Same job at other shop types (everything else as set above): Independent shop (~$100/hr) $242–$645 · Chain shop / franchise (~$120/hr) $272–$705 (the headline above) · Dealership (~$175/hr) $355–$870. 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?
8% of the 3,310 complaints report crash, the most common serious outcome; the other outcomes counted below are rarer, and an owner can file without mentioning one.
What it shows: Crash reported is the largest at 266, followed by Towed at 232; 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?
Is it urgent, and what do owners notice first?
3,310 owner complaints name this part.
What it shows: Warning light is the largest at 22%, followed by Dealer could not fix or repeat repair at 22%; the smallest shown is Fluid leak at 4%.
What do owners say it led to?
Among the 3,310 owner complaints naming this part, owners most often say lost steering or braking followed.
What owners say happened after the problem. Lost steering or braking: 48 (1%); Loss of power: 24 (1%); Stalled while driving: 6 (0%).
If your car shows the signs above, get it checked before it gets as far as lost steering or braking.
Which other parts do owners name in the same complaint?
Among the 3,310 owner complaints naming this part, brake master cylinder is named in 4% of them, more than any other part.
Owners name the brake master cylinder most often in the same complaint, which is not proof that one caused the other. Ask the shop whether it checked the brake master cylinder too, so you are not quoted twice for one visit.
How fast were owners driving when it happened?
5-24 mph is the largest group at 29%, out of 1,786 complaints.
Owners reported it most often in parking lots and slow traffic. Tell the shop what speed it happens at, because that narrows the diagnosis.
Which model years show up most in the complaints?
2015 is the most common model year in 3,310 complaints naming this part (14%); 4 model years account for 50%.
What it shows: 2015 is the largest at 457 (14%), followed by 2016 at 448 (14%); the smallest shown is 2025 at 96 (3%).
What do state inspectors fail cars for?
Among 8,738,476 initial safety inspections in North Carolina in 2017, brake components caused 1.9 failed items per 1,000 inspections, fewer than any of the other three parts the state reports.
What it shows: Tires is the largest at 8.5, followed by Lights at 5.2; the smallest shown is Brake components at 1.9.
Do reports of this repair follow the weather where owners live, county by county?
NHTSA owner complaints about parking brake repair run 30% above the national share in the third of 58 counties with the coldest winters, and 4% above in the third with the mildest winters.
Parking brake repair complaints run higher in counties with cold winters. Third of counties with the mildest winters: 4% above; Middle third: 35% above; Third with the coldest winters: 30% above.
- A moderate pattern, probably real but not certain. Weak spot: hold summer heat (cooling degree days) equal and only 34% of the pattern remains, so part of it may be that factor.
Do parking brake 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: AL, CA, HI, IA, IL, KS, MO, MS, NJ, NM, OK, TNfewer 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.
- HI 0 · 1.90× · 19
- NM 5 · 1.27× · 23
- NY 24 · 1.22× · 204
- UT 13 · 1.20× · 31
- OK 2 · 1.18× · 39
- PA 11 · 1.17× · 152
- MI 24 · 1.14× · 129
- NH 20 · 1.14× · 21
- NJ 6 · 1.14× · 113
- ME 23 · 1.13× · 17
- ID 15 · 1.11× · 16
- MD 5 · 1.11× · 89
- WV 10 · 1.10× · 22
- CO 16 · 1.07× · 67
- WA 5 · 1.07× · 80
- CA 0 · 1.06× · 406
- WI 16 · 1.03× · 55
- IN 7 · 1.03× · 59
- MN 15 · 1.02× · 46
- MA 13 · 1.02× · 75
- CT 12 · 1.00× · 38
- OH 8 · 0.99× · 121
- LA 0 · 0.99× · 42
- TX 0 · 0.98× · 278
- OR 2 · 0.95× · 33
- NC 1 · 0.95× · 106
- SC 0 · 0.93× · 54
- NE 9 · 0.92× · 13
- GA 0 · 0.92× · 111
- AR 1 · 0.91× · 25
- FL 0 · 0.90× · 236
- VA 4 · 0.89× · 96
- NV 5 · 0.87× · 28
- KY 3 · 0.87× · 35
- IL 7 · 0.86× · 100
- IA 11 · 0.85× · 20
- KS 5 · 0.85× · 20
- TN 1 · 0.84× · 57
- AZ 0 · 0.79× · 61
- MS 0 · 0.76× · 18
- AL 0 · 0.73× · 35
- MO 4 · 0.72× · 42
What it shows: States with more days with snowfall tend to sit higher on the chart across 42 states: a pattern in the data, not proof of cause.
