Loud squeaking coming from trunk area
 

I keep hearing intermittent squeaking noises coming from somewhre in the trunk area - it happens any time the frame of the car is shifting (i.e. going over bumps or grade changes in a road, etc).

It sounds like a high pitched squeak similar to the sound of foam or rubber rubbing against a smooth surface. It's so loud I hear it over normal volume music.

My first thought was it must be the foam tool holders under the floormat in the back - so I removed them all temporarily. I still hear squeaking.

Next I thought it must be the spare tire rubbing against the metal frame of the car - so I removed the spare temporarily. I still hear squeaking.

Sooner or later I'm going to get desperate enough to have someone else drive the car while I root around the trunk listening for where the noise is coming from.

Has anyone else experienced this noise and found the culprit? I didn't hear this when I bought the car, it started within the last few thousand miles.

Maybe your tail light rubbing on the bumper? Try press the rear bumper right below the tail light and see if you can recreate the noise.

I hear noise from the bumper flexing against the fender but it's not really the noise I've been hearing. No noise from the tail lights when I press.

Also tried pressing on the top of the taillights themselves - they don't move at all.

I see. I had squeaking noise from tail light rubbing the bumper after I had the tail light replaced for condensation problem. I thought you had the same problem since I saw your avatar having after market tail light. :) For me, only driver side was making the noise and not the passenger side. So, I knew it wasn't normal. If it's normal, then both side should make the noise.

Ha, yeah good catch. I put the lights in myself and made sure I got the bolts nice and tight, so that's probably not the issue although it was a good thing to check. I've been racking my brain trying to think what rubber parts are in the trunk area and I hadn't thought of the light gaskets yet.