Steering and Gas paddle vibration/shaking

[Silv3r]

I just noticed my steering wheel and gas paddle seem to be vibrating (aside from the car vibrating as a whole) when I go at speeds above 40 km/hr without applying the breaks (so not a rotor issue at all). I noticed slight vibration in steering wheel when bringing it up over 90/km hr before but now this is different. Its quite profind and I have to hold my hands in place to keep the steering wheel in place (but I do feel feedback/thumping on my hands) There is almost a knocking sensation on the wheel/gas paddle. I haven't really driven over anything that would knock things out of whack to my knowledge, just my usual driving. What could it be?
Alignment out of whack, wheels getting out of balance, cracked or damaged rims? I checked the rims and can't see any issues.

I will try to take in to a dealer up north on monday and see what they say.
Any one experience anything similar and likely causes? how was it addressed/resolved? Any of the sponsors can suggest a course of action and/or take a look to help me identify and solve the problem?


Thanks for the input!

[mazdabetty]

I have that toooooo. And actually rather than the weird vibrations in the gas padel, I feel it more on the brake pedal, even when I'm not applying it... haven't had it addressed though so I'm not much help here. I figure it's just the tires... they were changes and balanced recently so I assume either one of the weights must have fallen off or the tires are worn in different spots.

I dunno... good luck getting that resolved! :)

[Jeff0]

I have this experienced too before, but didn't notice it recently after a few days driving. Wonder if what was that, might be an engine mount? Not really sure...weird though...

Pls update this if the dealership found anytime. Thanks!

[jcutner]

I hate this feeling in any car, makes me so nervous to continue driving it

[Silv3r]

I have this experienced too before, but didn't notice it recently after a few days driving. Wonder if what was that, might be an engine mount? Not really sure...weird though...

Pls update this if the dealership found anytime. Thanks!

Its different though than your regular "something is off feeling". Its quite more dominant.

[Fuman]

if your car is 2008.5, go back to the dealer, you have warranty.

[Silv3r]

if your car is 2008.5, go back to the dealer, you have warranty.

Oh no worries, that's where I am heading first thing tomorrow morning. I am posting here in the meantime as I feel its best to find out what it might be before hand. This way I can be prepared when I am dealing with the dealer as opposed to going in there blindly.

As an update. I first noticed the issue late last night. I just drove the car since then and the issue is still there but not to the severe extent as it appeared to last night.

Aside from the steering wheel jerking/vibration I am wondering what might cause the gas paddle to vibrate a bit/jerk also. Any ideas?

If all of this is simply to do with wheel balancing or alignment being off, how much am I looking it?

[Fuman]

Oh no worries, that's where I am heading first thing tomorrow morning. I am posting here in the meantime as I feel its best to find out what it might be before hand. This way I can be prepared when I am dealing with the dealer as opposed to going in there blindly.

As an update. I first noticed the issue late last night. I just drove the car since then and the issue is still there but not to the severe extent as it appeared to last night.

Aside from the steering wheel jerking/vibration I am wondering what might cause the gas paddle to vibrate a bit/jerk also. Any ideas?

If all of this is simply to do with wheel balancing or alignment being off, how much am I looking it?
i was quoted at the dealer for wheel balancing @ $100.
Street Performance charged me $25 or $30, I forgot.

[hammer]

I had similar feeling feel last fall when i was hitting 90-100km/h on the highway and that was very disconcerting. I knew my tires needed to be changed and it pretty much went away when I got the winters on and took the car in for allignment (which wasn't really off). But you have a newer model and shouldnt have a lot of mileage for it to be the tires.

It would be good to know what it is. Definitely takes the fun out of driving.

[sas]

Aside from the steering wheel jerking/vibration I am wondering what might cause the gas paddle to vibrate a bit/jerk also. Any ideas?


As I know,all Canadian cars have the electronic throttle and pedal is attached only by wires. Look if harness to pedal is free, but more like you are feeling vibrations of the firewall.

[Jeff0]

Its different though than your regular "something is off feeling". Its quite more dominant.

Yes I been with this, but I don't know if we have the same problem, but for my situation when I got off from the garage and running @ 20-40Km/hr I noticed this harsh vibration fr my steering and gas pedal so I drove to the highway and the vibration is there. When I went home I noticed the vibration is not that bad, the following day it was back to normal. Until now I don't have a clue on what was that but I'm still keeping my eye on it.

[Silv3r]

Update:

Tried to take the car to a dealer in New Market in the morning as it is not too far away from where I work but they were all booked up. I told them the car does not feel safe to drive. They said feel free to leave it but we might not look at it until Wednesday. How lovely.

[Silv3r]

Yes I been with this, but I don't know if we have the same problem, but for my situation when I got off from the garage and running @ 20-40Km/hr I noticed this harsh vibration fr my steering and gas pedal so I drove to the highway and the vibration is there. When I went home I noticed the vibration is not that bad, the following day it was back to normal. Until now I don't have a clue on what was that but I'm still keeping my eye on it.

I wish mine would just go away but I doubt it. I've driven enough since I first noticed it to realize it is not going anywhere and something needs to be done.

What would alignment that is off feel like?
What about a cracked rim?
What about an unbalanced tire?
what about a damaged/shock absorber/suspension issue?

[Jeff0]

Just let us know what the dealer finds out if they can replicate the problem. They should because as you said still there.

[Sparcas]

It's always good to see if you can take one of the techs out with you for a drive.

[mazdabetty]

I wish mine would just go away but I doubt it. I've driven enough since I first noticed it to realize it is not going anywhere and something needs to be done.

