Same job at other shop types (everything else as set above): Independent shop (~$100/hr) $585–$990 · Chain shop / franchise (~$120/hr) $650–$1100 (the headline above) · Dealership (~$175/hr) $845–$1430. 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 6,014 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 301, followed by Crash reported at 129; the smallest shown is Fire reported at 12.
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 (45%), against 60% for all complaints: the biggest difference between the two.
What it shows: The most common band for complaints about this repair is 3-5 years (36%). The biggest difference from all complaints is under 3 years old: 24% against 40%.
Is it urgent, and what do owners notice first?
6,014 owner complaints name this part.
What it shows: Recall mentioned is the largest at 28%, followed by Warning light at 23%; the smallest shown is Noise at 5%.
What do owners say it led to?
Among the 6,014 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: 62 (1%); Loss of power: 53 (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.
How fast were owners driving when it happened?
55 mph or faster is the largest group at 33%, out of 3,757 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?
2015 is the most common model year in 6,014 complaints naming this part (26%); 2 model years account for 51%.
What it shows: 2015 is the largest at 1,586 (26%), followed by 2016 at 1,458 (24%); the smallest shown is 2025 at 62 (1%).
How serious are the crashes where this part is cited?
In NHTSA's crash sample (CRSS, 2019–2022), 1.9% of police-reported crashes that cite steering ended in a serious or fatal injury, against 2.3% of all police-reported crashes. A crash that cites a system is not necessarily a crash that system caused.
What it shows: No Apparent Injury is the largest at 68.5%, followed by Possible Injury at 15.5%; the smallest shown is Suspected Serious Injury at 1.9%.
How often do roadside inspectors find this part defective, and how often is the truck pulled off the road?
Among 5,376,769 roadside inspections of commercial trucks, inspectors wrote 1.4 steering violations per 100 inspections, and 35.8% of them took the truck out of service on the spot.
What it shows: Tires is the largest at 62.4%, followed by Brakes at 21.1%; the smallest shown is Exhaust at 4.8%.
What do state inspectors fail cars for?
Among 8,738,476 initial safety inspections in North Carolina in 2017, steering mechanism caused 3.2 failed items per 1,000 inspections, third among the four 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 power steering repair problems track state safety inspection across states?
State safety inspection (annual 2, biennial 1, none 0)
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: AK, CA, DE, ID, KS, LA, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NV, RI, SD, UT, VT, 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, state safety inspection (annual 2, biennial 1, none 0), complaints against expected, complaints filed.
- AK 0 · 1.62× · 26
- VT 2 · 1.52× · 21
- NH 0 · 1.47× · 51
- RI 1 · 1.42× · 22
- ME 2 · 1.40× · 39
- MA 2 · 1.36× · 155
- WV 1 · 1.34× · 56
- HI 2 · 1.33× · 21
- NJ 0 · 1.24× · 191
- SD 0 · 1.23× · 18
- PA 2 · 1.17× · 259
- NY 2 · 1.16× · 318
- ND 0 · 1.14× · 14
- MN 0 · 1.12× · 102
- MO 1 · 1.11× · 129
- MT 0 · 1.11× · 23
- WY 0 · 1.10× · 11
- CT 0 · 1.09× · 65
- MS 0 · 1.09× · 54
- TN 0 · 1.09× · 141
- OH 0 · 1.06× · 246
- FL 0 · 1.06× · 498
- SC 0 · 1.06× · 117
- AR 0 · 1.05× · 62
- VA 2 · 1.04× · 190
- IN 0 · 1.04× · 123
- AZ 0 · 1.04× · 140
- NC 2 · 1.03× · 209
- CO 0 · 1.01× · 106
- WI 0 · 0.99× · 108
- IA 0 · 0.97× · 47
- OK 0 · 0.97× · 67
- OR 0 · 0.97× · 63
- IL 0 · 0.96× · 193
- DC 0 · 0.95× · 10
- MI 0 · 0.93× · 232
- NE 0 · 0.93× · 26
- TX 0 · 0.92× · 516
- NM 0 · 0.92× · 31
- KY 0 · 0.91× · 75
- UT 0 · 0.90× · 40
- GA 0 · 0.88× · 191
- AL 0 · 0.88× · 85
- CA 0 · 0.83× · 526
- WA 0 · 0.81× · 104
- DE 1 · 0.80× · 19
- MD 0 · 0.80× · 104
- LA 0 · 0.78× · 67
- KS 0 · 0.77× · 36
- ID 0 · 0.70× · 21
- NV 0 · 0.68× · 38
What it shows: States with more state safety inspection (annual 2, biennial 1, none 0) tend to sit higher on the chart across 51 states: a pattern in the data, not proof of cause.
