Your car shaking when you accelerate can be caused by several potential issues. Common reasons include:
- Unbalanced tires or wheels, which cause vibrations that increase with speed.
- Worn-out spark plugs leading to engine misfires that create shaking.
- Damaged inner CV joints or axles, which affect power transfer to the wheels and cause instability.
- Broken or worn motor mounts that fail to hold the engine securely, leading to excessive vibration.
- Transmission problems, like low fluid or damaged components, causing rough shifting and shakes.
- Bent axles or driveshafts from impacts or rough terrain can cause significant vibrations during acceleration.
Additionally, loose lug nuts, stuck brake calipers, or worn suspension parts can contribute to the shaking. If your car shakes mainly while accelerating and possibly loses power, engine misfires or ignition system faults are likely causes. If it shakes without power loss, driveline issues such as worn CV axles or driveshafts may be responsible. Tire balance is often the culprit if the shaking starts at low speeds and persists. Motor mounts can cause vibrations felt throughout the car, especially if your vehicle has engine cylinder deactivation technology. Because these issues range from minor maintenance to serious mechanical faults, it’s important to have the vehicle checked by a professional mechanic quickly to diagnose and fix the problem safely before it worsens or causes further damage.
