can you drive with bucking car

[Leroy]

No, you should not drive a car that is bucking or jerking. This symptom indicates a serious problem, most commonly with the transmission, ignition system, or fuel delivery. Continuing to drive can cause significant and costly damage to the vehicle. The bucking sensation is a violent shudder or lurching that occurs, typically during acceleration or at constant speeds, signaling that the engine is not receiving the correct balance of air, fuel, or spark, or that the transmission is failing to transfer power smoothly.

The most frequent culprit in an automatic transmission car is a failing torque converter. This component is responsible for smoothly transferring engine power to the transmission. When it malfunctions, it can't lock up properly, causing a noticeable shudder, especially around 30-50 mph. In manual transmissions, bucking is often a result of improper clutch engagement or a worn-out clutch.

Other primary causes include issues within the ignition system, such as faulty spark plugs, a failing ignition coil, or bad spark plug wires, which lead to engine misfires. A clogged fuel filter or a weak fuel pump can also restrict the flow of gasoline, creating a lean fuel-air mixture that causes the engine to stumble and buck.

Common Cause	Typical Symptom	Potential Repair Cost (Est.)
Faulty Ignition Coil/Spark Plugs	Jerking during acceleration, check engine light	$150 - $400
Clogged Fuel Filter	Bucking under load (e.g., going uphill)	$50 - $150
Failing Mass Airflow Sensor	Hesitation, rough idling, and bucking	$200 - $400
Transmission Issues (Torque Converter)	Shuddering at highway speeds	$500 - $1,500+
Dirty Throttle Body	Irregular idle and jerking at low speeds	$100 - $250

Your immediate action should be to drive as little as possible and have the vehicle diagnosed by a qualified mechanic. Use an OBD-II scanner to check for trouble codes, which can point directly to the affected cylinder or system. Ignoring the problem will only lead to more extensive repairs.

[DeSamuel]

It's a really bad idea. That jerking means your car is struggling to get power to the wheels. I learned the hard way when my old sedan started bucking on the highway. I kept driving for a week, and what could have been a simple fix for a few hundred bucks turned into a massive transmission repair. Get it checked out immediately. It's not worth the risk.

[OLeila]

Think of the bucking as your car's way of crying for help. It's a mechanical distress signal. The problem could be simple, like spark plugs, or serious, like the transmission. The longer you drive it, the more you're grinding away at internal components. This isn't a "I'll get to it next month" issue. Schedule a diagnostic with your mechanic right away to prevent a minor fault from becoming a catastrophic failure.