What does this cost in your state?
California is the costliest state and Arkansas the cheapest; each square shows that state's midpoint of the estimate.
Lower-cost states ($330)MiddleHigher-cost states ($420)
What it shows: CA is the highest at $420 and AR the lowest at $330, across 51 states.
Counts below are complaints filed with NHTSA, not failure rates: a longer bar means more owners reported it.
Is your car affected?
What it shows: The most common band for complaints about this repair is under 50,000 (74%), against 60% for all complaints: the biggest difference between the two.
Is it urgent, and what do owners notice first?
514 owner complaints name this part.
Owners say the dealer could not fix or repeat the problem. If it comes back after a repair, ask what was tested before you pay again.
Which other parts do owners name in the same complaint?
Among the 514 owner complaints naming this part, control arm is named in 33% of them, more than any other part.
Owners name the control arm most often in the same complaint, which is not proof that one caused the other. Ask the shop whether it checked the control arm too, so you are not quoted twice for one visit.
How fast were owners driving when it happened?
55 mph or faster leads at 33%.
Owners reported it most often at highway speed. Tell the shop what speed it happens at, because that narrows the diagnosis.
How serious did it get for owners?
Among the 514 owner complaints naming this part, being towed is the outcome owners report most often.
What it shows: Towed is the largest at 72, followed by Crash reported at 58; the smallest shown is Death reported at 1.
Which model years show up most in the complaints?
Among the 514 owner complaints naming this part that state a model year, complaints cluster in a few model years instead of spreading evenly.
What it shows: 2016 is the largest at 86 (17%); the smallest shown is 2025 at 2 (0%).
Have recalls for this part told owners to stop driving?
Recalls for this part that told owners to stop driving or park outside. Do not drive the vehicle: 3 recall (7,128).
Are the parts for this repair getting more expensive, or only the labor?
The federal producer price index for new steering and suspension parts rose 10.9% from December 2019 to August 2026, while the consumer price index for motor vehicle repair, labor and parts together, rose 55.2% (BLS, national).
Prices of new steering and suspension parts, as shops buy them from makers, since December 2019, against consumer prices for motor vehicle repair. New steering and suspension parts: +10.9%; All motor vehicle parts: +17.4%; Motor vehicle repair, labor and parts together: +55.2%.
Has the replacement part I am buying been recalled?
NHTSA lists 13 equipment recalls that name ball joint since 2015 (suspension and steering), covering 113,775 items sold as parts rather than whole vehicles; the largest, by Dorman Products, Inc. in 2023, covered 27,528.
| Year | Maker and product | NHTSA component | Defect | Items |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Dorman Products, Inc.: Ball Joint | front control arm | certain Suspension Ball Joints, with part number BJ50075, and 2601797. | 27,528 |
| 2024 | Tenneco Automotive: Ball Joint | front control arm | certain aftermarket ball joints for 2013-2019 Ford Escape vehicles, MOOG part numbers K500346, K500347, NAPA. | 23,489 |
| 2022 | Tenneco Automotive: Sequoia, Tundra | front control arm | certain aftermarket ball joints for 2004-2007 Toyota Sequoia and 2004-2006 Toyota Tundra vehicles, MOOG part. | 15,200 |
| 2025 | Cognito Motorsports: Rev C Ball Joint | front control arm | certain Rev C Ball Joints with part number 91253, for installation on 2011-2025 GMC and Chevrolet 2500HD and. | 12,160 |
| 2024 | Mevotech Us Inc.: Control Arms | front control arm | certain aftermarket lower control arms, part numbers 5CB801134 and 5CB801135. | 6,705 |
| 2026 | Tenneco Automotive: Lower Control Arm Assembly | front control arm | certain Beck/Arnley replacement lower control arm and ball joint assemblies for 2018-2025 Subaru Forester and. | 6,668 |
| 2023 | Ironman 4x4 Usa Ii Llc: Pro Forge | front control arm | certain Pro Forge upper control arms. Please see the recall report for a list of the affected part numbers. | 6,345 |
| 2017 | Trw Automotive Inc: Ball Joint | front control arm | certain aftermarket replacement Left Hand and Right Hand Lower Ball Joints, sold for use on Toyota 4Runner. | 6,086 |
| 2017 | Reyco Granning: Front Suspension | front control arm | certain Independent Front Suspensions (IFS) modules, sizes 1000, 1700, 1800, 20 and 24. | 3,328 |
| 2021 | Tenneco Automotive: F-150 | front control arm | certain MOOG K500359 ball joints, for aftermarket installation on 2015-2018 Ford F-150 trucks. | 2,394 |
Has this part been recalled abroad on cars that may share it?