- A moderate pattern, probably real but not certain: about 1 in 37 patterns this clear turn out to be false alarms. Weak spot: hold very hot days equal and only 31% of the days with snowfall pattern remains, so part of it may be that factor.
Do parking brake repair problems track median household income across states?
What it shows: States with more median household income (dollars) tend to sit higher on the chart across 42 states: a pattern in the data, not proof of cause.
- A moderate pattern, probably real but not certain: about 1 in 8 patterns this clear turn out to be false alarms. Weak spot: hold cost of living index equal and the median household income 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 brake systems rose 36.2% 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 brake systems, as shops buy them from makers, since December 2019, against consumer prices for motor vehicle repair. New brake systems: +36.2%; All motor vehicle parts: +17.4%; Motor vehicle repair, labor and parts together: +55.2%.
Has the replacement part I am buying been recalled?
NHTSA lists 8 equipment recalls that name parking brake since 2015 (service brakes and parking brake), covering 227,879 items sold as parts rather than whole vehicles; the largest, by Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems Llc in 2016, covered 194,410.
| Year | Maker and product | NHTSA component | Defect | Items |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems Llc: Sr-5 | parking brake | certain SR-5 Trailer Spring Brake Valves manufactured January 1, 2014, to March 4, 2016. | 194,410 |
| 2024 | Orscheln Products L.L.C.: Park Brake Lever | parking brake | certain park brake levers part numbers, 23039400; 23039401; 23039402; 1334100; 23028901; and 01331401. | 14,762 |
| 2016 | Orscheln Products L.L.C.: Cable Connector Clip | parking brake | certain Cable Connector Clips Part No. 82100600 which are incorporated into Orscheln cable assembly Part Nos. | 6,414 |
| 2025 | Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, Llc: Air Disc Brake. | parking brake | certain Knorr-Bresme 22/24-57 brake chambers, with part number K068622 and K038830N00, sold as replacement. | 5,668 |
| 2021 | Tse Brakes: Omni Tandem Brake Chamber | critical fasteners | certain Omni Tandem Brake Chambers part number 2024TLD2-1946. | 3,506 |
| 2024 | Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, Llc: Intellipark | parking brake | certain Intellipark Park Valve Modules (PVM) with part numbers, K266604R000, K189349, K273523R000. | 1,769 |
| 2023 | Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, Llc: Intellipark | parking brake | certain Intellipark Towing Park Brake Modules (PVM) with part number, K206667R000. | 861 |
| 2021 | Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, Llc: Intellipark | electrical control module | certain Intellipark Dash Electronic Control Units (DECU) with part number K183042R000. | 489 |
Has this part been recalled abroad on cars that may share it?
Manufacturers filed 44 foreign recall campaigns that name parking brake with NHTSA since 2015; the latest, from Toyota Motor Corporation in 2025-03. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-12 | Mazda Motor. | 278 | Of the affected vehicles that contain the subject condition: 100% Description of the Defect: Due to improper parking sensor module software settings, there may be inconsistencies in detecting distances of different obstacles by the ultra-sonic sensor. |
| 2023-12 | Toyota Motor Corporation | 257 | Description of Problem: The subject vehicles are equipped with an advanced park system that provides assistance when entering and exiting a parking space and includes a remote-control function that can be used through a smartphone app when the driver. |
| 2024-11 | Daimler Coaches | 250 | 63 Affected: 573.6(c)(5) Defect Description: The installation of a lock nut without a ventilation hole may cause the electronic parking brake to no longer reliably be engaged. |
| 2025-03 | Toyota Motor Corporation | 044 | Trailer is detected by the BSM sensors, the detection zone may not extend to include the trailer after cycling the ignition, setting the parking brake for a specific period of time with ignition on, or placing a vehicle with an automatic transmission in park |
How many recalled cars are actually fixed, so should I check mine?
