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Due to the continual diminishment of engine, power train and tire noise levels, squeak and rattle as become a primary source of undesired noise in automobiles. This article presents a finite-element-based methodology for the improvement of rattle performance of vehicle components. This approach attacks complicated nonlinear impact problems involving rigid and flexible structures by a rather indirect method that allows for the generation of design sensitivity information related to impact frequency and severity from large-scale computer models. This is done by adjusting the system parameters of a related linear problem in such a manner that the nonlinear system response is improved. For implementation purposes, it has been applied to study the rattle of the latch and corner rubber snubbers of a glove compartment. Results from the glove compartment study are summarized herein. Extensions to other rattle problems are also highlighted.