Clunking Vibration type sound

While I have not had any strange noises, or other problems with my Kona, it is a little disconcerting to me to hear so many others report them. And I would say having to replace the reduction gear unit is a pretty major issue. Makes me wonder if it is just a matter of time before it happens on mine.

I quoted electriceddy here (instead of on the new member intro post thread) because of his more extensive experience with EV cars. How many common (major) problems were there with the early Leafs (besides the battery degradation)? Was it otherwise a more reliable car?

 

Jeez, you guys are worrying me. I have 6000 no problem miles, so far.

In the last 2 weeks I've noticed that I can actually here some reduction gear noise. It's audible during low speed acceleration, from about 0 to 5 mph or so. It might sound strange, but I can actually make out the individual gears as they're spinning at different revs.

I'm not a professional but consider myself a pretty good home mechanic that can fix 99% of the issues i face with ice vehicles, and that's what is causing my concern here.

The gear noise I here sounds completely normal. What bothers me is I don't recall hearing it prior to 2 weeks (give or take) ago. Im hoping, that with all my excitement about owning my first ev, I just didn't notice it before.

Just sounds like nicely meshed whirring gears doing their thing, but goes away as rpms pick up.
Anyone?

 

That's exactly what I reported too. Right now it just sounds smoothly mechanical.

 

My car (US SEL bought March 2019) has the exact same sound as in the dropbox link. It does sound like a card against a bicycle spoke as noted in another post. Mine started at around 4k miles. I hear it at slow speeds < 10mph. Initially it was intermittent, but now its getting more frequent (7k miles).

 

Just FYI, I've been dealing with this same noise for months now on my Niro EV. You can follow my story and see links to many other international owner forums with same problem by looking at this thread. I've been waiting for a new motor for 6 weeks now while driving a loaner. I find it strange that dealers are randomly replacing either gearbox or motor to fix the exact same problem. Makes me think that the problem isn't actually either part but the shaft that connects them and by swapping either part they are realigning or shifting the shaft which temporarily fixes the issue until it goes out again. If you follow my thread's links to speakev, there is solid evidence now that there is a new motor revision available with reinforced connection to gearbox. Hopefully that keeps the noise from coming back for a longer period of time.

 

According to published specs the eNiro has a slightly different reduction ratio.

 

I've recently noticed the same on my Kona with approx. 2500 miles on it. Can't say for sure if the noise wasn't always there as I've only noticed it last couple of weeks. Same experience as you though - only sometimes hear it when accelerating at low speeds (under 8 MPH) and then it goes away.