Same job at other shop types (everything else as set above): Independent shop (~$100/hr) $372–$1,262 · Chain shop / franchise (~$120/hr) $405–$1,316 (the headline above) · Dealership (~$175/hr) $496–$1,463. 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 2,214 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 111, followed by Fire reported at 23; the smallest shown is Injury reported at 5.
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 (41%). The biggest difference from all complaints is under 50,000: 38% against 60%.
What it shows: The most common band for complaints about this repair is 3-5 years (39%). The biggest difference from all complaints is under 3 years old: 21% against 40%.
Is it urgent, and what do owners notice first?
2,214 owner complaints name this part.
What it shows: Warning light is the largest at 48%, followed by Recall mentioned at 32%; the smallest shown is Smoke or burning smell at 4%.
Which trouble codes do owners report?
P0172 System Too Rich is the largest group at 32, out of 2,214 complaints.
The code owners quote most is P0172. Read your own code from a scan and give the shop the exact code, not only "the light is on".
What do owners say it led to?
Among the 2,214 owner complaints naming this part, owners most often say loss of power followed.
What owners say happened after the problem. Loss of power: 93 (4%); Engine damage: 28 (1%); Stalled while driving: 16 (1%).
If your car shows the signs above, get it checked before it gets as far as loss of power.
Which other parts do owners name in the same complaint?
Among the 2,214 owner complaints naming this part, fuel pump is named in 12% of them, more than any other part.
Owners name the fuel pump most often in the same complaint, which is not proof that one caused the other. Ask the shop whether it checked the fuel pump 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 965 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?
2018 is the most common model year in 2,214 complaints naming this part (20%); 3 model years account for 51%.
What it shows: 2018 is the largest at 450 (20%), followed by 2015 at 138 (6%); the smallest shown is 2025 at 25 (1%).
Is this repair covered by an emissions warranty?
Federal rules require carmakers to cover the catalytic converter, the emissions computer and the onboard diagnostic system for 8 years or 80,000 miles, and any part whose failure fails an emissions test for 2 years or 24,000 miles; California requires 3 years or 50,000 miles on every emission part.
| Warranty | Covers | Length |
|---|---|---|
| California, all emission parts | All emissions-related parts | 3 years or 50,000 miles |
| California, high-cost parts | Specific high-cost emission parts listed in the owner manual | 7 years or 70,000 miles |
| Federal, basic | Any part that causes an emissions failure | 2 years or 24,000 miles |
| Federal, extended | Catalytic converters, electronic emissions control unit (ECU), onboard emissions diagnostic device or computer (OBD) | 8 years or 80,000 miles |
Which engine sizes show up most in complaints about this part?
Among 2,188 owner complaints about this part where the VIN identifies the vehicle, 39% involve engines of under 1.6 L, against 11% of complaints about all the parts we track.
What it shows: Under 1.6 L is the largest at 39%, followed by 3.1 to 4.0 L at 19%; the smallest shown is 4.1 to 5.0 L at 1%.
What do emissions repairs cost?
Among 46,033 California vehicles repaired to pass a Smog Check in 2025, 39.1% cost over $650 to fix and the average bill was $757.
What it shows: Over $650 is the largest at 39.1%, followed by $1 to $100 at 13.1%; the smallest shown is $501 to $650 at 8.4%.
Do fuel injector replacement problems track solo operators as a share of all auto repair businesses across states?
Do fuel injector replacement problems track quarterly job separations as a share of auto repair shop employment across states?
What it shows: States with more quarterly job separations as a share of auto repair shop employment tend to sit higher on the chart across 37 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 solo operators as a share of all auto repair businesses equal and only 8% of the quarterly job separations pattern remains, so part of it may be that factor.
Has the replacement part I am buying been recalled?
NHTSA lists 3 equipment recalls that name fuel injector since 2015 (fuel and engine), covering 12,020 items sold as parts rather than whole vehicles; the largest, by Cummins, Inc. in 2021, covered 10,938.
| Year | Maker and product | NHTSA component | Defect | Items |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Cummins, Inc.: X12 | fuel injection system fuel rail | certain X12 Diesel Engines, with part numbers D0S3005BX03 and D0S3009BX03. | 10,938 |
| 2018 | Fuel Injection Technology, Inc.: Max 500 Efi Kit 240500 | fuel injection system | certain Summit Racing Max 500-EFI 240500 fuel injection systems. The fuel injector O-ring seals may leak fuel. | 1,071 |
| 2022 | Watson Hopper: X12 Power Module | fuel injection system fuel rail | certain X12 Power Modules. The fuel tubes between the fuel rail and the injector for cylinders 4, 5 and 6. | 11 |
Has this part been recalled abroad on cars that may share it?
