Maybe it's a loose nut behind the steering wheel!

Ok, just joking. I'd check the tie-rod ends, swaybar end links/bushings and ball joints first. I also get a slight rattle sound, but not if I apply very light brake pressure. I think it's my brake pads rattling in the pad holder, but the dealer could not hear it over about 4 visits so I gave up and just live with it.

 

Patriots are known for bad Ball Joints..mine went out at 60k some go out earlier

 

My 2010 Caliber and my '11 Compass FDII do a similar sound. I know exactly what you're talking about, and I've failed to explain it to the dealerships also. What it actually sounds like is almost like the CV is binding up whenever you twist the chassis a bit over bumps, or when you are coasting slowly and hitting bumps or compress the suspension in any way. CV joints are designed with such precise tolerances that I doubt that's the problem. Only thing I can figure is its just a generic sound of all the components moving just a little bit. It's interesting the side that yours seems predominantly on, mine seems like it comes from the passenger side, front. But of course, I can never make it do it when I want to, only when I don't think about it, lol.

There are two places on my driveway that it does it sometimes, wondering if I should tape my cellphone to a spot and see if I can get a recording of it, specially now that I've heard someone else with the similar sounding problem/issue.

Sorry I don't have any information for you, but glad to know I'm not alone!

Btw, my Compass has done it since day 1, 6 miles on the ODO. Same with my Caliber. I don't think ball joints and CVs would be the issue straight from the factory, but stranger things have happened!! Currently 15200 miles on the Compass and it still makes the sound sometimes.

 

I've also thought that maybe its my sway bars making the noise, bad bushing maybe? It rarely does it if I go over a speed bump straight on, but it does it quite a bit if I do it at an angle.

 

I hear something similar only when going slowly over speed bumps when the temperature is about 60 or lower. To me it sounds like the struts compressing without enough oil or something.... kind of a crunching springy sound, if that makes any sense. When its warm I don't hear anything. Could be something completely different, but its annoying for sure

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To me it sounds like the struts compressing without enough oil or something.... kind of a crunching springy sound, if that makes any sense.

A crunching sound is a perfect description of what I hear. When I mentioned it to a buddy, he said it might be the whole system binding up a little since a speed bump would force one wheel forward while the others are still havin force coming from the other direction? It only seems to happen at the front, I don't hear anything in the rear.

 

I took mine to the dealership and after reading on the forum someone suggested the ebrake cable.. They looked at it and replicated the sound. They then lubed it up and it went away for a week and now it's back.. I have yet to have them fix it back.

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I fought with the dealership over a tapping noise coming through the passenger footwell at low speed over small bumps. Started at the 36000 Km mark. They said it's "normal" on these vehicles. Drove me nuts so I took the cheapest gamble and changed out the stabilizer end links myself with MOOG brand and the noise is gone.