3xxx 43k miles) has a more noticeable groaning whine on when the motors are being used to create heat, eg pre-conditioning for Supercharging, or pre-warming the coolant loop for battery/cabin heat in a cold day. In the early days of the off-road mode you could see a visual on-screen of the motor heating and temps, battery temps, etc, but that visual was removed when the big Off-Road update arrived. Now I think you can see something like that in the service menu, iirc? You may be able to pull up that visual when you hear the groaning whine, see if it correlates to your noises.
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