# Car vibrate only between 30-40 mph, not before or after **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** cr-v, honda\ **Created:** [December 26, 2022, 3:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-vibrate-only-between-30-40-mph-not-before-or-after/188139 "2022-12-26T03:29:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![power.rst8\_183478](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@power.rst8\_183478](https://community.cartalk.com/u/power.rst8_183478)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2022, 3:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-vibrate-only-between-30-40-mph-not-before-or-after/188139/1 "2022-12-26T03:29:47Z")
I drive a 2014 Honda CR-V. My steering wheel vibrates whenever my car speed is between 30-40 mph. Once past 40 mph, the vibration stops completely. While most explanation mentions about bad CV joint, motor mount, loose lug nuts, unbalanced tires, stuck brake caliper, etc but it doesn’t address the issue as to why it only vibrates between 30-40 mph and not before or after. It is very steady even from 60 mph and beyond. Any idea what is the problem? ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2022, 3:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-vibrate-only-between-30-40-mph-not-before-or-after/188139/2 "2022-12-26T03:49:47Z")
Worn struts can display that characteristic. if the struts are worn to a point where they can no longer hold the tires to the ground, and you’re traveling at certain speeds that allows a certain frequency to develop, it can cause what’s called tire bounce. [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/b/4/b432b3da75d6f306314507570c5141096cdb5f33.jpeg "Tire Bounce") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sgOf3js2FY) Tester ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2022, 4:28am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-vibrate-only-between-30-40-mph-not-before-or-after/188139/3 "2022-12-26T04:28:46Z")
A bent wheel or hub can create that vibration too. An un balanced wheel vibrates at 60 to 80. That is a single impulse per rotation. A bent wheel is double the impulse so vibrates at 30 to 40. The vibration is at the natural bounce frequency of the wheel and tire assembly or about 12 to 16 hertz. The wheel is rotating about that frequency at those speeds. Lower or higher speed, it isn’t in the range to be set off by the impulse. That is the science. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2022, 9:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-vibrate-only-between-30-40-mph-not-before-or-after/188139/4 "2022-12-26T09:39:14Z")
A slipped belt in the tire tread can also cause this, I had one that was only noticed around 35 MPH, but those are rare. Tester and MustangMan are the experts. All in all, the car needs to be on a lift and inspected by a mechanic. ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2022, 3:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-vibrate-only-between-30-40-mph-not-before-or-after/188139/5 "2022-12-26T15:47:58Z")
Read about resonant frequency and see the x=1.0 point on the graph here: > **[Resonance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resonance)** > > Resonance describes the phenomenon of increased amplitude that occurs when the frequency of an applied periodic force (or a Fourier component of it) is equal or close to a natural frequency of the system on which it acts. When an oscillating force is applied at a resonant frequency of a dynamic system, the system will oscillate at a higher amplitude than when the same force is applied at other, non-resonant frequencies. > Frequencies at which the response amplitude is a relative maximum are also ... ---
**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2022, 5:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-vibrate-only-between-30-40-mph-not-before-or-after/188139/6 "2022-12-26T17:58:16Z")
My brain hurts ! ---
**Author:** ![art1966](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/77aa72/32.png) [@art1966](https://community.cartalk.com/u/art1966)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2022, 7:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-vibrate-only-between-30-40-mph-not-before-or-after/188139/7 "2022-12-26T19:56:32Z")
I love it! ---
**Author:** ![old\_mopar\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6bbea6/32.png) [@old\_mopar\_guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/old_mopar_guy)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2022, 8:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-vibrate-only-between-30-40-mph-not-before-or-after/188139/8 "2022-12-26T20:40:06Z")
I thought resonance was when i played my piano very loudly ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2022, 10:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-vibrate-only-between-30-40-mph-not-before-or-after/188139/9 "2022-12-27T22:44:49Z")
Another idea, esp if problem occurs when accelerating through that speed band, and you have an automatic transmission, could be torque converter shudder. Googling that term will explain. ---
