Judder & vibration

Judder and vibration on a used car · what to check

Judder is directional: what it does and when tells you whether you are looking at a tyre balance or a gearbox out.

Quick answer

Judder & vibration appears as a documented fault on 169 models in our library, across 206 separate faults. The most common areas involved are Transmission, Drivetrain, Engine, Brakes, Suspension, Exhaust.

What it usually means

  • Shudder pulling away · clutch or dual-clutch pack wear.
  • Vibration that appears at a set speed and disappears above it · wheel balance or tyre.
  • Shaking through the pedal under braking · warped discs.
  • Vibration under hard acceleration only · driveshaft or engine mount.

How to check it on the forecourt

  1. 01Pull away from rest several times, gently and briskly, on a slope if you can.
  2. 02In an automatic, let it shift through every gear twice while cold and once warm.
  3. 03Brake firmly from 50mph in a safe place and feel for pulsing.
  4. 04Check tyre wear across the tread and for feathering on the edges.

Models where this is documented

Each entry links to that model's full fault page, with onset mileage, severity and what to inspect.

Honda Pilot2016–20224 matching faults
  • 9-speed ZF automatic hesitation, hard shifts and judder (early cars).· Any
  • VCM cylinder deactivation causing misfires and oil dilution.· 60,000+ miles
  • Rough idle and illuminated engine management light due to direct fuel injector failure.· 40,000-80,000 miles
Acura MDX2014–20203 matching faults
  • 9-speed ZF automatic hesitation, judder and hard shifts (early cars).· Any
  • VCM cylinder deactivation misfires and oil dilution.· 60,000+ miles
  • Groaning, whining, or juddering from the rear axle when performing tight, low-speed manoeuvres.· 30,000-60,000 miles
Honda Odyssey2011–20173 matching faults
  • Torque-converter shudder and premature transmission wear.· 80,000+ miles
  • VCM misfires and oil dilution on cylinder deactivation.· 70,000+ miles
  • Severe steering wheel judder when braking at motorway speeds due to warped front brake discs.· 30,000-50,000 miles
Honda Ridgeline2017–20233 matching faults
  • VCM misfires / oil dilution.· 60,000+ miles
  • Occasional shudder on light throttle.· 70,000+ miles
  • Groaning, grinding, or binding noises from the rear axle during tight, low-speed manoeuvres due to degraded i-VTM4 differential fluid.· Every 15,000-30,000 miles
Nissan Pathfinder2013–20203 matching faults
  • CVT overheating, judder and failure.· 60,000+ miles
  • Loud grinding, clicking, or excessive vibration from the front end, potentially leading to overheating at idle due to cooling fan bearing failure.· 50,000-80,000 miles
  • Power tailgate groans, fails to open completely, or sags under its own weight due to failing spindle drives or weak gas struts.· 5-8 years
Porsche Cayenne2010–20243 matching faults
  • Torque converter shudder from missed gearbox services· 80,000+ miles
  • Juddering, skipping, or hesitation under light acceleration, caused by premature wear of the transfer case internal clutches.· 40,000-70,000 miles
  • High-pitched chirping or ticking noises from the passenger footwell, indicating impending failure of the HVAC blower motor bearings.· 50,000-80,000 miles
Audi A62014–20252 matching faults
  • S tronic and multitronic judder and hesitation· 80,000+ miles
  • Active engine mount failure causing cabin vibration· 60,000-90,000 miles
Audi A72011–20182 matching faults
  • S tronic clutch pack judder in slow traffic· 70,000+ miles
  • Active rear spoiler mechanism seizing or juddering due to dirt ingress and lack of lubrication on the hinges.· 40,000-70,000 miles
Audi Q72015–20242 matching faults
  • Quattro centre differential rumble or binding during tight, low-speed turns due to degraded transfer box fluid.· 40,000-70,000 miles
  • Prematurely worn or warped front brake discs due to the vehicle's excessive kerb weight.· 25,000-40,000 miles
Audi TT2014–20232 matching faults
  • S tronic clutch and mechatronic wear· 70,000+ miles
  • Active rear spoiler fails to deploy or retract, accompanied by a dashboard warning chime.· 5-7 years
BMW X12012–20242 matching faults
  • Excessive vibration through the cabin at idle and a clunking noise when shifting from Park to Drive.· 40,000-60,000 miles
  • Juddering, hesitation, or a skipping sensation from the wheels during low-speed, tight cornering.· 60,000-80,000 miles
BMW X42018–20252 matching faults
  • Juddering or binding sensation from the transfer case during tight turns.· 50,000+ miles
  • Metallic rattling noise from the rear silencer on cold start.· 30,000-50,000 miles
Fiat 5002012–20242 matching faults
  • Loss of power assistance, steering pulling to one side, or EPS warning light due to torque sensor failure.· 60,000-80,000 miles
  • Rear silencer outer skin corrodes and peels away, eventually leading to a blowing exhaust or detached back box.· 50,000-70,000 miles
GMC Acadia2017–20232 matching faults
  • 9-speed automatic shudder / hard shifts.· Any
  • Juddering, binding, or a scrubbing sensation from the rear axle during tight turns on AWD models.· 30,000-50,000 miles
Honda Accord2013–20172 matching faults
  • VCM (Variable Cylinder Management) on V6 cars can raise oil consumption and cause vibration.· 60,000+ miles
  • V6 automatic torque-converter judder.· 70,000+ miles
Honda CR-V2017–20222 matching faults
