Anyone else have Rattle in Dash?

[kshgw]

I have a 2007 Avalon XLS. I bought it brand new and within the first 2 weeks of owning it, it started to have a rattle in the dash right in front of the driver. I've had it to the dealer twice, each time it doesn't make the noise, so they can't isolate what it is. It is an intermittent problem that happens at any speed and even idling. The noise is more frequent now, happening just about every time I drive, as long as there isn't a Toyota technician in the car! It is not coming from the sunroof, I've seen that service bulletin. Also, I have a lot of musty/moldy odor coming out of the vents when the car starts up in the morning. Is it already time to change the cabin filter? The car has 12,000 miles on it, and I've owned it for a year. At this point, I almost wish I would have kept my 97 Lexus LS400, because there wasn't a noise in that car at all.

[CAPTMARK]

22,000 miles -no rattles here

[cdnacadian]

19,000 miles and not a squeek or rattle, tight as a drum.

[smackman]

Originally Posted by kshgw

I have a 2007 Avalon XLS. I bought it brand new and within the first 2 weeks of owning it, it started to have a rattle in the dash right in front of the driver. I've had it to the dealer twice, each time it doesn't make the noise, so they can't isolate what it is. It is an intermittent problem that happens at any speed and even idling. The noise is more frequent now, happening just about every time I drive, as long as there isn't a Toyota technician in the car! It is not coming from the sunroof, I've seen that service bulletin. Also, I have a lot of musty/moldy odor coming out of the vents when the car starts up in the morning. Is it already time to change the cabin filter? The car has 12,000 miles on it, and I've owned it for a year. At this point, I almost wish I would have kept my 97 Lexus LS400, because there wasn't a noise in that car at all.

The musty odor is probably "Dirty socks syndrome".
Moisture is staying on your Evaporator after running your AC. This moisture will cause "mold spores" which are released when the Temp. of the Evaporator reaches a certain Temperature.
I have read on Edmunds that its around 60-70 degrees.
That is why you smell it when you start your car first thing in the morning.
I took my 2007 Avalon to the dealership and they treated my Evaporator with frigifresh. Seems to have worked!(No charge; warranty honored)
I see you are from Florida where the humidity is high.
I live in Louisiana and the Humidity is high so you make lots of water with the AC running. It also stays in the Recirculation mode.
Maybe someone will "chime in" and tell us how this can be stopped.
I had a similar issue with my Heat pump.
Trane installed a coated coil to stop my "Dirty sock smell" in my house in the winter months.
No issues with dash rattle.

[adamt]

i have a 08 highlander with same issue. rattle seemed to come from dash center or a little on passenger side. mine didn't do it either for about a half a mile with the technition in the car, but then rattled like usual after that and for the 3 mile trip back to the dealership. (8K miles on the car) they gave me a loaner, and had it fixed the next day. the invoice says: install noise kits to front cowl ass., noise kit to secure fuse box, secure wires etc. hope that helps. i hate rattles!!!

[trenchdog1914]

I've got a 06 Avy, and had a rattle from the dash right where the steering wheel comes out. The dealer replaced the intermediate steering shaft, which lead to a worse noise. Turned out the tech didn't tighten the brass shear bolts that hold the steering shaft stuff to the subframe.