Brake Caliper Replacement Cost Calculator

The 19 owners who reported what they paid had a median of $967. That is above this page's default front-axle caliper-plus-pads estimate of $334–$601, and it falls inside the both-axles range of $668–$1,202. The gap has a likely explanation: many of these complaints describe calipers, rotors and hoses replaced together, or calipers replaced on both ends of the car. The top quarter of owners paid $2,100 or more, and the highest report was $9,129. Those figures fit multi-part brake jobs better than a single caliper.

If your quote is near the median, ask whether it covers both axles or includes rotors. If it covers one caliper on one axle, it is well above what the calculator shows for that job.

Mazda models make up three of the most-reported vehicles. The CX-5 has 27 complaints, peaking on 2016-2018 models. The Mazda3 has 15, peaking on 2015-2017. The Mazda6 has 12, with a median of 14,000 miles, one of the lowest in the table. Owners describe calipers seizing and wearing out pads and rotors early. One 2016 CX-5 owner told NHTSA: "At 15k miles the driver's side rear brake caliper failed, causing the brake to drag and overheat during a 400 mile holiday roadtrip." A 2017 Mazda3 owner wrote that the dealer found rear pads "frozen in the calipers along with deep scoring on rotor surfaces" at 17,000 miles, with the cost not covered.

On a Mazda from these years, a rear caliper that drags early is a pattern other owners have reported, not a one-off. Put the mileage and the dragging symptom on the repair order.

Three rear caliper piston recalls cover the largest number of cars in this data:

• 18V576000 (GM): 210,628 units, including 2018-2019 Chevrolet Impala, Volt, Bolt EV and Cadillac XTS. The consequence listed was reduced braking performance.
• 18V523000 (FCA): 154,335 units of 2018-2019 Dodge Grand Caravan and Jeep Compass, 2018 Dodge Journey and 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The rear caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating.
• 18V777000 (Honda): 64,785 units of 2016 and 2018-2019 Honda HR-V, 2018-2019 Odyssey and 2017-2019 Acura MDX.

If your car is on one of these lists and the rear caliper is what's failing, have the dealer run the VIN before you pay a shop. An open recall repair costs you nothing.

In two 2020 recalls, the caliper itself was fine; the problem was how it was attached. Recall 20V346000 covered 24,037 Mazda3 and CX-30 vehicles whose front caliper mounting bolts may not have been tightened properly. Recall 20V116000 covered 20,352 Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500 trucks whose caliper bolts may not have been heat treated and could break. Both recalls list reduced braking or interference with wheel rotation as the consequence.

Recall 16V168000 covered 21,183 2015-2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles for a left front caliper that could crack. On these models, a noise or pull from the front should be checked against the recall before you pay for a caliper.

Brake hoses appear in 81 caliper complaints. That association is 34.3 times stronger than chance, second only to brake rotors. Owners describe hoses splitting at the caliper and losing brake fluid. A 2016 Lincoln MKX owner told NHTSA: "Right front brake line at the caliper split at 51,000 miles, complete loss of fluid and brakes while driving in the city." In 43 complaints, owners said they lost braking entirely.

A fluid leak near the wheel is not always the caliper seal. Ask the shop to confirm whether the leak comes from the caliper or the hose before you approve a caliper replacement.

Jeep issued bulletin 109607 on the Wrangler and Wrangler 4xe for 2022-2026 models, covering the disc brake caliper assembly. The Wrangler already leads the complaint count. Dodge bulletin 9100896, for the 2022-2023 Charger with brake code BR9, tells technicians to verify a caliper leak before replacing the part, because excess grease from the supplier's process can look like a leak. If you're quoted for a leaking caliper on one of these cars, ask whether the dealer followed that bulletin.