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Gearbox, clutch and transmission

Problems of the driveshafts and CV joints: symptoms, cost and affected models

We have documented 25 faults of the driveshafts and CV joints in 1 engine and 24 cars, affecting 26 models of car in our database. The most important by severity and frequency: faulty front right driveshaft that could break while driving (late 2018 cars) (Lancia Ypsilon III), front right driveshaft retaining ring incorrectly fitted or missing, with a risk of wheel lock-up (December 2017 to April 2018) (Mercedes-Benz Clase G W463) and cracks and possible breakage of the right driveshaft on 2011-2012 Volvo S40s (Volvo S40 II).

Documented faults
25
6 of high or critical severity
Engines
1
with at least one fault on this part
Affected models
26
car generations in our database
Garage repair
No data
No reliable published costs

1 sourceHow we work

How it works and why it fails

Driveshafts and CV joints

Driveshafts carry the drive from the gearbox or differential to the wheels. At their ends they have constant-velocity (CV) joints protected by rubber gaiters, which let the wheel turn and move up and down without cutting the drive.

What to do

A rhythmic clicking when turning with the steering on full lock is the classic symptom of a worn CV joint. Check the gaiters: if they are torn, the grease escapes, dirt gets in and the joint is destroyed quickly. Replacing a gaiter in time is much cheaper than replacing the driveshaft.

General explanation by MotorFiable. The specific faults of each engine and car, with their sources, are on the linked pages.

Common symptoms

The symptoms that come up most often in the documented faults of the driveshafts and CV joints. Open each one to see what other faults cause it.

Problems of the driveshafts and CV joints by engine

From most to least important (severity × frequency). Each page details the affected versions and years, symptoms, cost and how to check for it.

  1. 1Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalTesla Model S / Model XVibrations from worn front driveshaftsOn dual-motor versions, the front driveshafts can wear and cause vibrations under hard acceleration. Auto Bild cites it on the Model X and fiches-auto.fr records several cases; the motor and reduction gear assembly does not usually fail.

Problems of the driveshafts and CV joints by car

Faults documented on specific cars, which occur with any engine. From most to least important.

