Exhaust Rattling - Trailer Hitch

[exar333]

Owner of a 2023 PHEV Premium and just had dealer install the newly-available trailer hitch at the Mitsubishi dealership. There is a distinct rattling/sound when the gas engine is engaged during acceleration/deacceleration. Has anyone else installed the trailer hitch and noticed any issues like this? (I didn't notice this for a while after the install due to the fact I use EV mode ~80% of the time)

I didn't see any other threads on this topic here, but have seen similar issues with different makes/models where there needs to be a larger buffer/separation between hitch and exhaust. I have a follow-up scheduled at dealer next week, but my purpose here in asking is to understand if my situation may be a one-off or a trend.

Thank you in advance to everyone!

 

[AndyInOz]

I have an after-market towing rig installed on my 2014 model.

Two things that I can see are:

1. The rear muffler is very close to the mounting point of the towing gear; and
2. There is a rubber hanger to support the exhaust pipe near that location.

So...

It's possible that your exhaust is rattling on the towing assembly as you suspect but also,
they may have forgotten to re-attach the hanging support for the rear muffler.

(Or they attached it in the wrong place and it has subsequently fallen off.)

Andy

 

[Donuttang]

Hi

Did u get it resolve? Eaxr333

I have a 2023..same issue but with aftermarket hitch...i wrapped some stuff around the hitch but still.....rattle occasionally when engine is on..usually when slowing down it happens more.

Want to see how the dealer fix your issue with oem hitch

 

[Rudra]

I have a new 2023 ES model with factory/dealer fitted tow bar (and electric trailer brake) have not yet heard a rattle and looking around underneath can see no reason why it might rattle.
Tow Bar part number AU901507 (Australia)

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[Donuttang]

If u don't mind taking a picture on how close they are?

Thx

 

[Rudra]

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[briandj]

I picked up my 2024 Outlander two weeks ago. I brought it back a couple of days ago to have the manufacturer hitch installed. Since I picked it up yesterday, there has been a lot of squeaking and creaking in the rear end. It is very noticeable when starting off or slowing to a stop, especially at very low speeds. It even squeaks when I get in and out of the vehicle. Essentially, it squeaks loudly with any movement of the rear suspension and can be heard inside and outside.

I picked it up on Friday evening and I haven't been back to the dealership yet. So I wanted to know if anyone else has experienced this and whether the dealer was able to address it.

Thanks

 

[michael8554]

Does any of the rear suspension have to be removed to fit the towbar ?
They may have tightened up attachments with rubber bushes without driving the car first to settle the suspension .

 

[briandj]

I'm not sure how the manufacturer hitch is mounted, all they said was that it requires removing the bumper.

I read somewhere that if it's installed while the vehicle is on a hoist they should lower it down so that the suspension is loaded before doing final tightening. Does that make sense?

 

[BobK]

I picked up my 2024 Outlander two weeks ago. I brought it back a couple of days ago to have the manufacturer hitch installed. Since I picked it up yesterday, there has been a lot of squeaking and creaking in the rear end. It is very noticeable when starting off or slowing to a stop, especially at very low speeds. It even squeaks when I get in and out of the vehicle. Essentially, it squeaks loudly with any movement of the rear suspension and can be heard inside and outside.

I picked it up on Friday evening and I haven't been back to the dealership yet. So I wanted to know if anyone else has experienced this and whether the dealer was able to address it.

Thanks

I had exactly the same thing and the dealer was able to fix it. Not sure what they did, though.

 

[mellobob]

Is the velcro tab attached to hold down the folded 3rd seat?

 

[AndyInOz]

I picked up my 2024 Outlander two weeks ago. I brought it back a couple of days ago to have the manufacturer hitch installed. Since I picked it up yesterday, there has been a lot of squeaking and creaking in the rear end. It is very noticeable when starting off or slowing to a stop, especially at very low speeds. It even squeaks when I get in and out of the vehicle. Essentially, it squeaks loudly with any movement of the rear suspension and can be heard inside and outside.

I picked it up on Friday evening and I haven't been back to the dealership yet. So I wanted to know if anyone else has experienced this and whether the dealer was able to address it.

Thanks

When I had my 'trailer hitch' fitted, I noted that there is very little clearance between the rear muffler and the brackets for the unit. Note also in the attached image, there is a mount (rubber support) for the rear muffler that needs to be reattached after the fitting is done.

My instinct is that you will find clearance issues between that muffler and the main bar of the hitch somewhere, or that the mount has not been reattached.

NB. the 'hitch' in this photo is an after-market Hayman Reese unit.

 

[chezz]

When we bought a 2019 PHEV in 2020 from a Mitsubishi dealer we had a tow hitch fitted as part of the deal, it wasn't until a few months later after the highway was dug up and after filling it in the road sunk a bit and when we hit the dips the the body work moved out of alignment, my daughter took it to a body shop and they said they hadn't put all the bolts back in after fitting the hitch, they fitted two and it was OK, a few months later I was carrying out some work on the vehicle and wanted to store something and used to drink holder over the right rear wheel, then I found six bolts and two mountings that required two bolts each that appear to be used to align the back door when closing. So I fitted them back

We did have a rattling once but that was just because my wife had put a biro in the passenger side rear door pocket and it rattled when going over rather rough roads.

The connector plug on the vehicle wiring earth pin corroded away after about two years, we don't use the trailer a lot probably about ten times a year for trips to the dump, picking up fence posts cement and a few yards of mulch and always put the cover back on the connector after use. Bought a pair of connectors from Canadian Tire to repair it, was going to keep the other half for use later but they weren't quite the same so I had to change both and still need to find something to fix the vehicle one to the bracket securely, just taped on a present !!!!. Might be able to use part of the old one if I can cut it smaller.

My experiences probably won't sort out the problems, but might get you to look at the problem differently.