Independent information. Safety first.
What is that noise?
Stop driving and get help if you notice any of these:
- The brake pedal sinks, feels soft, or the car takes longer to stop; or you hear metal grinding when braking
- The steering feels loose, pulls hard, or a wheel wobbles or clunks
- Smoke, a burning smell, or any fluid leaking that smells like fuel
- A red warning light for brakes, oil pressure or engine temperature, or a flashing check-engine light
- A loud bang or clunk followed by a change in how the car handles
Pull over where it is safe, turn off the engine, and arrange a tow to a repair shop. If there is fire or smoke inside the car, get everyone out and call 911.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Only a qualified mechanic who inspects your car can tell you what is wrong.
A starting point for talking to a mechanic.
Start with what you hear. These guides explain possible causes and the parts involved; they cannot identify what is wrong with your car.
Choose a sound guideSources and limits
How this guide is made: we write these guides with the help of AI tools and check the facts about car parts against published sources listed on each page. Most sources do not confirm the link between a part and a specific noise. These guides are not written or reviewed by a certified mechanic.
Sound, situation, sources
Choose a sound or situation
Noise when turning
A creak, click or hum as you turn.
Read the guideGrinding noise when braking
Grinding as you press the brake pedal.
Read the guideClicking noise when starting the car
Clicks while trying to start the engine.
Read the guideRattling noise from the car
A rattle with more than one possible source.
Read the guideWhining noise when accelerating
A whine noticed during acceleration.
Read the guideTicking noise in the engine
A ticking sound from the engine area.
Read the guideClicking noise from the car
Clicks you can describe to a mechanic.
Read the guideRattling noise when accelerating
Rattling noticed under acceleration.
Read the guideCar making a squeaking noise
Squeaks from different possible systems.
Read the guideNoise when accelerating
A new sound while you accelerate.
Read the guideWhirring or buzzing noise when driving
A whir or hum noticed while driving.
Read the guideGrinding noise when braking but pads are fine
Brake grinding when the pads look fine.
Read the guideGrinding noise when accelerating
Grinding noticed under acceleration.
Read the guideClunking noise when braking
A clunk heard when you press the brake.
Read the guideScraping noise when braking
Scraping heard while braking.
Read the guide
Use the guide as a starting point
Read the warning box first. A sound can have more than one cause; similar sounds can come from different parts. A qualified mechanic must inspect the vehicle. We show no repair prices, rankings or percentage estimates.
NHTSA complaint counts and recalls
Use NHTSA’s vehicle lookup to check complaint counts for your make, model and model year. No vehicle-specific counts or recall results are displayed on this page.
Complaints are reports from owners and are not verified by NHTSA. Counts are not defect rates or proof that a problem exists.
Check open recalls for your exact vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Enter a VIN only on NHTSA’s site; we do not collect it.
The retrieved data used here consists only of component labels, not your vehicle’s counts or recall status.
Recall, complaint and vehicle data: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public APIs, retrieved 2026-11-05. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by NHTSA or the U.S. Department of Transportation.