  1. 1Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalLancia Ypsilon IIIFaulty front right driveshaft that could break while driving (late 2018 cars)Yes: in August 2019 a recall was notified over the Ypsilon's front right driveshaft, which could be faulty and break while the car was moving. It affected cars built in late 2018 (up to 11 December); confirm your chassis number at an authorised dealer.
  2. 2Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz Clase G W463Front right driveshaft retaining ring incorrectly fitted or missing, with a risk of wheel lock-up (December 2017 to April 2018)Yes: Safety Gate alert A12/0943/18 affects type 463 G-Class built between December 2017 and April 2018 because the retaining ring of the front right driveshaft may be incorrectly fitted or missing, and the front right wheel could suddenly lock and cause an accident.
  3. 3High severityFrequency: OccasionalVolvo S40 IICracks and possible breakage of the right driveshaft on 2011-2012 Volvo S40sYes: a Safety Gate alert (A12/0501/13) covers the 2011-2012 C30, S40 and V50 because the right driveshaft can crack over time and, in the worst case, break and leave the car suddenly without drive. The UK register limits it to cars built between April 2011 and May 2012.
  4. 4High severityFrequency: OccasionalVolvo V50Cracks and possible breakage of the right driveshaft on 2011-2012 Volvo V50sYes: a Safety Gate alert (A12/0501/13) covers the 2011-2012 C30, S40 and V50 because the right driveshaft can crack over time and, in the worst case, break and leave the car suddenly without drive. The UK register limits it to cars built between April 2011 and May 2012.
  5. 5Medium severityFrequency: CommonMercedes-Benz Clase B W245Wear and splitting of the driveshaft CV joint gaitersIt is the most cited fault outside the engine among B-Class W245 owners: the driveshaft CV joint gaiters crack and let the grease escape, which produces a clicking noise on full steering lock and, if they are not replaced in time, can end up damaging the joint.
  6. 6Critical severityFrequency: RareFiat 500Right-hand front driveshaft (half-shaft) that can give way on the move (July 2019 campaign, ref. 6228)In July 2019 Fiat registered campaign 6228 because the right-hand front driveshaft (half-shaft) on some 500 units could develop problems and give way while the car was moving. The source consulted does not detail the production period or the number of units affected.
  7. 7Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalDacia Sandero ISuspension play, steering ball joints and driveshafts on the Sandero IAccording to the TÜV report cited by gebrauchtwagenberater.de, wheel suspension, steering, ball joints and driveshafts are a frequent reason for the Sandero I to fail inspection. It is a single source, with no figures per part.
  8. 8Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalHyundai Elantra IWear of the driveshaft constant velocity jointsA press review of the used Elantra XD describes the original constant velocity joints as not very durable: around 200,000 km they are likely to need attention, and many owners recommend replacing the gaiters and grease early to extend their life.
  9. 9Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalHyundai Tucson IWear of steering ball joints, axle mounts and driveshafts picked up at TÜV inspectionsAccording to the used-car listing on gebrauchtwagenberater.de, backed by TÜV reports, worn axle mounts, driveshafts and steering ball joints are among the defects that most often make first-generation Tucsons fail the inspection. There are no figures or official campaign.
  10. 10Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalKia Carens IIDamaged or unsealed driveshaft gaitersIn the data from Dutch periodic inspections (APK), a damaged or unsealed driveshaft gaiter appears every year among the most frequently recorded serious defects on Carens from 2002 to 2005, at rates of 6% to 9%. These are figures for cars rejected at inspection, not a count of breakdowns in Spain.
  11. 11Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalKia Cerato IWear of the CV joints and rust on the driveshaft splinesAccording to the used Cerato I press review, the CV joints tend to last between 100,000 and 200,000 km and many fail near 100,000 km; in addition, the driveshaft splines rust if they are not greased every few years and the shaft can end up spinning freely.Appears at around 100,000 km
  12. 12Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalLancia Ypsilon IIFragile driveshafts on the Lancia Ypsilon (843)Al Volante includes fragile driveshafts among the problems of the Ypsilon (843), along with brake system anomalies and other faults. It gives no specific years, mileage or cost, and the source does not detail what the fault consists of.
  13. 13Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalNissan Almera IIWear of the driveshaft gaiters and bushes on the Nissan Almera N16According to the owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, the front axle and suspension account for about 16 mentions out of 90: eight of driveshafts or gaiters (one at around 40,000 km), worn bushes causing vibrations, and shock absorbers.
  14. 14Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalNissan Micra IIINoise from wheel bearings and CV jointsOn the Micra III, wheel bearings, CV joints and suspension parts such as bushes and shock absorbers can wear sooner than expected, with noise when turning and geometry that can affect tyre wear.
  15. 15Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalOmoda 5Driveshaft nut not properly locked: wheel vibration (recall)In February 2026 the brand recalled around 4,489 Omoda 5 in the United Kingdom (built between December 2023 and June 2025) because the driveshaft nut might not be properly locked and could loosen, causing vibration and noise from the wheel. The inspection is free.Repair: €0
  16. 16Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalOpel Corsa CEarly wear of wheel bearings, driveshaft boots and rear shock absorbersA German used-car guide points to wheel bearings, driveshaft boots (gaiters) and rear shock absorbers as common failure points on the Opel Corsa C at the technical inspection (TÜV/MOT).
  17. 17Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalSeat Toledo IIIDamaged driveshaft gaiters that no longer seal the jointIn Dutch MOT inspection data (APK), a damaged driveshaft gaiter that does not seal properly appears in 7% of Toledo III cars from model years 2005, 2006 and 2008 and in 5% from 2007, and the source classes it as a major defect. These figures are for the Netherlands.
  18. 18Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalŠkoda Superb IDriveshaft joints and gaitersOn fiches-auto, 11 of the 47 Superb testimonies point to the CV joint; British MOT data places torn driveshaft gaiters among the most common faults on the Superb.
  19. 19Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalVolkswagen Golf PlusFaulty driveshaftsIn German TÜV roadworthiness inspection reports, older cars sometimes show faulty driveshafts; fiches-auto also lists driveshaft joints among the parts that cause noise and vibration.
  20. 20High severityFrequency: RareJeep Cherokee KLFront driveshaft breakage on the 2015-2016 CherokeeA 2016 Safety Gate alert covers Cherokee KL built between September 2015 and March 2016: the front driveshaft can break and damage the underbody, with a risk of accident.
  21. 21Medium severityFrequency: RareLancia MusaDamaged driveshaft gaiter (constant velocity joint boot) on 2004 Lancia MusasIn the Dutch technical inspection, a damaged driveshaft gaiter that no longer seals properly is one of the three most common defects on Musas built in 2004 (8% of that year's defects), and the inspection classes it as serious. It does not appear among the most common defects in other years.
  22. 22Low severityFrequency: OccasionalRover 25Broken or damaged driveshaft gaitersA torn or damaged CV joint gaiter appears twice among the ten most repeated failures on the Rover 25 in the British MOT: around 31,800 and 31,600 cases out of 1.78 million tests.
  23. 23Low severityFrequency: OccasionalRover 45Driveshaft gaiters torn or looseTorn or loose constant velocity joint gaiters are the second most common fault on Rover 45s at the British MOT test. With the gaiter open, grease escapes and the joint ends up making noise when turning.
  24. 24Low severityFrequency: RareRenault 5 E-TechClicking from the front axle and driveshafts on the Renault 5 E-TechGebrauchtwagenberater.de reports a build-up of clicking or knocking from the front axle when manoeuvring or turning, with some owners taking the car to a workshop for noises from the driveshaft area; the source does not yet know whether it is a series defect.

