The Lemon IndexA whine that rises with speed or engine RPM usually comes from the transmission, differential or a belt-driven part.
Fix soon. Usually drivable. Get it checked soon, before the noise turns into a failure.
Low transmission fluid or a worn transmission (CVTs often whine as they wear). Then: worn differential gears or bearings; a failing power steering pump.
Owners describe this in 1,674 complaints to the U.S. government, most often on the Toyota Highlander.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 Toyota Highlander | 128 | 23% |
| 2019 Toyota Highlander | 90 | 17% |
| 2002 Ford Explorer | 87 | 3% |
| 2020 Toyota Highlander | 59 | 18% |
| 2018 Toyota C-HR | 32 | 10% |
| 2018 Toyota Highlander | 24 | 9% |
| 2017 Toyota Highlander | 23 | 8% |
| 2022 Toyota Highlander | 21 | 8% |
| 2003 Ford Explorer | 16 | 1% |
| 2005 Cadillac CTS | 16 | 6% |
| 2013 Nissan Rogue | 15 | 2% |
| 2012 Nissan Altima | 13 | 3% |
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
2021 Toyota Highlander · 23% 2020 Toyota Highlander · 18% 2019 Toyota Highlander · 17% 2018 Toyota C-HR · 10% 2018 Toyota Highlander · 9% 2017 Toyota Highlander · 8% 2022 Toyota Highlander · 8% 2017 Toyota Sienna · 8%
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 whining noise when accelerating
- Low transmission fluid or a worn transmission (CVTs often whine as they wear)
- Worn differential gears or bearings
- A failing power steering pump
- A worn alternator or belt idler bearing
- A worn wheel bearing
General causes, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause with tests before replacing parts.
Is it safe to drive with a whining noise when accelerating?
Fix soon. Usually drivable. Get it checked soon, before the noise turns into a failure.
Get help right away if the noise gets loud quickly; the car slips or loses drive.
Of the 1,674 complaints describing it, 1% mention a crash and 1% say the car was towed.
What the complaints show
The parts owners filed these complaints under: power train (87%), engine (8%), engine and engine cooling (4%), vehicle speed control (4%). A complaint can list more than one.
Median odometer reading when owners reported it: 60,000 miles.
Most reports by make: Toyota (522), Ford (281), Nissan (172), Chevrolet (86), Dodge (83).
What owners say it cost to fix
Repair bills owners named in complaints that describe this symptom (4x4 & axles, transmission repairs): the middle half ran $4,200 to $9,600, typical $8,000, from 102 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
Humming noise while driving Transmission shifting hard Transmission slipping Transmission shudder Car jerks when accelerating Car won't go into gear
Quick answers
What causes whining noise when accelerating?
A whine that rises with speed or engine RPM usually comes from the transmission, differential or a belt-driven part. Common causes: low transmission fluid or a worn transmission (CVTs often whine as they wear); worn differential gears or bearings; a failing power steering pump; a worn alternator or belt idler bearing; a worn wheel bearing.
Is it safe to drive with a whining noise when accelerating?
Fix soon. Usually drivable. Get it checked soon, before the noise turns into a failure.
Which cars have this problem most?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners describe it most on the Toyota Highlander, Ford Explorer and Nissan Altima. 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 102 repair bills owners named in complaints describing it, the middle half ran $4,200 to $9,600. 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