What Causes the Rear Wheel of a Car to Stop Turning?

[DiChristopher]

Here are the specific reasons why the rear wheel of a car may stop turning: Controller damage: If the controller (three-phase AC inverter) suddenly fails due to overheating and breaks down, it can cause a short circuit between the output three-phase power components. When pushing the vehicle, the motor then operates in a short-circuit generation state (working in an energy-consuming braking state), making it very difficult to push. Inter-turn short circuit: This can be caused by a sudden inter-turn short circuit inside the motor, which also creates significant resistance when pushing. In such cases, the vehicle must be towed to a repair shop for motor servicing. The brushless motor in an electric vehicle is a permanent magnet three-phase AC motor. When pushed, it operates in a generation state, and if there is a short circuit in the output, the vehicle cannot be pushed.

[DiQuinn]

I remember last time my rear wheel suddenly wouldn't turn, which scared me into pulling over immediately. It turned out the handbrake was pulled too tight and didn't fully release, causing the metal cable to rust and lock the wheel. Alternatively, it could be due to the brake caliper piston rusting and failing to retract, or the wheel hub bearings wearing out and rusting, creating so much friction that the wheel couldn't rotate. A broken driveshaft or a faulty differential could also completely stop the rear wheels of a rear-wheel-drive car, especially when driving on bumpy roads, which makes these issues more likely to occur. The inspection method is quite simple: try pushing the rear wheel by hand—if it's stiff and stuck, you should be alert. For safety, I always drive to a repair shop immediately to get it fixed. Trying to force it could ruin the tires or even the axle. Small issues like this can turn into big problems if left unattended.