**Author:** ![power.rst8\_183478](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@power.rst8\_183478](https://community.cartalk.com/u/power.rst8_183478)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2022, 2:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-vibrate-only-between-30-40-mph-not-before-or-after/188139/10 "2022-12-28T02:04:02Z")
I just sent my car for balancing and rotate yesterday. After that, the steering no longer vibrates now. The balancing surely helped. But my feet could still feel the shudder at the 30-40 mph. ---
**Author:** ![CapriRacer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/capriracer/32/22_2.png) [@CapriRacer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/CapriRacer)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2022, 1:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-vibrate-only-between-30-40-mph-not-before-or-after/188139/11 "2022-12-28T13:16:06Z")
While I appreciate all the thoughts on resonance, for tires this resonance normally appears in the 50 to 70 mph range, not 30 to 40 - and if it was tires, it would also appear in the 60 to 80 mph range and it doesn’t (according to the OP) So I think there is something else going on. Bad CV? Torque converter? The latest from the OP seems to contradict what I said about tires, but what about the shudder? ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2022, 2:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-vibrate-only-between-30-40-mph-not-before-or-after/188139/12 "2022-12-28T14:04:53Z")
> [@George\_San\_Jose1](#): > > if problem occurs when accelerating through that speed band, and you have an automatic transmission, could be torque converter shudder > [@CapriRacer](#): > > Torque converter? Because of the specificity of the speed range, which would seem to eliminate the tires as the source, I agree that a bad torque converter lock-up mechanism is a very real possibility. This vehicle should have had its trans fluid changed at least 2 times already, so if–as I suspect–the fluid hasn’t been changed for several years, this would be a good time to take the vehicle to an **independent** trans shop ( **NOT** a chain-run joint like Lee Myles, Cottman, Mr. Transmission, or AAMCO) for a fluid & filter change, and for them to check the operation of the TC lock-up mechanism. A good trans shop will know that this vehicle requires fluid that is specific to Honda transmissions. If the OP goes to a shop that uses a generic trans fluid plus a “magic” additive to make it Honda-compliant, I strongly suggest that he should go somewhere else for service. ---
**Author:** ![power.rst8\_183478](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@power.rst8\_183478](https://community.cartalk.com/u/power.rst8_183478)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2023, 12:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-vibrate-only-between-30-40-mph-not-before-or-after/188139/13 "2023-01-10T00:59:43Z")
Here is the latest update on the car vibration issue. Based on many of the recommendations that was posted here, I finally had the car transmission fluid drained and replaced. Just exactly as how you guys have suggested, that completely solved the problem. The car no longer vibrate at low speed anymore. Thank you to everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2023, 1:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-vibrate-only-between-30-40-mph-not-before-or-after/188139/14 "2023-01-10T01:06:30Z")
Happy that fixed it for you. Be sure to have transmission serviced every 30000 mile in the future. ---
**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2023, 11:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-vibrate-only-between-30-40-mph-not-before-or-after/188139/15 "2023-01-10T11:42:09Z")
> [@VDCdriver](#): > > If the OP goes to a shop that uses a generic trans fluid plus a “magic” additive to make it Honda-compliant, I strongly suggest that he should go somewhere else for service. Oh c’mon, I love “magic” 🤣 😂 😂 😂 ---
**Author:** ![hancestephen4\_196423](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c37758/32.png) [@hancestephen4\_196423](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hancestephen4_196423)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2026, 3:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-vibrate-only-between-30-40-mph-not-before-or-after/188139/16 "2026-03-11T15:05:09Z")
It sounds like the abs speed sensor is going bad. Does your abs light come on randomly and shut off and does it shake when you start braking. Is your suspension or struts bad? ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2026, 3:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-vibrate-only-between-30-40-mph-not-before-or-after/188139/17 "2026-03-11T15:24:38Z")
@hancestephen4_196423 The person who had this vibration solved his problem 3 years a go with a transmission drain and fresh fluid. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2026, 3:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-vibrate-only-between-30-40-mph-not-before-or-after/188139/18 "2026-03-11T15:42:52Z")
> [@VOLVO-V70](#): > > The person who had this vibration solved his problem 3 years a go with a transmission drain and fresh fluid. Yup, he appears to have resolved the problem with a trans fluid change. > [@power.rst8\_183478](#): > > I finally had the car transmission fluid drained and replaced. Just exactly as how you guys have suggested, that completely solved the problem. The car no longer vibrate at low speed anymore. > Thank you to everyone.