Whole car shaking when accelerating at low speeds - A250e (year:2020)

[heal24]

Hi all,

I notice that occasionally, if I try to accelerate HARD as I'm slowing down and at low speeds (or almost at a complete stop, or at a complete stop), that my whole car SHAKES. It's so bad that if I have anyone in the car, they are totally shocked and confused as to what happened. The WHOLE CAR SHAKES and it's a very loud noise when it does so. It has never happened at even moderate speeds (30mph+, maybe even 20mph+), and always happened at roundabouts as I am slowing down when approach, or at a junction where I fully stop (or speeds close to 0).

I drive a 2020 A250e (Saloon), and brought the vehicle 6 weeks ago. It has only happened 3 times no matter what 'driving mode' I am using (happened in eco, comfort, and electric). I have read a few things on this forum and other forums, but I'm not sure if the issue is the same as the issues on the other posts are about juddering/shuddering even at high speed. My issue is that it only happens at low speeds and the shaking is so bad (whole car shakes, loud noise as if the car was hit with each 'shake). If I put my foot off the gas pedals, the shaking and noise goes away and when I accelerate again, the shaking is gone. It rarely happens.

I took it to the mechanic and they plugged in 'STAR' to see if there are any error codes - they found none. They checked the latest version of my car's firmware and said everything was up to date. I tried to replicate by taking the mechanic with me - I slowed down and then tried to accelerate, but could not replicate the issue.

I don't think it's spark plugs, or fuel injectors, as this happened to me even when driving in full electric mode. I'm thinking it's the transmission - but not an expert so I really can't say.

Has anyone experienced this issue? If so, what did you do to solve it?

 

[Will]

Hi and welcome,

Question - as you only bought the car six weeks ago, where did you buy it from?

 

[heal24]

I brought the car from Carsa, the Mountsorrell branch.

 

[C320]

Vibrations like that? Anything from engine mounts, transmission mounts, control arms, to deformed tyres… unbalanced wheels… being out of alignment… the list goes on.

Did you purchase it on finance or outright?

 

[st13phil]

I tried to replicate by taking the mechanic with me - I slowed down and then tried to accelerate, but could not replicate the issue.

This is a problem.

All I can suggest is that you try to work out if there is any particular set of circumstances that cause it to happen, and/or wait until it becomes a hard fault.

With the best will in the world, unless you can demonstrate the issue to a mechanic the chances of them finding out the root cause approximates to zero.

 

[Will]

I brought the car from Carsa, the Mountsorrell branch.

I’m not familiar with them, but you bought it from a trader/dealer only six weeks ago - so you need to notify them of the fault and ask them how to proceed.

Even if this is intermittent it’s happened on a few occasions - might even be why the previous owner moved it on - things like this do happen.

But I wouldn’t be taking it to other garages/mechanics until they’ve had a chance to look at it or refund you if they don’t want to fix it.