How serious did it get for owners?
13% of the 730 complaints report a tow, the most common serious outcome; the other outcomes counted below are rarer, and an owner can file without mentioning one.
What it shows: Towed is the largest at 95, followed by Crash reported at 29; the smallest shown is Death reported at 1.
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 (44%), against 60% for all complaints: the biggest difference between the two.
Is it urgent, and what do owners notice first?
730 owner complaints name this part.
What it shows: Noise is the largest at 26%, followed by Warning light at 14%; the smallest shown is Stalled or lost power at 6%.
Which other parts do owners name in the same complaint?
Among the 730 owner complaints naming this part, differential is named in 10% of them, more than any other part.
Owners name the differential most often in the same complaint, which is not proof that one caused the other. Ask the shop whether it checked the differential too, so you are not quoted twice for one visit.
How fast were owners driving when it happened?
55 mph or faster is the largest group at 43%, out of 413 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?
2016 is the most common model year in 730 complaints naming this part (18%); 4 model years account for 58%.
What it shows: 2016 is the largest at 134 (18%); the smallest shown is 2025 at 15 (2%).
Do driveshaft replacement problems track days at or below 32°F across states?
Days at or below 32°F
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: KS, MD, MI, MN, OK, VAfewer 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 at or below 32°f, complaints against expected, complaints filed.
- KS 124 · 2.13× · 12
- NY 148 · 1.61× · 54
- CT 129 · 1.40× · 11
- OK 82 · 1.35× · 11
- CO 178 · 1.28× · 17
- OH 123 · 1.28× · 35
- MA 137 · 1.27× · 18
- TN 84 · 1.26× · 20
- WA 90 · 1.21× · 19
- NJ 111 · 1.20× · 24
- IL 122 · 1.16× · 29
- PA 131 · 1.10× · 30
- SC 53 · 1.06× · 14
- FL 3 · 1.03× · 60
- TX 41 · 1.00× · 67
- MN 173 · 0.96× · 10
- IN 119 · 0.95× · 13
- CA 18 · 0.90× · 71
- MI 153 · 0.88× · 25
- NC 71 · 0.87× · 22
- AZ 59 · 0.83× · 14
- VA 101 · 0.82× · 19
- GA 47 · 0.76× · 21
- MD 93 · 0.67× · 11
What it shows: States with more days at or below 32°f tend to sit higher on the chart across 24 states: a pattern in the data, not proof of cause.
- A moderate pattern, probably real but not certain: about 1 in 6 patterns this clear turn out to be false alarms. Weak spot: hold days per year that cross freezing, median station equal and the freezing days pattern disappears, so it may be mostly that factor.
Are the parts for this repair getting more expensive, or only the labor?
The federal producer price index for new transmission and power train parts rose 13.5% 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 transmission and power train parts, as shops buy them from makers, since December 2019, against consumer prices for motor vehicle repair. New transmission and power train parts: +13.5%; All motor vehicle parts: +17.4%; Motor vehicle repair, labor and parts together: +55.2%.
How much of a repair bill is labor and how much is parts?
In the 2017 Economic Census, transmission repair shops took 49.8% of their repair revenue from labor charges and 50.2% from parts installed, close to the 51.0% labor share of all auto repair shops (U.S. Census Bureau, national, 4,365 shops).
| Shop type (NAICS) | Labor charges | Parts installed | All revenue of the shop type | Establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automotive repair and maintenance (all shop types) | 51.0% | 49.0% | $115.3 billion | 162,185 |
| Automotive body, paint, interior, and glass repair | 50.6% | 49.4% | $43.0 billion | 41,542 |
| Automotive mechanical and electrical repair and maintenance | 50.4% | 49.6% | $54.9 billion | 92,088 |
| Automotive transmission repair | 49.8% | 50.2% | $2.2 billion | 4,365 |
How often do owners actually win a lemon-law case?
