Abstract: There are various nonlinear factors included in actual dynamic systems. Along with the development of society and technologies, the research of nonlinear dynamics becomes more and more important. The aim of nonlinear dynamics is to clarify the mechanism of complex dynamic phenomenon, and study the qualitative and quantitative rules of dynamic system under different initial conditions and the variation of parameters by using nonlinear dynamic theories. As a kind of highly integrated industrial product, the automobile possess immanent nonlinear factors. The nonlinear characteristics of driving dynamics are the most remarkable. The nonlinear factors mainly concentrate on seats, suspensions and tires. Now the chaos related to automobile driving nonlinear dynamics is already researched. On the other hand, the chaos theory can also be used in the separation and detection of automobile chaotic vibration signals. Three types of methods, i.e. numerical method, analytical method and statistical description method, are introduced to the research of chaos phenomenon of nonlinear vehicle. Because of the complexity of chaotic motion, numerical method is used in most researches. A lot of researches indicate that the automobile nonlinear system has very abundant and complicated dynamic phenomena. Chaos motion may happen even in the simplest single-freedom nonlinear vertical vibration system of automobile. Finally, the review addresses a few prospective research topics in the near future.

Key words: Automobile, Chaos, Dynamic system, Nonlinear dynamics