The driveline in a car is made up of several components that work together to transfer power from the engine to the wheels. When one of these components fails, it can cause driveline problems that can affect your car's performance. Ignoring the issue can lead to bigger and more expensive problems down the road.

Discover two signs that you have a driveline issue and how they affect your car.

Vibrating Steering Wheel

If you feel a vibration in the steering wheel when driving, that might be a sign of driveline problems. Important driveline components include the transmission system, driveshaft, axles, and wheels. If any of these components sustain damage or fall out of alignment, they can cause the steering wheel to vibrate.

In addition, the front wheels are connected to the driveline by the CV joints. If these joints are damaged or worn, they can cause vibrations that you can feel in the steering wheel. You might also experience difficulty when turning if there's an issue with the CV joints.

The problem is more pronounced, especially at lower speeds. Over time, you might be exposed to dangerous situations when trying to make a turn, because the wheels may not respond the way you'd expect.

In most cases, a simple alignment adjustment may be all that is needed to fix these problems. However, if the damage is more severe, you might need to replace one or more driveline components.

Leaking Fluid

Several fluids circulate throughout the driveline, including transmission fluid, differential fluid, and power steering fluid. If you see a puddle of any of these fluids beneath your car, that's a good sign that there's a driveline issue.

One of the most common causes of driveline fluid leaks is a damaged or worn seal. Over time, the seals in the respective fluid compartments can become brittle and crack, allowing fluid to leak out. In some cases, replacing the seal might just fix the problem. However, with severe damage, you might need to replace the component with a leak to be on the safe side.

Ignoring a driveline fluid leak encourages serious damage to your car. Driveline components are designed to work together with the proper amount of fluid. A leak can throw off this delicate balance and cause even more problems. So don't wait until things get really bad. Instead, take your car to a driveline repair specialist and have it checked out.