A car that drifts to the right when you let off the steering wheel is annoying at low speeds and dangerous on the highway. The fix can be as cheap as adding air to a tire or as involved as a full alignment. Start with the easy stuff.
A mild pull is usually safe to drive in the short term, but uneven tire wear from poor alignment can ruin a $600 set of tires in a few months. Check tire pressure today and get aligned within a couple of weeks.
A tire with low pressure has more rolling resistance, so the car drifts toward that side. Check all four tires with a gauge - the door jamb sticker has the correct PSI. This is the most common cause and the easiest fix.
Get a Full Diagnosis →Hitting a pothole or curb can knock the front wheels out of alignment. The car wants to track in the direction of the misalignment. A four-wheel alignment usually costs $80-150 and takes about an hour.
Get a Full Diagnosis →A brake caliper that does not fully release keeps light pressure on one wheel, pulling the car that direction. You may notice the wheel is hot to the touch after driving and a chemical or burning smell.
Get a Full Diagnosis →Front suspension parts wear out and develop play. The wheel can no longer hold a steady angle, so the car wanders or pulls. Often combined with clunking over bumps.
Get a Full Diagnosis →A tire with uneven wear or internal belt damage can pull the car even at correct pressure. Swap the front tires left to right - if the pull switches direction, the tire is the problem.
Get a Full Diagnosis →Tell us about the pull - when it happens, how strong, what you have already checked - and we will tell you the most likely cause and what shops charge in your area.
Get My AI Repair Report →$5.99 - covers your specific car, your symptoms, and the most likely fix with parts and price ranges.
Most often it is uneven tire pressure or alignment. US roads are crowned slightly to the right for water drainage, so a tiny pull right is normal. A noticeable pull means something is off - check tire pressure first.
A mild pull is safe short-term but you should fix it within a couple of weeks. Driving misaligned wears tires unevenly and quickly - you can ruin a set of tires in a few thousand miles. A strong pull is unsafe and needs immediate attention.
A four-wheel alignment is typically $80-150 at a tire shop or dealer. Many tire chains include a free alignment check with any service. If the alignment cannot hold spec, you may need a new tie rod or control arm bushing first - that adds $150-400.
That points to a brake problem - usually a stuck caliper, a collapsed brake hose, or uneven pad wear on one side. The brake on the side opposite the pull is dragging or has more bite.