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What is wrong if my car shakes and won’t accelerate?

My car shakes and won’t accelerate when I try to drive it. It is a 2017 Pontiac and hasn’t had any major problems yet. What could be causing my car to shake when I hit the gas?

avatar
Lynell Spencer · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Sorry to hear that your car may be having its first real issue! If your
Pontiac
shakes and won’t accelerate, it could be a broken CV joint, broken motor mount, unbalanced tires, a loose wheel, or a stuck caliper.
Here are some of the most common causes of shakey cars:
  • Broken CV joint: If your CV boot is faulty, the inner CV joint can fail, causing the car to vibrate when you accelerate. If the problem continues, the vibration will become violent shaking.
  • Broken motor mounts: Motor mounts hold the engine in place and also absorb vibration. If yours is faulty, you will feel the vibration, and so will the other parts of your engine—they are likely to be damaged.
  • Tires out of balance: If your tires need to be balanced, they will vibrate as you increase your speed. This can happen when small weights inside the tires come loose.
  • Loose wheel: Another cause of vibration is if your car has a loose wheel. Make sure all the lug nuts on each wheel are tightened appropriately.
  • Sticking brake caliper: If your brakes or brake pads need replacement, heat and friction can cause the brake calipers to stick and constantly rub against the rotor.
You can’t always control what you spend on car repairs, but with
Jerry
, you can make sure you have the best rates on car insurance. Just download the app, answer a couple of questions, and let Jerry take it from there!
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

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