I'm seeking advice regarding a mechanical issue with one of my Seagate Exos drives. I have two 18TB drives set up as a ZFS mirror, purchased in April 2024, and they come with a 5-year warranty. Lately, one of the drives has developed a subtle, inconsistent grinding and vibration sound that's noticeable when I touch it, while the other drive runs smoothly without any issues. I've checked the SMART data and everything looks fine—no errors, no reallocated sectors, and multiple ZFS scrubs have reported zero problems. Performance appears normal as well, but the mechanical noise concerns me. I'm torn between RMAing the drive now while the noise is present but not detectable by SMART or waiting until closer to the end of the warranty period to get a refurbished replacement. Since my data is mirrored, I'm not in immediate danger, but I worry about trusting a drive that feels off, regardless of what diagnostics say. Have any of you experienced similar issues with RMAing a drive just for mechanical noises? Is it risky to wait several years even with a mirrored setup? Would you keep using a drive that has an unusual feel even if the diagnostics are clear?
6 Answers
I'd RMA it right away. Plus, consider switching to WD UltraStar drives in the future. They might be pricier, but my experience with them has been solid, with many lasting 5-6 years without problems.
I'd recommend doing the RMA as soon as possible. Drives are usually pretty consistent in their sounds, and if you notice something off, it's better to address it before it potentially leads to a bigger issue down the line.
Definitely go for the RMA now. It's not worth the risk to wait and see, especially with something that doesn't sound right.
Are you sure that the vibrations you're feeling aren't just from normal writes? Sometimes drives can feel different during certain operations.
If your setup allows for it, consider getting a matching spare drive to use as a hot standby in your array. That way, if the questionable drive fails, the spare can take over without impacting your performance.
I have the 20TB Exos model, and mine also makes some annoying noises every few minutes. From what I've seen, it seems like a common issue. Does anyone have a larger Exos drive that runs quietly? That might push me to RMA mine too.
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