Steering Wheel Vibrates at Idle

[Oldyellr]

I just bought a 2012 Sonic LT with 175,528 km on it. Runs and drives nice, but the steering wheel vibrates at idle. The vibration stops as soon as I touch the gas and drive. I mentioned it to the dealer and hope it gets fixed during the safety inspection before I pick it up in a couple of days. Is this a "feature" of electric power steering and what causes it? I've only driven one other car with electric steering before, a 2026 Mazda 3, it it didn't do that.

 

[Oldyellr]

Well, no help here, must not be a busy forum. Anyway, when I picked the car up there was no more vibration at idle, they has fixed it during the inspection, replaced the motor mounts. It seems that with loose motor mounts the steering can vibrate at idle, going away when the engine tips as torque is applied. I guess it's a characteristic for FWD with electric steering.

 

[wildgeese2076]

Glad you sorted the vibration out. Worn motor mounts are usually the cause for a steering wheel vibration at idol regardless of vehicle. Worn motor mounts no longer isolate the engine from the chasis, and that causes the vibration.

 

[Oldyellr]

I mentioned it to the dealer, but he didn't say anything. Then I saw that when Googling. Clearly the motor mounts got fixed during the inspection.

 

[RainingSonics]

If its something else, and they did a battery disconnect for whatever reason, that can reset the computer data and cause other vibration reasons felt in the wheel to temporarily go away up to the next 10s of miles. One of my vehicles went through this so its not like it doesn't happen. Vibration can get very bad even with no codes.

A cam may be put on it and see the motor rocking. But, could be caused by another issue too.

You've probably driven enough by now to be sure but also not necessarily.

Figured I'd add this as its not always going to be the fix.