The Lemon IndexA car that drifts or pulls while you drive straight usually needs an alignment or a tire check.
Fix soon. Usually OK to drive to a shop. Check tire pressures first.
Wheel alignment out of spec. Then: uneven tire pressure; a tire with a belt problem (radial pull).
Owners describe this in 5,097 complaints to the U.S. government, most often on the Hyundai Sonata.
Cars owners report it on most
Complaints describing this symptom, by model, all years. Raw counts, not a failure rate: popular models get more complaints.
Model years that report it most
| Model year | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 Hyundai Sonata | 137 | 4% |
| 2004 Toyota Camry | 39 | 5% |
| 2013 Honda Accord | 37 | 3% |
| 2009 Toyota Corolla | 34 | 2% |
| 2005 Chrysler 300 | 31 | 3% |
| 2015 Toyota Camry | 30 | 10% |
| 2010 Toyota Corolla | 29 | 2% |
| 2002 Toyota Sequoia | 24 | 4% |
| 2011 Kia Sorento | 21 | 1% |
| 2001 Toyota Sequoia | 20 | 4% |
| 2005 Honda CR-V | 20 | 4% |
| 2003 Toyota Camry | 19 | 2% |
Each row is that model year's record in NHTSA complaints, not the history of any one car. Share = complaints describing this symptom out of every complaint we hold for that model year (shown when the year has 50+ complaints).
Where it makes up the biggest share
2015 Toyota Camry · 10% 2004 Toyota Camry · 5% 2005 Honda CR-V · 4% 2011 BMW 5 Series · 4% 2000 Hyundai Sonata · 4% 2011 Hyundai Sonata · 4% 2001 Toyota Sequoia · 4% 2002 Toyota Sequoia · 4%
Model years with 150+ complaints in our data and 10+ describing this symptom, ranked by share. A high share means owners of that year who complained often mentioned it.
The details
Common causes of car pulls to one side
- Wheel alignment out of spec
- Uneven tire pressure
- A tire with a belt problem (radial pull)
- Worn steering or suspension parts
- A dragging brake
General causes, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause with tests before replacing parts.
Is it safe to drive if your car pulls to one side?
Fix soon. Usually OK to drive to a shop. Check tire pressures first.
Get help right away if the pull is strong or sudden; the steering wheel shakes too.
Of the 5,097 complaints describing it, 13% mention a crash, 5% say the car was towed, 0.8% mention a fire and 7% report an injury.
What the complaints show
The parts owners filed these complaints under: steering (50%), suspension (37%), tires (7%), service brakes, hydraulic (6%). A complaint can list more than one.
Median odometer reading when owners reported it: 35,000 miles.
Most reports by make: Ford (695), Toyota (563), Chevrolet (526), Dodge (401), Honda (363).
What owners say it cost to fix
Repair bills owners named in complaints that describe this symptom (steering, suspension repairs): the middle half ran $800 to $2,300, typical $1,800, from 31 bills.
Each figure is one repair bill as an owner wrote it in a complaint, not a quote for your car. Prices vary with the part, the shop and the year.
Related symptoms
Car pulls to one side when braking Loose steering wheel Uneven tire wear Car shakes at highway speed Clicking noise when turning Clunking noise over bumps
Quick answers
What causes car pulls to one side?
A car that drifts or pulls while you drive straight usually needs an alignment or a tire check. Common causes: wheel alignment out of spec; uneven tire pressure; a tire with a belt problem (radial pull); worn steering or suspension parts; a dragging brake.
Is it safe to drive if your car pulls to one side?
Fix soon. Usually OK to drive to a shop. Check tire pressures first.
Which cars have this problem most?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners describe it most on the Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Camry and Ram pickup. These are raw counts, so popular models rank higher; complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
How much does it cost to fix?
In 31 repair bills owners named in complaints describing it, the middle half ran $800 to $2,300. The right repair depends on the cause.
Counts: NHTSA owner complaints whose text describes this symptom (we matched owners' own wording, then read samples to check the matches). A complaint is an owner's report, not a diagnosis or proof of a defect. Causes and advice are general information in our own words, not repair advice for your car. Every symptom · Engine code lookup