Same job at other shop types (everything else as set above): Independent shop (~$100/hr) $231–$951 · Chain shop / franchise (~$120/hr) $261–$1,039 (the headline above) · Dealership (~$175/hr) $342–$1,282. 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.
How the price estimate was built
What it shows: Our default range is $261 to $1,039; 5 of 5 published ranges overlap it.
How serious did it get for owners?
4% of the 2,306 complaints report injury, the most common serious outcome; the other outcomes counted below are rarer, and an owner can file without mentioning one.
Outcomes owners reported in complaints about this part. Injury reported: 86; Crash reported: 6; Fire reported: 2.
Counts below are complaints filed with NHTSA, not failure rates: a longer bar means more owners reported it.
Is your car affected?
Is it urgent, and what do owners notice first?
2,306 owner complaints name this part.
What it shows: Recall mentioned is the largest at 25%, followed by Dealer could not fix or repeat repair at 12%; the smallest shown is Noise at 3%.
How fast were owners driving when it happened?
25-44 mph is the largest group at 35%, out of 285 complaints.
Owners reported it most often at town speeds. Tell the shop what speed it happens at, because that narrows the diagnosis.
Which model years show up most in the complaints?
2016 is the most common model year in 2,306 complaints naming this part (27%); 3 model years account for 58%.
What it shows: 2016 is the largest at 633 (27%); the smallest shown is 2024 at 38 (2%).
When in the year do owners report it?
NHTSA owner complaints about this part run furthest above the usual seasonal share in January: about 48% more of them name an incident that month than complaints about any part would predict. A complaint is a report, not a measured failure.
What it shows: January is the largest at 13% (all: 9%), followed by February at 10% (all: 8%); the smallest shown is April at 6% (all: 8%).
Have prices for this kind of repair been rising faster than other car costs?
In the BLS consumer price index for U.S. cities, prices for motor vehicle body work are up 41.7% since December 2019, against 74.2% for motor vehicle repair and 55.2% for maintenance and repair overall (latest reading 2026-07).
Consumer prices since December 2019: motor vehicle body work against motor vehicle repair. Motor vehicle body work: +41.7%; Motor vehicle repair: +74.2%; Motor vehicle maintenance and repair: +55.2%.
Do reports of this repair follow the weather where owners live, county by county?
NHTSA owner complaints about car door repair run 49% above the national share in the third of 33 counties with the coldest winters, and 3% below in the third with the mildest winters.
Car door repair complaints run higher in counties with cold winters. Third of counties with the mildest winters: 3% below; Middle third: 23% above; Third with the coldest winters: 49% above.
- A firm pattern. Weak spot: hold summer heat (cooling degree days) equal and the pattern disappears, so it may be mostly that factor.
Do car door repair problems track days with snowfall across states?
Days with snowfall
Complaints against what the makes sold would predict (1.0× = expected)
left map: lower to higherright map: green fewer complaints than expected, red morefurthest from the pattern: AZ, CO, IL, KS, KY, MI, ND, OH, OR, TN, VA, WAfewer than 10 complaints
This describes states, not any one car, and it does not show that the left measure produces the right one.
Every state with 10 or more complaints, most over-reported first: state, days with snowfall, complaints against expected, complaints filed.
- ND 16 · 2.92× · 10
- AK 22 · 2.43× · 11
- WA 5 · 1.71× · 90
- ME 23 · 1.64× · 16
- OR 2 · 1.64× · 38
- WI 16 · 1.42× · 52
- OH 8 · 1.40× · 117
- UT 13 · 1.30× · 25
- NY 24 · 1.27× · 131
- NH 20 · 1.23× · 14
- MA 13 · 1.23× · 55
- PA 11 · 1.22× · 103
- MO 4 · 1.17× · 51
- TN 1 · 1.17× · 58
- IA 11 · 1.15× · 20
- MN 15 · 1.13× · 35
- MD 5 · 1.11× · 61
- IN 7 · 1.10× · 45
- AZ 0 · 1.10× · 64
- NV 5 · 1.09× · 26
- ID 15 · 1.04× · 11
- CT 12 · 1.04× · 25
- MI 24 · 1.03× · 82
- AL 0 · 1.02× · 36
- NJ 6 · 0.99× · 63
- OK 2 · 0.97× · 24
- NC 1 · 0.92× · 74
- AR 1 · 0.92× · 17
- CA 0 · 0.91× · 243
- CO 16 · 0.89× · 39
- IL 7 · 0.86× · 70
- MS 0 · 0.83× · 14
- FL 0 · 0.80× · 152
- LA 0 · 0.80× · 23
- VA 4 · 0.79× · 60
- SC 0 · 0.79× · 32
- TX 0 · 0.76× · 156
- KY 3 · 0.74× · 22
- GA 0 · 0.65× · 57
- KS 5 · 0.63× · 11
What it shows: States with more days with snowfall tend to sit higher on the chart across 40 states: a pattern in the data, not proof of cause.
