What does this cost in your state?
California is the costliest state and Arkansas the cheapest; each square shows that state's midpoint of the estimate.
Lower-cost states ($195)MiddleHigher-cost states ($248)
What it shows: CA is the highest at $248 and AR the lowest at $195, across 51 states.
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: 40% against 60%.
What it shows: The most common band for complaints about this repair is 6-9 years (43%), against 23% for all complaints: the biggest difference between the two.
Is it urgent, and what do owners notice first?
791 owner complaints name this part.
Owners say the dealer could not fix or repeat the problem. If it comes back after a repair, ask what was tested before you pay again.
Which other parts do owners name in the same complaint?
Among the 791 owner complaints naming this part, brake caliper is named in 9% of them, more than any other part.
Owners name the brake caliper most often in the same complaint, which is not proof that one caused the other. Ask the shop whether it checked the brake caliper too, so you are not quoted twice for one visit.
How fast were owners driving when it happened?
25-44 mph leads at 40%.
Owners reported it most often at town speeds. Tell the shop what speed it happens at, because that narrows the diagnosis.
How serious did it get for owners?
Among the 791 owner complaints naming this part, being towed is the outcome owners report most often.
What it shows: Towed is the largest at 87, followed by Crash reported at 37; the smallest shown is Injury reported at 6.
Which model years show up most in the complaints?
Among the 791 owner complaints naming this part that state a model year, complaints cluster in a few model years instead of spreading evenly.
What it shows: 2016 is the largest at 210 (27%); the smallest shown is 2025 at 12 (2%).
When in the year do owners report it?
NHTSA owner complaints about this part run furthest above the usual seasonal share in September: about 48% more of them name an incident that month than complaints about any part would predict. A complaint is a report, not a measured failure.
What it shows: August is the largest at 13% (all: 9%), followed by January at 6% (all: 9%); the smallest shown is November at 5% (all: 7%).
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, the fewest of the four components 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 brake hose replacement problems track spending on vehicle maintenance and repair per resident across states?
Across U.S. states, NHTSA owner complaints about brake hose replacement run higher where spending on vehicle maintenance and repair per resident is higher, after adjusting for the makes sold in each state. This is an association across states, not proof that spending on vehicle maintenance and repair per resident causes this repair.
How to read it: Each dot is a state. Further right means more spending on vehicle maintenance and repair per resident (dollars); higher up means more complaints for this repair than expected (1.0 is average). If the dots climb to the right, reports of this repair rise with spending on vehicle maintenance and repair per resident (dollars).
What it shows: States with more spending on vehicle maintenance and repair per resident (dollars) tend to sit higher on the chart across 26 states: a pattern in the data, not proof of cause.
- The 8 states with the most spending on vehicle maintenance and repair per resident (Colorado, Nebraska, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, California, Maryland, Washington): reports of this repair run 32% above what the makes sold there would predict, and 5 of 8 are above expected. The 8 with the least (Florida, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, North Carolina, New Jersey, Arizona): 6% below, and 4 of 8 are above expected.
- Exceptions: Colorado, California and Washington are among the highest in spending on vehicle maintenance and repair per resident but report below expected.
- Split the states into thirds: the third with the least spending on vehicle maintenance and repair per resident runs 6% below what the makes sold there would predict, the middle third 9% above, and the third with the most 32% above. It steps up steadily.
- For spending on vehicle maintenance and repair per resident, after allowing for the 1562 comparisons we ran, luck alone would produce a pattern this strong about 1 time in 12. Take out any single state and the spending on vehicle maintenance and repair per resident pattern still holds.
- For spending on vehicle maintenance and repair per resident, of the 4 exception states, 1 read the same way for the other parts of the system (so that is the system there, not this repair) and 3 are specific to this repair.
Residents who spend more on vehicle repair are fixing more or paying more per fix, which changes how many repair problems are reported.
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 7 equipment recalls that name brake hose since 2015 (service brakes and parking brake), covering 62,235 items sold as parts rather than whole vehicles; the largest, by Streamline Industries Incorporated in 2023, covered 30,000.
