# Constant Steering Wheel Shudder **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** kia, rio\ **Created:** [July 10, 2009, 1:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/constant-steering-wheel-shudder/33153 "2009-07-10T01:16:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jlucas5565](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b2d939/32.png) [@jlucas5565](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jlucas5565)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 1:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/constant-steering-wheel-shudder/33153/1 "2009-07-10T01:16:37Z")
I have an automatic 2005 Kia Rio with 65000 miles on it. The car has started handling extremely rough. The steering wheel shudders constantly unless I’m at a complete stop. It is much worse at 50-65 mph, but is noticeable at all speeds. It is virtually undrivable at speeds over 65 mph. Accelerating or braking doesn’t appear to make the problem any better or worse. I can feel the shudder through the gas pedal, as well. I had a local shop look at it, but they said the couldn’t find anything wrong. I had them rotate and balance the tires anyway, but it didn’t help. I appreciate any suggestions. I’m really afraid to drive it much more until the problem is fixed. ---
**Author:** ![waterboy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/waterboy/32/764_2.png) [@waterboy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/waterboy)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 1:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/constant-steering-wheel-shudder/33153/2 "2009-07-10T01:26:01Z")
There are many possibilities, bad tires, bent rims, bad alignment, struts, tie rods, motor mounts, you need to try a garage that can properly diagnose and fix the problem. It is hard to pinpoint it without seeing it. Are they the original tires? any unusual wear patterns? ---
**Author:** ![jlucas5565](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b2d939/32.png) [@jlucas5565](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jlucas5565)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 3:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/constant-steering-wheel-shudder/33153/3 "2009-07-10T03:21:12Z")
The technician at the shop said the tires look fine, no signs of unusual wear. I bought the car used at 45000 miles with the same tires that are on it now. They still have a fair amount of tread left, so I’m assuming they aren’t the originals. Here’s the really strange part: there is a stretch of highway (about 1/5th of a mile long, no curves or hills) on my daily commute where the shudder almost (but not quite) stops. As soon as I pass that stretch of road, the shudder returns. This happens every day without fail, both going and coming from work. I had thought about bad motor mounts, but the engine doesn’t shake on start up or when I shift into drive or reverse. ---
**Author:** ![jlucas5565](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b2d939/32.png) [@jlucas5565](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jlucas5565)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 5:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/constant-steering-wheel-shudder/33153/4 "2009-07-11T17:41:45Z")
I took the car to another shop. Turns out the front passenger-side tire had a bad spot on the inside wall. I had both front tires replaced, and the car drives smooth now (well, as smooth as a Kia Rio gets, anyway). This makes me wonder exactly what the first shop really did when I left it with them, since they supposedly rotated my tires ☹ ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 5:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/constant-steering-wheel-shudder/33153/5 "2009-07-11T17:43:35Z")
Thank you for the follow up post. We so rarely get them. Happy motoring.