Suspension, steering, brakes and tyresUrgency: Garage soon

Vibration in the steering wheel or pedal when braking: causes and the faults that trigger it

19 documented faults cause it in 19 cars. The most important:

Critical severity: Recall over insufficient contact between the rear disc and the hub · Opel Zafira Tourer C
High severity: Brake piston retention that may work loose · Mercedes-Benz Clase E W213
Medium severity: Premature wear and vibration in the brake discs · Volkswagen T-Cross

What it means

If the steering wheel or the pedal vibrates when braking, especially from high speeds, the discs are usually warped or unevenly worn. It can also be down to play in the front suspension.

General explanation from MotorFiable. How it shows up in each engine, with sources, is in the list of faults.

What to do now

Garage soon

Ask for the disc runout to be measured and have the pads and discs checked together. Do not ignore it: braking performance suffers.

Reviewed on 5 October 202618 sources How we work

Faults that cause it

Suspension, brake, electronics and other faults on specific cars, from most to least important.

- Critical severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalOpel Zafira Tourer CRecall over insufficient contact between the rear disc and the hubThe profile cites no prior symptom.
Source for the symptom in the Opel Zafira Tourer C^[1]
- High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz Clase E W213Brake piston retention that may work looseA loose piston retention may be felt as vibration, noise or an irregular response when pressing the brake pedal.
Source for the symptom in the Mercedes-Benz Clase E W213^[2]
- Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonVolkswagen T-CrossPremature wear and vibration in the brake discsVibration in the pedal or steering wheel when braking, with disc wear that in one documented case required replacement at 11,000 km and again at 25,000 km.
Source for the symptom in the Volkswagen T-Cross^[3]
- Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalDacia Sandero IIWear and accelerated corrosion of the front brakesVibration through the pedal if the discs wear unevenly.
Source for the symptom in the Dacia Sandero II^[4]
- Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalDS DS 5Steering wheel vibration when brakingVibration in the steering wheel when braking above 90 km/h.
Source for the symptom in the DS DS 5^[5]
- Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalHyundai Santa Fe IIPremature warping of the brake discsVibration in the pedal or steering wheel when braking, which points to warped discs.
Source for the symptom in the Hyundai Santa Fe II^[6]
- Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalMazda CX-5 IIPremature wear and warping of the brake discsVibration through the steering wheel or pedal when braking, especially from medium or high speeds, once the disc has warped.
Source for the symptom in the Mazda CX-5 II^[7]
- Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalNissan X-Trail ISeized brake calipers and warped discs on the Nissan X-TrailVibration when braking from warped discs, and uneven braking or drag from seized calipers; the entry cites the faults but not the details of the symptoms.
Source for the symptom in the Nissan X-Trail I^[8]
- Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalNissan X-Trail IISeized brake calipers and warped discs on the Nissan X-TrailVibrations when braking from warped discs and uneven braking or drag from seized calipers; the page cites the faults but not the details of the symptoms.
Source for the symptom in the Nissan X-Trail II^[8]
- Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalOpel Insignia APremature wear of the front brake discsVibrations in the steering wheel or pedal when braking and the need to replace discs and pads sooner than expected.
Source for the symptom in the Opel Insignia A^[9]
- Critical severityRareFrequency: RarePeugeot 3008 IIIBreakage of the bolt securing the ball joint to the front suspension armThe source describes noise and vibration when braking coming from the front end as a possible early warning.
Source for the symptom in the Peugeot 3008 III^[10]
- Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalPeugeot 308 IPremature wear of brake discs and padsThe car vibrates under braking, especially from 30,000-60,000 km.Appears at around 28,000 km
Source for the symptom in the Peugeot 308 I^[11]
- Critical severityRareFrequency: RarePeugeot Partner IIICampaign over brake discs with a manufacturing defect and a risk of breakingThe entry describes no symptoms; a defective disc could vibrate or break when braking.
Source for the symptom in the Peugeot Partner III^[12]
- Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalRenault Clio IVAbnormal front brake wear and seized rear drumsSeized rear drums can be felt as uneven braking or more resistance than normal at one wheel.
Source for the symptom in the Renault Clio IV^[13]
- Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalToyota RAV4 IIIFront brake discs warp and corrode prematurelyVibration in the steering wheel or the pedal when braking, especially at motorway speed, caused by the warped front disc; premature corrosion on the disc surface is also seen.Appears at around 35,000 km
Source for the symptom in the Toyota RAV4 III^[14]
- High severityRareFrequency: RareVolkswagen Tiguan IIBrake discs that can crackA cracked or damaged disc can transmit vibration to the brake pedal or steering wheel when braking, similar to a warped disc.Repair: €0
Source for the symptom in the Volkswagen Tiguan II^[15]
- Medium severityRareFrequency: RareAudi TT IIIWarped front brake discs on the TT RSVibration when braking due to warped front discs, which returns after they are replaced.
Source for the symptom in the Audi TT III^[16]
- Low severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalChrysler 300CWarped brake discs and undersized brakes that wear quicklyWarped brake discs, a common complaint from drivers according to the source.
Source for the symptom in the Chrysler 300C^[17]
- Medium severityRareFrequency: RarePeugeot 108Warped brake discs causing pedal vibrationsVibrations in the pedal and steering wheel when braking; in one case, an occasional brake lock-up.
Source for the symptom in the Peugeot 108^[18]

Vibrates when braking by brand

Peugeot

Other symptoms: suspension, steering, brakes and tyres

All symptoms

Has this happened to you? Tell us which fault it was, at how many kilometres and how much you paid: it helps other owners know what to expect. Report your fault.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

1.Opel Zafira Tourer (2011-2019): pannes et problèmes (108 témoignages)fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in French
2.Fiabilité Mercedes Classe E (2016-2023) : pannes et avisFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
3.Tous les problèmes sur Volkswagen T-Cross (49 témoignages)fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
4.Dacia Sandero de segunda mano, ¿es también una gran opción de compra? Debilidades a tener en cuentaAutopista · Motoring press · published 7 September 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
5.Tous les problèmes sur Ds DS5 2011-2018 (290 témoignages)fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in French
6.Tous les problèmes sur Hyundai Santa Fe 2 2006-2012 (209 témoignages)fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in French
7.Fiabilité Mazda CX-5 II (2017-) : pannes et problèmesFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
8.Tous les problèmes sur Nissan X-Trail 2001-2013 (280 témoignages)fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in French
9.Tous les problèmes sur Opel Insignia 2009-2017 (344 témoignages)fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in French
10.Plus de 30 000 Peugeot 3008, 5008 et Opel Grandland passent par la case rappelCaradisiac · Motoring press · published 12 December 2025 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
11.Peugeot 308 : pannes et fiabilitéfiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
12.Peugeot Rifter 2019: tous les problèmes (71 témoignages)fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in French
13.VOS AVIS Renault Clio 4Caradisiac · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
14.Toyota RAV4 (2006-2012) : fiabilité, pannes et rappelsFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
15.Used Volkswagen Tiguan (Mk2, 2016-2024) buyer's guide: big-selling SUV's second generationAuto Express · Motoring press · consulted 26 September 2026
16.Tous les problèmes sur Audi TT 2014+ (25 témoignages)fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in French
17.Chrysler 300C im GebrauchtwagentestAUTO BILD · Motoring press · published 16 March 2012 · consulted 5 October 2026 · in German
18.Tous les problèmes sur Peugeot 108 2014-2021 (75 témoignages)fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in French