Across 10 NHTSA recalls that name parking brake filed 2015 to 2024, 85.3% of the 1,040,115 recalled vehicles had been repaired after 8 quarters, against 66.2% for all recalls, which leaves about 152,713 vehicles still carrying the defect.
| Year | Vehicles | Recalled vehicles | Repaired | Component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Ford F-150 | 870,701 | 84.8% | electrical |
| 2022 | Lexus Nx350, Nx250; Toyota Tundra | 83,725 | 97.8% | service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2020 | Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, Outlander | 21,758 | 44.3% | parking brake |
| 2024 | Ford F-650 Sd, F-650 Incomplete Chassis | 18,716 | 76.7% | parking brake |
| 2019 | Lincoln Aviator; Ford Explorer | 13,896 | 98.6% | parking brake |
| 2022 | Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 10,729 | 97.5% | electrical control module |
| 2020 | Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500, Sprinter 2500; | 9,094 | 89.8% | foundation components disc |
| 2022 | Kia Ev6 | 9,014 | 97.6% | electrical control module |
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 29 recall campaigns for parts matched to a parking brake repair since model year 2015, covering about 2,267,706 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 parking brake repair since model year 2015 | 29 recall campaigns covering about 2,267,706 vehicles |
How many miles does a car of my age really drive in a year?
In the 2022 National Household Travel Survey, US vehicles aged 10-14 years are driven an average 15,415 miles a year against 12,170 for vehicles aged 0-2 years, so 50,000 miles of brake wear comes up in about 3.2 years at the faster pace and 4.1 years at the slower one (reported mileage, survey-weighted).
What it shows: 10-14 is the largest at 15,415, followed by 0-2 at 12,170; the smallest shown is 0-2 at 12,170.
How often does this part fail a real inspection, by car age?
In 181,256 New Jersey initial inspections in 2025 of vehicles sent through the safety lane, 6.4% of cars aged 16+ years failed the brake test against 0.5% of cars under 3 years, about 13 times as often (record counts, not a sample).
What it shows: 16+ is the largest at 6.4%, followed by <3 at 0.5%; the smallest shown is <3 at 0.5%.
Is it recalled or covered?
| Recall number | Vehicles | Cars recalled | What the recall says |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23V-509 | Ford F-150 2021–2023 | 870,701 | Unexpected activation of the electric parking brake while driving increases the risk of a crash. |
| 16V-725 | Honda Civic 2016 | 350,083 | If the EPB is not applied, the vehicle may roll away, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 17V-393 | Mazda Mazda6 2015; Mazda Mazda3 2015–2016 | 227,814 | If the parking brake actuator shaft binds, the parking brake may not engage or disengage fully. |
| 14V-541 | Chevrolet Impala 2015; Cadillac XTS 2015 | 205,309 | Brake pads that remain partially engaged with the rotors may cause excessive brake heat that may result in a fire. |
| 18V-070 | Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 2015–2016; Mitsubishi Outlander 2015–2016 | 170,354 | If the parking brake actuator shaft binds, the parking brake may not engage or disengage fully. |
| 17V-359 | Hyundai Genesis 2015–2016; Hyundai Sonata 2015–2016 | 161,074 | If the parking brake indicator is not illuminated when the parking brake is applied, the driver may operate the vehicle with the parking brake partially engaged, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 16V-741 | Toyota Prius 2016–2017 | 91,585 | If the parking brake cable disengages from the mechanism and the transmission is left in a gear other than 'Park' while the ignition is on and the driver leaves the vehicle, the vehicle may roll unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 25V-433 | Chevrolet Blazer EV 2024–2025 | 40,233 | Unintended activation of the parking brake while driving increases the risk of a crash. |
21 more recalls name this part, on smaller fleets. The car finder at the top checks yours.
