Why is My Car Shaking When I Accelerate

Last night, my friend and I went for a long drive. I’d been feeling stressed working from home for the past few days, so I called my friend and suggested we head out to get some fresh air.

Windows down, cold breeze hitting my face, and soft music gave me such a relaxing experience. Later, we decided to have dinner in a restaurant. While driving back home, I experienced a sudden shake in the car whenever I pressed the accelerator pedal.

It was so uncomfortable to drive like that. In an instant, my peaceful night drive turned into a nerve-wracking experience. I knew something was seriously wrong with the vehicle. Somehow, I made it home and immediately opened my laptop to search for the root cause of the problem.

And then it struck me—this could be the perfect topic for my website.

I’ve reviewed hundreds of pages to gather all the necessary information to understand the problem. In this article, I’ll walk through, in detail, why a car shakes while accelerating and how to deal with it.

Is it Dangerous to Drive a Car that Shakes While Accelerating?

The first thing I searched for was: Is it dangerous to keep driving a shaking car? The night was a nightmare for me, as while driving, I was feeling like my car would come off its wheels.

Most of the sources claimed that it is dangerous to drive a car that shakes while accelerating. It might be a mechanical issue that can compromise safety and vehicle control. However, the severity of the danger depends on the cause, ranging from minor inconveniences to immediate risks of accidents.

While minor shaking might not be an immediate threat, you should never ignore it because it can become dangerous over time. To ensure your safety, it is crucial to have your car inspected by a professional as soon as possible before the issue turns into a nightmare.

Let’s discuss the root cause of the shaking car in the article below.

8 Possible Causes of a Car to Shake During Acceleration

Most of the drivers accept this shaking as a quirk of their vehicle, but in reality, it’s a warning sign that shouldn’t be ignored. Ignoring it could lead to more serious problems, like an accident or injury down the road.

Whether the vehicle starts vibrating at high speeds or low speeds, understanding the cause is the first step to fixing it. Here are some possible reasons why a car shakes when you accelerate.

• Old or Damaged Tires: The most common reason for a car to shake while accelerating is old or damaged tires. Over time, tires become worn out or suffer damage from a nail or other sharp object.
• A Bent Axle or Damaged Driveshaft: If your car hits a curb hard, it can cause a bend in the axle or damage the driveshaft, leading to vibrations when accelerating.
• Damaged CV Joint: A CV joint, also known as a Constant Velocity Joint, is responsible for transferring power to the wheels while accommodating the up and down of the suspension. When the CV joint gets worn out, it causes vibrations under acceleration.
• Faulty Sparky Plugs: Spark plugs are responsible for igniting the air/fuel mixture in the car’s engine. Over time, they can wear out, leading to inefficient firing. This inefficiency causes misfires, resulting in vibrations during acceleration.
• Unbalanced Tires: Sometimes, tires are not evenly weighted, causing the vehicle to shake during acceleration.
• Stuck Brake Calipers: If brake calipers fail to release properly, it causes friction on the wheels even when the brakes are not applied. This friction can affect the car’s acceleration, often leading to noticeable vibrations.
• Transmission Issues: When there is an issue with the transmission, such as low fluid levels or internal damage, it causes the vehicle to shake during acceleration.
• Broken Motor Mounts: Motor mounts secure the engine to the chassis, responsible for absorbing the engine vibrations. Over time, they can wear out, leading to noticeable shaking, particularly when accelerating.

What Causes My Car to Shake?

The next day, I took my car to the mechanic. He told me there is nothing to worry about, as it is just a loose wheel nut causing the problem. Actually, a few days back, while changing the tire by myself, I must have mistakenly left a nut loose.

It seems to be a minor mistake. But a loose wheel nut can compromise the stability of the vehicle, which can even lead to an accident or injury. I thanked god that my car didn’t crash that night, and I reached home safely.

How to Fix Car Shaking While Accelerating?

My car was suffering from a loose wheel nut issue, which is easily fixed by just tightening it.

Below, I’ve provided the fix for every cause as discussed above that leads to this shaking problem.

Old or Damaged Tires Fixed