Manufacturers filed 13 foreign recall campaigns that name fuel injector with NHTSA since 2015; the latest, from Isuzu Motors Limited in 2022-04. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-09 | Volvo Car | 206 | Volvo Cars investigations has identified that there is a possibility that water may enter the fuel system. |
| 2021-07 | Mitsubishi Motors. | 179 | Certain 2014 - 2020 MY Outlander vehicles equipped with 6B31 engine sold in Brazil are subject to a safety recall campaign involving the fuel injector. |
| 2022-04 | Isuzu Motors Limited | 059 | If the ECM receives an error pulse, the ECM may stop sending signals to fuel injectors, resulting in a temporary halt to the engine fuel supply. |
| 2022-04 | Toyota Motor Corporation | 055 | The sealer tape located near the fuel injectors may become deformed over time. |
| 2021-02 | Mercedes-Benz | 029 | Certain MY2019 E-Class and CLS-Class (213 and 257 platforms) vehicles equipped with a 4-cylinder Diesel engine (OM654), the high-pressure fuel lines between the fuel rail and injectors might not meet current production specifications due to a deviation. |
How many recalled cars are actually fixed, so should I check mine?
Across 5 NHTSA recalls that name fuel injector filed 2015 to 2024, 83.8% of the 661,912 recalled vehicles had been repaired after 8 quarters, against 66.2% for all recalls, which leaves about 107,074 vehicles still carrying the defect.
What it shows: Volkswagen 2022 is the largest at 89.8%, followed by Ford 2022 at 86.9%; the smallest shown is Jeep 2023 at 67.5%.
What do owners who wrote down a dollar amount say they paid?
Among 70 NHTSA owner complaints about this part that name one component and one repair, the middle dollar amount an owner wrote was $1,760, with a quarter at $1,400 or less and a quarter at $2,000 or more; these are selected owner reports, not a representative price.
| Measure | Amount or count |
|---|---|
| A quarter of owners wrote this much or more | $2,000 |
| Middle amount owners wrote | $1,760 |
| A quarter of owners wrote this much or less | $1,400 |
| All complaints naming the part with any dollar amount, before the filter | 195 |
| Complaints with one component, no repeat or tow wording, and a dollar amount | 70 |
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 8 recall campaigns for parts matched to a fuel injector replacement since model year 2015, covering about 1,293,811 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 fuel injector replacement since model year 2015 | 8 recall campaigns covering about 1,293,811 vehicles |
Which fuel delivery does a car of my age have?
EPA's Automotive Trends data show direct fuel injection (which spares the intake valves a fuel wash and can build carbon deposits) in 79.5% of new cars in model year 2024 against 8.3% in 2010 (sales-weighted national shares).
| Model year | Port injection | Direct injection | Dual direct and port injection |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 99.8% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2005 | 99.7% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2010 | 91.0% | 8.3% | 0.0% |
| 2014 | 60.9% | 37.4% | 0.4% |
| 2018 | 37.7% | 50.2% | 10.3% |
| 2021 | 23.6% | 53.4% | 18.7% |
| 2024 | 12.5% | 56.2% | 23.3% |
Is it recalled or covered?
| Recall number | Vehicles | Cars recalled | What the recall says |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25V-467 | Ford Bronco Sport 2021–2024; Ford Escape 2020–2022 | 694,271 | A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source, such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire. |
| 22V-859 | Ford Escape 2020–2023; Ford Bronco Sport 2021–2023 | 521,746 | A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire. |
| 24V-187 | Ford Escape 2022; Ford Bronco Sport 2022–2023 | 42,652 | A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire. |
| 25V-165 | Ford Escape 2020–2022; Ford Bronco Sport 2021–2023 | 33,576 | A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire. |
| 22V-245 | Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport 2021–2022; Volkswagen Atlas 2021–2022 | 1,382 | Long fuel injectors with missing filters may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire. |
| 21V-961 | Mercedes-Benz AMG G63 2019; Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 2020; Mercedes-Benz AMG A35 2020 and 19 more | 139 | A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source, such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire. |
| 24V-634 | Ford Mustang 2024; Ford Escape 2023–2024; Ford Explorer 2025 and 1 more | 24 | A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire. |
| 20V-666 | BMW M2 2020–2021; BMW M4 2020 | 21 | A damaged connection between the fuel line and the fuel rail could lead to a fuel leak and, in the presence of an ignition source, increase the risk of a fire. |
NHTSA defect investigations naming this part (2)