Problems of the driveshafts and CV joints by make

How much it costs to repair a fault of the driveshafts and CV joints

Sorted from the most expensive repair to the cheapest. Prices in Spain including VAT (parts and labour); what each figure includes is on its page.

How we calculate costs · The most expensive repairs across all engines

Frequently asked questions

Which engines have the most faults of the driveshafts and CV joints?

By severity and frequency, the Tesla Model S / Model X (vibrations from worn front driveshafts, medium severity).

Which cars have problems of the driveshafts and CV joints?

Among those we have analysed: Lancia Ypsilon III (faulty front right driveshaft that could break while driving (late 2018 cars)), Mercedes-Benz Clase G W463 (front right driveshaft retaining ring incorrectly fitted or missing, with a risk of wheel lock-up (December 2017 to April 2018)), Volvo S40 II (cracks and possible breakage of the right driveshaft on 2011-2012 Volvo S40s), Volvo V50 (cracks and possible breakage of the right driveshaft on 2011-2012 Volvo V50s), Mercedes-Benz Clase B W245 (wear and splitting of the driveshaft CV joint gaiters), Fiat 500 (right-hand front driveshaft (half-shaft) that can give way on the move (July 2019 campaign, ref. 6228)), Dacia Sandero I (suspension play, steering ball joints and driveshafts on the Sandero I) and Hyundai Elantra I (wear of the driveshaft constant velocity joints). In total, 24 cars with documented faults of the driveshafts and CV joints.

How much does it cost to repair a fault of the driveshafts and CV joints?

It depends a lot on the engine or car. At a dealer, from €0 to €0, including VAT, based on the 1 fault with a documented cost. The most expensive is driveshaft nut not properly locked: wheel vibration (recall) (Omoda 5).

What symptoms does a fault of the driveshafts and CV joints cause?

The most frequently cited in the documented faults: creaking or clicking when turning the steering wheel, abnormal vibrations or unstable idle, knocks or creaks from the suspension over bumps, steering wheel vibrates or shakes when driving, abnormal play in the steering or noises from the front axle and uneven tyre wear.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

  1. Omoda 5 recall: potential loosening of the wheel hub nut (R/2026/013)MOT Cost (recopilación de avisos de llamada a revisión del Reino Unido) · Other source · published 3 February 2026 · consulted 30 October 2026