How the price estimate was built
What it shows: Our default range is $113 to $195; 2 of 4 published ranges overlap it.
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 (93%), against 60% for all complaints: the biggest difference between the two.
What it shows: The most common band for complaints about this repair is under 3 years old (62%), against 40% for all complaints: the biggest difference between the two.
Is it urgent, and what do owners notice first?
780 owner complaints name this part.
What it shows: Coolant or fluid leak is the largest at 15%, followed by Dealer could not fix or repeat repair at 14%; the smallest shown is Noise at 5%.
Which other parts do owners name in the same complaint?
Among the 780 owner complaints naming this part, wheel is named in 8% of them, more than any other part.
Other parts named in the same complaints. Wheel: 8%; Tire installation: 6%.
Owners name the wheel most often in the same complaint, which is not proof that one caused the other. Ask the shop whether it checked the wheel 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 54%, out of 393 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?
2017 is the most common model year in 780 complaints naming this part (23%); 3 model years account for 51%.
What it shows: 2017 is the largest at 176 (23%), followed by 2015 at 86 (11%); the smallest shown is 2022 at 28 (4%).
Has the replacement part I am buying been recalled?
NHTSA lists 5 equipment recalls that name rim since 2015 (tires and wheels), covering 50,438 items sold as parts rather than whole vehicles; the largest, by Alcoa Inc. in 2015, covered 45,794.
| Year | Maker and product | NHTSA component | Defect | Items |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Alcoa Inc.: Aluminum Wheel | wheels | certain 22.5" X 8.25" aluminum wheels, model number 88367X, manufactured from April 27, 2015, through May 19. | 45,794 |
| 2018 | Tap Worldwide, Llc: 8-Lug Wheel Center Caps | hub | certain LRG Rims 8-Lug aftermarket Wheel Center Caps, models LRG107 and LRG108. | 3,619 |
| 2018 | Tap Worldwide, Llc: Wheels | wheels | certain LRG Rims aftermarket Wheels, part numbers LRG10129070700, LRG10129070900, and LRG10129082700. | 567 |
| 2022 | Mw Company Llc: Crux Lugs | lugs/nuts/bolts/studs | certain WELD off Road Wheels, size 17"x9", +0, 8 lugs CRUX part numbers: W12079017500, W12079018500. | 436 |
| 2021 | Howmet Aerospace: Aluminum Wheel | rim | certain Alcoa High Polish Aluminum Wheels, part number ULT 397, wheel size 22.5 x 8.25. | 22 |
Has this part been recalled abroad on cars that may share it?
Manufacturers filed 9 foreign recall campaigns that name rim with NHTSA since 2015; the latest, from Mercedes-Benz USA in 2024-11. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | Mercedes-Benz | 258 | MBAG has determined that on certain MY 2024-2025 EQE (294 platform) vehicles, the mounting of the rim inserts might not withstand the retention forces while driving due to variations in casting tolerances of the rims. |
| 2020-12 | Mercedes-Benz | 238 | However, due to a deviation in production documentation, an incorrect winter tire might have been installed on the winter wheel/rim. |
| 2023-09 | Mercedes-Benz - DBA Sprinter | 184 | Mercedes-Benz AG has determined that on certain Sprinter (907 platform) vehicles, the wheel rim assembly structure might not meet specifications. |
| 2022-04 | Mercedes-Benz | 049 | Additionally, a brake caliper might loosen suddenly without prior warning, damage the affected wheel, and subsequently fracture the rim. |
| 2024-02 | Mercedes-Benz | 031 | The rims on the affected vehicles will be replaced. |
How many recalled cars are actually fixed, so should I check mine?
Across 3 NHTSA recalls that name rim filed 2015 to 2024, 84.1% of the 9,817 recalled vehicles had been repaired after 8 quarters, against 66.2% for all recalls, which leaves about 1,562 vehicles still carrying the defect.
| Year | Vehicles | Recalled vehicles | Repaired | Component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Toyota Highlander | 4,869 | 86.3% | tires |
| 2024 | Toyota Highlander | 4,763 | 81.7% | tires |
| 2021 | Alfa Romeo Giulia | 185 | 87.5% | markings |
Was my tire a known defect, and which tire lines has NHTSA recalled?
NHTSA lists 139 tire recall campaigns filed since 2015 (every tire recall), covering 4,604,281 tires; the largest, Amp Mud Terrain Attack M/T in 2024, covered 673,000.
What it shows: Amp Mud Terrain Attack M/T is the largest at 673,000, followed by Michelin Agilis Crossclimate C-Metric at 542,110; the smallest shown is Bf Goodrich Commercial T/A A/S 2 at 104,000.