NHTSA defect investigations naming this part (2)
| Case number | Vehicles | Opened | Status | What NHTSA looked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PE22009 | Jeep Cherokee 2015–2016 | Jul 22, 2022 | Closed Oct 29, 2023 | Electronic parking brake water. |
| PE16010 | Hyundai Sonata 2016 | Sep 3, 2016 | Closed Feb 22, 2017 | Electronic parking. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mazda | MX-30 2022 | 04-002-24 | Apr 25, 2024 | Some vehicles may exhibit the initial setup of the Electric Parking Lock (EPL) does not complete and is indicated as 'incomplete' when performing the initial setup of the EPL. |
| Volvo | 780 2016 | KC-2347 | Feb 16, 2024 | CBR - active "set park brake" message on drivers information display. |
| Volvo | XC90H 2016–2023; S60 2019–2024 and 11 more | 34647.6.1 | Jan 18, 2024 | This is a Technical Journal: DIM message about parking brake. |
| Toyota | Tundra 2022–2023 | 23TC06A | Nov 16, 2023 | DP: Due to certain programming in the Electronic Parking Brake ECU, under certain conditions, the parking brake light may flash, a parking brake malfunction message will be displayed, and the electronic parking brake may not release. |
| Toyota | Tundra 2022–2023 | 23TC06B | Nov 16, 2023 | RL: Due to certain programming in the Electronic Parking Brake ECU, under certain conditions, the parking brake light may flash, a parking brake malfunction message will be displayed, and the electronic parking brake may not release. |
| Toyota | Tundra 2022–2023 | 23TC06C | Nov 16, 2023 | TI: Technical instructions for special service campaign 23TC06 Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) DTC C059704 Certain 2022 & 2023 Model Year. |
55 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru | Legacy 2010–2014; Outback 2010–2014 | Nov 1, 2019 | 06-71-19R | Electric parking brake assembly. |
| Subaru | Legacy 2010–2014; Outback 2010–2014 | Oct 1, 2019 | Retailer Announc | Electric parking brake actuator assembly. |
What do owners say?
4 complaints quoted word for word, each with its NHTSA number.
Parking brake became loose and stopped holding the vehicle prior to 86,000 miles.
181 miles on car warning 'malfunction 'warning with crash symbol going 40mph also emergency brake slammed on backing up loud steel grinding sound felt like hit a brick wall.
The emergency brake has come on while slowing down coming down an incline causing a car behind me to have to swerve from hitting me my vehicle was going approximately 25 miles an hour at the time.
Ebrake would not disengage on the mazda cx-5 2016 gt with city brake and electronic e-brake at 36,100 miles during various parking locations scenarios.
Check your car
Parking brake repair costs $272–$705 for a cable system and $470–$1,170 for an electronic one, in our calculator for a midsize car at $120 an hour. Those are estimates, not quotes, so treat a number well outside them as a reason to ask what's on the ticket.
If the car rolls on a slope with the brake set, or the brake light comes on while you're driving, don't wait on the price.
How much does parking brake repair cost?
The calculator's typical range is $272–$705 for a cable parking brake repair on a midsize car, parts and labor at $120 an hour. Every figure here comes from that same calculator, so each one states what it covers.
| Setup | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Cable repair, default (midsize, $120/hr) | $272–$705 |
| Cable repair, economy car | $260–$660 |
| Cable repair, SUV / truck | $284–$750 |
| Cable repair, luxury / performance | $284–$750 |
| Electronic parking brake (EPB) repair, 2016+ | $470–$1,170 |
One owner told NHTSA: "I had the Emergency Brake Module replaced in Nov 2020 at a cost of over $900, plus a rental car for 2 weeks." (complaint #11524317, 2016 Jeep Cherokee). That sits inside the electronic range, and the rental car is a cost the range doesn't include.
A second owner shows how a quote can balloon: "To date, I have had to replace three brake calipers and the emergency brake, at a cost of over $2,500." (complaint #11661058, 2017 Jeep Wrangler). If your quote adds calipers, ask what failed on each one. Our brake caliper replacement cost page shows what that part alone should add.
Before you pay: ask the shop which system you have, cable or electronic, and which part the quote replaces.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to fix a parking brake?
A cable parking brake repair runs $272–$705 in our calculator, and an electronic parking brake repair runs $470–$1,170 (midsize car, $120 an hour). Independent shops land lower and dealerships higher. Ask whether the quote covers a cable, a motor or actuator, or a full caliper.
Can you drive with a broken parking brake?
Usually yes if it only fails to hold and your regular brakes feel normal, but get it checked this week and park in Park or gear with the wheels turned. Don't drive if the brake is stuck on or the warning light comes with a soft pedal. That needs a same-day look.
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
- North Carolina Division of Air Quality, Vehicle Safety and Emissions Inspection Frequency Study data from 2017
- 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
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year 2019-2023 (B19013), joined to NHTSA owner complaints downloaded 2026-10-12
- BLS Producer Price Index, commodity data for motor vehicle parts (series WPU14120504); BLS Consumer Price Index item SETD for the repair row downloaded August 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
- FHWA, 2022 NextGen National Household Travel Survey, vehicle file downloaded 2026-10
- New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, Vehicle Inspection Data 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. Reported: figures as reported by the publisher, not independently verified.
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 ($381–$476) on 2026-10-10: our default's midpoint is 14% 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