Why Is My Car Making Noise When Turning? Here’s What You Need to Know

Is Your Car Whispering Secrets Or Screaming for Help?

That faint clunk when turning left… the unsettling squeal on a right curve… If your car is making noise when turning, it’s not just an annoyance, it’s a warning.

With 17 years of greasy knuckles and busted knuckles, I’ve fixed these exact sounds in hundreds of vehicles. And trust me: what starts as a weird noise today can leave you stranded tomorrow.

In this guide, you’ll discover:

• Why your car makes noise when turning left or right, and what each sound means
• The danger behind low-speed creaks (even when parked)
• Quick fixes you can try vs. when to call a pro—before the problem escalates

Your car’s begging for attention. Let’s decode its cries and shut them down for good.

1. What That Turning Noise Could Mean (and Why It Matters)

Is Your Car Trying to Warn You? Decode Those Turning Noises Before It’s Too Late

That unsettling clunk when you round a corner? The ominous squeal as you pull into your driveway? Your car isn’t just being noisy – it’s sending an SOS from its steering and suspension systems.

As a mechanic who’s spent 17 years elbow-deep in grease and diagnostic tools, I can tell you: every noise tells a story. And trust me, you want to hear this one before it becomes a horror story.

Here’s what your car’s really saying when it makes noise while turning:

🔧 Clunking? Worn ball joints or tie rods – the literal “joints” that keep your wheels connected
🚨 Squealing? Power steering belt screaming for attention or fluid running dangerously low
💥 Knocking? CV joints on their last legs – and your axle might be next
🌵 Creaking? Suspension bushings drier than a desert wind
🔩 Rattling? Steering components coming loose – and not in a good way

Don’t Ignore the Warning:

Left-turn groans and right-turn squeals aren’t random—they’re location-specific distress signals. Up next, we’ll crack the code on why your car only complains on certain turns (and what that reveals about the failing part).

2. Car Making Noise When Turning Left or Right? Here’s Why

That ominous knock-knock when you turn left? The metallic crunch on right turns? Your car isn’t being dramatic—it’s giving you a precise distress call from failing components.

Here’s the mechanic’s truth: Direction-specific noises are like your car pointing to the problem with a flashing arrow.

The Usual Suspects:

🛠️ CV Joints (Public Enemy #1)

• The Crime: Clicking/popping only during sharp turns
• The Evidence: Torn rubber boots leaking grease (spot the black splatter inside your wheels)
• Why It Matters: A failed CV joint can separate at highway speeds—I’ve seen it snap axles mid-drive

🔧 Ball Joints (The Silent Killers)

• The Sound: A deep clunk when turning either direction
• The Test: Try lifting the front end—if your wheel wobbles more than your teenager’s confidence, it’s time to replace

⚡ Strut Mounts (The Stealthy Saboteurs)

• The Giveaway: Groaning that changes with turning direction
• The Danger: Worn mounts accelerate tire wear—I’ve measured treads bald on one side from this

🚨 Do This NOW If You Hear:

1. Left-turn specific noise? → Check right-side CV joint (it’s under more stress)
2. Right-turn noise? → Inspect left-side components
3. Jack it up and try shaking the wheel at 9 & 3 o’clock—any play means trouble

“But my car only does it sometimes!” Bad news: Intermittent noises are early-stage failures. Catch it now or pay 3X more later.

3. Noise When Turning at Low Speed or While Parked? Check This First

That pathetic whine when parallel parking? The dramatic moan when maneuvering drive-thrus? Your power steering isn’t just complaining—it’s one fluid leak away from complete betrayal.

Here’s what’s really happening when your car cries during slow turns:

💧 Low Fluid (The Obvious Culprit)

• The Sound: A drowning whale impersonation
• The Proof: Check the reservoir—if it’s below “MIN,” you’ve found your villain
• Secret Mechanic Hack: Wipe the dipstick with a white cloth. Pink fluid? Healthy. Brown gunk? Your system’s rotting from within

🔊 Power Steering Pump (The Heart Attack)

• The Death Rattle: A high-pitched screech that follows engine RPMs
• The Test: Turn wheel lock-to-lock with engine running—if the noise peaks, your pump’s begging for retirement

🌀 Belt Issues (The Silent Partner)

• The Tell: A rhythmic squeak-squeak-squeak synced with steering
• Emergency Fix: A bar of soap rubbed on the belt (yes, really) can buy you 48 hours to get to a shop

🚨 Do This NOW If Your Steering Whines:

1. Check fluid level (engine off, wheel straight)
2. Inspect hoses near the reservoir—bulges mean imminent rupture
3. Look under the car after parking—drips mean $$$ leaks

“But it only does it when cold!” Worse—that’s early-stage pump failure. Ignore it, and soon you’ll need both arms to turn like you’re driving a 1970s truck.