| Year | Maker and product | NHTSA component | Defect | Items |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Streamline Industries Incorporated: Abs Kit, Non Abs. | foundation components hoses. | Filing lists the affected part numbers | 30,000 |
| 2024 | Power Stop Llc: Brake Hose | foundation components hoses. | Filing lists the affected part numbers | 26,556 |
| 2018 | Industrias Martinrea De Mexico Sa De Cv: Brake Hose | foundation components hoses. | Industrias Martinrea de Mexico SA de CV (Martinrea) has submitted a Defect Information Report based upon. | 3,931 |
| 2019 | Transfer Flow Inc - Chico, Ca: Rear Brake Line | foundation components hoses. | certain rear brake lines used for mobility van conversions. | 700 |
| 2018 | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing: Xb, Tc | service brakes, hydraulic | certain Toyota Racing Development (TRD) brake kits, part numbers PTR09-21111 and PTR09-52080, sold by Toyota. | 544 |
| 2017 | Liquidspring Llc: C.L.A.S.S.11326 | foundation components hoses. | certain Compressible Liquid Adaptive Suspension Systems (C.L.A.S.S.), part number 11326, model numbers. | 321 |
| 2022 | Chrysler (Fca Us, Llc): Right Rear Brake Hose, Left. | foundation components hoses. | certain Mopar right rear brake hoses with part numbers 68371722AA and 68371722AB, and left rear brake hoses. | 183 |
Has this part been recalled abroad on cars that may share it?
Manufacturers filed 20 foreign recall campaigns that name brake hose with NHTSA since 2015 (matched by the filing text); the latest, from Mercedes-Benz USA in 2025-07.
| Filed | Manufacturer | Foreign recall no. | What the filing says |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-10 | BMW of | 175 | Washington, DC 20590 RE: Foreign Safety / Non-Compliance Campaign Sun Roof Drain Hose 2023 BMW X1 Dear Ms. |
| 2024-07 | Volkswagen Group. | 161 | 248-754-5000 Phone Washington, DC 20590 248-754-5093 Fax July 10, 2024 Date Subject: Notification of Recall Pursuant to 49 CFR Part 579.11 (a) Brake Circuit Screw Connection Dear Ms. |
| 2022-07 | Hino Motors Sales U.S.A. | 112 | Description of Defect or Noncompliance The subject vehicles are equipped with an air brake system and an air horn. |
| 2021-04 | Mercedes-Benz - DBA Sprinter | 094 | Jeff Giuseppe 20/04/2021 Page 2 Description of Issue Mercedes-Benz AG has determined that on certain Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles, platform 910 (VS30), if the distance between the interior wheel housing lining and the brake hose is too small, the front axle. |
| 2025-07 | Mercedes-Benz | 093 | Description of Issue MBAG has determined that on certain MY24 S-Class Guard (223 platform) vehicles, the front axle brake hoses might leak brake fluid over time. |
| 2025-03 | Mercedes-Benz | 029 | Description of Issue MBAG has determined that on certain MY24-25 A-Class (177 platform) and CLA (118 platform) vehicles, the length of the brake hoses on the rear axle might not meet specifications. |
| 2024-01 | Ford Motor Company | 009 | Sincerely, for: emily frascaroli, attachment docusign envelope id: e82848ae-f42c-473d-93b7-67c9097110da global recall process report of field action manufacturer sa - south america type of action s - safety recall field action number 23s60 subject 2024 p703s. |
| 2021-01 | Volkswagen Group. | 003 | 248-754-5000 Phone Washington, DC 20590 248-754-5093 Fax January 20, 2021 Date Subject: Notification of Recall Pursuant to 49 CFR Part 579.11 (a) Front Brake Hose Dear Mr. |
How many lives have brake improvements saved?
NHTSA estimates dual master cylinders and front disc brakes (FMVSS 105 and 135) saved 217 car occupants and 201 light-truck occupants in 2012 alone, and 15,560 occupants from 1960 to 2012.
| Technology | Car occupants saved in 2012 | Light truck occupants saved in 2012 | Car occupants saved 1960 to 2012 | Light truck occupants saved 1960 to 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| dual master cylinders and front disc brakes (FMVSS 105 and 135) | 217 | 201 | 10,559 | 5,001 |
| electronic stability control (FMVSS 126), the system brake work keeps working | 500 | 824 | 2,420 | 3,604 |
How many recalled cars are actually fixed, so should I check mine?
Across 10 NHTSA recalls that name brake hose filed 2015 to 2024, 49.5% of the 1,860,374 recalled vehicles had been repaired after 8 quarters, against 66.2% for all recalls, which leaves about 939,908 vehicles still carrying the defect.
What it shows: Suzuki 2024 is the largest at 93.0%, followed by Lincoln 2023 at 41.6%; the smallest shown is Ford 2024 at 35.6%.
Which metro areas have the most stop-and-go freeway traffic?
