7 Reasons A Car Shakes When Accelerating (or Idling, Driving ...

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Every driver expects a smooth, comfortable ride (unless you’ve driven a Yugo), but when your car starts to shake, it can be both unsettling and concerning. Whether you’re idling at a stoplight, cruising down the highway, or applying the brakes, unexpected vibrations signal that something’s just not right.

Keep reading as we look at the most likely causes of shakes or vibrations while you’re operating your vehicle. You may be surprised that most are not engine related.

Top 9 Causes of a Car Shaking or Shuddering

It’s possible to experience shakiness at different times when you’re in a car. Sometimes it’ll happen during all instances of idling, accelerating, cruising, and braking, while other times it will just happen during one or more of these.

Below are some of the most common reasons your car shakes when idling, accelerating, driving, or braking. Most of the time, the actual culprit is easy to fix and will just require replacing one part.

1) Bad Engine Mount (Idling, Accelerating, and Driving)

Engine mounts are what connect the vehicle’s engine to the frame of the car. The mounts are also designed to absorb vibrations and shocks that come from driving on the road. These same mounts also connect the transmission as well.

As you can see, motor mounts are very important for the vehicle. If any one of them were to become too worn out or damaged, then the entire body of the vehicle will vibrate any time the engine is running. If one engine mount is bad, it’s only a matter of time before the rest fail as well.

2) Tire-Related Issues (Driving)

Tires are your vehicle’s only point of contact with the road, making them a common source of vibrations and shaking. One of several tire-related problems could be the culprit:

• Uneven Tire Tread Wear – As tires wear, they can develop bald spots or uneven tread patterns. This inconsistency in tread depth can cause vibrations, especially at higher speeds.
• Tire/Wheel Imbalance – When wheels aren’t properly balanced, they can create a vibration that intensifies as you accelerate. This issue often feels like a rhythmic shaking or wobbling.
• Wheel Alignment Problems – Misaligned wheels can cause your car to pull to one side and create vibrations. This issue often leads to uneven tire wear, compounding the problem over time.
• Flat Spots – If a vehicle sits in one position for an extended period, tires can develop flat spots that cause a thumping sensation as you drive.
• Damaged Tires – Bulges, bubbles, or other physical damage to tires can cause imbalances leading to shaking.

3) Warped Brake Rotor (Braking and Driving)

If you have a warped brake rotor in your braking system, then the brake pads as well as the calipers can’t function properly. When you step on the brake pedal to slow down the vehicle in this situation, the uneven brake rotors won’t be receiving the proper pressure on all parts of the disc.

Instead, you will experience lots of shakiness as the brake pad hits uneven parts of the rotor as you apply pressure to the brake pedal.

Related: Best Brake Pads and Rotors

4) Loose Wheel Bearings (Driving)

Wheel bearings lubricate the wheels of your vehicle to prevent them from generating a lot of heat. If the wheel bearings become too loose, you will experience both noise and shakiness coming from the wheels.

It will also make your vehicle less stable, so you don’t want to let this go for too long before replacing your bearings.

5) Bad Drive Shaft (Driving)

Rear-wheel drive vehicles have a drive (propeller) shaft which delivers power from the engine to the rear wheels. If you’re driving a rear-wheel drive vehicle and your propeller shaft is not perfectly straight, then the entire vehicle will shake.

A bent drive shaft is not something that can be ignored.

6) Bent Axles (Driving)

If you have a bent axle in your vehicle, then it will cause shakiness and vibrations. The car shakes will intensify as you accelerate faster.

Axles can get bent if you regularly drive over rough terrain or bumpy roads or were involved in an accident. Since axles turn so fast, even a slight imperfection can cause noticeable shaking.

7) Brake Caliper Stickiness (Braking and Driving)

A brake caliper is used to push the brake pad against the rotor every time you step on the brake pedal. If a brake caliper were to stick and not release correctly, then your vehicle will shake as you drive.

This shakiness will get worse as you go faster or step on the brake pedal.

8) Fuel System Problems (Idling and Accelerating)

The fuel system, including the injectors, pump, and fuel filter, is responsible for delivering the right amount of fuel to your engine at the right time. If any of these components malfunction or become clogged, it can lead to inconsistent fuel delivery.

This can cause the engine to run rough, resulting in noticeable shaking, particularly when idling or accelerating. In many cases, fuel system issues often trigger the check engine light.

9) CV Joint Wear (Driving, Especially When Turning)

CV (Constant Velocity) joints are necessary components in your vehicle’s drive axles, allowing power to be transmitted from the transmission to the wheels while accommodating the up-and-down motion of the suspension.

When CV joints get damaged or wear out due to age, they can cause shaking when accelerating, and especially when turning. You might hear a clicking or popping noise when making sharp turns, which is an extremely common sign of CV joint issues. As the problem worsens, you may feel more intense shaking at higher speeds.

Diagnostic Steps

Step 1. Identify When the Shaking Occurs

• While idling
• During acceleration
• At constant speeds
• When braking
• During specific actions (ie: turning)

Step 2. Check Your Tires

• Inspect for uneven wear patterns
• Look for physical damage (bulges, cuts, screw in tire)
• Confirm proper inflation

Step 3. Test at Different Speeds

• Drive at various speeds to see if the shaking changes
• Note any speed where vibration intensifies

Step 4. Pay Attention to the Steering Wheel

• Does it shake more than the rest of the car?
• Does the shaking change when you turn?

Step 5. Listen for Unusual Noises

• Clicking or popping (possible CV joint issues)
• Rumbling or roaring (potential wheel bearing problems)

Step 6. Check Your Brakes

• Apply brakes at different intensities
• Note any pulsing in the brake pedal

Step 7. Inspect Under the Hood

• Look for loose or damaged engine mounts
• Check for any disconnected hoses or wires

Step 8. Scan for Error Codes

• Use an OBDII scan tool to check for any stored error codes

Step 9. Test Drive on Different Road Surfaces

• See if the shaking changes on smooth vs. rough roads

Step 10. Consider Recent Changes

• Think about any recent repairs or maintenance
• Note if you’ve recently hit any large potholes or curbs

By going through these steps, you’ll be able to gather valuable information to help diagnose the issue or provide your mechanic with detailed symptoms for a more accurate assessment.

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KevinKevin has been fascinated by anything automotive since his first go-kart as a kid to his time working as an auto tech for Dodge after obtaining his degree in automotive technology. When he's not working on cars or writing about them, you can find him and his E36 M3 at an event with the local chapter of the BMW CCA. Latest posts by Kevin (see all)

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