- A firm pattern: fewer than 1 in 100 patterns this clear turn out to be false alarms. Weak spot: hold very hot days equal and only 10% of the days with snowfall pattern remains, so part of it may be that factor.
Do car door repair problems track spending on vehicle maintenance and repair per resident across states?
What it shows: States with more spending on vehicle maintenance and repair per resident (dollars) tend to sit higher on the chart across 40 states: a pattern in the data, not proof of cause.
- A moderate pattern, probably real but not certain: about 1 in 16 patterns this clear turn out to be false alarms. Weak spot: hold freezing days equal and only 27% of the spending on vehicle maintenance and repair per resident pattern remains, so part of it may be that factor.
How much of a repair bill is labor and how much is parts?
In the 2017 Economic Census, auto body, paint and interior shops took 52.5% of their repair revenue from labor charges and 47.5% from parts installed, close to the 51.0% labor share of all auto repair shops (U.S. Census Bureau, national, 35,516 shops).
| Shop type (NAICS) | Labor charges | Parts installed | All revenue of the shop type | Establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automotive body, paint, and interior repair and maintenance | 52.5% | 47.5% | $38.7 billion | 35,516 |
| Automotive repair and maintenance (all shop types) | 51.0% | 49.0% | $115.3 billion | 162,185 |
| Automotive mechanical and electrical repair and maintenance | 50.4% | 49.6% | $54.9 billion | 92,088 |
Has the replacement part I am buying been recalled?
NHTSA lists 8 equipment recalls that name door since 2015 (structure and latches/locks/linkages), covering 5,650,372 items sold as parts rather than whole vehicles; the largest, by Kiekert Usa in 2020, covered 5,641,577.
| Year | Maker and product | NHTSA component | Defect | Items |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Kiekert Usa: C1a | doors latch | cars built with certain Kiekert USA (Kiekert) C1A door latches. | 5,641,577 |
| 2016 | Morryde International, Inc.: Zero G Ramp Door | body door | certain Zero G Ramp Door hinges manufactured August 21, 2016, to December 12, 2016. | 2,500 |
| 2026 | Lippert: 3000 Series Ramp Door | body door | certain 3000 Series Hidden Hinge Ramp Doors. Please see the 573 Recall Report for a complete list of affected. | 2,154 |
| 2025 | Trimark Corporation: Left Hand Door Latch, Right Hand. | doors latch | certain door latches, part numbers 19233-01 (0534-EE3-001) and 19232-01 (0557-EE3-001), installed on Spartan. | 1,080 |
| 2023 | Lippert: Global Latch Lk702 | doors latch | certain Global latches, model number LK702, and part number 2021023898, used in Lippert series 3500 and 920. | 1,043 |
| 2025 | Lippert: Paddle Latch | latches/locks/linkages | certain Paddle Latches with part number 2021097882, equipped on REV Recreation Group vehicles when used. | 815 |
| 2017 | Trimark Corporation: Striker Bolts | body door | certain door striker bolts, model number 070-0100, assembled into door systems for ambulance manufacturers. | 781 |
| 2020 | Trimark Corporation: Left Hand Door Latch | doors latch | certain 50-200 Door Latches, part numbers 24301/02 and 26756/57 used in certain emergency vehicles. | 422 |
Has this part been recalled abroad on cars that may share it?
Manufacturers filed 87 foreign recall campaigns that name door with NHTSA since 2015; the latest, from Nissan North America in 2026-03. These are recalls abroad, and they apply to U.S. cars only if the same model is sold here.
| Filed | Manufacturer | Foreign recall no. | What the filing says |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-09 | Ford Motor Company | 156 | The driver / passenger may experience water leaks around the glazing apertures (front windshield, side-load door and side windows) on these vehicles. |
| 2025-09 | Bentley Motors. | 146 | (a) The wiring harness between the door pressure sensor and the airbag control unit was not adapted for a right-hand drive vehicle layout. |
| 2025-07 | Hyundai Motor America | 107 | Description of the defect/noncompliance: The subject vehicle's charging port door outer panel's adhesion could degrade over time while being driven in low ambient temperature(s) at high speed, increasing the risk of detachment during operation. |
| 2026-03 | Nissan. | 040 | Description of the Defect During final inspection at the Egypt plant, multiple vehicles were found with the door window glass shattered. |
How many recalled cars are actually fixed, so should I check mine?
Across 23 NHTSA recalls that name door filed 2015 to 2024, 56.1% of the 3,713,190 recalled vehicles had been repaired after 8 quarters, against 66.2% for all recalls, which leaves about 1,630,549 vehicles still carrying the defect.
