What Causes a Car to Shake While Accelerating?

By Staff WriterLast Updated Mar 26, 2020 11:45:42 PM ET

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There are various reasons why vehicles shake while accelerating and some of them include a clogged transmission filter, a worn-out universal joint and low transmission fluid. The common type of vibration is mainly felt through the steering wheel of the car as it accelerates, and it is a very dangerous condition because it can cause unstable conditions that can lead to loss of control especially when avoiding a collision or making a sudden turn.

If the causes of this vibration are not dealt with early enough, they may cause premature wear of the systems of the car, such as the tires and the transmission system. If such a condition occurs, the following factors should be considered.

Struts and shock absorbers should be checked and replaced if they are worn out because they can be the cause of the instability, leading to a bouncy ride or vibration as the car accelerates.
The upper strut bearings should be checked and replaced, if necessary, because they are a common cause of vibration.
The ball joints need to be checked and, if necessary, replaced because they play a major role in maintaining stability of the car, and if they are worn out, vibration will definitely occur.
The tie rod ends should also be checked and replaced, if necessary, because they keep the two front wheels pointing on the same direction; however, when they point in different directions, vibrations do occur.