- A moderate pattern, probably real but not certain: about 1 in 94 patterns this clear turn out to be false alarms. Dropping any one state leaves the state safety inspection pattern intact.
Are the parts for this repair getting more expensive, or only the labor?
The federal producer price index for new steering and suspension parts rose 10.9% 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 steering and suspension parts, as shops buy them from makers, since December 2019, against consumer prices for motor vehicle repair. New steering and suspension parts: +10.9%; 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 11 equipment recalls that name power steering since 2015 (suspension and steering), covering 571,839 items sold as parts rather than whole vehicles; the largest, by Robert Bosch Llc in 2018, covered 557,722.
| Year | Maker and product | NHTSA component | Defect | Items |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Robert Bosch Llc: Electric Power Steering | electric power assist system | Robert Bosch Automotive Steering (Bosch) has submitted a Defect Information Report based upon decisions. | 557,722 |
| 2024 | Ford Motor Company: Service Steering Gear | steering control module | certain electronic power assist steering (EPAS) gears, sold as replacement service parts for certain. | 7,442 |
| 2024 | Mando America Corporation: Power Steering Control Un | steering control module | certain Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) Power Packs. | 3,946 |
| 2021 | Zf North America, Inc.: Power Steering Pump | hydraulic power assist pump | Certain PS ED power steering pumps manufactured by ZF North America are being recalled. | 1,018 |
| 2023 | Gillig, Llc: Suspension Torque Rod | rear | certain SAF Holland suspension torque rods sold as replacement parts, with part number 83-07738-000. | 487 |
| 2019 | Reyco Granning: Front Suspension | front | certain Fire Truck Independent Front Suspensions. | 426 |
| 2024 | Jtekt: Electronic Power Steering | steering | Filing lists the affected part numbers | 423 |
| 2015 | Gillig Llc: S26 Hydraulic Pump | hydraulic power assist pump | certain S26 Eaton-brand hydraulic pumps manufactured January 1, 2011, to November 1, 2014 that were sold. | 177 |
| 2021 | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing: Tundra. | rack and pinion | certain JTEKT power steering gear assembly service parts for 2007-2021 Tundra and 2008-2022 Sequoia, part. | 151 |
| 2020 | Meritor, Inc.: P220 Pressure Assembly, P579 Pressure. | hydraulic power assist hose. | certain P220 and P579 Pressure Assemblies, part numbers 106533 and 107801. | 32 |
Has this part been recalled abroad on cars that may share it?
Manufacturers filed 45 foreign recall campaigns that name power steering with NHTSA since 2015; the latest, from Hyundai Motor America in 2025-04. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-06 | Chrysler (FCA US) | 149 | May have been built with an incorrectly torqued power steering positive cable in the junction control unit. |
| 2024-06 | Daimler Vans | 129 | MBAG has determined that on certain Sprinter (907, 910 platforms) vehicles, the electrical plug for the steering gear might not meet current specifications. |
| 2025-04 | Hyundai Motor America | 062 | A detached belt tensioner can lead to a complete loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 2024-02 | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) | 046 | 573.6(c)(3) Total Number of Vehicles Potentially Affected: 407 573.6(c)(5) Defect Description: During production of the electric power steering's (EPS) torque sensor, the printed circuit board (PCB) may have received too much stress from the soldering nozzle. |
| 2024-02 | Bentley Motors. | 039 | The Porsche data set of the steering interface for driver assistance has too high characteristic curves. |
| 2024-02 | Volkswagen Group. | 036 | The Porsche data set of the steering interface for driver assistance has too high characteristic curves. |
How many recalled cars are actually fixed, so should I check mine?