What it shows: Honda 2020 is the largest at 91.0%; the smallest shown is Ford 2023 at 32.3%.
How thoroughly has NHTSA crash tested side impacts and ejection?
NHTSA's crash test database holds 552 tests of side impact and ejection, led by FMVSS 226: ejection mitigation with 252 component tests.
NHTSA crash and component tests in its research database for side impact and ejection. FMVSS 214: side impact protection: 224; FMVSS 226: ejection mitigation: 76; FMVSS 226: ejection mitigation: 252.
Which U.S. counties get hail that damages cars?
NOAA Storm Prediction Center logged hail of 1 inch or larger most often in El Paso County, CO, Pennington County, SD and Sedgwick County, KS, about 40.9 reports a year from 2000 to 2024, against 1.5 in the median U.S. county; reports also reflect where people live to see and call in hail.
What it shows: El Paso County, CO is the largest at 40.9, followed by Pennington County, SD at 37.4; the smallest shown is Ford County, KS at 19.2.
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 20 recall campaigns for parts matched to a car door repair since model year 2015, covering about 2,378,138 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 car door repair since model year 2015 | 20 recall campaigns covering about 2,378,138 vehicles |
Is it recalled or covered?
| Recall number | Vehicles | Cars recalled | What the recall says |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17V-652 | Ford F-250 SD 2017; Ford F-450 SD 2017; Ford F-150 2015–2017 and 1 more | 1,101,107 | A door that opens while driving can increase the risk of injury. |
| 17V-040 | Nissan Altima 2015–2017 | 341,005 | If the rear passenger doors inadvertently open while the vehicle is in motion, it may increase the risk of injury to the rear passengers. |
| 20V-437 | Honda Odyssey 2018–2020 | 324,196 | A power sliding door that fails to latch may open while moving, increasing the risk of injury. |
| 25V-404 | Ford Mustang Mach E 2021–2025 | 197,432 | The inability to enter or exit the vehicle in an emergency increases the risk of injury. |
| 19V-849 | Volvo V60CC 2015–2017; Volvo S60CC 2015–2017; Volvo S60 2015–2017 and 2 more | 144,937 | A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant. |
| 23V-502 | Ford Transit Connect 2015–2016 | 112,225 | An unlatched door can open while driving, increasing the risk of injury. |
| 25V-106 | BMW X3 2022–2024 | 40,736 | Doors that can be inadvertently unlocked and unlatched may open unexpectedly, increasing the risk of injury to rear seat occupants. |
| 17V-233 | Mitsubishi Outlander 2016; Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 2016 | 35,674 | If a door opens while the vehicle is being driven, it can increase the risk of injury. |
12 more recalls name this part, on smaller fleets. The car finder at the top checks yours.
NHTSA defect investigations naming this part (5)
| Case number | Vehicles | Opened | Status | What NHTSA looked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PE25010 | Tesla Model Y 2021 | Sep 15, 2025 | Open | Electronic door handles become. |
| RQ19005 | Ford C-MAX 2015; Ford C-MAX Energi 2015; Ford C-MAX Hybrid 2015; Ford Escape 2015 and 11 more | Dec 19, 2019 | Closed Feb 7, 2022 | Door latch. |
| EA18004 | Land Rover Range Rover 2015–2016; Land Rover Range Rover Sport 2015–2016 | Jul 2, 2018 | Closed Oct 17, 2019 | Door latch. |
| RQ17005 | Land Rover Range Rover 2015–2016; Land Rover Range Rover Sport 2015–2016 | Aug 4, 2017 | Closed Jul 3, 2018 | Door latch open while. |
| PE16001 | Ford C-MAX 2015; Ford C-MAX Energi 2015; Ford C-MAX Hybrid 2015; Ford Escape 2015 and 5 more | Jan 16, 2016 | Closed Oct 29, 2016 | Door latch. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda | Odyssey 2024–2027 | ATI&09182026901 | Sep 18, 2026 | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. |
| Jeep | Grand Cherokee 2021–2026; Grand Cherokee 4xe 2022–2026 and 1 more | 9100905 | Sep 10, 2026 | Passive Entry O/S Dr Handle Prior to replacing an inoperative passive entry door handle, perform Star Online S2623000040. |
| Jeep | Recon 2025–2027; Wagoneer S 2024–2026 and 1 more | 114080 | Aug 19, 2026 | Handle bracket - exterior door & bracket. |
| Mercedes-Benz | E 450 4matic 2025–2026; AMG EQS 4matic+ 2025 and 33 more | LI72.00-P-080885 | Aug 14, 2026 | Complaint The Dark Chrome finish on the retractable door handle appears discolored, stained, or faded. |
| Jeep | Cherokee 2026 | 23-034-26 | Aug 14, 2026 | Door Latch 12V Battery Drain Customers must experience the following: SYMPTOM: The 12v battery is depleted. |
| Dodge | Charger EV 2025 | 08-304-26 | Aug 5, 2026 | Flash: Driver Door Latch Module (DDLM) and Passenger Door Latch Module (PDLM) Updates Customers may experience one or more of the following: SYMPTOM: Door glass does not drop when opening the door. |
69 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 (11)
| Maker | Vehicles | Date | Notice number | What the maker extended |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiat | 500 2012–2019 | Jun 16, 2026 | 23-021 | Broken exterior door. |
| Chrysler | Town and Country 2015–2017; Town and Country 2017–2019; Town and Country 2015–2016 and 2 more | Feb 4, 2025 | 23-001 | Sliding door lock actuators failing to lock. |
| KIA | Sportage 2017 | Mar 24, 2021 | WTY020_DP | Door latches not opening from outside. |
| KIA | Sportage 2017 | Mar 24, 2021 | WTY020_TSB | Front and rear door latches not opening from outside. |
| Toyota | Tundra 2007–2015 | Jul 2, 2018 | ZH3-Region Email | Outside door handles on certain trucks. |
6 more extension notices name this part: Toyota, Chrysler, Honda, KIA. Ask the dealer whether one covers your car.
