4 Causes of a Whining Noise When Accelerating

Strange noises ruin road trips fast. Some of the most common, yet aggravating irregular vehicle sounds, are those that present a whining or whirring noise when accelerating.

In truth, there are many potential causes of a whining noise when accelerating, which typically calls for extreme attention to detail during the diagnostic process. Read on to learn more.

whining noise when accelerating

Common Causes of Whining Noise When Accelerating

There is a rather large number of potential causes for your vehicle’s whining noise, many of which are frequently heard by an untold number of motorists on an annual basis. The following are several of the most common causes of vehicle whine during acceleration.

  • Internal transmission issues
  • Worn alternator bearings
  • Damaged water pump bearings
  • Low power steering fluid
  • Faulty A/C compressor
  • Tensioner/idler pulley issues 
  • Dry, cracked, or slipping serpentine belt
  • Worn wheel bearings

The following is a more in-depth explanation, regarding the individual causes of vehicle whine listed above. For the sake of simplicity, these causes have been subdivided into four separate categories.

#1 – Transmission Issues

blown transmission symptoms

A vehicle’s transmission serves an extremely vital function and is key to distributing engine power to a car, truck, or SUV’s drive axles. Unfortunately, transmissions are prone to internal failure with age.

In certain cases, a failure of this nature can present an audible whining noise. Noises of this type can often prove difficult to locate, especially when resonating from a vehicle’s transmission tunnel.

A whining sound from your vehicle’s transmission is generally indicative of a fluid-related issue. It is quite common to hear a noise of this nature, when a transmission’s fluid level is reduced beyond capacity, or when a transmission fluid pump begins to fail.

Additionally, a failing torque converter can also present a whining noise. Internal bearing wear often presents a roaring noise, which can be mistaken as a whine, at high speeds.

Severity

In most cases, the onset of a whining noise from a vehicle’s transmission is considered to be quite serious in nature. In the case of a faulty torque converter, the replacement will necessitate transmission removal.

The cost associated with such repairs is often steep, typically commanding a labor price in excess of $1000. If a failing internal bearing is to blame for your transmission’s whining noise, the associated cost for repair will be exponentially higher.

#2 – Bearing Wear of Belt Driven Components

alternator not charging battery

A vehicle’s engine features numerous belt-driven accessories. Each of these accessories utilizes a drive pulley, along with one or more sets of bearings.

A serpentine belt transfers the rotational force of the crankshaft pulley, to the pulleys associated with various additional belt-driven accessories. These accessories include an engine’s water pump, power steering pump, A/C compressor, and alternator. Additionally, systems of such a design also feature tensioners and idler pulleys.

When the bearings associated with any of above-mentioned components begin to fail, a whining noise is often heard. Perhaps the most pertinent example of this situation comes in the form of an alternator, with bad internal bearings. As these bearings fail, a loud whining or screeching noise can be heard over the sound of typical engine operation.

Power steering pumps also tend to present a fair amount of noise with enough wear. Alternatively, one can expect to hear such sounds when a power steering pump is low on fluid.

Severity

Faulty accessory drive components also require prompt diagnosis and replacement. A failure to remedy such concerns can lead to locked up bearings and a shredded belt, ultimately leaving you stranded on the road.

Because most modern vehicles rely upon a single serpentine belt to drive all associated accessories, a single locked up component can render the rest of a vehicle’s belt-driven accessories inoperable.

#3 – Dry, Cracked, or Slipping Serpentine Belt

noisy serpentine belt

As mentioned above, a vehicle’s serpentine belt drives a number of components that are essential to vehicle operation. However, a belt is only able to drive these accessories, if it is in optimal shape.

With time, a serpentine belt can begin to dry out and crack. As a result, a belt is unable to grip the pulleys of the various accessories that it drives, in as efficient of a manner as desired. This inevitably leads to belt slippage, which only increases in severity with the passage of time.

As a serpentine belt slips along the outer diameter of various pulleys, the resulting friction can produce a significant amount of noise. These sounds are perhaps best described as a whining or squealing noise, which tends to increase in intensity during acceleration. This additional friction can also further damage an already worn serpentine belt, ultimately leading to failure.

Severity

In many cases, the whining or squealing of a serpentine belt is more of an annoyance, than anything, and carries little risk of creating additional issues if not addressed immediately.

