Notice a shaking steering wheel or brake pedal when driving?
You should have a mechanic check it immediately!
A car vibrating while running can be a critical cause for concern. When left unaddressed, it can lead to costly repairs or even a loss of control on the road.
Read on to explore why your car is shaking while driving and how to resolve the issues.
This Article Contains:
- 7 Worrying Causes Behind a Car Shaking While Driving
- Is It Safe to Drive a Car That Shakes?
- How Can You Diagnose and Fix Car Vibration Issues?
- How Much Does It Cost to Fix Car Vibrating Problems?
7 Worrying Causes Behind a Car Shaking While Driving
Here are possible causes for why your car shakes while driving:
1. Wheel or Tire Issues
The most common reason for a shaking vehicle is wheel or tire problems, which include:
- Unbalanced tire: Your car may wobble with an unbalanced tire, leading to vibrations while driving at high speed (around 50 to 60 mph).
- Uneven tire wear: Out-of-round tires or uneven tire wear can cause slight bounces as the tires roll, which may make your car shake.
- Damaged wheels: Damaged rims can reduce the smoothness of your drive, causing uneven contact between tires and the road. This can eventually lead to steering wheel vibration while driving.
- Wheel alignment issues: Driving on rough roads can eventually disturb wheel alignment. This causes vibrations as you drive due to increased resistance to movement.
- Worn wheel bearing: A bad wheel bearing can cause excessive steering wheel vibration while you drive at a higher speed or take turns.
- Loose lug nuts: Lug nuts secure tires to your vehicle. If loose, they can cause tires to wobble while you drive, shaking the whole car.
Note: You can prevent most wheel issues by following the manufacturer’s recommendations for tire rotation, wheel balancing, and tire pressure. You could also ask your mechanic for a quick tire inspection while performing any car maintenance services.
2. Worn Steering or Suspension Component
A worn steering system or suspension component can lead to a shaking steering wheel while driving at high speed. Worn or loose parts can also affect your vehicle’s alignment, making a smooth drive nearly impossible.
In this case, it’s best to have your mechanic check steering and suspension system components, like:
- Ball joints
- Tie rod ends
- Bushings
- Shocks
- Springs
- Struts
3. Brake System Problems
Does your car shake when you hit the brakes?
You might have a brake system issue if you feel vibrations from your brake pedal and steering wheel. This can happen due to:
- Warped brake rotor
- Worn brake pad
- Malfunctioning brake caliper
- Low brake fluid
Note: Brake issues like warped brake rotors or faulty pads can pose a serious risk to your safety. Consult a mechanic to have them inspect your brake system and diagnose the issue immediately.
4. Bad Axles
Your car has front and rear axles to transfer power to the wheels and absorb shocks from bad roads.
But here’s the thing:
Any axle issue, like a dented or bent axle caused by accidents or other damage, can increase car vibrations as you accelerate. You may also experience your car shaking if you have worn CV joints or a damaged driveshaft.
5. Bad Spark Plugs
Faulty spark plugs can lead to engine misfires that cause excessive vibration in fuel-based cars (not electric vehicles) when driving or idling.
This happens because bad spark plugs prevent the proper ignition of the air-fuel mixture within the combustion chamber.
6. Transmission or Engine Problems
If the shaking issue continues when you come to a halt, the problem may lie with the engine or transmission mount. These mounts keep your engine and vehicle’s frame steady, preventing vibrations from running through the car. However, when the transmission or motor mount is faulty, vibrations may increase instead of being dampened.
If the vibration is sporadic, you could have a broken radiator fan or faulty fuel injectors. Get a mechanic to run an engine diagnostic test to confirm the issue.
7. Exhaust System Issues
Your car may shake while driving due to exhaust system troubles, including:
- Exhaust blockages
- Faulty catalytic converter
- Leaking pipes
- Faulty gaskets
- Muffler damage
When these issues occur, you will also hear loud noise from the tailpipe or engine region.
But is a car vibrating a major red flag?
Let’s find out.
Is It Safe to Drive a Car That Shakes?
No. Although it’s possible to drive a shaking car, ignoring the issue is risky.
Driving with excessive vibration can further damage your car’s parts and ruin your tires, leading to costly repairs.
What’s worse?
The longer you leave this shaking issue unresolved, the more you put your safety at risk, as driving with damaged tires, transmission, or engine components can lead to accidents.
Next, we’ll explore how to identify the source of the issue.
How Can You Diagnose and Fix Car Vibration Issues?
Whether for non-electric or electric vehicles, you can ascertain the source of the vibrations based on when and where they occur:
- The entire car shaking while driving can indicate tire or wheel problems. However, this may also happen when driving at a higher speed.
- Brake pedal and steering wheel vibration indicate brake system trouble, like a faulty brake rotor or low fluid.
- Shaking during acceleration implies a CV joint, drivetrain, or axle issue.
- Vibrations when idling or halting indicate spark plug or engine issues.
Still, it’s best to have a mechanic confirm the problem since other causes may be behind a shaking car. Once the mechanic pinpoints the cause, here’s what they may do to fix it:
- Service the tires, which includes tire rotation, adjusting tire pressure, tightening lug nuts, and balancing wheels, for a smooth drive. They’ll replace the tires entirely if they’re too old or worn.
- Clean or replace bad spark plugs to enable proper combustion and prevent misfires.
- Service brakes and replace worn parts to allow for smooth, safe stops.
- Replace faulty parts, such as bad fuel system parts, mounts, axles, or driveshafts, to fix transmission and engine problems.
Wondering how much these fixes will set you back?
Read on to find out.
How Much Does It Cost to Fix Car Vibrating Problems?
Here’s what an auto repair shop would charge to resolve car vibration issues based on the cause:
- Wheel balancing: $40 to $80
- Wheel alignment: $70 to $100 (per axle)
- Spark plug replacement: $100 to $500
- Motor mount replacement: $480 to $540
- Brake system repair (brake pad, rotor, and caliper): $200 to $800
- CV joint replacement: $300 to $800 (per axle)
- Transmission repair (damaged driveshaft or bent axle): $300 to $1,400
Note: Some auto shops may also charge about $90 to $150 for a car or engine diagnostic test.
Fix Car Vibrations with AutoNation Mobile Service
A car shaking while driving can eventually lead to tire or engine issues that can cause an accident. That’s why you need to address the issue promptly.
Need a mechanic to check your car?
AutoNation Mobile Service mechanics can come to you!
We’re a mobile auto repair and car maintenance solution offering upfront pricing, comprehensive care, and a 12-month, 12,000-mile repair warranty.
Book an appointment, and our mechanics will get your car steady in no time, whether you need wheel servicing or transmission repair.