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.

[Riley]

I often drive to and from work, and one time after passing through a waterlogged area, I noticed the rear wheels were stuck and wouldn't move. It's likely that rainwater seeped in, causing the brake drums or calipers to rust, creating excessive friction that locked the wheels. Another possibility is that the handbrake cable wasn't adjusted properly and was under constant tension. If that's not the case, perhaps the rear differential was low on oil, causing parts to overheat and wear out. I tried turning the wheels lightly and felt something was off, so I stopped the car. Never force-start the car; driving with locked wheels not only ruins the tires but also wastes fuel. It's best to have a professional mechanic use tools to diagnose and fix the issue before driving again. Addressing this problem early prevents bigger issues that could affect driving. After experiencing this a few times, I now check weekly to ensure the wheels rotate smoothly.

[VanAngela]

When I first started driving, I encountered a situation where the rear wheels were completely stuck. The main causes were the handbrake not being fully released or rusted and seized, followed by damaged rear wheel bearings causing jamming; differential failure could also lead to it not moving. The direct consequence is the tires being dragged, damaging the tread. The solution is simple: pull over immediately and do not continue driving. You can try pushing the car to test the wheel resistance yourself, but it's best to have it inspected at a repair shop. Such minor issues should not be delayed; solving them early ensures safety.