| Case number | Vehicles | Opened | Status | What NHTSA looked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RQ24008 | Ford Bronco Sport 2022–2023; Ford Escape 2022 | Apr 11, 2024 | Closed Oct 30, 2025 | Underhood fires caused by fuel. |
| PE21008 | Volkswagen Atlas 2018–2020; Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport 2020 | Mar 29, 2021 | Closed Oct 3, 2022 | Fuel injector. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | Nautilus 2024 | SSM 52490 | Apr 29, 2024 | On 2024 Nautilus 2.0L EcoBoost-Hybrid vehicles, if engine damage or drivability diagnosis leads to replacement of any direct fuel injector assemblies, replace all 4 direct fuel injectors along with other necessary repairs. |
| Chevrolet | Silverado 1500 2020–2024; Tahoe 2021–2024 and 2 more | 24-NA-043 | Mar 7, 2024 | This bulletin advises the tech that there are extra characters on the fuel injector and to ignore the last numbers when identifying flow rate. |
| Subaru | Forester 2019–2021; Impreza 2017–2021 and 4 more | 09-81-21R | Jan 22, 2024 | This bulletin announces design changes made to the fuel injector assembly in response to the DTCs listed. |
| GMC | Sierra 1500 2023 | N232409842 | Jan 10, 2024 | Service Update. Certain vehicles equipped with a 2.7L engine (RPO L3B), may have an Engine Control Module (ECM) that does not sufficiently control fuel injector flow rate under certain driving conditions. |
| GMC | Acadia 2015–2023; Savana 2015–2024 and 16 more | 04-06-04-051H | Aug 1, 2023 | This service bulletin provides information for maintenance cleaning of the fuel injectors and gasoline detergent additive. |
| Chevrolet | Silverado 2500 2017–2023; Silverado 3500 2017–2023 | 23-NA-027 | Mar 16, 2023 | This technical bulletin provides a procedure to test and replace the high pressure fuel injector electrical connectors if found the cause of the MIL. |
62 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 (7)
| Maker | Vehicles | Date | Notice number | What the maker extended |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW | 850i 2019; M550I 2019–2020 | Jan 23, 2025 | B011724 | Fuel injectors failed due to external corrosion from coolant. |
| Cadillac | Escalade 2016–2017; Escalade ESV 2016–2017; Silverado 2017 and 11 more | Aug 19, 2019 | N182198000 | Fuel injectors delivering improper fuel amount in 5.3L or 6.2L. |
| BMW | X5 2011 | Nov 13, 2018 | B010115 | N63 engine fuel injector defects in materials. |
| BMW | X5 2014–2017 | Jul 16, 2018 | B010518 | N63T engine fuel injector. |
| BMW | M5 2012–2015 | May 21, 2018 | B010618 | S63T engine fuel injector. |
2 more extension notices name this part: BMW. Ask the dealer whether one covers your car.
What do owners say?
4 complaints quoted word for word, each with its NHTSA number.
Honda stated "if the code comes back on they will need to replace injectors as well." the code came back in a month but now they say its off warranty and I will have to pay $1507.08 for injector replacement.
All our fuel injectors had to be replaced for a total of $2,132.
They said it just needed new spark plugs and injectors cleand, so they did the work and charged me $400.
Told by my gmc dealership this is a common problem and I would have to replace all fuel injectors for over $2,000.
Check your car
Fuel injector replacement cost runs $405–$1,316 for a 6-cylinder engine at a shop charging $120 an hour, by our estimate. A 4-cylinder lands at $270–$877, and an 8-cylinder at $541–$1,754.
Frequently asked questions
How much does fuel injector replacement cost?
Our estimate is $405–$1,316 for a 6-cylinder engine at a $120-an-hour shop, $270–$877 for a 4-cylinder and $541–$1,754 for an 8-cylinder.
Can I drive with a bad fuel injector?
It depends on the symptom. Don't drive if you see or smell fuel, see smoke or the engine stalls. Recalls warn that a fuel leak near hot parts can cause a fire. For a warning light with rough running, get it checked this week.
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. Code of Federal Regulations, 40 CFR 85.2103, and the California Air Resources Board warranty fact sheet downloaded 2026-10-05
- NHTSA owner complaint files with VINs decoded by NHTSA vPIC data from 2025
- California Bureau of Automotive Repair, Smog Check Executive Summary Report 2025 data from 2025
- Census Nonemployer Statistics 2021 and County Business Patterns 2023, NAICS 8111, joined to NHTSA owner complaints downloaded 2026-10-12
- Census LEHD Quarterly Workforce Indicators 2024, NAICS 8111, joined to NHTSA owner complaints downloaded 2026-10-12
- 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. Rule: a published legal rule, not a measurement; whether it covers a given repair depends on the car and the facts. Derived: computed from the records; an association, not a cause.
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 ($768–$953) 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