Hi everyone! Got a new Prime last month, and noticed that there's a faint rattling coming out of the headliner. It seems like it comes from above the passenger's head...maybe a little closer to the door? I live in LA, so I spend my days basically off-roading in potholes, and now being annoyed with a rattle lol. When I reach over and push on the headliner, it does kind of make a crackling sound that's similar to the rattle I hear, so maybe a part of the headliner isn't glued right? Any suggestions on fixes would be appreciated!
I don’t believe the roof headlining assembly (as Toyota calls it) is glued to the car, though the fabric and substrate may be glued together, of course. Rather, it’s held in place by various clips and trim pieces, and these would be the first thing I’d check. If you can’t find anything loose, I’d suggest taking the car to a dealer for warranty service. According to the Repair Manual, available by subscription to techinfo.toyota.com, removing the roof headlining requires first removing the rear seat and most of the other interior trim, except the instrument panel. Unfortunately, this process of disassembly and reassembly can sometimes leave a car with more noises than it had before. If the roof headlining itself is defective, it should be replaced as a unit. If the rattle is coming from something else, like a wire harness, and it can’t simply be snapped or clipped back in place, then the usual remedy is to apply some self-adhesive foam or felt from the Interior Noise Kit, Toyota part number 08231-00801.
Wow, I'm embarrassed at how long it took me to reply to this. Thanks so much for the information! I've resolved myself to just live with the car for a few months and see how I feel. The noise, while crazy-making in the first month of ownership, isn't a huge deal. I developed this psychosis after my parents bought me a convertible when I was younger. The thing had a roof that rattled and shook, so now I have hyper-sensitive hearing in my cars lol. Have a great weekend!