The Lemon IndexA shake or rough idle while stopped is most often a misfire or a worn engine mount.
Fix soon. Usually OK to drive to a shop. Get it checked soon.
Worn spark plugs or a failing ignition coil. Then: a vacuum leak; worn engine mounts.
Owners describe this in 5,270 complaints to the U.S. government, most often on the Ford Escape.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 Honda CR-V | 157 | 23% |
| 2010 Ford Fusion | 95 | 2% |
| 2017 Ford Escape | 86 | 3% |
| 2008 Ford Escape | 59 | 2% |
| 2010 Ford Escape | 59 | 3% |
| 2017 Ford Edge | 58 | 4% |
| 2018 Ford Escape | 55 | 3% |
| 2018 Ford Edge | 40 | 5% |
| 2016 Ford F-Series | 38 | 1% |
| 2009 Ford Escape | 33 | 2% |
| 2016 Ford Fusion | 31 | 2% |
| 2017 Chrysler Pacifica | 30 | 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 Honda CR-V · 23% 2001 Nissan Altima · 14% 2016 Honda CR-V · 5% 2018 Ford Edge · 5% 2017 Ford Edge · 4% 2010 Ford Focus · 3% 2008 BMW 5 Series · 3% 2011 Chevrolet Equinox · 3%
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 shakes at idle
- Worn spark plugs or a failing ignition coil
- A vacuum leak
- Worn engine mounts
- A dirty throttle body or fuel injectors
- A faulty EGR valve
General causes, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause with tests before replacing parts.
Is it safe to drive if your car shakes at idle?
Fix soon. Usually OK to drive to a shop. Get it checked soon.
Get help right away if the check engine light flashes; the car stalls.
Of the 5,270 complaints describing it, 0.9% mention a crash, 1% say the car was towed and 0.5% mention a fire.
What the complaints show
The parts owners filed these complaints under: engine (46%), power train (23%), engine and engine cooling (19%), electrical system (13%). A complaint can list more than one.
Median odometer reading when owners reported it: 62,000 miles.
Most reports by make: Ford (1,568), Chevrolet (623), Honda (402), Nissan (232), Dodge (224).
What owners say it cost to fix
Repair bills owners named in complaints that describe this symptom (cooling, engine, exhaust & emissions, fuel system repairs): the middle half ran $1,700 to $8,000, typical $4,600, from 174 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.
Engine codes that come up with it
P0300 P0302 P0301 P0303 P0304 P2111 P2112 P0316
Trouble codes owners named in these complaints more often than in other symptom complaints. Look up any code →
Related symptoms
Car shaking and check engine light on Car stalls at stop or idle Engine misfire Car shakes when accelerating RPM goes up and down Coolant leak
Quick answers
What causes car shakes at idle?
A shake or rough idle while stopped is most often a misfire or a worn engine mount. Common causes: worn spark plugs or a failing ignition coil; a vacuum leak; worn engine mounts; a dirty throttle body or fuel injectors; a faulty EGR valve.
Is it safe to drive if your car shakes at idle?
Fix soon. Usually OK to drive to a shop. Get it checked soon.
Which cars have this problem most?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners describe it most on the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V and Ford Fusion. 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 174 repair bills owners named in complaints describing it, the middle half ran $1,700 to $8,000. 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