FHWA's 2022 urbanized-area table shows the most crowded freeway lanes in Riverside-San Bernardino, CA (22,026 vehicles per lane a day), Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA and Las Vegas-Henderson, NV, against a median of 10,257 across 493 urbanized areas.
| Urbanized area | Vehicles per freeway lane per day | Freeway lane-miles |
|---|---|---|
| Riverside-San Bernardino, CA | 22,026 | 1,292 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 21,245 | 5,780 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson, NV | 19,820 | 650 |
| Chicago, IL-IN | 19,246 | 3,005 |
| Miami, FL | 19,023 | 2,579 |
| San Francisco-Oakland, CA | 18,674 | 1,903 |
| Concord, CA | 18,541 | 497 |
| San Diego, CA | 18,437 | 2,016 |
| New Orleans, LA | 18,409 | 390 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 18,398 | 342 |
| Median of all 493 urbanized areas | 10,257 |
How much traffic do New York state roads carry in each county?
New York State DOT's 2019 traffic counts average 12,562 vehicles a day per station in Bronx County, 12,095 in New York and 12,074 in Queens, against 2,542 in the median county; this is one state, not a national figure.
What it shows: Bronx is the largest at 12,562, followed by New York at 12,095; the smallest shown is Richmond at 7,924.
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 brake hose replacement since model year 2015, covering about 1,555,470 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 brake hose replacement since model year 2015 | 8 recall campaigns covering about 1,555,470 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-162 | Lincoln MKZ 2015–2018; Ford Fusion 2015–2018 | 1,280,726 | A brake fluid leak will increase brake pedal travel and extend the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 25V-058 | Toyota Tacoma 2024–2025 | 221,846 | A brake fluid leak can reduce braking ability and increase the risk of a crash. |
| 24V-455 | Porsche Taycan 2020–2025 | 31,689 | A brake fluid leak can reduce braking performance and extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 25V-116 | Mercedes-Benz S 500 2021–2022; Mercedes-Benz S 580 2021–2023; Mercedes-Benz S 580 E 2023 | 20,339 | A brake fluid leak can extend the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 20V-631 | Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 2020; Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500 2020; Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 2020 | 463 | Over time, the hose could begin to leak brake fluid, affecting the braking performance of the vehicle, including the potential loss of directional stability when braking, thereby increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 19V-553 | Toyota Sienna 2015–2018 | 303 | The contact may cause failure of the rear brake hoses, resulting in a loss of vehicle control and reduced braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 18V-104 | Lincoln MKC 2018; Ford Escape 2018 | 88 | A brake fluid leak may lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 24V-592 | Mercedes-Benz AMG GLB35 2024 | 16 | A brake fluid leak can cause a loss of brakes and increase the risk of a crash. |
NHTSA defect investigations naming this part (3)
| Case number | Vehicles | Opened | Status | What NHTSA looked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PE24027 | Ford Edge 2015–2017 | Oct 3, 2024 | Closed Oct 30, 2025 | Loss of braking caused by rear brake hose. |
| EA15005 | Ford Explorer 2015 | Sep 28, 2015 | Closed Nov 2, 2018 | Front brake hose. |
| PE15017 | Ford Explorer 2015 | Apr 29, 2015 | Closed Sep 28, 2015 | Front brake hose. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW | X1 2025; X2 2025 | M060525 | Mar 12, 2025 | The bulletin file gives no description beyond its title (brake hose). |
| Porsche | Taycan Turbo S 2020–2024; Taycan Turbo Cross Turism 2021–2024 and 10 more | 103-24 | Jul 19, 2024 | Technical information for ARB0 - replacing left and right brake hose on front. |
| Porsche | Taycan Turbo Cross Turism 2021–2024; Taycan 2020–2025 and 10 more | 137-23 | Oct 3, 2023 | Symptom-based workshop manual for the brake system. |
| Mercedes-Benz | Metris 2020 | V-RC-202012004(1 | Dec 10, 2020 | Inspect brake hose. |
| Subaru | Crosstrek 2018; Impreza 2017–2018 | WUR-03R | Nov 20, 2019 | In the interest of customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. |
| Subaru | Impreza 2017–2018; Crosstrek 2018 | WUR-03 | Nov 13, 2019 | In the intrest of customer satisfaction, Subaru of America, Inc. |
1 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.
Front left brake hose burst at 116000 miles.
At 59,900 miles on a 2016 Discovery Sport that has never been in a collision and maintained by LandRover Dealership, the Left front brake line blew while my 22 year old medical student son was driving the car.
Contacted a repair shop, who removed and replaced both front brake hoses and flushed the brake fluid for a whopping $510.03.
Brake hose at passenger front tire burst at 55,000 miles.