Manufacturers filed 5 foreign recall campaigns that name ball joint with NHTSA since 2015 (matched by the filing text); the latest, from Daimler Coaches North America in 2026-06.
| Filed | Manufacturer | Foreign recall no. | What the filing says |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-07 | Volvo Car | 122 | 20590 Submittal of TREAD report form per 49 CFR, Part 579, subpart B Subject: R10244� Ball Joint Dear Mr. |
| 2026-06 | Daimler Coaches | 080 | 573.6(c)(3) Total Number of Vehicles Potentially 145 Affected: 573.6(c)(5) Defect Description: Due to a voluntary disclosure by the supplier ZF Friedrichshafen AG, we have been informed that there may have been a manufacturing deviation in the ball joints. |
| 2018-02 | BMW of | 030 | During supplier production, the ball joint may not have been produced to specifications. |
| 2026-02 | ZF. | 019 | 20590 Re: Report of Foreign Safety Campaign concerning aftermarket ZF Steering Rods manufactured with unhardened ball pins Dear Ms. |
| 2025-02 | Ford Motor Company | 008 | Estimated percentage of the affected vehicles 100% reason for this field action it was observed that a gap condition existed between the left-hand front lower control arm (flca) ball joint nut and steering knuck |
How many recalled cars are actually fixed, so should I check mine?
Across 9 NHTSA recalls that name ball joint filed 2015 to 2024, 74.1% of the 748,351 recalled vehicles had been repaired after 8 quarters, against 66.2% for all recalls, which leaves about 193,808 vehicles still carrying the defect.
| Year | Vehicles | Recalled vehicles | Repaired | Component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Jeep Grand Cherokee | 338,238 | 87.0% | front control arm |
| 2015 | Mazda Cx-9 | 193,484 | 63.9% | front control arm |
| 2016 | Mazda Cx-7 | 190,102 | 59.5% | front control arm |
| 2021 | Nissan Murano | 15,223 | 88.9% | linkages |
| 2024 | Nissan Frontier | 5,929 | 80.9% | front control arm |
| 2018 | Volkswagen Tiguan | 2,473 | 99.4% | front control arm |
| 2021 | Nissan Altima | 2,407 | 94.3% | linkages tie rod assembly |
| 2024 | Jeep Grand Cherokee | 250 | 94.0% | linkages knuckle |
How bad are the streets in the biggest city, and does it show in suspension repairs?
New York City DOT's pavement inspections since 2021 rate 11.3% of inspected street length poor (1 to 3.99 on a 10-point scale), highest in Bronx (16.6%) and lowest in Brooklyn (8.6%); this is one city, not a national figure.
What it shows: Bronx is the largest at 16.6%, followed by Staten Island at 13.8%; the smallest shown is Brooklyn at 8.6%.
Which counties have the roughest roads?
FHWA's road-condition records show poor ride quality (above 170 inches per mile of roughness) on 89.1% of measured road miles in District of Columbia, DC, 74.1% in Baltimore city, MD and 65.4% in Marion County, WV, against 13.8% in the median county.
What it shows: District of Columbia, DC is the largest at 89.1%, followed by Baltimore city, MD at 74.1%; the smallest shown is New Castle County, DE at 51.9%.
Are the bridges and roads where I drive in poor condition?
FHWA's 2024 National Bridge Inventory rates 6.9% of an average state's highway bridges poor; the share is highest in IA (19.2%), WV and SD, against a median state of 6.0%.
What it shows: IA is the largest at 19.2%, followed by WV at 18.6%; the smallest shown is NY at 9.4%.
Which New York counties have the most bridges flagged poor?
New York State DOT flags 10.0% of the bridges in its inventory poor, and the share is highest in Ulster County (21.1%), Columbia (19.8%) and Rensselaer (19.6%); this is one state, not a national figure.
What it shows: Ulster is the largest at 21.1%, followed by Columbia at 19.8%; the smallest shown is Dutchess at 16.1%.
If this part was recalled, is the repair free?
Federal law (49 U.S.C. 30120) requires a maker to fix a recalled defect without charge for cars first bought within 15 calendar years (tires within 5), and NHTSA lists 17 recall campaigns for parts matched to a ball joint replacement since model year 2015, covering about 609,806 vehicles.
| Rule or count | What it says |
|---|---|
| Age limits | The free-remedy duty does not apply to a car first bought more than 15 calendar years, or a tire first bought more than 5 calendar years, before the recall notice. |
| Failure to fix | A repair not done adequately within 60 days of presentation is prima facie evidence of failure to repair within a reasonable time; the maker must then replace the vehicle or refund the purchase price less depreciation. |
| Free remedy | A maker must fix a recall defect without charge. |
| NHTSA recalls matched to a ball joint replacement since model year 2015 | 17 recall campaigns covering about 609,806 vehicles |
How often does this part fail a real inspection, by car age?
