Why does my car vibrate while I drive?
My 2012 Honda Pilot vibrates while I drive. Do you know of any problems with the 2012 model that I can address with my mechanic?Q.
Since I purchased my 2012 Honda Pilot used about two years ago, it vibrates while I’m driving. It is starting to get worse, and now there is a low noise whenever I take a turn. The tires were replaced about a year ago, and after that, the vibration seemed a bit better, but it never went away. I recently took it to the dealership for a check up and had the tires rotated. Now, the vibration is worse than ever. Do you know of any problems with the 2012 model that I can address with my mechanic?
A. I checked AllData, a technical database, and I didn’t find any bulletins that would address a vibration problem. Since the vibration changed when the tires were rotated, I would suspect the problem is still related to the wheels. The issue may be the lateral runout of the wheels when they were mounted on the vehicle. I would see a technician with a dial indicator to measure the runout of the tires and wheels. As little as 2 millimeters of lateral runout can cause a vibration, so it is not a problem that can easily be identified by just looking at the vehicle. The noise could be attributed to tire wear or the start of a worn wheel bearing.
John Paul is AAA Northeast’s Car Doctor. He has over 40 years of experience in the automotive business and is an ASE certified master technician. Email your car question to [email protected].
