Creaking noises from left side interior quarter panel

[LivelyLime]

I'm pretty confident in saying that a stubborn creaking sound is coming from behind the left side interior quarter panel. I hear it if I drive slowly over an up or down ramp when the body flexes. I can sort of reproduce it while the car's parked, I open the trunk, and I "bounced" the left rear of the trunk with my body weight. I'll hear the creak a couple times that way.

It sounds like the creak is coming from behind those little vents in the left side interior panel of the trunk. Does anyone know what's behind that? I see some metallic and mechanical looking stuff back there but what could it be? Is it something that gets warm?!

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[NorthlandPhil]

I had a creaking noise in the back. I could make it go way by placing two small folded towels on either side on the bottom of the hatch opening, then closing the hatch on them. I believe this worked because it kept the hatch from moving ever so slightly when going over bumps. It might be a different piece that caused my problem but I'd bet it's the same issue.

Made an appointment with the dealership. Three weeks later, I took it in. Then another three weeks later they replaced something. I didn't talk to the tech when I picked it up so I don't know what part they replaced. He said something about plastic pins on the molded plastic parts that rub and squeak.

Anyway, in the course of the six weeks it took, the temp went from 0F to 30's F and the creaking noise seemed to have gone away. (I kept the towels in place until just before taking it in. The noise makes me want to drive into a tree or something.)

So... I expect next December it'll be back. I'm curious what you learn.