In 181,687 New Jersey initial inspections in 2025 of vehicles sent through the safety lane, 1.0% of cars aged 16+ years failed the steering and suspension test against 0.0% of cars under 3 years (record counts, not a sample).
What it shows: 16+ is the largest at 1.0%, followed by <3 at 0.0%; the smallest shown is <3 at 0.0%.
Is it recalled or covered?
| Recall number | Vehicles | Cars recalled | What the recall says |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24V-132 | Jeep Grand Cherokee 2021–2023 | 338,238 | A loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash. |
| 19V-312 | Chevrolet Trax 2017–2019 | 112,958 | A partial separation of the lower-control arm from the vehicle could cause the attached front wheel to toe outward, impacting the vehicle's handling and steering and increasing the risk of crash. |
| 19V-652 | Chevrolet Trax 2015–2018 | 93,722 | A partial separation of the lower-control arm from the vehicle could cause the attached front wheel to toe outward, impacting the vehicle's handling and steering and increasing the risk of crash. |
| 25V-341 | Ford F-150 Lightning BEV 2024–2025 | 29,501 | A detached control arm can cause a loss of vehicle steering and control, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 24V-949 | Ford F-150 Lightning BEV 2023–2024 | 11,922 | A detached control arm can cause a loss of vehicle steering and control, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 24V-479 | Nissan Frontier 2024 | 5,929 | Ball joint separation can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 26V-340 | Ford Maverick 2022–2026; Ford Bronco Sport 2021–2026 | 4,653 | A detached control arm can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 25V-310 | Ford Bronco 2024–2025; Ford Ranger 2024–2025 | 4,497 | A detached control arm can cause a loss of vehicle steering and control, increasing the risk of a crash. |
9 more recalls name this part, on smaller fleets. The car finder at the top checks yours.
A bulletin is a repair procedure a maker sends its dealers, not a safety defect: if your maker is listed, ask the dealer whether one covers your car and quote its number.
| Maker | Vehicles | Bulletin number | Date | What it says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeep | Wagoneer 2022–2026; Grand Wagoneer 2022–2026 | S2502000001 | Dec 1, 2025 | Lower ball joint / lower control arm servicing updates. |
| Land Rover | Discovery 2017–2025; Defender 2020–2025 | SSM76376 - 04AUG25 | Aug 4, 2025 | A number of warranty return front lower control arms where the ball joint shows signs of damage due to over-articulation of the arm during removal and installation. |
| BMW | IX 2024 | B064025 | Jul 25, 2025 | Right ball joint. |
| GMC | Sierra 1500 2019–2022 | PIE0715C | Dec 9, 2022 | This engineering information (EI) closure ends the need for gathering information from technicians in regards to the front upper control arm ball joint separated from the socket. |
| GMC | Sierra 1500 2019–2022 | PIE0715B | Nov 21, 2022 | This engineering information (EI) closure ends the need for gathering further information from technicians in regards to the front upper control arm ball joint separated from the socket. |
| Tesla | Model 3 2018–2020; Model X 2018–2020 and 1 more | SB-20-31-006 R3 | Jul 2, 2021 | On certain Model 3, Model Y, and Model X vehicles, there may be a water ingress path to both front upper control arm ball joints that, over time, could possibly lead to surface corrosion of these ball joints. |
19 more bulletins name this part; the car finder at the top checks yours, and the NHTSA bulletin file linked below lists them all.
What do owners say?
4 complaints quoted word for word, each with its NHTSA number.
This vehicle had the driver side lower suspension connector link crack and fail at the lower ball joint at 22K miles.
The ball joint and control arms in the front start squeaking just after warranty ends at 50k miles.
The ball joint for the front left tire broke while driving on a straight road and caused over $2,100 worth of damage to the wheel, axle, brake, etc.
A vehicle with 45,000 Miles had ball joint shear from the upper control arm of front left suspension resulting in wheel separation from the ball joint.
Check your car
Our calculator's default ball joint replacement cost is $211–$548 for one joint with budget aftermarket parts, labor at $120 an hour. How many joints you replace, the part grade and the shop you choose move that number most.
What does the ball joint price cover?
The estimate covers one ball joint, the part, and the labor to swap it at the hourly rate for the shop type you pick. It does not cover what the job turns up: a worn control arm, a torn tie rod end, or a seized stud that has to be cut out.