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 5 recall campaigns for parts matched to a rim repair since model year 2015, covering about 37,182 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 rim repair since model year 2015 | 5 recall campaigns covering about 37,182 vehicles |
Is it recalled or covered?
| Recall number | Vehicles | Cars recalled | What the recall says |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17V-543 | Jeep Cherokee 2017–2018 | 22,242 | The missing tire and rim designation information may lead to an incorrect combination being installed on the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 18V-591 | Mitsubishi Outlander 2018–2019 | 14,791 | The incorrect rim size information on the label can cause the operator to replace the rim with an incorrect rim size, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 21V-132 | Volkswagen Atlas 2021; Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport 2021 | 128 | An insufficiently attached wheel may separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 16V-449 | GMC Terrain 2016; Chevrolet Equinox 2016 | 17 | If the information on the certification labels is incorrect, the operator may install incorrectly sized tires or rims or may improperly inflate the tires, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 25V-150 | Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ 2023 | 4 | Wheel rim insert detachment can create a hazard for other road users, increasing the risk of a crash. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Porsche | 911 Carrera 2025–2026; 911 GT3 2025–2026 and 1 more | 53/26 4005 | Jun 9, 2026 | Additional test instructions for rim damage on the front axle. |
| BMW | 530i 2023 | B061525 | Mar 6, 2025 | Light alloy rim. |
| Cadillac | Lyriq 2023 | N222387630 | Mar 16, 2023 | Customer Satisfaction Program - Certain vehicles may have a condition in which the reverse rim wheel valve clearance has limited space to use standard air chucks when adjusting tire pressure. |
| Cadillac | Escalade 2021–2025; XT5 2017–2023 and 4 more | 17-NA-271 | Oct 28, 2022 | This bulletin provides a procedure to clean the back side of the rims and rotors and to correct the customers concern of wheel clicking. |
| Chevrolet | Silverado 2500 2020–2025; Silverado 3500 2020–2025 | 22-NA-183 | Sep 7, 2022 | This informational bulletin advises the tech of a different tire/rim option that can be used to correct the customers concern. |
| Polestar | Polestar 2 2021 | TJ35718.4.0-2021 | Feb 25, 2021 | This is a Technical Journal: Polestar rims, front and rear wheel. |
25 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.
It would have also destroyed a $700 rim, which I would have had to pay for.
My rear passenger rim was damaged and I incurred a $410 expense for the tire replacement as it was not warrantied by either Volvo or Pirelli.
The shop quoted me at $2,154 as there were 5 or 6 different parts they needed to repair including the ball joint, axle, brakes, brake sensors, rim, etc.
By the way, these rims cost over $800 apiece.
Check your car
Rim repair cost is $113–$195 per wheel for curb rash, $206–$358 for a bend and $281–$488 for a crack, in our estimate for one standard alloy wheel. That's an estimate, not a quote.
How much does rim repair cost per wheel?
Our default estimate is $113–$195 for one wheel: cosmetic curb rash on a standard alloy. Change the damage, the material or the number of wheels and the range moves.
| What you change | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Curb rash, standard alloy, 1 rim | $113–$195 |
| Structural bend, standard alloy, 1 rim | $206–$358 |
| Crack or weld repair, standard alloy, 1 rim | $281–$488 |
| Curb rash, steel, 1 rim | $79–$137 |
| Curb rash, chrome or specialty, 1 rim | $163–$283 |
| Curb rash, standard alloy, 2 rims | $226–$390 |
| Curb rash, standard alloy, 3 rims | $339–$585 |
| Curb rash, standard alloy, 4 rims | $452–$780 |
The low-to-high gap is wide because damage and wheel design decide the labor. Nothing here is a firm price until a shop has looked at your wheel out of the car.
Before you say yes: ask for the price per wheel, in writing, with what's included. If the quote is a single number for "the wheels," ask for it to be split.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to repair a bent rim?
A bent standard alloy rim costs $206–$358 per wheel in our estimate. That's for a structural bend on one rim. A shop may decline to straighten a wheel if it finds a crack, in which case you're pricing a replacement.
Is it safe to drive on a bent rim?
Not until it's inspected. A bend can crack the wheel or break the tire seal, and a smooth-looking outer lip doesn't prove the wheel is sound. If you have a vibration at speed, get it checked this week and avoid highway driving until then.
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 service bulletin file (2015-2019 · 2020-2024 · 2025-2026) downloaded 2026-10-05
- 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
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 4 established price guides on 2026-10-06: our default's midpoint is 7% below the middle of the median of 4 published guides. Price evidence grade A: 4 outside published ranges; the hours and parts prices behind the estimate are CalcScrape assumptions and have not been checked against repair invoices. Methodology