For some time now i have been getting a noise from the rear motor when lifting off the accelerator. At first it was very quiet however over the past few weeks it has gotten much more noticeable. Now the tricky bit, how to describe.
I live at the top of a hill so every drive starts with regen down the hill. The noise comes when regen is at or near its strongest. The closest i can think of to describe it is fast tapping. When i was a kid i had a bike and we put clackers on the wheel to make some noise when riding. It sounds like that but quieter. Being a bit technical I did some investigating.
I took EVERYTHING out of the car. If it could be removed it was, boot liner, parcel shelf, items in the front, all doors were emptied, child seat, glove box, the lot.
Double checked tyres for junk and pressures.
I bought a gopro clone and fitted it to the area i thought was causing the noise. Sadly this has only made me more worried. From under the car the noise sounds much more metallic.
At the same time i put my iphone on the rear passenger seat. recorded blackness but sound and I am convinced the noise is coming from the rear motor cluster. The tapping is faster that the rear driveshaft rotation so in think it has to be internal?

A video is uploading to YouTube with times of the noises. It may take a little while.

https://youtu.be/ucl72Xj8tew

If anybody has had similar please let me know.

The car has been in twice for this but they claim they couldn't hear it.

If it makes you feel any better, I hear the exact same noise in my car. It's been there pretty much from the start (although I am not sure about the first few weeks - I have no memory).

 

Thanks for the information. I have had mine for over a year and this is new in the last few months and getting worse (louder)

 

Cool video from under the car. But I'm going to bet this is much adu about nothing.

 

Cool video from under the car. But I'm going to bet this is much adu about nothing.

If this turns out to be a software fix, I am posting my original comment about it from November 2021!

 

Sounds a bit guiro’ish. Might need some special sauce

 

I hear a sound like that when decelerating, when the sound system is off.
Odo : 10 000km / 6200m.

 

This seems too low a frequency for something related to the motor directly, as the motor is still going however many rpm at the onset of each event and the frequency of clicks doesn't change directly with motor rpm during the braking.

I more wonder if it's an ABS type thing engaging - Do we know if the friction brakes assist during regen braking? Does the behavior change with OPD settings?

Or is it a set of contactors/relays engaging during different levels of regen? I can absolutely hear a set of relays clicking away at decal at lower speeds, which has been attributed to a set of relays around the driver footwell. I wonder if for whatever reason it's now just more noticeable?

If it was a mechanical stress thing causing creaking of components, I'd expect that with OPD off and not applying any braking, if you decel-ed naturally by going up a grade that would recap it. If you have the motivation for it, try that? With the camera/mic in the same position, turn OPD off, accelerate a bit before a change up of grade, and then coast up the hill and see if it induces the sample clicks/creaks?

 

This seems too low a frequency for something related to the motor directly, as the motor is still going however many rpm at the onset of each event and the frequency of clicks doesn't change directly with motor rpm during the braking.

I more wonder if it's an ABS type thing engaging - Do we know if the friction brakes assist during regen braking? Does the behavior change with OPD settings?

Or is it a set of contactors/relays engaging during different levels of regen? I can absolutely hear a set of relays clicking away at decal at lower speeds, which has been attributed to a set of relays around the driver footwell. I wonder if for whatever reason it's now just more noticeable?

If it was a mechanical stress thing causing creaking of components, I'd expect that with OPD off and not applying any braking, if you decel-ed naturally by going up a grade that would recap it. If you have the motivation for it, try that? With the camera/mic in the same position, turn OPD off, accelerate a bit before a change up of grade, and then coast up the hill and see if it induces the sample clicks/creaks?

The rate of the clicking sound I hear (and which I heard in the video) is definitely directly related to the angular velocity of the rear axle. Almost sounds like a (relatively quiet) freewheel ratchet on a bicycle to me.

 

I live at the top of a hill so every drive starts with regen down the hill. The noise comes when regen is at or near its strongest.

Just a thought triggered by @polerads post: Is the noise still there when you go back up and down again or does this happen only on the first drive of the day? At the beginning of your first drive of the day, the mechanical brakes will be used instead of regen to clean the brake discs, so the noise might be brake related.

 

Good Afternoon. I have never heard it going up hill and it can be heard all day. Its just louder first thing as i go down the hill. I agree it could be brakes however my drive home is largely flat and it occurs when only using regen. it is also louder at slower speeds when i assume the motro is doing all of the braking.

 

@MarkG47 Awesome job getting a camera mounted to capture this properly. I've been experiencing the same thing for several months and probably thousands of miles now, for what it's worth, and trying to figure it out. I don't recall experiencing this noise from the factory, but I can't definitively say it wasn't there, either. For others on the thread, I can confirm that this only occurs when lifting off the accelerator (seemingly during regen), does reduce in frequency with speed (seems to be somehow mechanically speed-related), and occurs on pretty much any drive with regularity. I've really only noticed it at lower speeds, i.e. driving around town with frequent stops, possibly because it's a quiet-ish noise that wouldn't be audible at highway speeds, or would be too high frequency at those speeds to notice as a clicking at all.