  • Vibration at idle on 1.5T from oil dilution.· Any
  • A groaning, rubbing, or juddering noise from the rear axle during tight, low-speed turns, indicating degraded Dual Pump Fluid in AWD models.· 30,000-50,000 miles
Honda Fit2015–20202 matching faults
  • CVT judder / shudder and premature wear.· 60,000+ miles
  • Rough idle, hesitation under load, or an illuminated engine management light due to direct-injection carbon build-up or failing fuel injectors.· 60,000-100,000 miles
Honda Jazz2015–20252 matching faults
  • CVT judder and fluid neglect· 80,000+ miles
  • Rough idle and misfires caused by failing direct fuel injectors on Mk3 1.3 i-VTEC engines.· 40,000-70,000 miles
Hyundai Elantra2017–20202 matching faults
  • Shuddering, hesitation, or jerky shifts at low speeds, particularly when pulling away from a standstill.· 40,000-70,000 miles
  • Rough idle, hesitation under load, and an illuminated engine management light due to premature ignition coil failure.· 50,000-80,000 miles
Kia Telluride2020–20232 matching faults
  • Harmonic judder or vibration felt through the floorpan and seats at cruising speeds, often linked to the prop shaft centre bearing.· 20,000-60,000 miles
  • Premature brake disc warping causing steering wheel shimmy and pedal pulsation during deceleration.· 15,000-40,000 miles
Mazda CX-302020–20242 matching faults
  • Cylinder-deactivation vibration; turbo (if fitted) oil checks.· Any
  • Power tailgate fails to open fully, drops slightly after reaching the top, or emits a groaning noise due to failing spindle drive struts.· 3-4 years
Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate2014–20212 matching faults
  • Creaking or knocking from the front end over speed bumps, and 'crabbing' or juddering on full steering lock at low speeds due to worn lower control arm bushes.· 40,000-60,000 miles
  • The Easy-Pack power tailgate groans, shudders, or fails to open or close fully due to failing spindle drive struts or water ingress in the control module.· 50,000-70,000 miles
Nissan Micra2013–20232 matching faults
  • CVT judder on automatic cars· 70,000+ miles
  • Premature front brake disc warping· 25,000-40,000 miles
Nissan Murano2015–20232 matching faults
  • CVT judder and failure.· 70,000+ miles
  • Metallic rattling noise from the exhaust heat shields or Y-pipe flex joints.· 50,000-90,000 miles
Nissan Rogue2014–20202 matching faults
  • CVT shudder, whine and failure — the defining Rogue concern.· 60,000+ miles
  • Heater blower motor failure or excessive vibration caused by worn motor bearings.· 60,000-100,000 miles
Nissan Sentra2013–20192 matching faults
  • CVT overheating, whine and failure.· 60,000+ miles
  • The air conditioning blows warm when stationary, or the engine temperature gauge rises at idle due to cooling fan motor failure.· 60,000-90,000 miles
Nissan Versa2012–20192 matching faults
  • CVT judder and failure.· 60,000+ miles
  • Rough idle, hesitation under load, and an illuminated engine management light caused by degrading ignition coil packs.· 80,000-110,000 miles
Subaru Ascent2019–20222 matching faults
  • CVT behaviour under load.· 60,000+ miles
  • Steering wheel judder under braking due to prematurely warped front brake discs.· 15,000-30,000 miles
Subaru Legacy2010–20192 matching faults
  • CVT judder on later cars.· 70,000+ miles
  • Metallic rattling noise due to corroded welds on the exhaust manifold heat shields.· 50,000-80,000 miles
Toyota 4Runner2010–20242 matching faults
  • Steering wheel judder or pulling to one side under braking due to seized front brake caliper pistons.· 40,000-70,000 miles
  • Cyclical humming or vibration felt through the floorpan at 30-50 mph caused by front differential needle bearing wear.· 30,000-60,000 miles
Alfa Romeo Giulietta2010–20201 matching fault
  • TCT dual-clutch automatic jerky at low speed or slow to engage· 40,000+ miles
Alfa Romeo Stelvio2017–20251 matching fault
  • Juddering or binding sensation from the Q4 transfer case during tight, low-speed turns due to degraded fluid or clutch pack wear.· 50,000-70,000 miles
Audi A42009–20161 matching fault
  • Jerky shifting, hesitation pulling away, or stalling due to S tronic (DL501) mechatronic unit failure.· 60,000-80,000 miles
Audi A52016–20241 matching fault
  • S tronic and multitronic hesitation and juddering· 70,000+ miles
Audi Q82018–20251 matching fault
  • Wind whistle at motorway speeds or windows juddering when dropping the required 10mm for door opening.· 4-5 years
BMW 4 Series2014–20251 matching fault
  • Hesitation, shunting, or juddering under moderate acceleration or cornering due to transfer case wear.· 50,000-90,000 miles
BMW 5 Series2011–20161 matching fault
  • Steering wheel vibration or shimmy under light braking at 40-50 mph.· 50,000-70,000 miles
BMW 7 Series2015–20221 matching fault
  • Clunking noises over bumps and steering wheel shimmy under light braking due to worn front tension strut bushes.· 40,000-60,000 miles
BMW X22018–20251 matching fault
  • Shuddering or hesitation during low-speed tight cornering caused by xDrive transfer box (VTG) wear, usually triggered by mismatched tyre tread depths.· 40,000-70,000 miles
BMW X32011–20171 matching fault
  • xDrive transfer case whine / actuator wear.· 90,000+ miles

Showing the 40 models with the most documented matches · browse the full library.

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