Owning a car requires regular maintenance, but sometimes, parts can break down even with the best routine. Repairs can range from a few dollars for a blown-out light bulb to tens of thousands to replace a luxury car’s engine. Here are 10 common car problems with ballpark estimates of what it costs to fix each one. (Costs will vary by car’s age, mileage, and location).
1. Car Won’t Start
Nothing can be more aggravating than turning the ignition key and being greeted with a single click, or worse, nothing. It could be a more serious issue, like a bad starter motor, but most often, the culprit is a depleted battery.
Even under the best circumstances, battery life runs about 5 years. Add extreme weather conditions, and that time can be shortened dramatically. Unlike many of the items on our list, replacing a battery can be quickly done by the owner with simple tools. Many auto parts stores offer free installation with the purchase and will test your old battery free of charge. It’s important to note that disconnecting the battery will require a code to reset the audio system in some modern vehicles. Hence, a bit of research is essential before getting started.
New car batteries range from $50 for the least expensive standard choices to $200 or more for premium models.
Read more about car starting problems.
2. Brake Problems
Seat belts and airbags get all the press, but any vehicle’s most important safety system is its brakes. Specific components, including brake pads, shoes, rotors, and drums, are maintenance items that need regular replacing. Today’s braking systems include sensors, computers, hoses, a master cylinder, and more, depending on the vehicle. Thankfully, most new vehicles have a built-in warning system to alert drivers when something is out of specification.
Brake repairs can cost anywhere from $300 to $800 to replace average-wear items, such as pads and rotors. Replacing additional items, such as the master cylinder, will cost more.
Read more about squeaky brakes.
3. Check Engine Light
Today’s vehicles are computers on wheels, and their advanced technology can often immediately warn about issues. Sensors monitor the fuel, ignition, transmission, and emissions systems – and often more – and alert the driver when an issue has been detected, most often with a simple “check engine light” on the gauge cluster.
It is important to note that most cars use a steady illuminated check engine light to denote issues that need attention but are not entirely urgent. However, a blinking or flashing check engine or service engine soon light means the driver should pull over when it is safe and shut the vehicle off as quickly as possible.
Deciphering the check engine light can be done by the home mechanic using an affordable OBDII scanner. Many auto parts stores offer free OBDII scanning as well. In general, it is free to read the codes. However, prices vary for getting a complete diagnosis or repair.
What to do if your “Check Engine” light is on
4. Rough Engine Idle
There are many reasons why your vehicle’s engine may be running poorly or missing periodically. In other words, the engine momentarily stumbles from its rhythmic cycle for a split second or more. Vehicles built in 1996 or later have an advantage: Most engine faults that are significant enough to cause performance issues will be detected by the car’s OBDII system (as we discussed before), tripping the check engine light on the gauge cluster. Some causes include worn-out spark plugs, ignition-system faults, fuel-system problems, or mechanical issues. All need to be checked out by a mechanic as soon as possible.
Cost can range from $150 for a basic tune-up to thousands of dollars for extensive mechanical repairs.
Learn more about worn-out spark plugs.
5. Leaks Under the Car
There’s a dark spot on your driveway, or a puddle, although it hasn’t rained. Make sure you know what the spots are: Often, your car will drip water if you’ve been using the air conditioner. But pay attention: Many spots on the driveway come from fluids that serve an essential function for your vehicle. If your car is low on engine oil, coolant, or transmission fluid, it can result in a very costly repair. The loss of power steering fluid can make your vehicle incredibly hard to steer, and low brake fluid can make it difficult to stop.
While there are some variations, most vehicle fluids have distinct colors:
Light brown to black = Engine oil
Red or brown = Transmission fluid
Transparent yellow or brown = Brake fluid
Clear or red = Power steering fluid
(Typically bright) green, orange, pink, or blue-green = Antifreeze coolant
Repairing a fluid leak can be as inexpensive as tightening an oil drain plug or as costly as replacing the rear main seal, which can cost as much as $1,000.
6. Overheating
Cooling problems can quickly ruin your vehicle’s engine, so be mindful of your car’s warning lights and gauges. Typical issues include a low coolant level caused by a leak, a broken water pump, a bad radiator or thermostat, low engine oil, a broken drive belt, or blockage in the cooling system. Driving an overheated engine can cause catastrophic damage, including warping the cylinder head. The heat can also melt components like belts, sensors,
and wires under the hood.