Sorry to not have an answer for you, but it's certainly something I've wondered if I should have checked out.

 

I guess there is some benefit of having deteriorating hearing😆

 

MarkG47,
Welcome to the Noisy Club! I looked at your video, but it sounds quite subtle. Do you have performance package on yours with Ohlin dampers? Here is my experiences of noises on my PS2. I had a kind of similar noises from the rear axle. When I talked to Polestar space, they suspected it would be a faulty Ohlin damper. So they took my car and diagnosed and found it was that damn dampers. They ordered new dampers and replaced it. The the noise went away! It took 3 weeks for me to replace, though... pain in ass. You might want to have the service check your damper, if you have.
However, even after replacing dampers, I still am dealing with bunch of different kind of noises from everywhere in my car, just in case you are curious~

 

Good Morning @fastiger thanks for the information. My car is Non PP. the noise is (in my opinion) from the drivetrain. It is faster than the driveshaft speed so i think it points toward the motor and gearing before final drive. I will let you all know what the garage say.

 

Hi everyone, I am also having a similar issue. I had previously mentioned this in an old thread before I was pointed to this thread. It sounds just like the first GoPro video in this thread that @MarkG47 posted.

In my case it sounds like it’s coming from the front drivetrain. Mine started occurring when I left a parking spot, I got about 10 feet pulling forward and heard a short metallic crunching noise from the front. Ever since this happened, whenever I am coming to a stop, I hear a faint “card in the bicycle spoke” sound just like others are describing. I almost always come to a complete stop using lift-off regen. I only hear this sound at slow speed when regen is active (with no music playing).

I have a non-PP (10 months and 8,000+ miles). I am 250 miles from nearest service center (waiting for one to open up in DC), so I haven’t contacted service yet.

 

I suspect that what you are describing is a different problem. Almost sounds like something mechanical broke - maybe you had a sticky brake pad (as discussed in yet another thread here), or something else failed.

 

Morning All.
This noise is proving to be a bit of a pain to track however the "good" news is that it is getting louder.
Over the past weeks i have been videoing with an external mic. I think i have tracked an area where the noise is clearest from within the car.
Long story short, i placed an external mic deep into the gap behind the rear seats and the boot (trunk) and its here that i get the clearest sound. Links to the videos below. I am waiting for Volvo service to get the Volvo Ear tool so that thy can basically do the same. Someone did suggest its bodywork creaking. Have a listen and let me know what you all think?

 

Definitely the same noise I hear in my vehicle. Why would the bodywork freak only when decelerating at low speeds? I’m so curious to find out what’s really going on here and what the fix is.

 

So, I have had this same issue since mid-November. I finally booked an appointment at the new Washington D.C. service center and got the car back today. They removed and inspected the rear brake pads and rotors and didn't see any issues. Then they said that the right rear wheel arch liner was actually touching the tire and that this was the issue. Unfortunately, on my way home I started hearing the noise again, so I'm guessing that the trim is either touching again or that it was an unrelated problem. It makes me feel a little better knowing that they didn't see any brake issues, so I guess I will see what happens over the next few months or mention it again at my next service.

 

So I have this noise.

It's only while braking with regen and it's only at low speeds while coming to a stop.

It matches something to do with wheel speed.

It seems to come from the rear, right side of the car.

I'll check the arch liner, but I doubt it's touching only on deceleration.

Very glad for this thread and the investigative work so far. Thank you!

 

So I have this noise.

It's only while braking with regen and it's only at low speeds while coming to a stop.

It matches something to do with wheel speed.

It seems to come from the rear, right side of the car.

I'll check the arch liner, but I doubt it's touching only on deceleration.

Very glad for this thread and the investigative work so far. Thank you!

Same issue here. Rear passenger wheel starts thumping when letting go of accelerator at slow speeds using regen braking. Started today as far as I can tell. Working back with Marin. Seems like it is a common issue, but mostly affecting those that are hearing it and attentive to it. Hoping one of us will update as they address it.

 

Hi I had a similar noise for the first time yesterday or just noticed it for the first time, but I have a LRSM, only at very low speeds.

 

I had a constant similar noise for about two or three months (plus a never-ending series of squeaks under all conditions). After two weeks at the dealership all fixed (PP with 4,400 mi and just over 12 months old).

Creaking sound was a broken driveshaft. Took about 5 business days 7 days to ship part to Marin, CA dealership. Took about 2 days to install and test. Creaking/snapping/metallic popping sounds all gone. Cause unknown. Service manager says "spirited driving" seems to be the most common cause. I conclude that to mean improper design specification for drive shaft.

