The Lemon IndexA shake or pulse in the pedal or steering wheel when you brake usually means the brake rotors are no longer flat.
Fix soon. Usually OK for short trips, but stopping distances can grow. Get the brakes checked soon.
Warped or unevenly worn brake rotors. Then: worn brake pads, or pads that left uneven deposits on the rotor; a sticking brake caliper.
Owners describe this in 10,248 complaints to the U.S. government, most often on the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee | 188 | 13% |
| 2000 Toyota Tundra | 140 | 14% |
| 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee | 103 | 12% |
| 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee | 73 | 5% |
| 2004 Nissan Armada | 73 | 16% |
| 2024 Hyundai Palisade | 69 | 17% |
| 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee | 68 | 5% |
| 2002 Toyota Tundra | 62 | 13% |
| 2000 Chevrolet Malibu | 61 | 7% |
| 2019 Ford F-Series | 60 | 2% |
| 2000 Dodge Dakota | 58 | 7% |
| 2017 Ford F-Series | 51 | 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
2024 Hyundai Palisade · 17% 2004 Nissan Armada · 16% 2000 Toyota Tundra · 14% 2013 Honda Odyssey · 14% 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee · 13% 2002 Toyota Tundra · 13% 2012 Honda Odyssey · 13% 2001 Toyota Tundra · 12%
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 when braking
- Warped or unevenly worn brake rotors
- Worn brake pads, or pads that left uneven deposits on the rotor
- A sticking brake caliper
- Worn suspension or steering parts that show up under braking
- Wheels that are loose or out of balance
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 when braking?
Fix soon. Usually OK for short trips, but stopping distances can grow. Get the brakes checked soon.
Get help right away if the pedal sinks or feels soft; the car pulls hard to one side; you hear grinding metal.
Of the 10,248 complaints describing it, 4% mention a crash, 0.7% say the car was towed and 1% report an injury.
What the complaints show
The parts owners filed these complaints under: service brakes, hydraulic (60%), service brakes (20%), steering (10%), suspension (10%). A complaint can list more than one.
Median odometer reading when owners reported it: 30,000 miles.
Most reports by make: Chevrolet (1,548), Ford (1,410), Jeep (1,176), Toyota (859), Dodge (852).
What owners say it cost to fix
Repair bills owners named in complaints that describe this symptom (brakes repairs): the middle half ran $300 to $875, typical $552, from 177 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
Grinding noise when braking Car pulls to one side when braking Squeaky brakes Death wobble Brake pedal goes to the floor Brakes not working
Quick answers
What causes car shakes when braking?
A shake or pulse in the pedal or steering wheel when you brake usually means the brake rotors are no longer flat. Common causes: warped or unevenly worn brake rotors; worn brake pads, or pads that left uneven deposits on the rotor; a sticking brake caliper; worn suspension or steering parts that show up under braking; wheels that are loose or out of balance.
Is it safe to drive if your car shakes when braking?
Fix soon. Usually OK for short trips, but stopping distances can grow. Get the brakes checked soon.
Which cars have this problem most?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners describe it most on the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Ford F-Series and Toyota Tundra. 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 177 repair bills owners named in complaints describing it, the middle half ran $300 to $875. 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