Can My Hybrid Car be Shocking Me?

[TheWonderful90s]

@auto-owner

don’t understand how this can possibly be an electrical shock.
It must be some vibration problem.

@George_San_Jose1

The static-charge from the tires explanation seems unlikely imo. That would only be noticeable when entering or exiting the vehicle, while one foot was on the ground and the other in the car.

This whole thing seems really weird. The driver can’t possibly be getting shocked by the car’s electrical system. It would have nothing to do with the car being hybrid. Electrostatic charge build up would have to be what is going on. If this is the case, then both driver and passenger should feel it as well. If any passenger touches a metal part of the car it should balance their electric potential with that of the car. This will prevent future shocks when touching metal parts of the car, but then the passengers’ hair should start to stand up on their heads as the electrostatic charge builds up. Everything that has electrical charge will start to repel from everything else with the same polarity charge. Hair on your legs will start to repel from your body as the charge starts to get really strong.

You should build an electroscope to see if static charge is building up. Here are directions: Detection of Static Electricity by Ron Kurtus - Physics Lessons: School for Champions

Use the electroscope while you are driving.

The electrostatic discharge car accessory is a good idea. I didn’t know such a product existed! Since it does this must be a known issue.

I get shocked in my car but it is because I drag by butt over the seat as I get out and charge up my body before I reach to close the door which is when I get shocked when I touch it. It’s not because my whole car became charged.

[VDCdriver]

@Emrose.gendreau_181212

they are saying it may be super fine vibration due to all 4 of my tires have cupping…would anyone else ageee with this…

Yes, I think it’s a possibility.
My Outback came from the factory with some sort of Continental tires that were impossible to keep properly balanced. Normally, I only had a vibration problem if I drove more than 70 mph, but there is a particular stretch of I-287 with strangely rippled pavement, and when I drove on that 7-8 mile stretch at 60 mph or more, the vibration from the steering wheel actually made my arms go numb.

The problem was eliminated by getting rid of those Continentals and switching to Michelins. The combination of that particular pavement, coupled with crappy Contis, was the problem.

[Mustangman]

@Emrose.gendreau_181212

they are saying it may be super fine vibration due to all 4 of my tires have cupping

I could agree with that theory… Cupping is caused by poor suspension alignment and/or worn out shocks and struts. For a 2018 car with 4 cupped tires, most likely alignment.

A set of 4 new tires often comes WITH an alignment or at least a check on the machine with alignment being a little extra.

IF the tires have enough tread AND you can find a tire shop with a tire “truing” or “shaving” machine, the shop may be able to shave off a little rubber to make the tires smooth again. It has been years since I’ve seen those machines and only in tire shops that have been around a LONG time with a gray haired person to operate it.