Squeaking sounds were shock boots and they said it was fairly common and may return, but using an industrial lubricant different from the technical journal in the hopes the solution will last longer (TJ 35681.1.0 : Grease p/n 31437986). I also applied a teflon dry lube coating on all seals and bumpers on hatch, doors, hood from forum recommendations before taking the car in for service (which didn't solve my squeaking sounds, but I think it helped with possible other squeaks which were being drowned out by the shock boot issue).

Good luck in solving the creaks and rattles!

 

Service manager says "spirited driving" seems to be the most common cause. I conclude that to mean improper design specification for drive shaft.

And so adding 50KW of power would do what???

 

I would say door floorboard creaking sound may be accurate. The card in spokes would be too low frequency for what my sound was like. It was like a higher pitched metal on metal creaking. In my mind, it sounded like an old fishing boat creaking while docked in an area with somewhat constant waves. The tech called me within two hours of dropping it off and said he found the driveshaft had a visible crack and was extremely confident that was the source of the sound. You are going to Marin, so Alex is the person to talk to. You should have them check out the noise because you and I are not the only ones having some of these noise issues and they are getting better at figuring them out. Just like the shock boot squeaks cannot be solved long-term with certain lubricants and they are finding better ones. It's only been a year of history, so I'm sure they are learning some of this as they go along. The damper shock design is not a standard Volvo set up so they are going up the learning curve too.

One disappointment was the lack of loaner cars. I'm assuming most drivers don't live that close to any service center in the early days of PS, but if a driveshaft breaks and takes a week+ to order/repair, I think some kind of loaner should be found.

 

Got it - thanks! That does sound like a different issue, but I’ll ask them to check out this noise anyway.

FWIW I’ve had my vehicle in to Marin probably a half dozen times (but not in the past 6 months) and haven’t had an issue grabbing a loaner, though it’s possible they’re running low with more cars now on the road.

 

Is this only a PP issue, or have others heard it too?

 

I have a non-PP and I have had the issue (card in spokes) since mid-November.

 

I'm likely wrong, but I don't think it's a brake pad issue. I plan on investigating a bit.

 

I'm with you on that one.

 

So a major update today on the noise problem.
Quick recap, the car has been in the garage for the past three weeks while they investigate the knocking noise from the rear drive. First they replaced a driveshaft however it still made the noise. Now the garage is waiting for a reply from Polestar for permission to change the entire ERAD. I suspect I will be in the loan Barge (XC90 T8) for a few weeks more. Man, petrol is expensive in the UK. £86 to fill the tank.

 

The quiet clicking I hear when braking at low speeds is consistent and hasn't gotten better or worse over time. I'm thinking it's normal. I do hope to investigate it a bit more.

 

This matches my experience.

 

So I had posted this a while back on the forum Link. Click/ knocking noise under regen. Progressively louder. Could disappear. Turns out it was a major fault and according to the dealer a dangerous issue. Off the road for 2 weeks with a £10k warranty report to replace axel and motor coupling.

I received c£700 in compensation from Polestar.

 

Okay, my car is officially in Marin’s hands for this (well, for an issue with one of the mirrors but also this) so we’ll see what they come up with. What I can say is that my loaner 2 doesn’t seem to be making this sound at all, so to the extent that it is “normal”, it would have to be in a may-or-may-not, or perhaps post-break-in sort of way.

 

I've thought about trying another car to see. Hmmmm...

 

I brought mine to the LA service center on January 5 and they still have it. They've told me they ordered axles but haven't received it yet. I'll give them a call next week to get a status update

 

OK, my mirror issue was fixed, but the tech was not able to reproduce this sound (I did provide this thread and some of the YouTube videos therein). They did find a loose B Pillar and fixed that, but it hasn’t resolved things (or at least not completely). Now that I have the car back and have done some additional testing, here’s what I’d recommend to reproduce, if helpful to anyone else trying to diagnose:

• Turn the AC off. If fans are going, it’s much harder to hear (I’m convinced that’s why the Marin tech heard nothing)
• Though the sound is only noticeable at lower speeds, you won’t hear it just driving around at low speeds - get the car going at a decent clip (let’s say at least 30-ish mph?) before letting OPD do its thing
  

 

OK, my mirror issue was fixed, but the tech was not able to reproduce this sound (I did provide this thread and some of the YouTube videos therein). They did find a loose B Pillar and fixed that, but it hasn’t resolved things (or at least not completely). Now that I have the car back and have done some additional testing, here’s what I’d recommend to reproduce, if helpful to anyone else trying to diagnose:

• Turn the AC off. If fans are going, it’s much harder to hear (I’m convinced that’s why the Marin tech heard nothing)
• Though the sound is only noticeable at lower speeds, you won’t hear it just driving around at low speeds - get the car going at a decent clip (let’s say at least 30-ish mph?) before letting OPD do its thing

I got my car back yesterday and after having the axles replaced, the sound is gone