Why Does My Car Shake When I Accelerate? 9 Most Common Causes + Best Fixes

Driving at high speeds might come with the slightest shaking; however, the vibrations lately have been much more noticeable than they usually are! You know something is wrong with your vehicle but can’t pinpoint the exact problem. Driverevolve’s post on “Why does my car shake when I accelerate?” would help if that is the case.

Below, we’ll identify the 9 most common causes of car shaking when speeding up and their best fixes.

1. Damaged Internal CV Connections

CV connections are positioned at every axle’s tip. There are 2 kinds of connections: external and internal. Once the internal CV connection is broken or fails, your car vibrates at high speeds. Slight shakes intensify when carrying extra weight as the condition worsens.

A fracture typically causes broken CV connections in the joint buckle. Moisture and grime get into the pin and spoil the lubricant protecting the splines.

Metal-on-metal friction ultimately leads to damage if not properly lubricated. The only way to address this problem is to change to new CV connections or a new CV axle.

2. Broken Motor Harnesses

Why does my car shake when I accelerate? One possible cause is broken motor harnesses. 

The primary function of motor harnesses is to secure an automobile’s engine to the vehicle’s chassis. The second goal is to tamp down or minimize motor shakiness so that the passengers and driver do not notice the motor’s persistent quakes or pulsating while operating.

Engine harnesses are manufactured from a solid rubber material that can soak up resonances. Once your motor harness is degraded or fractured, other engine components may be misaligned and eventually shatter as the engine is no longer in its position.

When the vehicle is operating at low speeds, you will be able to notice a weak or problemed motor bracket. Still, higher velocity can make the vibrations more noticeable since the motor works harder. The shock waves should cease when the broken motor harness is replaced.

Remember that when an engine mount fails, the other harnesses have to carry a greater portion of the weight and are more likely to malfunction.

If you suspect your motor harness defects, visit a repair center. A specialist will help determine whether you need a harness replacement.

3. Unbalanced Tires

Unbalanced tires might be to blame if you recently had brand-new tires, and now your vehicle shakes when you drive. What we mean by “unbalanced” here is about the weight – not the uneven degradation that causes defective tie rods.

A tire technician will rig up the tire/wheel setup on a leveling device to correct this and apply tiny wheel loads to the edge in the proper places to achieve the ideal balance. The slightest difference in weight will cause a little shake when the tire spins.

The turbulence will be more evident, and your car wheel will probably tremble at a greater velocity, as tires are spinning much quicker.

You might possess an imbalance tire if your car shakes at steady velocity and the vibrations get nastier at higher speeds. Another possibility is that one of the wheel loads just dropped off. Take your vehicle back to the repair center and rebalance the tires to address the issue.

4. Loose Lug Nuts

Notice your car shaking while driving? Maybe your lug nuts have loosened.

This basic issue is much more widespread than you might think. Your wheel might have a faint shake if you didn’t sufficiently tightly tighten down the lug nuts on it on the hubs, and a few of them eventually loosened. This would make the vehicle appear to be vibrating while traveling.

If your lugs are not secured, they will inevitably slacken out of their positions, and your wheel will come off while running. No one wants that to take place, to put it mildly. Also, don’t forget to check that you’re utilizing the proper lug nut diameter.

To ensure no loosened lug nuts, utilize a screwdriver to ensure all lug nuts are secured to factory specifications. A simple lug nut spanner or tire iron will suffice if you don’t own a screwdriver.

5. Bent Driveshaft

If your vehicle features rear-wheel drive, electricity is transmitted from the motor to the back hub and associated tires via the motor shaft.

As a result, if your driveshaft is just mildly deformed or broken (typically due to a collision), the vehicle will wobble when driving at low speeds and worsen as you travel quickly.

Because driveshafts are rarely repairable, the only solution is to replace them.

6. Bent Axle

If you accidentally run over a curb or a big stone or have a crash, don’t think it’s all ok just because there is no sign of damage. The collision might have deformed the axles, which is dangerous.

 You will notice shakes when driving your car, worsening as you speed up. A damaged axle, like a distorted driveshaft, must be replaced quickly or risk inflicting extra damage.

7. Stuck Brake Caliper

When your wheel’s brake calipers are defective and cause it to jam, it might produce vehicle shakes. In this case, your car wheel will wobble as you approach speeds of 40-60 mph. Thus, if you encounter the “my car shakes when I hit 60 mph” issue, brake calipers are the first thing to check.

Note that as you travel faster, the tremors will become more violent. When you hit the brakes, it’s likely that your car smells like burning rubber.

If you think your vehicle suffers from a jammed brake caliper, determine which tire it is by utilizing your nose. Examine all sections of the braking mechanism, especially the caliper screws, slides, and pistons.

Cleansing and re-lubricating the elements might help, but you must change brake pieces if they are defective.

8. Torn or Disconnected Vacuum Hose

This prevalent issue could cause a vehicle to shake or tremble while running. If a vacuum tube is detached or experiences an air leakage because of a minor puncture, the absence of air pressure may make numerous gauges malfunction. As a result, you might encounter blowouts, backfires, electrical failure, and similar motor difficulties.

Check every pipe to ensure it is attached to a surface and exhibits no holes or leaks. You might have to utilize a small clip to repair tubes that are too slack on the connection.

Turbocharged vehicles’ vacuum pipes are even more vulnerable to detaching. As a long-term remedy, sturdier silicone tubes are typically used.

9. Dirty Or Worn Spark Plugs

Old or congested spark plugs might prompt the motor to seize up. Although the issue is most noticeable when the vehicle ceases working, it can also cause the vehicle to vibrate while moving.

If you can’t recall when you last changed your spark plugs, it’s probably a good time to have them serviced. If you discard one and see a lot of murky accumulation on the head, the other spark plugs in the system are probably dirty too.

Also, check if there is any oil in your spark plug well. This might also lead to your car shaking when you speed up.

If your spark plugs are dirty, service and clean them. In case you notice oil leakage in the well, check with an expert to see where the root problem lies. And if you have a broken spark plug, replacing it is the only solution.

Wrapping Up 

Why does my car shake when I accelerate? Now we bet you’ve grasped the most common causes and a few ways to address the problem. 

There are various culprits of car vibrations when running; if left untreated, each brings different consequences at different severity – not just the annoying shakes. Thus, get to the root problem and handle everything when it’s still manageable.

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