In Connecticut's 2025 lemon-law program, 113 of 141 arbitration hearings (80%) ended in a refund or replacement vehicle, while Texas ordered 14 repurchases or replacements after hearings among 576 complaints filed in fiscal 2020; these are program totals for all vehicles and defects, not for driveshaft replacement.
| Program and year | Cases | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut, 2025 | 141 hearings | 113 refund or replacement (80%), 15 cash and keep, 13 no action |
| Texas, fiscal 2020 | 576 complaints filed | 302 settled before a decision; 14 vehicles ordered repurchased or replaced after hearings (78 post-hearing orders) |
| New York, 1998 | all cases | consumers prevailed in 68% of new-car cases and 63% of used-car disputes (awards and settlements combined) |
| Connecticut decisions since 2018 on the makes in this page's owner complaints | Ford 35, Ram 5 of 357 | the file lists each case, not its outcome |
Has the replacement part I am buying been recalled?
NHTSA lists 8 equipment recalls that name driveshaft since 2015 (power train and suspension), covering 13,838 items sold as parts rather than whole vehicles; the largest, by Allison Transmission, Inc. in 2023, covered 8,498.
| Year | Maker and product | NHTSA component | Defect | Items |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Allison Transmission, Inc.: B3400, B400 Series. | driveline driveshaft | certain models B3400xFE_R and B400R, with part numbers B3400xFE_R and B400R. | 8,498 |
| 2023 | Dana Incorporated: Driveshaft | driveline driveshaft | certain Dana-Spicer Driveshafts, model number SPL100 DS/CS. | 2,247 |
| 2022 | Ntn Bearing Corporation Of America: Driveshaft | driveline driveshaft | certain NTN Columbus, and NTN Anderson Driveshafts. | 1,859 |
| 2020 | Dana Incorporated: Drive Axle | driveline driveshaft | certain Heavy Vehicle Output shafts, part number 131536, used in drive axles manufactured for commercial. | 1,010 |
| 2015 | Dana Driveshaft Manufacturing, Llc: Commercial. | driveline driveshaft | certain commercial vehicle lightweight driveshafts, model SPL250, sizes 1610-2200 or 2220-2830, manufactured. | 127 |
| 2015 | Hale Products Inc: K Gearbox | manual transmission | certain K Gearboxes manufactured December 20, 2014, to August 3, 2015. | 51 |
| 2018 | Lippert Components, Inc.: Modified Rv Chassis | driveline driveshaft | certain Ford F53 chassis reduced from a standard wheelbase of 208" to 190" for use by Forest River. | 28 |
| 2025 | Gkn Automotive: Replacement Driveshaft | driveline driveshaft | certain replacement driveshafts for 2006-2015 BMW Mini, 2004-2018 Land Rover Discovery, and Range Rover. | 18 |
Has this part been recalled abroad on cars that may share it?
Manufacturers filed 4 foreign recall campaigns that name driveshaft with NHTSA since 2015; the latest, from Hyundai Motor America in 2023-11. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-11 | Hyundai Motor America | 237 | Potentially containing the defect: The involved vehicles include certain vehicles identified by Hyundai as potentially containing rear driveshafts manufactured by the supplier on September 14, 2020: � Certain model year 2021-2022 Genesis G80 Electric vehicles. |
How many recalled cars are actually fixed, so should I check mine?
Across 26 NHTSA recalls that name driveshaft filed 2015 to 2024, 71.8% of the 1,928,762 recalled vehicles had been repaired after 8 quarters, against 66.2% for all recalls, which leaves about 544,773 vehicles still carrying the defect.
| Year | Vehicles | Recalled vehicles | Repaired | Component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Kia Telluride | 427,407 | 87.6% | driveline driveshaft |
| 2019 | Ford Transit | 293,558 | 49.5% | driveline driveshaft |
| 2022 | Ford Explorer Hybrid, Explorer Intercept Hybrid | 252,936 | 56.1% | axle assembly |
| 2020 | Acura Ilx, Ilx Hybrid; Honda Civic Hybrid, Fit | 248,358 | 71.4% | driveline driveshaft |
| 2023 | Ford Explorer | 238,364 | 68.8% | driveline driveshaft |
| 2020 | Honda Accord | 235,034 | 99.5% | driveline driveshaft |
| 2024 | Ford Transit | 113,320 | 55.0% | driveline driveshaft |
| 2021 | Ford F-350 Sd | 27,604 | 61.1% | axle assembly |
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 32 recall campaigns for parts matched to a driveshaft replacement since model year 2015, covering about 1,821,606 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 driveshaft replacement since model year 2015 | 32 recall campaigns covering about 1,821,606 vehicles |
How many cars have the drivetrain this repair fixes?