Overheating repair costs range significantly based on the source of the problem. Topping off the coolant can cost less than $20, while replacing a blown engine may take $10k or more. While all of the items on this list of common repairs should be dealt with quickly, none may be more urgent than an overheating engine.
Read more about an overheating car.
7. Paint/Finish Problems
It’s important to keep your vehicle clean, inside and out. However, even with the greatest care car, the paint can get scratched, or the finishes can wear out. The hot sun or brutal winter weather can wreak havoc on your car’s paint job.
Basic paint correction can cost from $500 to $2,500, depending on the extent of the work. A detailer may be able to remove surface scratches from a small area for less. To remove dents, expect to pay $75-$150 for a small ding and three to four times that to repair larger dents.
Painting the whole car can be much more expensive. A full vehicle respray to factory specifications can cost $2,500 or more, depending on the vehicle’s condition.
Learn more about the costs associated with painting your car.
8. Worn Shocks and Struts
Vehicle shocks and struts stabilize your vehicle’s movements while cornering, driving over uneven road surfaces, and braking. They literally absorb impacts that would otherwise be transmitted to vehicle occupants. They also enhance safety and performance.
Stocks and struts often wear out slowly over time, although both have been known to give up completely all at once. Symptoms include instability at speed or the vehicle feeling like it tips to one side in turns. Other tell-tale signs include the front end diving during hard braking or the rear end squatting during acceleration. Uneven tire wear or tires bouncing after hitting a bump can be signs of wear on key suspension components.
Shock and strut replacement costs between $450 and $900 per pair, depending on the type and vehicle.
9. Tire Wear
Regardless of the cause, tire replacement is necessary when the tread wear indicators appear, or the tires reach their date code. While the first requires careful inspection, checking the date code only takes a minute or two. In 2000, manufacturers went to a uniform number coding system to mark the “birth date” of the tire. The code starts with DOT and ends with four numbers. The first two digits represent the week, and the last two represent the year that the tire was made.
Most tires will eventually need to be replaced because of time or normal mileage. Still, uneven premature wear can indicate a more serious problem, such as a worn-out or deformed suspension. Most tire centers will inspect your vehicle’s tires free of charge.
In rare circumstances, a single tire can be replaced, but more often, tires should be replaced in pairs; some experts even suggest changing all four tires at once on a vehicle with all-wheel drive to ensure safety. The cost per axle ranges from $300 to $400 for the average passenger vehicle.
Learn more about when to get your tires changed.
10. Slipping Transmission
A worn or damaged automatic transmission can be expensive to repair, but recognizing the symptoms early can minimize the damage. There are warning signs that shouldn’t be ignored. When the car begins to act unpredictably, it may signal transmission problems. Symptoms may include slow or delayed acceleration, difficulty shifting gears, grinding or whining noises, or burning odors. Erratic engine revving, chugging, or the failure to engage reverse are tell-tale signs of a faulty transmission.
Transmission replacement or rebuilding costs range from $1,100 to over $3,000. Even a used transmission will typically cost $1,000 or more, with additional expenses for installation.
Learn more about transmission fluid.
11. Broken Windshield
Maybe you’ve heard it? That annoying noise can only come from a rock hitting your windshield at speed. It is enough to make you jump, even with the radio blaring, leaving a mark in its wake. Over time that small chip can become a large crack, spreading from the bottom of the weatherstrip to the top. Not only is the damage unattractive, but it can also obstruct the driver’s view of the road. Fortunately, many insurance companies include windshield repair and replacement in their policies.
Even if you are on your own to pay, windshield repair and replacement are straightforward and relatively inexpensive. On average, the repair will cost between $100-$400, including labor. Vehicle window replacement costs vary greatly depending on the make and model.
Read more about replacing a windshield.
12. Wheel Alignment
Vehicle wheels can move from alignment – meaning they’re all pointing in the correct direction – all at once or slowly over time. The quick change caused by driving into a pothole or over an object can be easily recognizable. After an incident, the vehicle may noticeably pull to the left or right while traveling down a straight road. Wear from age might only reveal itself with secondary evidence, such as worn tires or a slight pull while driving down the highway.
Aligning your vehicle’s wheels will only fix the problem if everything else works correctly. If you suspect your car’s alignment is out, having a mechanic inspect the vehicle for worn or bent suspension parts is essential. Once everything else is repaired, a four-wheel alignment should cost between $100 and $200.
Next Steps
Use the Carfax Care Care app to track your car’s maintenance
Shop for Used Cars with free Carfax Reports
