droning sound when driving at 40mph+, uploaded video, can anyone help identify..?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by viciousthinker, Jul 31, 2025.

  1. viciousthinker

    viciousthinker Junior Member

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    hi all, OK I have a 2012 Prius three with 260 K miles on it… Recently I’ve noticed at any time that I’m driving faster than around 40 mph. I start to hear a groaning sound, I cannot identify where it’s coming from… When I roll my window down, it’s actually quieter. Went on the highway going a good 60 to 65 mph. I took the car out of drive and put it into neutral, the sound was not affected, stayed at the same drowning pitch, so I’m assuming it isn’t necessarily drivetrain related?

    I took a small video, hoping to capture the sound itself, so perhaps others could listen, and maybe identify… It’s only about a minute and a half long, to be found at:

    https://youtube.com/shorts/OBOhRcTeSjw?si=FNjk_RL1FHIbNqZd

    if any could take the time to listen, I’d really appreciate some input, this is a sound I’ve never heard before, and for the moment I’m limiting driving to 40 and under, thanks in advance all.
     
    #1 viciousthinker, Jul 31, 2025
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    droning or groaning or drowning?

    could be wheel bearing or tyre
     
    #2 bisco, Jul 31, 2025
  3. viciousthinker

    viciousthinker Junior Member

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    thx for your reply, we’re you able to hear the sound on my video clip?
     
    #3 viciousthinker, Jul 31, 2025
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    not enough to distinguish it
     
    #4 bisco, Jul 31, 2025
  5. bettergolf

    bettergolf Active Member

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    Also could be a tire...I had one making a noise that I was sure was a wheel bearing...rotated the tires and the sound moved to another area!!
     
    #5 bettergolf, Jul 31, 2025
  6. Prius_Gnome

    Prius_Gnome Member

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    I'm not a car expert, but that sounded like "regular" road/tire noise.
    Out of curiosity, did you recently get new tires or wheel alignment?
    Have you tried driving on a different road/street to see if there's the same noise? I ask this because sometimes certain roads seem to be paved with "grooves" that seem to make a hum when driving on it.
    For what it's worth, I recently rented a car that, no joke, might have driven through wet concrete because there was hardened rock aggregate on the inside of the rims which affected wheel balance and caused noise and vibrations when driven fast on the highway. So maybe it's a wheel balance issue for you?

    If you say that the noise persists even when you're in neutral, then it makes sense that it's not a drivetrain issue. I would tend to think it's the tires/wheels. I wouldn't think bad bearings would sound like that.
     
    #6 Prius_Gnome, Aug 25, 2025 at 3:32 PM
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