Check your car
Replacing one brake hose at an average chain shop comes to $177–$271 in our calculator, at $120 an hour. That covers the hose and the labor to swap it. The biggest swing is how many hoses the shop replaces, so use the calculator above for your car, then match the quote in your hand to the same count.
What changes the price of a brake hose job?
Two inputs in the calculator move the number a lot, and one barely moves it.
| Choice | Option | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Default | 1 hose, chain shop | $177–$271 |
| Hose count | 2 hoses | $305–$434 |
| Hose count | All 4 hoses | $562–$760 |
| Shop type | Independent (about $100/hr) | $161–$245 |
| Shop type | Dealership (about $175/hr) | $221–$343 |
| Vehicle | Economy car | $166–$256 |
| Vehicle | SUV / truck, or luxury | $187–$286 |
When you ask for a quote, say how many hoses and which wheels. A quote that says only "brake hose" cannot be compared with another one.
What does the quote include, and what does it leave out?
The estimate prices the hose and the labor to fit it. A brake hose connects the hard brake line to the caliper, so replacing it opens the hydraulic system. The system then has to be refilled and bled of air before the car is safe to drive.
Ask whether fluid and bleeding are on the quote as their own line. If they are not, ask what the shop charges for them, because they are easy to add once the car is on the lift. The estimate also cannot see a rusted fitting or a seized bleeder screw, either of which can raise the labor.
How can you tell it is the hose, and how urgent is it?
A soft pedal that sinks further than it used to, or fluid wetting the inside of a wheel, points at the hydraulic side of the brakes. A pull to one side under braking can mean a hose that is swelling shut at one wheel. A hose with a bulge or a crack in the rubber is worth replacing before it fails.
Treat a pedal that goes toward the floor, or a visible fluid leak, as a reason to stop driving until someone has looked. Have the car towed if you can, since a hose that fails takes braking away at that wheel.
Should you replace one hose or a pair?
Hoses on the same axle are the same age and see the same heat. If the shop is replacing the one that failed, ask them to inspect its mate and say what they see.
If the other hose looks fine, one hose is a reasonable job. If it is cracked, stiff or damp, the calculator shows what a second hose adds, and replacing both now saves paying for the same wheel removal later. Ask the shop to show you the old hose.
How do you get a fair quote?
Get two quotes for the same job: same number of hoses, same wheels, fluid and bleeding included in both. Ask each shop whether the parts are the maker's own or aftermarket, and what the warranty is on the part and on the labor.
Published ranges, such as RepairPal's estimate for this job, are written for an average car and shop, so use them to check scale, not to argue a line item.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive on a leaking brake hose?
No. A leak lets fluid out and air in, and the pedal can sink under braking. Stop, and have the car looked at before you drive it again.
Does the quote need brake fluid?
Yes. After a hose is replaced the system has to be refilled and bled of air. Make sure the quote lists it.
Sources
Data shown on this page
- NHTSA owner complaint file (2015-2019 · 2020-2024 · 2025-2026) file downloaded 2026-10-05
- NHTSA recall file file downloaded 2026-10-05
- NHTSA defect investigation file file downloaded 2026-10-05
- NHTSA service bulletin file (2015-2019 · 2020-2024 · 2025-2026) file downloaded 2026-10-05
- CalcScrape calculator model scaled by BEA Regional Price Parities data from 2024
- North Carolina Division of Air Quality, Vehicle Safety and Emissions Inspection Frequency Study data from 2017
- BEA Personal Consumption Expenditures by State 2024, motor vehicle maintenance and repair, joined to NHTSA owner complaints file downloaded 2026-10-06
- BLS Producer Price Index, commodity data for motor vehicle parts (series WPU14120504); BLS Consumer Price Index item SETD for the repair row file downloaded August 2026
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, Foreign Campaigns (filings under 49 CFR 579.11, public API) file downloaded 2026-10-05
- NHTSA, Lives Saved by Vehicle Safety Technologies and Associated Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, 1960 to 2012 (DOT HS 812 069) data from 2015
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall quarterly reports (basis of the Annual List of Recall Completion Rates) file downloaded 2026-10-05
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2022, Table HM-72 (urbanized areas: roadway miles, daily vehicle miles, freeway lane-miles) data from 2022
- New York State DOT, Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) Beginning 1977 (NYS Open Data 6amx-2pbv) data from 2019
- 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 file downloaded 2026-10
- New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, Vehicle Inspection Data file downloaded 2026-10
Terms: US government data, public domain.
Observed: records as filed; owner reports are unverified and are not failure rates. Modeled: our estimate, not a quote. 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 ($204–$266) on 2026-10-04: our default's midpoint is 5% below the middle of that range. Methodology