What do owners say?
4 complaints quoted word for word, each with its NHTSA number.
The dealer thinks it is a faulty door latch actuator ($530 parts and labor).
I’m told this malfunction is the result of a faulty door actuator, and repairs would cost over $300.
$375 for all three (manual 2.2 software update, water pump replacement, and all door handles checked).
Left side door trim keeps popping off Replaced driver front door handle, on 25 march 21 Same type defect reported for passenger side on 13 December 23 Local dealer refused and charge $520.41 estimated.
Check your car
Car door repair cost starts at $261–$1,039 for a dent and reaches $1,386–$3,449 for a full replacement door. Those are our estimates at the calculator's default settings ($120 an hour), so treat a quote far outside them as a reason to ask questions.
How much does car door repair cost?
Plan on $261–$1,039 for a dent, $870–$2,248 for a panel that needs body work and paint, and $1,386–$3,449 to replace the door. The table shows what our calculator returns for each kind of damage at its default vehicle and shop settings.
| Damage | What it involves | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Dent or crease | Dent repair, parts and labor at $120 an hour | $261–$1,039 |
| Panel damage | Body work plus paint | $870–$2,248 |
| Full door replacement | Replacement door, parts and labor at $120 an hour | $1,386–$3,449 |
The ranges are wide because doors are. A dent with intact paint is a few hours of work. A crushed panel means filling, sanding, priming and painting, and paint labor is where most surprise charges hide.
Before you say yes to anything, ask the shop which of these three rows you are paying for. A quote that doesn't say is a quote you can't compare.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to fix a dent in a car door?
Expect $261–$1,039 in our estimate, $231–$951 at an independent shop and $342–$1,282 at a dealership. A small dent with intact paint can cost less with paintless repair, and a dent with cracked paint moves into the $870–$2,248 panel-repair range.
How much does it cost to replace a car door?
Our estimate is $1,386–$3,449 for parts and labor at $120 an hour. Published sources run from $500 for a used door to $2,500 or more, and luxury or feature-heavy doors cost more.
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 defect investigation file downloaded 2026-10-05
- NHTSA service bulletin file (2015-2019 · 2020-2024 · 2025-2026) downloaded 2026-10-05
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), U.S. city average downloaded 2026-07
- NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county climate files 1991-2020, joined to NHTSA owner complaints placed in counties by city name downloaded 2026-10-05
- NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, joined to NHTSA owner complaints downloaded 2026-10-12
- BEA Personal Consumption Expenditures by State 2024, motor vehicle maintenance and repair, joined to NHTSA owner complaints downloaded 2026-10-12
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2017 Economic Census, Other Services, revenue from labor charges and parts installed (EC1781LABOR) downloaded 2017 data, published 2021
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, Foreign Campaigns (filings under 49 CFR 579.11, public API) 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
- NHTSA Vehicle Safety Research and Development Database, crash test database API (vehicle and component tests) downloaded 2026-10-05
- NOAA Storm Prediction Center, Severe Weather Database (hail reports 1955-2024); county land area from the Census Gazetteer downloaded 2025 (file covers through 2024)
- 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 5 established price guides on 2026-09-29: our default's midpoint is 32% below the middle of the median of 5 published guides. Price evidence grade A: 5 outside published ranges; the hours and parts prices behind the estimate are CalcScrape assumptions and have not been checked against repair invoices. Methodology