EPA's Automotive Trends data show four-wheel or all-wheel drive in 63.3% of new vehicles in model year 2024 against 26.8% in 2005, so more cars now carry a transfer case or rear differential that needs servicing (sales-weighted national shares).
| Model year | Front-wheel drive | Rear-wheel drive | Four-wheel or all-wheel drive | Trucks and SUVs with four-wheel drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 55.5% | 24.3% | 20.2% | 46.3% |
| 2005 | 53.0% | 20.2% | 26.8% | 52.2% |
| 2010 | 59.6% | 13.7% | 26.7% | 61.0% |
| 2014 | 55.3% | 12.1% | 32.6% | 68.3% |
| 2018 | 43.7% | 10.2% | 46.1% | 75.6% |
| 2021 | 31.6% | 10.0% | 58.5% | 82.3% |
| 2024 | 29.2% | 7.5% | 63.3% | 85.5% |
Is it recalled or covered?
| Recall number | Vehicles | Cars recalled | What the recall says |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24V-214 | KIA Telluride 2020–2024 | 427,407 | A vehicle roll away increases the risk of a crash or injury. |
| 17V-408 | Ford Transit 2015–2017 | 372,991 | If the coupling fails, the vehicle will not be able to move under its own power and the disconnected driveshaft may impact and damage the brake and fuel lines. |
| 19V-767 | Ford Transit 2015–2017 | 293,558 | If the coupling fails, the vehicle will not be able to move under its own power and the disconnected driveshaft may impact and damage the brake and fuel lines. |
| 22V-087 | Ford F-250 SD 2017–2022; Ford F-350 SD 2017–2022 | 247,445 | A fractured driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power, or a loss of vehicle control if the driveshaft contacts the ground. |
| 21V-986 | Ford F-150 2021–2022 | 184,698 | A fractured driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power, or a loss of vehicle control if the driveshaft contacts the ground. |
| 17V-097 | Dodge Charger 2015–2017; Chrysler 300 2015–2017 | 69,298 | A loss of motive power can increase the risk of a crash. |
| 22V-623 | Ford F-150 2021–2022 | 58,203 | A fractured driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power, or a loss of vehicle control if the driveshaft contacts the ground. |
| 26V-525 | BMW 540i Xdrive 2021–2023; BMW 840i Xdrive 2022–2026; BMW 540i 2021–2023 and 2 more | 27,720 | An unexpected loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash. |
24 more recalls name this part, on smaller fleets. The car finder at the top checks yours.
NHTSA defect investigations naming this part (1)
| Case number | Vehicles | Opened | Status | What NHTSA looked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DP26009 | BMW 540i 2022 | Sep 14, 2026 | Open | Driveshaft to rear differential connection. |
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 | Wrangler 4xe 2026; Wrangler 2026 | 03-003-26 | Jul 16, 2026 | Rear Driveshaft Out Of Balance Customers may comment on one or more of the following: SYMPTOM: Vehicle exhibits a vibration that increases with speed that can be felt in the seat or floor. |
| Volvo | XC60PHEV 2018–2026; XC90 2016–2022 and 28 more | 36496.10.0 | May 7, 2026 | This is a Technical Journal: Intermittent knocking noise during acceleration. |
| Toyota | Grand Highlander Hybrid 2024; Grand Highlander 2024 | T-SB-0028-26 | Apr 16, 2026 | Some 2024 Grand Highlander and Grand Highlander Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a rotational clicking noise from one or both front drive shaft assemblies when accelerating while making turns. |
| BMW | X5 2025; X6 2025 | InVehicle-InApp-Comm | Jan 23, 2026 | The right rear drive shaft may not have been manufactured correctly during production and may break. |
| Toyota | Camry Hybrid 2025 | T-SB-0053-25 | Aug 7, 2025 | Some 2025 model year Camry Hybrid vehicles manufactured in March and April of 2025 may exhibit a clicking noise from the front drive shaft(s) while turning at speeds less than 15 mph(24 kph). |
| Chevrolet | Silverado EV 2024–2025 | 25-NA-108 | May 12, 2025 | This bulletin provides a procedure to inspect and verify the drive shafts are over extending past the 5mm tolerance, causing the customers concern of a fluid leak under the vehicle. |
47 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.
