A vehicle that shakes can have unbalanced tires, warped brake rotors, worn suspension parts, or engine problems. Have it inspected.
Common causes
- Unbalanced or worn tires.
- Warped brake rotors (shakes when braking).
- Worn suspension, tie rods or ball joints.
- Bad wheel alignment.
- Engine misfire or worn motor mounts.
Clues
Shaking at 50 to 70 mph means tire balance. Shaking when braking points to rotors.
What to do
Have a mechanic inspect it.
Safety
Don’t ignore it, as it can cause failure.
Where the shaking occurs
The location tells a lot:
- Steering wheel shakes at 50 to 70 mph: unbalanced front tires, bent wheel or worn steering parts.
- Seat or floor vibration at highway speeds: rear wheel imbalance or driveshaft problems.
- Shaking during braking: warped brake rotors or sticking calipers.
- Shaking when accelerating: worn CV axles, motor mounts, or driveshaft u-joints.
- Shaking at idle: engine misfire, dirty fuel injectors, vacuum leak, bad motor mounts.
Tire and wheel issues
Imbalanced tires, uneven wear, bulges, flat spots, out of round tires, bent rims, loose lug nuts or missing wheel weights. Tire rotation and balancing every 5,000 to 7,500 miles reduces issues.
Suspension and steering
Worn tie rods, ball joints, control arm bushings, struts or shocks and a misaligned front end.
Engine causes
Worn spark plugs, bad ignition coils, clogged fuel injectors or bad engine mounts.
Brakes
Warped rotors cause pulsation in the pedal and steering wheel.
Transmission or drivetrain
Low fluid, worn parts or a bad torque converter.
What to do
- Note speed, conditions and when it happens.
- Check tire pressure and look for bulges.
- Have tires balanced and aligned.
- Inspect brakes and suspension.
- Scan for check engine codes.
Safety
Severe shaking, a wheel wobble, a burning smell or a flashing check engine light is a reason to stop safely and tow. Loose lug nuts or damaged tires can cause a wheel to separate.
Cost
Tire balancing costs about 15 to 25 dollars per tire, and alignment 80 to 150 dollars.
Matching shake to cause
Vibration at highway speed, often 55 to 70 mph, usually points to unbalanced tires. Shaking only when braking suggests warped brake rotors. Shaking during acceleration may be due to worn axle joints, motor mounts or spark plug misfires. Steering wheel shake points to front end parts, while seat shake suggests rear tires or driveshaft.
Costs and safety
Wheel balancing typically costs 15 to 30 USD per tire, rotor replacement 300 to 700 USD per axle and CV axle replacement 200 to 800 USD. Stop driving if the shaking is violent, comes with a flashing check engine light, or if you notice a burning smell. Properly inflated tires, rotation every 5,000 to 7,500 miles and alignment help prevent vibrations.
Based on data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Consumer Reports
