Toyota Camry Vibration When Accelerating- [Solved]

Driving can be a wonderful experience when your vehicle is running smoothly. Your open road dreams can take a quick turn, however, when your car starts to vibrate and you have no clue as to what is causing it.

Quick Answer

Although it could be a host of things that are causing your Toyota Camry to vibrate when accelerating, the good news is most of the problems are easy and inexpensive to fix. Whether it be a timing issue, a transmission, or a driveshaft issue, take the shake as a warning signal and diagnose the problem first and foremost.

The Toyota Camry continues to be one of the most reliable vehicles on the market. This, however, does not make it is immune to wear and tear after years of use. Read on for more details and solutions on how to get your Camry running smoothly again.

12 Reasons Your Vehicle Is Vibrating When Accelerating (With Solutions)

Car vibrations and shaking happen for many reasons. Despite being a dependable car, the Toyota Camry might be subject to some of the causes for vibration upon acceleration as listed below.

Damaged CV Joints

Many of us take for granted the inner workings of our car until something is off. The CV joints on either end of your vehicle’s axel can become damaged if a tear in the joint boot spreads. Dirt, debris, and water can get inside the boot. Contaminated splines will not be able to properly use the grease that helps your car run smoothly, hence, vibration.

Warped Axle

A difficult to spot issue would be a bent or warped axel. If your car was recently subject to a minor accident or if you drove over something large like a rock or a raised curb, you may have caused damage to your axel. This would be a cause for vibration and shaking upon acceleration and should be looked at immediately.

Tires That Are Not Balanced

If you feel your car vibrating when you are driving at a constant speed or at higher speeds, there is a chance your tires are not balanced. If you’ve recently had your tires changed, there is a chance that the weight on the tires is not distributed evenly. A tire specialist can fix this by pinpointing certain spots on your rims and placing small wheel weights in specified locations to create balance.

Sticking brakes

You’re driving along, reach 40-50 MPG and start to feel your car vibrate. In addition to this you feel shaking from the steering wheel. If this happens there may be a problem with your brake caliper. A stuck brake caliper will also reveal itself with a strong smell when you turn off your vehicle after driving. It is important to get a full check of your brake system if you identify this as your problem.

Wheel bearings

Wheel bearings do two important jobs. They support the weight of your vehicle and they help your tires rotate as smoothly as possible. When you hear humming and grinding while your car is accelerating, and possibly pulling to one side when braking, your rotors may have some uneven wear. If you are mechanically inclined and have the right tools, you should be able to fix this on your own. If not, it will cost somewhere in the area of $200 to change the wheel bearings.

Transmission issues

If you encounter a situation that might require your transmission to be checked out, don’t hesitate. The transmission directs much of your car’s parts giving power to gears and regulating torque. When you drive at a certain RPM and vibrations begin, it may be a sign of a transmission problem. Transmission issues can be expensive to resolve with costs ranging in the thousands. It is not something to be overlooked however and should be looked at by your mechanic as soon as possible.

Motor mounts

A motor mount is made of a hard rubber that secures your engine to the car’s frame. If it is damaged, it can easily cause vibration in your vehicle both when idling and upon acceleration. It is vital to check and fix damaged motor mounts because other parts of the framework of your car will be subject to bearing the weight if you don’t. This will cause more problems in the future.

Timing issue

Because timing plays such a vital role in getting the spark, combustion, and ignition to work in sync to get your car running, many problems including vibration or shaking, can occur if your car’s timing is not at the correct setting. This should be checked immediately by a professional.

Air Filter

If something is blocking the airflow that initiates combustion for your car engine, it could cause your car to vibrate. Making sure your vehicle’s air filters are clean and unclogged is necessary for keeping your car running smoothly.

Fuel Filter

Lag plus vibration upon acceleration might mean a dirty fuel filter. This small piece of the puzzle can easily get clogged and cause unwanted debris to make its way to your gas tank. This can be easily fixed at a low cost and should be checked regularly.

Loose lug

A simple but often overlooked reason your car is shaking is loose lug nuts. If the lug nuts on the hub of your tires are not properly torqued, you will feel a wobble in the tires. Loose lug nuts are also dangerous if not tightened properly because they may cause your tires to fall off when driving. Simply use a torque wrench to tighten the wheels nuts until snug. If you’re on the road and don’t have a torque wrench, you can use your car’s lug wrench until you get one.

Bent or Broken Parts

If you feel vibrations, shaking, or knocking and you’ve recently been in an accident or rough road situations, don’t be surprised if parts such as your radiator fan, driveshaft, or other belts in your vehicle have been damaged or bent. This will need fixing if you want your car to run smoothly. Visit your auto mechanic and give details as to what may have caused breakage or bending so they can diagnose the problem.

The fact of the matter is, your car has a ton of moving parts that affect its performance. Making sure the parts of your Toyota Camry are in good condition, not damaged and as clear of dirt and debris as possible will help control vibrations when driving.

Why Is My Camry Vibrating When My Car Is Idle?

A car that vibrates when idle may have its own slew of reasons for unwelcome shakes. If your car is vibrating when idle, it is most likely a cry for help. Here are a few reasons why this might be happening.

• Worn or broken motor mounts. Test this by putting your car in Neutral. If it continues to shake, it may be a sign that your motor mounts are loose.
• Air Filters that are clogged with dirt picked up from road travel.
• Failing oxygen sensors will cause an inaccurate reading and pump the wrong amount of oxygen into your exhaust.
• Hoses under the hood of your car help to create a vacuum that regulates the airflow and fuel that powers your engine. If there is a leak in this vacuum your car may idle and your engine could misfire.
• Spark Issues happen when spark plugs are worn, the spark plug wiring is insufficient, and/or your ignition coil is old and needs replacing.
• Dirty fuel injectors will cause a disproportionate amount of fuel to enter your engine’s cylinder at the right time. This could cause your car to perform poorly and cause rough idling.

How Long Does A Toyota Camry Last?

Named one of the top-rated sedans by Consumer Reports for its high mileage drives, the Toyota Camry does not disappoint when it comes to being a long lasting vehicle.

Approximate Miles: The Camry has a service life of about 200,000 and up to 300,000 miles. After about 100,000 miles you can expect your Camry’s value to be around its minimum trade-in value.

Approximate Years: With the service life in the 200k to 300k range, or an average of 15,000 miles per year, your Toyota Camry could last for 15 to 20 years and still be in good working condition. Of course, regular maintenance and general care for your vehicle will extend its life.

Wrap up

After assessing the reason(s) for your Camry’s incessant vibration, big or small, having your car looked at by a professional is the best move you can make to keep your vehicle from going into early retirement.