Most often the dynamic analysis of rotor-to-stator rub is performed using 1D models. This leads to a small computational cost, but the reliability of the results is difficult to assess. This research work compares and analyzes the results of 1D and 3D rotor-stator contact problems, for different contact conditions more and less severe. The rotor vibrations are due to rotating imbalance at a given constant rotating speed. In this paper, it is shown that regarding the rotor orbits, the 3D and 1D models responses are very closed. However using a 3D model improves the simulation results. The 1D model actually suffers from limitations resulting from rigid-body displacement assumption of the rotor cross-section, which originates approximations in the rotor-to-stator contact modeling. Thus, the friction torque generated by the contact is overestimated in a 1D model. The 3D model, however, can present some local effects in the vicinity of the contact zone.