3/17 - 20k Service and clunking noise 

During my service appointment on 3/17, I mentioned to the dealership that there was a mechanical clunking/thumping/rattling noise that is coming from the rear of the car. It's louder if you sit in the back seat, but it's noticeable from any seat in the car. It happens when going over bumpy or uneven surfaces, but doesn't happen over every single bump. 

The tech test drove the car on the 17th, but was unable to reproduce it. For now, they tightened the spare tire and asked me to document it and return. I made a follow-up appointment for the 27th

Prior to the 27th, I recorded several videos from the rear cargo area noting the sound in question. Others here have posted about it and stated that repairs were completed including axle replacements, strut replacements, and a gas tank heat shield replacement.

Fast forward to today, the 27th. After a test drive with a tech, they noted hearing the exact noise I described from the rear. I let them know about the other cases on Reddit so they would have a good starting point.

After a short diagnostic, they found nothing mechanical loose under the car whatsoever including above items. This was their official report:

"We were able to hear various noises and, upon inspection, we did not find anything mechanically wrong. However, we found a lot of dirt and debris trapped in various shields. We cannot go any further at this time until those shields are cleaned out. To physically remove all the shields, you could be looking at $600.00, plus the cost of replacing the one-time-use hardware. What we would advise at this time is to go through a car wash with an undercarriage wash and try to get that cleared out that way. Please call me with any questions."

I called and asked why this wasn't included as a part of the diagnostic process, but they simply stated that "it would take a lot of time, so our manager said not to do it." When asked if they thought the noise we're all hearing is the dirt/debris, they said no.

I declined the work and picked up my car. They said I should go through a few car washes with the underside sprayer and come them back if it persists. (Not today, but make another appointment.)

Am I overreacting in thinking their diagnostic process is half assed? I don't expect them to gift me a new car or anything, but at least put some effort into the customer service process instead of just throwing a potential bill at a customer.

Next up: Car wash and return.

2025 Tiguan - Rear-end Clunking Noise