Taxes, shop fees and a diagnostic charge sit outside the range. Wheel alignment is also separate, and most shops will say the car needs one after the suspension has been taken apart. Ask for it as its own line on the quote.
How much do joint count, part grade and shop change the price?
Each row changes one setting from the default and leaves the rest alone.
| Setting | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Default: 1 joint, budget aftermarket, $120/hr | $211–$548 |
| Economy car (Civic, Corolla, Focus) | $199–$506 |
| SUV or truck (Tahoe, Ram 1500, 4Runner) | $223–$589 |
| 2 joints, both sides of one axle | $421–$1,095 |
| Quality aftermarket (Timken, SKF, Moog) | $228–$603 |
| OEM (dealer original) | $283–$789 |
| Independent shop (about $100/hr) | $192–$509 |
| Dealership (about $175/hr) | $264–$654 |
OEM parts add the most for a single joint. The pair costs about twice one joint in the calculator, so ask the shop whether pricing both sides together lowers the labor.
How do I tell it is the ball joint, and how urgent is it?
A worn joint usually announces itself as a clunk or knock over bumps and on tight turns, a loose or wandering feel in the steering, or a tire wearing unevenly on one edge.
Treat a clunk as something to book this month. A joint can wear for a long time, but one that separates can drop the wheel, and no repair price is worth that risk. If the noise is loud, the wheel wobbles or steering suddenly feels vague, stop driving and have the car towed.
Should I replace the joint or the whole control arm?
On many cars the joint is pressed into the control arm, and some shops sell the arm with a new joint already fitted. That can cost more in parts but less in labor, because no one has to press the old joint out. Ask the shop to quote a joint alone and a complete arm. If the arm's rubber bushings are cracked, the complete arm is usually the better buy.
How do I get a fair quote?
Give two or three shops the same details: year, make, model, which side, and whether you want one joint or the pair. Ask for the brand and the warranty, and compare quotes for the same part grade.
Ask the shop to show you the old joint when you pick the car up.
What does the estimate leave out?
It is a range for a typical car, not a quote for yours. Some vehicles need the strut disconnected to reach the joint, and tapered studs that will not come out take extra time. Both raise labor above the default.
If a quote lands well above the range for your part grade and shop type, ask what is being added before you pay. The next step is to enter your setup in the calculator and take that range with you.
Frequently asked questions
Can I replace a ball joint myself?
Experienced owners do, and it saves the labor line. The suspension is under spring tension and needs a press, so skip it without the tools.
Do I need an alignment afterward?
Usually yes. Taking the joint out changes the suspension angles, and skipping the alignment can wear a new tire quickly.
Sources
Data shown on this page
- NHTSA owner complaint file (2015-2019 · 2020-2024 · 2025-2026) file downloaded 2026-10-05
- NHTSA recall file file downloaded 2026-10-05
- NHTSA service bulletin file (2015-2019 · 2020-2024 · 2025-2026) file downloaded 2026-10-05
- CalcScrape calculator model scaled by BEA Regional Price Parities data from 2024
- BLS Producer Price Index, commodity data for motor vehicle parts (series WPU14120502); BLS Consumer Price Index item SETD for the repair row file downloaded August 2026
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, Foreign Campaigns (filings under 49 CFR 579.11, public API) file downloaded 2026-10-05
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall quarterly reports (basis of the Annual List of Recall Completion Rates) file downloaded 2026-10-05
- NYC DOT, Street Pavement Ratings (NYC Open Data 6yyb-pb25), SystemRating bands from the NYC DOT pavement rating metadata data from 2025
- FHWA Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) national section data, roughness (IRI) by county; poor-ride cut from the FHWA Conditions and Performance Report data from 2026
- FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 delimited state files (highway bridges, BRIDGE_CONDITION code P) data from 2024
- New York State DOT, Bridge Conditions (NYS Open Data wpyb-cjy8), poor_status flag data from 2025
- 49 U.S.C. 30120 (Remedies for defects and noncompliance), text via Cornell Legal Information Institute; NHTSA recall campaigns data from 2026
- New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, Vehicle Inspection Data file downloaded 2026-10
Terms: US government data, public domain.
Observed: records as filed; owner reports are unverified and are not failure rates. Modeled: our estimate, not a quote. Derived: computed from the records; an association, not a cause. Rule: a published legal rule, not a measurement; whether it covers a given repair depends on the car and the facts.
What is our own estimate
The price range comes from our calculator's formula. Its parts prices, labor hours per job and shop-rate tiers are CalcScrape estimates, not a published price dataset. Checked against RepairPal's range ($307–$452) on 2026-10-06: our default's midpoint is 0% above the middle of that range. Methodology