Here’s Why Your Chevy Tahoe Or Suburban May Emit Thump, Clunk, Pop Or Clicking Noises

Some Chevy Tahoe and Chevy Suburban owners may notice a thump, clunk, pop, or click noise emanating from the front end of their SUV. The issue may be present on some 2021- through 2023-model-year Chevy Tahoe and Chevy Suburban vehicles. Now, a possible cause for this issue, as well as a related fix, has been identified.

According to a recent report from GM TechLink, this sound may also be “felt” through the brake pedal, or on the floor in front of the cabin, and the condition typically occurs after the vehicle has been driven at speeds of at least 45 mph, then stopped, or after the brake pedal has been released after the vehicle has stopped.

According to the report, this condition may be the result of road debris or some vehicle component contacting the active grille shutters as they either open or close. For those readers who may be unaware, the active grille shutter system on the Chevy Tahoe and Chevy Suburban enhances vehicle aerodynamics by smoothing airflow around the front end, closing off the central air intake when additional airflow into the engine bay is not required. The shutters will then reopen if additional airflow is required.

In order to determine if this is indeed the root cause of the issue, GM technicians are instructed to remove the fuse that powers the active grille shutters actuator on the Chevy Tahoe or Chevy Suburban, then test if the noise reoccurs. If the noise does not reoccur, it’s recommended that the intake air splash shield is removed, and the active grille shutters be inspected to determine if any objects are obstructing the shutters. Road debris, stones, ice, an unsecured intake air duct, or a mispositioned horn bracket could all be potential items causing the noise.

The GM TechLink report goes on to state that additional information can be found in #PIT5986.

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