A car that vibrates at high speed, usually from about 50 to 70 mph, most often has a tire or wheel problem: a tire out of balance, a bent wheel, a tire with a separated belt or flat spot, or mud or snow packed inside the wheel. Worn suspension and steering parts, driveshaft or CV axle problems and warped brake rotors are the other common causes.
Causes by symptom
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Steering wheel shakes at 55 to 70 mph | Front tire balance or a bent front wheel |
| Seat or floor vibrates | Rear tire balance, driveshaft or U-joints |
| Vibration when braking from speed | Uneven rotor thickness; see rotors and sticking brake caliper |
| Vibration when accelerating at speed | CV axles, U-joints, mounts; see car shakes when accelerating |
| Wobble with play in the steering | Worn tie rods, ball joints or steering box; see loose steering and death wobble |
Vibrates at high speed with new tires
New tires that vibrate usually need rebalancing, a road-force balance, or a check that the bead is seated evenly and the wheels are mounted centered on the hub. Lug nuts tightened unevenly, without a torque wrench, can also distort a rotor or wheel seat.
Vibrates after balancing
If balancing did not help, look for a bent wheel, a tire with internal damage, worn suspension parts, or a driveline problem. A road-force balancer can find tires that are out of round even when they are statically balanced.
Vibrates after snow
Snow and ice packed inside the wheels throws off balance. Clean out the inside of each wheel and the vibration often disappears once it melts.
How to narrow it down
- Note the speed range and whether you feel it in the steering wheel or the seat.
- Check whether it changes with throttle, coasting or braking.
- Inspect tires for bulges, uneven wear and missing weights.
- Check for play in the steering and suspension with the wheels off the ground.
- On rear-wheel-drive vehicles, check the U-joints for play.
Vibration that changes with gear or engine speed
If the vibration follows engine rpm rather than road speed, for example it changes when the transmission shifts or when you rev the engine in neutral, it is coming from the engine or its accessories, not the wheels. Misfires, a failing harmonic balancer and worn engine mounts are the usual sources; see engine mount symptoms and what a harmonic balancer does.
Why to fix it
Vibration wears tires, suspension and steering parts faster and can hide a failing component. If the vibration is drivetrain-related and traced to the transmission or engine, see transmission noise and our transmissions.
More guides: wheel bearing noise · car pulls when braking · U-joint symptoms · bad CV axle symptoms.
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