The Lemon IndexShaking with the check engine light on most often points to a misfire the car has detected.
Fix soon. Get the code read soon. If the light is flashing, stop driving and get it checked now.
A misfire from worn spark plugs or a failing coil. Then: a clogged fuel injector; a vacuum leak.
Owners describe this in 6,375 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 Ford Escape | 185 | 7% |
| 2018 Ford Escape | 134 | 7% |
| 2017 Ford Edge | 94 | 7% |
| 2011 Ford F-Series | 81 | 3% |
| 2018 Ford Edge | 67 | 8% |
| 2010 Ford Fusion | 61 | 1% |
| 2017 Ford Fusion | 61 | 5% |
| 2012 Ford F-Series | 59 | 3% |
| 2013 Ford F-Series | 53 | 2% |
| 2014 Ford Focus | 51 | 2% |
| 2016 Ford Fusion | 49 | 3% |
| 2012 Ford Focus | 43 | 1% |
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
2016 Honda Odyssey · 8% 2022 Hyundai Tucson · 8% 2018 Ford Edge · 8% 2021 Chevrolet Suburban · 8% 2018 Ford Escape · 7% 2017 Ford Escape · 7% 2017 Ford Edge · 7% 2019 Ford Escape · 6%
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 shaking and check engine light on
- A misfire from worn spark plugs or a failing coil
- A clogged fuel injector
- A vacuum leak
- A faulty sensor
- Worn engine mounts making a misfire feel worse
General causes, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause with tests before replacing parts.
Is it safe to drive if the car is shaking and the check engine light is on?
Fix soon. Get the code read soon. If the light is flashing, stop driving and get it checked now.
Get help right away if the light is flashing; the car loses power or stalls.
Of the 6,375 complaints describing it, 0.7% mention a crash, 5% say the car was towed and 1% mention a fire.
What the complaints show
The parts owners filed these complaints under: engine (59%), power train (24%), engine and engine cooling (16%), electrical system (13%). A complaint can list more than one.
Median odometer reading when owners reported it: 74,242 miles.
Most reports by make: Ford (1,945), Chevrolet (725), Hyundai (488), Kia (444), Honda (332).
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 $2,000 to $9,000, typical $6,000, from 289 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
P0302 P0300 P0301 P0304 P0303 P0316 P1326 P0420
Trouble codes owners named in these complaints more often than in other symptom complaints. Look up any code →
Related symptoms
Car shakes at idle Check engine light flashing Car shakes when accelerating Engine misfire Transmission shudder Car shakes at highway speed
Quick answers
What causes car shaking and check engine light on?
Shaking with the check engine light on most often points to a misfire the car has detected. Common causes: a misfire from worn spark plugs or a failing coil; a clogged fuel injector; a vacuum leak; a faulty sensor; worn engine mounts making a misfire feel worse.
Is it safe to drive if the car is shaking and the check engine light is on?
Fix soon. Get the code read soon. If the light is flashing, stop driving and get it checked now.
Which cars have this problem most?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners describe it most on the Ford Escape, Ford F-Series 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 289 repair bills owners named in complaints describing it, the middle half ran $2,000 to $9,000. 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