Vibration measurement and analysis are important means for identifying hidden dangers or faults in elevators and evaluating riding comfort. The continuous wavelet transform (CWT) and its corresponding inverse transformation calculation method for signal time-frequency analysis, the three-axis vibration data acquisition method for elevator car vibration were introduced. The wavelet transform coefficients calculated by CWT were visualized as two-dimensional contour maps, and time-frequency analysis was performed on two traction-driven elevators whose vertical and horizontal vibrations of the elevator car failed to meet standard requirements. The results show that the variation law of the acceleration of elevator abnormal vibration with frequency and time can be judged intuitively by CWT, and the rapid location of abnormal vibration sources and hidden dangers such as elevator traction system and guidance system can be realized.