However, a severely worn or damaged serpentine belt can snap, or be thrown from the pulleys on which it rides. When this occurs, the function of all belt-driven accessories will be compromised, ultimately leaving you stranded.

See Also: How to Reduce Window Noise While Driving

#4 – Worn Wheel Bearings

symptoms of bad wheel bearings

Wheel bearings bear the responsibility of ensuring that our vehicles’ wheels spin freely when traveling down the road. These bearings are often contained within a unitized hub, which requires replacement, should the bearings found within begin to wear.

Alternatively, many older vehicles featured independent wheel bearings, which could be removed and packed with grease whenever necessary. Unfortunately, no matter the type, wheel bearings do tend to wear out with time.

In the vast majority of cases, a badly worn wheel bearing will make a roaring noise, as a driver travels down the road. This noise typically changes in pitch as a vehicle accelerates. At a high rate of speed, this sound is often reminiscent of a whirring or whining noise.

One can often pinpoint a faulty wheel bearing when cornering. If the sound in question changes pitch or ceases entirely in the middle of a turn, a vehicle’s wheel bearings become suspect.

Severity

Excessively worn, or damaged wheel bearings should be replaced as soon as possible. A failure to do so will only lead to increased wear, further exacerbating the issue at hand.

Upon reaching a point of total failure, the rollers found within a wheel bearing’s cage can unseat and dislodge, creating a dangerous amount of free-play within a vehicle’s hub.

In the most extreme of cases, an exceedingly worn wheel bearing can cause a hub to rest free upon its spindle. This presents a dangerous situation, which can ultimately cause a wreck or severely damaged wheel-end components.

Josh Boyd

28 Comments

  1. We have a 2008 Ford Explorer with 130,000 miles. It has always performed excellently, but lately we hear a kind of subtle high pitch whine upon acceleration. You have to listen for it. It becomes more apparent the faster we go & disappears in town driving. Thanks for insight. Wonderful website!

    1. Thanks, I’m glad you like the website! My guess is something in the drivetrain like a differential or the transfer case (if you have 4×4). You can start by checking the transmission fluid to make sure the level and color look OK. It might be best to take it to a local shop so they can hear the noise for themselves.

  2. Audi A6 C7 FL Hearing high pich noise when accelerating and only in ~6-7 gear starts from 1.4-2rmp and increasing, as soon as i release the pedal it stops. Any ideas?

    1. I wonder if that could be transmission or differential related. You only hear the noise when you’re in 6th or 7th gear? What about neutral?

  3. Hi Sean, I have a 2021 Chevy Tahoe Z71, only 35k miles on it. When I start to accelerate, I hear a whining noise that will get louder as I drive faster, and then the whining noise will slowly disappear with the vehicle decelerating. This has been happening when I drive on regular streets going even as low as 20mph and definitely when I’m on freeway going let’s say 70mph. Could this be a transmission issue already?

    1. I don’t know, it could be that or maybe the transfer case or a differential. The truck should still be under warranty. I’d bring it in and have the dealership take a look.

      Make sure you don’t drive around with the 4 wheel drive engaged. That will damage your powertrain if you do it long enough on asphalt.

  4. I have a Lexus RX350 2007 model, i keep hearing humming sound whenever i accelerate and it occurs mostly when the gear is about to change…….. what may be the cause?

    1. Could be something in the transmission or a differential. Does the humming drop in pitch or go away after the gear change?

  5. Hi Sean thanks for all the helpful info –

    I have a 2014 Chevy Tahoe and about 3-4 months ago I noticed a whining noise that became audible at around 30 mph, got higher-pitched the faster I went; then when the vehicle decelerates is decreases in pitch – almost like a fire/police siren that’s been turned off.

    Noise/pitch didn’t seem to have anything to do with RPMs – just how fast I’m going.

    Had it into my local shop where it took them two days to come up with a solution: The battery was bad, they said, and was prompting the alternator to spin faster than necessary. They gave me a new battery and the sound was gone… for about a month. Now it’s back.

    Just had it into the dealer, they can’t find anything wrong, ran all the diagnostics, said it could be the AC compressor, that it’s normal on a vehicle as old as mine for the compressor to make some noise. Does that sound right to you?

    1. If the whine came from the alternator, the pitch of the whining noise should change with your engine speed, not your ground speed. Unless your alternator had some sort of clutch like an A/C compressor (I don’t think this exists), the alternator will spin proportional to the speed of the crankshaft. The alternator can’t “spin faster than necessary”. The alternator charge is managed by an electronic device called the voltage regulator.

