How To

What is causing my minivan to vibrate?

John Paul, AAA Northeast's Car Doctor, answers a question from a reader experiencing vibration in their Grand Caravan.

The Car Doctor answers a question from a reader experiencing vibration in their Grand Caravan. AP Photo/David Zalubowski

By John Paul

April 22, 2025

3 minutes to read

Q. I have a brake problem that no one can fix on my 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan GT. I took it to two independent mechanics as well as the dealership, and they all said the car checks out, safety-wise. The problem is when you step on the brakes you get vibration on the front passenger side that affects the steering wheel and the whole front end. New pads and rotors have been replaced all around. What’s wrong with my car?

A. You need to start with measuring for out-of-round/runout. A technician will use a dial indicator and measure runout on the rotor and then remove the rotor and measure runout at the hub. About all you want to see is .005 of an inch maximum out-of-round. The other possibility is that when the rotors were replaced, the technician did not spend enough time removing accumulated rust on the hub. Accumulated rust will also cause a brake pulsation.

Q. I just purchased a low-mileage 2019 Mini convertible. Can I get away with using regular gas or is it important that I use premium?

A. According to the 2019 Mini owner’s manual, 91 octane is recommended and 89 octane is the recommended minimum octane fuel. The key word here is recommended, and not required. If this were my car I would start with a couple of tanks of 91 octane fuel and record the miles per gallon. Then switch to 89 octane gas for a few tanks and record the mileage. Then switch to 87 octane fuel and do the same. If the miles per gallon is about the same and you are happy with the car’s performance, pick the fuel that works best for your situation.

Q. I recently saw an article that Honda is introducing a Pilot hybrid with different engine options. I am considering purchasing one. Do you have information on it? I’m a Pilot owner and have been waiting for a hybrid.

A. At this time, there is no official information about a hybrid Honda Pilot. It would not surprise me, but there is no information available on Honda or Acura’s media pages regarding a hybrid. The internet has some videos, but they are all speculation. To me, up to this point Honda has been focusing on electrification (Acura ZDX and Honda Prologue) rather than expanding their current hybrid models. It would not be a surprise to me if Honda did something, since Lexus, Toyota, Hyundai, Kia, and Mazda all have midsized SUV hybrids or PHEVs.

Q. I read and enjoy your column every week. In a recent column you questioned the benefit of night driving glasses for a 75-year-old driver. I have been both a professional and shade tree mechanic for almost 50 years. I would have suggested an eye exam. At 75 years old, cataracts could very well be the problem.

A. Excellent point. I typically recommend that all drivers get an eye exam at least every two years. A thorough eye exam can also reveal other possible health issues.

Q. Some time ago, you suggested the Sylvania headlight restoration kit for my 2006 Solara with 200,000 miles. The kit was a step above other products and produced good results. You suggested following the directions, so I did. Replacement headlights (expensive) would be better, but I am most pleased with the results of this $22 kit.

A. Good to know it worked for you. Unlike some wipe-on, wipe-off products, the Sylvania kit has several steps that need to be followed to get long lasting results. At AAA we also found that headlight restoration, in some cases, provided better lighting results than some aftermarket headlight replacements.

Q. Maybe you could answer this question for me and others with an occasionally used car. I have a 2019 Volkswagen Beetle convertible that is garaged and has 8,000 miles on it. The dealer tells me that my tires need to be changed, given they are older than six years, even though they look fine. What are your thoughts on this?

A. The typical life of a tire is six to ten years. The trade group for the tire industry, the Rubber Manufacturers Association, recommends tire replacement at 10 years, regardless of tread depth. RMA also recommends a thorough tire inspection starting at five years. Based on this recommendation, if there are no cracks, dry rot in the tread, or cuts or bruises, then you should be fine.

John Paul is AAA Northeast’s Car Doctor. He has over 40 years of experience in the automotive business and is an ASE-certified master technician. E-mail your Car Doctor question to [email protected]. Listen to the Car Doctor podcast at johnfpaul.podbean.com.