Same job at other shop types (everything else as set above): Independent $115–$469 · Dealer $162–$656 (the headline above). Each figure applies that shop type's hourly labor rate (market estimates, shown above) to the calculator's own hours and parts assumptions. It is modeled, not a quote.
Check a quote against these ranges
This sets your number beside published ranges and owner-written bills. It is not a verdict: ask the shop what the quote includes (parts grade, labor hours, fees, tax). It runs in your browser and nothing you type is sent anywhere.
How serious did it get for owners?
5% of the 239 complaints report fire, the most common serious outcome; the other outcomes counted below are rarer, and an owner can file without mentioning one.
What it shows: Fire reported is the largest at 11, followed by Towed at 5; the smallest shown is Crash reported at 3.
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 50,000-100,000 (38%). The biggest difference from all complaints is under 50,000: 32% against 60%.
What it shows: The most common band for complaints about this repair is 6-9 years (38%). The biggest difference from all complaints is under 3 years old: 22% against 40%.
Is it urgent, and what do owners notice first?
239 owner complaints name this part.
Owners most often describe "recall mentioned", in 38% of these complaints.
How fast were owners driving when it happened?
55 mph or faster is the largest group at 40%, out of 45 complaints.
Owners reported it most often at highway speed. Tell the shop what speed it happens at, because that narrows the diagnosis.
Which model years show up most in the complaints?
2017 is the most common model year in 239 complaints naming this part (26%); 3 model years account for 59%.
What it shows: 2017 is the largest at 63 (26%), followed by 2015 at 44 (18%); the smallest shown is 2024 at 2 (1%).
How many recalled cars are actually fixed, so should I check mine?
Across 4 NHTSA recalls that name blower motor filed 2015 to 2024, 59.0% of the 407,689 recalled vehicles had been repaired after 8 quarters, against 66.2% for all recalls, which leaves about 167,001 vehicles still carrying the defect.
What it shows: Ford 2020 is the largest at 90.1%, followed by Lincoln 2022 at 66.6%; the smallest shown is Gmc 2023 at 44.3%.
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 5 recall campaigns for parts matched to a blower motor replacement since model year 2015, covering about 263,056 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 blower motor replacement since model year 2015 | 5 recall campaigns covering about 263,056 vehicles |
Is it recalled or covered?
| Recall number | Vehicles | Cars recalled | What the recall says |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22V-648 | Lincoln Navigator 2015–2017; Ford Expedition 2015–2017 | 198,482 | Front blower motor failure can increase the risk of a vehicle interior fire. |
| 25V-649 | KIA Sorento 2021–2023 | 39,536 | A fire increases the risk of injury. |
| 19V-726 | Ford Ranger 2019 | 17,965 | An electrical short can increase the risk of a fire. |
| 20V-137 | Ford Ranger 2019 | 5,384 | A resistive electrical short increases the risk of a fire. |
| 25V-430 | Jeep Grand Cherokee 2023; Jeep Grand Cherokee L 2023 | 1,689 | An inoperative windshield defrosting and defogging system may decrease the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan | Rogue 2021 | NTB22-023A | Jul 12, 2022 | Blower motor makes clicking noise due to snow intrusion This bulletin has been amended. |
| Mazda | CX-5 2017–2020; Mazda6 2017–2020 | 07-003-21-3825 | Sep 10, 2021 | Some vehicles may exhibit a squeaking noise from the blower motor while it is operating. |
| Acura | MDX 2019–2020 | BPaS03252021904 | Mar 25, 2021 | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. |
| Honda | FIT 2015–2020 | A21-005 | Jan 18, 2021 | Service Bulletin - The blower motor makes excessive noise, runs slowly, or intermittently stops working. |
| RAM | 1500 2020–2021 | S2008000171 | Nov 6, 2020 | HVAC blower motor operates intermittently or changes. |
| Subaru | Impreza 2015–2016; Forester 2015–2018 and 3 more | 10-96-19 | Dec 13, 2019 | This bulletin announces availability of a new HVAC blower motor unit assemblies developed to address isolated concerns of the blower motor becoming inoperative. |
38 more bulletins name this part; the car finder at the top checks yours, and the NHTSA bulletin file linked below lists them all.
Manufacturer warranty extensions naming this part (2)
| Maker | Vehicles | Date | Notice number | What the maker extended |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KIA | K5 2021–2022 | Sep 17, 2024 | WTY037_TSB_R1 | HVAC blower motor fuse terminal damage causing inoperative. |
| Chevrolet | Malibu 2016 | Jun 13, 2022 | N192291600 | Hybrid battery cooling blower motor electrical connection. |
What do owners say?
4 complaints quoted word for word, each with its NHTSA number.
I took it in to the dealership for service and was told the passenger side blower motor was damaged and paid $400 to have that replaced.
Vehicle is at 53k miles and the blower motor already has failed.
On trips over 100 miles or 45 minutes the A/C will freeze over and the blower motor will go to reduced speed and not blow cold.
2017 toyota tacoma ac blower motor broken at 17,000 miles.
Check your car
Blower motor replacement runs $162–$656 for a front motor at a dealer. Shop type and where the motor sits behind the dash move the total most, and a weak fan is an inconvenience until you can no longer clear the windshield.
What changes the price the most?
Two things: who does the work and which motor it is. Here's how the estimate shifts when you change only one input at a time.
| Change from the default | Estimate | Labor basis |
|---|---|---|
| Rear (second-row) motor, dealer | $155–$501 | $165/hr, 1–3 hr |
| Front motor, independent shop | $115–$469 | $100/hr, 1–4 hr |
The independent shop saves money through the hourly rate, not the hours. A rear motor tops out lower because there's usually less in the way.
What does the estimate leave out?
The calculator prices the motor and the labor to fit it. It doesn't price the extras that sometimes ride along. A diagnostic fee can be added on top, and a clogged cabin air filter is a separate item.
If the resistor or control module turns out to be the real culprit, you're quoting a different repair altogether. Shop supply charges, taxes and disposal fees also vary by location.
Local labor rates are the biggest unknown; the hourly rates above are examples.
Frequently asked questions
Can I replace a blower motor myself?
On many cars, yes, if the motor is behind the glove box and held by a few screws. If dash panels have to come off, a broken clip can erase the savings.
Why does the fan squeal when I turn it on?
A squeal that rises and falls with fan speed usually points to worn bearings or something caught in the fan cage. Have it looked at before it seizes.
Sources
Data shown on this page
- NHTSA owner complaint file (2015-2019 · 2020-2024 · 2025-2026) downloaded 2026-10-05
- NHTSA recall file downloaded 2026-10-05
- NHTSA service bulletin file (2015-2019 · 2020-2024 · 2025-2026) downloaded 2026-10-05
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall quarterly reports (basis of the Annual List of Recall Completion Rates) downloaded 2026-10-05
- 49 U.S.C. 30120 (Remedies for defects and noncompliance), text via Cornell Legal Information Institute; NHTSA recall campaigns data from 2026
Terms: US government data, public domain.
Observed: records as filed; owner reports are unverified and are not failure rates. 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 ($383–$435) on 2026-10-10: our default's midpoint is 0% above the middle of that range. Price evidence grade C: one outside published range; the hours and parts prices behind the estimate are CalcScrape assumptions and have not been checked against repair invoices. Methodology