      Since you said the noise didn’t seem to have anything to do with RPMs, the local shop’s diagnosis doesn’t make sense to me. Generally if you hear a whining noise that decreases in pitch as you slow down I think it could be gear whine from a differential. Did either shop do a test drive and hear the sound themselves?

  6. I have a 2012 Mazda 6, and it started to make a whirring noise, kind of like a whistle. It only makes noise when I go 30+ mph, and the faster I go, the louder it gets. It happens whether I turn my wheel or not, and I haven’t had an oil change in almost 6 months, so that might be why but I’m not sure.

    1. Can you tell if the whirring noise is coming from the engine bay or a wheel? If it’s coming from the engine bay, I would guess it might be a pulley. If it’s coming from a wheel, I would guess one of your wheel bearings is bad and needs replacement.

  7. 98 jeep grand cherokee its a straiht 6 2 wheel drive..
    When i accelerate it makes a whinning noise sounds lik its coming from the front driver side even makes the sound in park or nutural when i press th gas peddle.
    Any tought to what it may be??
    I just replaced the tps and map sensor. Power stearing has a really slow leak but nothing major at all. And im pretty sure i have a leak from the bottom of my exaust manifold.

    1. Does it whine when the steering wheel is straight? I would maybe see if the sound is coming from the transmission.

  8. I have a loud humming noise coming from the front of the car. I have a 2012 Nissan Altima. The noise happens when I drive and accelerate.

  9. This site is very helpful. I have a Holden Captiva. Same mechanic for 12 years. Sadly he had to retire. The car has always been looked after in great condition. It always drove so quietly sometimes when I would start it, I would have to turn it off and on to make sure it was running.
    My next service I took it to Geraldton Four Wheel drive. It has never been the same since. The first thing I noticed was it was noisy when I put my foot on the accelerator. Then it broke down 4 times had to call out RAC. Ended up taking back to my retired mechanic who sorted it out al except the noise when accelerating.

  10. I have a 2012 Honda CRV. I hear a whining noise from what seems like the driver side of the engine while accelerating between 30-40 mph then stops. It repeats when I stop and go. Please help me.
    Also, sometime when I start the car I hear an urggg…sound right before turning over. It does not prevent it from turning over but the sound is scary to me. Help

    1. You should take your car to the mechanic. I can’t diagnose sounds based on a text description, unfortunately.

      The whine could be the serpentine belt, a pulley, or even something in the transmission if it sounds like gear whine.

  11. 2008 Buick lacrosse 3.8 . Replaced alt,water pump, air conditioning, power steering pump, belt. Tensions pulleys. Rebuilt the transmission. Still have a whining noise.help

  12. I have a 2011 Jeep grande Cherokee at 147k miles. I noticed a high pitch whinny sound as soon as I started my car. It continued to whine but when I was going 55-60mph it would stop but as soon as I slowed down it continued to whine. Any ideas of what this could be?

    1. My guess is the serpentine belt, but it could be several things. I think it’s best to get someone to take a listen to help you narrow it down. You might be able to pop the engine bay and determine if it’s coming from one of the belts or maybe something in the transmission.

  13. I have a slight whirring sound when driving which stops with a loud click when the car stops any ideas?

    1. No ideas. What is the year, make, and model of your vehicle? Can you tell where the noise is coming from? Front or back, on one side more than the other?

  14. My problem seems a bit different. I have a 2005 v6 Tacoma with 94K miles.
    It makes a whining noise when running but it does not change while accelerating Same sound and pitch in any gear at any speed. No voltage problems.

  15. Patrick b when I go over 50 mph in my Dacia Duster 110 diesel 2013 plate.it starts making a whinny noise through air vents plenty of power,no warning lights on dashboard all fluids okay.

  16. You might add a loose rubber boot on a turbo system. I had whining/ groaning noise on a 5.9 Cummins in a Dodge Ram pickup. It would only do it on acceleration at about twenty five MPH. At first I thought it was a speedometer cable but it is electronic. Then I was lead to a bad bearing in the manual transmission because it only occurred under acceleration. My friend suggest a vacuum leak, which lead to the turbo system. Upon inspection we found a clamp had come off a driver side lower rubber boot. Allowing boost to leak and blow by making howling/ groaning sound.

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