Across 20 NHTSA recalls that name power steering filed 2015 to 2024, 87.2% of the 705,538 recalled vehicles had been repaired after 8 quarters, against 66.2% for all recalls, which leaves about 90,318 vehicles still carrying the defect.
| Year | Vehicles | Recalled vehicles | Repaired | Component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Honda Civic | 264,567 | 86.5% | rack and pinion |
| 2015 | Toyota Camry, Highlander | 110,085 | 93.0% | electric power assist system |
| 2021 | Chevrolet Colorado; Gmc Canyon | 60,681 | 68.1% | electric power assist system |
| 2020 | Freightliner Sprinter 3500, Sprinter 2500; | 47,667 | 80.5% | hydraulic power assist hose. |
| 2024 | Mazda Cx-90 | 43,454 | 99.1% | steering |
| 2022 | Tesla Model S, Model X | 40,168 | 100.0% | electric power assist system |
| 2021 | Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe; | 26,847 | 96.1% | steering control module |
| 2021 | Toyota Tundra, Sequoia | 22,462 | 93.7% | hydraulic power assist system |
What do owners who wrote down a dollar amount say they paid?
Among 45 NHTSA owner complaints about this part that name one component and one repair, the middle dollar amount an owner wrote was $2,400, with a quarter at $1,800 or less and a quarter at $3,500 or more; these are selected owner reports, not a representative price.
| Measure | Amount or count |
|---|---|
| A quarter of owners wrote this much or more | $3,500 |
| Middle amount owners wrote | $2,400 |
| A quarter of owners wrote this much or less | $1,800 |
| All complaints naming the part with any dollar amount, before the filter | 136 |
| Complaints with one component, no repeat or tow wording, and a dollar amount | 45 |
Which counties have the roughest roads?
FHWA's road-condition records show poor ride quality (above 170 inches per mile of roughness) on 89.1% of measured road miles in District of Columbia, DC, 74.1% in Baltimore city, MD and 65.4% in Marion County, WV, against 13.8% in the median county.
What it shows: District of Columbia, DC is the largest at 89.1%, followed by Baltimore city, MD at 74.1%; the smallest shown is New Castle County, DE at 51.9%.
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 41 recall campaigns for parts matched to a power steering repair since model year 2015, covering about 3,542,109 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 power steering repair since model year 2015 | 41 recall campaigns covering about 3,542,109 vehicles |
Is it recalled or covered?
| Recall number | Vehicles | Cars recalled | What the recall says |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26V-363 | Jeep Wrangler 4xe 2021–2025; Jeep Wrangler 2021–2025; Jeep Gladiator 2021–2025 | 1,076,999 | A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury. |
| 18V-586 | Chevrolet Suburban 2015; GMC Yukon 2015; Chevrolet Silverado 1500 2015 and 3 more | 1,015,918 | If EPS assist is lost and then suddenly returns, the driver may have difficulty steering the vehicle, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 25V-092 | Tesla Model 3 2023; Tesla Model Y 2023 | 376,241 | A loss of power steering assist can require greater steering effort, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 23V-704 | Honda Civic 2022–2024 | 264,567 | A damaged tire can fail and increase the risk of a crash or injury. |
| 19V-020 | RAM 1500 2019 | 159,740 | A loss of power steering could vary the steering effort required, possibly causing vehicle oversteer or understeer, increasing the risk of crash. |
| 15V-144 | Toyota Camry 2015; Toyota Highlander 2015; Toyota RAV4 2015 | 110,085 | An unexpected loss of power steering increases the risk of a crash. |
| 18V-204 | Tesla Model S 2015–2016 | 70,421 | Loss of power steering assist would require a higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may increase the risk of a crash. |
| 21V-213 | Chevrolet Colorado 2015; GMC Canyon 2015 | 60,681 | A loss of power steering, particularly at lower speeds increases the risk of a crash. |
32 more recalls name this part, on smaller fleets. The car finder at the top checks yours.
