Why is My Car Shaking While Driving?

There are lots of ways you may want your morning commute to be more interesting, but having your car shaking and wobbling down the road is not one of them. Experiencing something less than a smooth ride? Read on for what may be the cause.

Potential Reasons Why Your Car is Shaking While Driving

There are a number of common problems that can cause your vehicle to shake while driving, from things like damaged wheels and worn out tires, to more substantial concerns like warped brake rotors or engine trouble. Here are some of the most common reasons for abnormal vehicle vibrations:

Tires

Road hazards like potholes, or hard-to-see curbs can cause physical damage to the tire itself, even causing it to go out of round. 

You may notice a bulge in a tire sidewall that wasn’t there before, or you’ll notice a wobble along with an unusual wear pattern of your tire tread. Tread-ply separation can happen internally in the tire and start to cause noticeable vibration at higher speeds. You may hear some people refer to this condition as a tire having broken belts as well, even though most modern tires no longer use belts in their construction.

Wheels

As well as potentially damaging tires, road hazards like potholes, unexpected objects in the road, unseen curbs or poorly maintained railroad tracks hit at high speeds can cause damage to the wheel itself. Often inner or outer lips of wheels may end up scuffed, cracked or significantly bent. If any of these happen, you will most likely feel a vibration or find that your steering wheel shakes. If you know the cause was due to an impact of any kind, even at low speeds, you should have your wheel alignment checked as well to rule out any further or more significant suspension damage. Loose wheel lug nuts can also cause significant vibration, and may damage wheels, or at the extreme, cause the wheel to fall off while you’re driving.

Alignment

If your vehicle is out of alignment, this can cause abnormal or uneven tire wear and tread wear. If this is the case and it’s gotten to the point where you’re noticing shaking or vibration, the only way to correct the condition is by having new tires installed on your vehicle, and correcting that alignment.

Steering & Suspension System

Damaged parts like a bent axle or worn out suspension and driveline parts, like tie rod ends, control arm bushings, and driveshafts, can all cause different varieties of shaking or vibration. 

Many failed components cause noises in addition to vibration, including things like wheel bearings, ball joints, and constant velocity  joints. If you start to notice a noise you maybe haven’t heard before, it might be time to get your vehicle to a qualified technician for a complete inspection and diagnostics.

Brakes 

If you notice the shaking in the steering wheel when you’re stepping on the brakes, you might have warped front brake rotors, worn out brake pads, or a sticking brake caliper. If you notice the shake in your seat instead, it may be the rear brake rotors or caliper(s) at fault. 

Another telltale sign of potential warped brake rotors is feeling a pulsation in the brake pedal while stepping on it. All of these things mean you should have your complete brake system checked to find out the cause and get it corrected.

Engine Problems

If your car starts shaking as soon as you turn the key on and start the engine, there are a variety of things that could be at fault. A significant misfire can cause the engine to shake and sputter, and will likely cause a blinking or flashing check engine light. Fouled spark plugs, a plugged fuel filter, and an incorrect air/fuel mixture due to some other mechanical fault can all cause a car’s engine to run poorly and shake. 

Things like worn out or failed motor mounts can also cause a vehicle to vibrate or shake with no actual internal engine damage, as the engine mounts keep the motor secure while running. Low fluids, like coolant, can also be an unlikely but possible cause of engine shaking. For shaking that occurs as soon as you start the car, it’s best to enlist the professional help at a Mavis near you to determine the cause.

Is it Safe to Drive When Your Car is Shaking?

The answer to this question heavily depends on what’s causing the vehicle vibration, and how much the car vibrates while idling and while driving. There are many possible causes and some are more severe than others. 

If you notice the vehicle shaking while idling, it’s time to get the vehicle to a repair shop, and it might be safest to do so on the back of a tow truck. Ultimately, the safest way, especially if you don’t know why it’s shaking, is to get the vehicle towed to your nearest Mavis location.

Schedule an Inspection with Mavis

Whether you need car repair, or help getting your car back to the smooth ride you expect, we’re here to help! Give us a call, schedule your appointment online, or find the Mavis location near you for your next auto repair, diagnostic service, or maintenance like your oil change or air filter replacement.