What would alignment that is off feel like?
What about a cracked rim?
What about an unbalanced tire?
what about a damaged/shock absorber/suspension issue?

Well the most common feel of an unbalanced tire is definitely steering wheel vibration.

I imagine an misalignment would cause your car to pull in one direction. The rest I'm not too sure of...

[derek b]

I have a 2008.5 Mazda 3 - I bought it with 18 k on it, under 1 year new at the time.

So I was able to buy the extended warranty. Which I did, (7/160km). The car has had the power steering recall done on it, because it quit on us one day. The car currently has 63,000 km. ( 2 years with us)

Ok, so since day one, I brought it back to the dealer complaining of a growling noise in the front end and a subtle vibration. They assured me it was just road noise. I continued to complain about it, and they finally replaced the bearings and the noise got quieter, but didnt fix the vibration.

I figured it must be tire balancing, as would be the norm. The dealership said that this would be the case as well.

So since I have had the car, it has had the tires balanced 2 times (the summer tires) and 2 times (winter tires). The winter tires are on their own metal rims. And now the new tires, makes 3 times.

I have also had the cars alignment done 3 times. ( remember we have had it 40,000 km)

Right after the car was bought, and when the bearings were done. The third time was recently when we bought new tires.

The mechanic took the car out and said that the problem with the shake was because my tires were 'cupping'. Said the tires were damaged.

I tried to explain that the shake were also present with winter tires, but what do I know, I am just a customer.

So they had me replace the tires and do another 4 way alignment. $800 later. Ta-da, the problem was still there. Shocking really.

So then they said I needed road force balancing. I explained to them again, that this was a waste of money, because it shakes on both the winter and summer tires.

So they are stumped....they find another Mazda 3 and discover some sort of bearing mount is loose on my car and not the other. So they change it.

Problem still there....they are stumped again. Everything is solid, nothing out of place. etc. etc.

So then comes the fun times, they get in contact with the Mazda tech line. I think they must communicate via carrier pigeon because it takes days at a time for them both to decide what should be done next.

(example I got the car back on Friday last week, called them on Saturday morning to let them know it's not fixed, it is now Thursday, they are still waiting for a response from the Mazda tech line people.)

2 drives shafts later. Still a problem.

They changed the engine mount. still a problem.

The service guys starts to tell me ' this might be a problem inherent with your car'.

What does that mean? My car is just special ! Yeah how stupid does that sound ?

So the regional district manager is coming to visit the dealership tomorrow, I have called the Mazda customer service line etc. They want the car there tomorrow so they can decide on what the next step is.

Anyone want a "special" mazda 3, priced to sell !?


Oh also, when I had to get a rental car one of the bajillion times I have been at the dealer. A guy heard me chatting with the car rental guy, that my car was being looked at because of a shake. He asked me if it was a Mazda 3. Shocking again, he has had the same problem. 90-100 km shakes....He has had a mechanic friend replace the steering rack, bushings and stuff in the front end. Nothing seems to fix it.

I guess he's got a special car to !

We will see what they propose to do.

[JaYson]

my steering wheel shakes like a mofo, my brakes a little.

its def. due to a warped rotor for me atleast, but thats only when im braking at 90km/h +

[mugfordd]

I have a similar problem that others have reported here. I have a 2008 Mazda 3. Everything is stock. I just recently bought the vehicle, so I don't really know it's history. At roughly 90 km/h I get a vibration that makes the steering wheel shake. The strange part about it is that it doesn't do it all the time. It only does it about half the time under exactly the same conditions even during the same drive. Other times its perfect. I don't understand why it would be intermittant. First thing I thought of is a wheel out of balance, but wouldn't it do it every time if that was the problem? Does anyone have an idea? Thanks.

[PR3Y11]

my car doesnt come with paddles =(

[trulankan]

my car doesnt come with paddles =(

lol

[trulankan]

I have a similar problem that others have reported here. I have a 2008 Mazda 3. Everything is stock. I just recently bought the vehicle, so I don't really know it's history. At roughly 90 km/h I get a vibration that makes the steering wheel shake. The strange part about it is that it doesn't do it all the time. It only does it about half the time under exactly the same conditions even during the same drive. Other times its perfect. I don't understand why it would be intermittant. First thing I thought of is a wheel out of balance, but wouldn't it do it every time if that was the problem? Does anyone have an idea? Thanks.

I've had the vibration (very light) but only when i'm braking from high speed. I know its my rotors though. Your issue is steering. As the others have said b4, check your tires and alignment. I would have the dealer take a look and see if its a powering steering issue. Maybe you car wasn't serviced for the recall?

[Flagrum_3]

I have a similar problem that others have reported here. I have a 2008 Mazda 3. Everything is stock. I just recently bought the vehicle, so I don't really know it's history. At roughly 90 km/h I get a vibration that makes the steering wheel shake. The strange part about it is that it doesn't do it all the time. It only does it about half the time under exactly the same conditions even during the same drive. Other times its perfect. I don't understand why it would be intermittant. First thing I thought of is a wheel out of balance, but wouldn't it do it every time if that was the problem? Does anyone have an idea? Thanks.

It sounds like a tire out of balance, which can be periodic if it's not out much. You can test if it's a tire balance issue though by going over the speed where the vibration occurs and if the vibration stops it's a tire balance issue. If it continues to vibrate or get worse it could be a front suspension or alignment issue....A out of balance tire will almost always vibrate at a certain speed, not below or above, thats the clue.


_3

[xxSlidewaysxx]

Dont forget to vote

http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?62141-Power-Steering-Recall-amp-Vibrating-Steering-Wheel