NHTSA defect investigations naming this part (4)
| Case number | Vehicles | Opened | Status | What NHTSA looked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PE26002 | RAM 3500 2022; RAM Promaster 2022–2023 | Mar 2, 2026 | Open | Loss of power steering. |
| PE25009 | Chrysler Pacifica 2017–2018; Chrysler Pacifica Plug-IN Hybrid 2017 | Sep 5, 2025 | Open | Intermittent loss of electric power. |
| RQ23003 | RAM 1500 2015–2016 | Aug 4, 2023 | Open | Intermittent/Comp loss of power. |
| RQ19001 | Chevrolet Colorado 2015; GMC Canyon 2015 | May 9, 2019 | Closed May 28, 2021 | Loss of power steering. |
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 | Grand Wagoneer 2022–2026; Wagoneer 2022–2025 | S2523000053 REV.C | Aug 3, 2026 | Service electric power steering (eps) message on instrument cluster. |
| Mazda | Mazda3 2019–2026; CX-30 2020–2026 | 06-001-26 | Jul 8, 2026 | DESCRIPTION Some customers may complain that the electric power steering warning light illuminates after engine start and DTC U2011:1C is stored. |
| Ford | Mustang Mach E 2021–2024 | SSM 54917 | Jun 11, 2026 | Some 2021-2024 Mustang Mach-E vehicles may exhibit only continuous memory diagnostic trouble code (DTC) U2016:47 stored in the power steering control module (PSCM) after a self test is performed with the Ford Diagnosis and Repair System (FDRS) scan tool. |
| Jeep | Compass 2023–2026 | S2623000043 | Jun 5, 2026 | Power steering system hot - performance may be limited Message And Or C2210-00 EPS ECU Overtemperature. |
| Jeep | Grand Cherokee 2021; Grand Cherokee L 2021 and 1 more | S2123000070 REV.A | May 18, 2026 | After electric power steering (eps) replacement, diagnostic trouble code (dtc) C221C-00 ECU not programmed/flash required. |
| Jeep | Wagoneer 2022–2026; Grand Wagoneer 2022–2026 | S2219000004 REV.A | Mar 18, 2026 | Service electric power steering message on cluster. |
72 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 (9)
| Maker | Vehicles | Date | Notice number | What the maker extended |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai | Elantra 2007–2015; Sonata 2009–2014; Sonata Hybrid 2011–2014 | Aug 10, 2017 | 5NP-F8M5G | Motor driven power steering coupling. |
| Honda | Accord 2013 | May 24, 2017 | WE - A15-056 | Electronic power steering torque sensor failure with specific. |
| Buick | Enclave 2008–2011; Traverse 2009–2011; Acadia 2007–2011 | Feb 6, 2017 | 14329 | Power steering pump wear causing reduced or loss of hydraulic steering. |
| Chevrolet | Malibu 2007–2012 | Jan 30, 2017 | 15356 | Electric power steering torque sensor or motor/controller causing sudden loss. |
| Honda | Civic 2006–2009 | Apr 3, 2015 | SVC-14-058 | Electric power steering heaviness or hard turning at low. |
4 more extension notices name this part: Chevrolet, Honda. Ask the dealer whether one covers your car.
What do owners say?
4 complaints quoted word for word, each with its NHTSA number.
Within 30 mins I was told the power steering rack would need to be replaced at a cost of $3,110.
Managed to get it to dealership with no steering and am told it is a power steering module failure and the cost to fix is $1800.
Electric power steering module corrosion causing loss of steering ability while driving same issue as was reported on multiple vins for my year but my vin was not included just had repaired at a cost of $2000.
The dealer did say that the new electric power steering pump was problematic and that a $600 better steering stabilizer might help.
Check your car
Power steering repair cost depends on the part: $650–$1,100 for a pump, $600–$1,500 for a rack and pinion, and $55–$120 for a fluid flush. Those are our estimates for a midsize car, so treat a quote far outside them as a reason to ask what's on the ticket.
If your steering goes heavy or cuts out while you're moving, don't shop for a price first.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a power steering pump cost to replace?
An independent shop lands at $585–$990. Published guides list higher figures, so ask whether your quote includes the flush and hose.
How much does a rack and pinion cost to replace?
Our estimate is $600–$1,500: parts $300–$800 and labor $300–$700.
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
- NHTSA Crash Report Sampling System (CRSS), 2019–2022 pooled data from 2022
- FMCSA roadside inspections and violations, U.S. DOT data.transportation.gov downloaded 2026-10-05
- North Carolina Division of Air Quality, Vehicle Safety and Emissions Inspection Frequency Study data from 2017
- State inspection programs, multi-state tables and each state agency page, joined to NHTSA owner complaints downloaded 2026-10-12
- BLS Producer Price Index, commodity data for motor vehicle parts (series WPU14120502); 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
- FHWA Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) national section data, roughness (IRI) by county; poor-ride cut from the FHWA Conditions and Performance Report data from 2026
- 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 RepairPal's range ($841–$940) on 2026-10-10: our default's midpoint is 2% below 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