4. Car Makes Noise When Turning and Accelerating? It Might Be Serious

That sinister clicking that speeds up when you hit the gas? The metallic grind that syncs with your turns? This isn’t just noise—it’s your drivetrain’s final warning before strike.

After 17 years of wrenching, here’s what I’ve learned about these death-rattle sounds:

💀 CV Joints (The Usual Suspects)

• The Sound: Machine-gun clicking that triples when accelerating through turns
• The Smoking Gun: Grease splattered inside your wheel wells (check behind the tires)
• Why Panic? A failed CV can lock your wheel mid-turn—ask my Ontario client who spun 270° on Highway 401

🔩 Wheel Bearings (The Stealth Killer)

• The Clue: A deep roar that changes pitch with speed
• The Test: Jack it up and shake the wheel at 12 & 6 o’clock—any movement means you’re driving on borrowed time

⚡ Transmission Mounts (The Silent Saboteur)

• The Giveaway: A thunk when shifting from Drive to Reverse
• The Danger: Let this go and you’ll be replacing your entire exhaust system next

🚨 Do This TODAY If You Hear:

1. Turn your wheels full lock and crawl forward—CV joints always betray themselves under load
2. Feel for vibration in your seat or pedals—wheel bearings fail from the inside out
3. Watch your RPMs—if noise changes with engine speed, not wheel speed, it’s transmission-related

“But it’s just a tiny click!” Famous last words. In my shop, we call these “$200 noises”—ignore them and they become $2,000 catastrophes.

5. Steering Noise FAQs – The Ugly Truth

Q: “Why’s my car groaning like it’s dying every time I turn?”

Straight answer: Your suspension’s on strike. Clicking? That’s your CV joints begging for replacement. Squealing? Power steering fluid’s probably lower than your bank account after Christmas. Knocking? Ball joints are toast. Ignore any of these, and you’re one pothole away from a tow truck bill.

Q: “Can I still drive it, or am I risking my life?”

Mechanic’s blunt truth: Depends how lucky you feel. That “weird noise” today could be a snapped tie rod tomorrow. If it’s a clunk when you turn, it’s not “just aging”—it’s a countdown to failure.

Q: “What’s the cheapest way to fix this?”

DIY first steps:

1. Check power steering fluid (cold engine, wheel straight)—if it’s brown and smells burnt, your pump’s cooking itself.
2. Peek at your CV boots (behind front wheels). Grease slung everywhere? That’s a $200 joint waiting to fail.
3. Push down hard on each corner—if the car bounces more than once, your shocks are dead.

When to call a pro: If you hear grinding or the steering feels “notchy,” stop driving. Now.

Q: “Why’s there a metallic rattling only when I turn?”

Likely suspects:

• Loose heat shield (sounds like a maraca)
• Worn strut mounts (you’ll hear it worst on slow turns)
• Worst case: A broken spring (I’ve seen them punch through tires).

Q: “Could it just need oil?”

Nope. If the noise only happens when turning, your engine’s innocent. But if it ticks all the time, check your oil immediately—unless you want a new engine.

Final Advice:

Describe the noise exactly to your mechanic:

• “It clicks only on left turns” → Right CV joint
• “Whines when I crank the wheel parked” → Power steering pump
• “Clunks over bumps and when turning” → Control arms

The more details you give, the less time they’ll charge you to find the problem.

6. Final Thoughts: Turn Down the Noise Before It Gets Worse

That clunk when you turn left, the groan when you hit the gas in a curve, even that weird squeak when you’re just sitting still cranking the wheel – your car’s screaming for help in the only language it knows.

As an electromechanic with nearly two decades of experience, I urge you: Don’t ignore the early warning signs. A small repair now could save you hundreds—or even prevent an accident—down the road.

👇 If this article helped you, drop a comment below with your car model and symptoms—I’ll do my best to reply! And don’t stop here:

🔧 Read next:

• Car Starter Problems: The Ultimate Diagnostic & Repair Guide
• Common Car Problems: A Complete Guide to Diagnosing & Fixing Issues