My Tahoe was making a loud noise, I took it to the dealer to look at it and they said I need to replace the rear driveshaft to the tune of $4000.
My vehicle only has 29k miles on it and just failed safety inspection because the Rear Drive Shaft Bearing is broken.
Driveshaft carrier bearing out at 28,000 miles of use.
Driveshaft dampener (Guibo) is cracking with 57k miles on the vehicle.
Check your car
Our calculator's default estimate is $180–$450 for a rear-wheel-drive car, and a shaft rebuild or replacement is $300–$650. Two choices move the number most: which repair you actually need (a U-joint, a joint or boot, or the whole shaft) and your drive layout.
What does the driveshaft price cover?
The estimate is parts plus shop labor for one repair on one shaft. For a full replacement on a rear-wheel-drive car, that is $150–$300 for the shaft and $150–$350 for the labor to unbolt, swap and recheck it.
It leaves out anything a quote adds on top: a diagnostic fee, balancing the shaft, a new center support bearing, taxes and local labor rates. Ask which of those are in the number you were given.
How much does the repair type and drive layout change it?
The repair type moves the price more than anything else. These are the calculator's ranges by setting.
| Setting | Estimate | Parts + labor |
|---|---|---|
| Default: CV joint or boot, RWD | $180–$450 | $80–$200 + $100–$250 |
| U-joint replacement, RWD | $100–$220 | $20–$60 + $80–$160 |
| Shaft rebuild or replacement, RWD | $300–$650 | $150–$300 + $150–$350 |
| CV joint or boot, four-wheel drive | $252–$630 | $112–$280 + $140–$350 |
If your shaft has a worn U-joint but is otherwise sound, the U-joint row is the fair comparison, not the full replacement. A shop quoting the whole shaft for a U-joint problem should say why.
What does the estimate leave out?
It is a range for a typical car, not a quote for yours. Trucks, long two-piece shafts and rusted bolts take more labor, and the calculator does not know your car's condition. If a quote lands well above the range for your repair type, ask what is being added before you pay.
The next step is to enter your car in the calculator and take that range with you.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive with a bad driveshaft?
Not safely for long. Vibration and clunking get worse, so get it inspected soon after you first notice them.
Is a U-joint repair cheaper than replacing the shaft?
Yes, in the calculator a U-joint is $100–$220 against $300–$650 for the whole shaft. It only applies when the shaft itself is straight and undamaged.
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
- NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, joined to NHTSA owner complaints downloaded 2026-10-12
- BLS Producer Price Index, commodity data for motor vehicle parts (series WPU14120503); BLS Consumer Price Index item SETD for the repair row downloaded August 2026
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2017 Economic Census, Other Services, revenue from labor charges and parts installed (EC1781LABOR) downloaded 2017 data, published 2021
- Connecticut DCP Lemon Law annual report (2025), data.ct.gov Lemon Law Arbitration Decisions, Texas DMV Lemon Law Annual Report FY2020, New York Attorney General (1999 release on 1998 results) data from 2026
- 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
- 49 U.S.C. 30120 (Remedies for defects and noncompliance), text via Cornell Legal Information Institute; NHTSA recall campaigns data from 2026
- U.S. EPA, The 2025 EPA Automotive Trends Report (EPA-420-R-26-001) downloaded 2026-10
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. Not independently checked: no established price guide publishes a general range for this exact job (looked 2026-10-10), so the default has no outside comparison. Price evidence grade D: no outside published range for this job; the hours and parts prices behind the estimate are CalcScrape assumptions and have not been checked against repair invoices. Methodology