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 ($248)MiddleHigher-cost states ($315)
What it shows: CA is the highest at $315 and AR the lowest at $248, 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?
Is it urgent, and what do owners notice first?
967 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.
What do owners say it led to?
Among the 967 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 (5%); Loss of power: 5 (1%).
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 967 owner complaints naming this part, brake booster is named in 31% of them, more than any other part.
Owners name the brake booster most often in the same complaint, which is not proof that one caused the other. Ask the shop whether it checked the brake booster too, so you are not quoted twice for one visit.
How fast were owners driving when it happened?
25-44 mph leads at 31%.
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 967 owner complaints naming this part, being towed is the outcome owners report most often.
What it shows: Towed is the largest at 68, followed by Crash reported at 37; the smallest shown is Fire reported at 2.
Which model years show up most in the complaints?
Among the 967 owner complaints naming this part that state a model year, complaints cluster in a few model years instead of spreading evenly.
What it shows: 2015 is the largest at 223 (23%), followed by 2016 at 221 (23%); the smallest shown is 2023 at 20 (2%).
When in the year do owners report it?
NHTSA owner complaints about this part run furthest above the usual seasonal share in August: about 66% 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 15% (all: 9%), followed by January at 5% (all: 9%); the smallest shown is November at 4% (all: 7%).
Which engine sizes show up most in complaints about this part?
Among 923 owner complaints about this part where the VIN identifies the vehicle, 45% involve engines of 3.1 to 4.0 L, against 25% of complaints about all the parts we track.
What it shows: 3.1 to 4.0 L is the largest at 45%, followed by 2.1 to 3.0 L at 22%; the smallest shown is 4.1 to 5.0 L at 4%.
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 master cylinder replacement problems track quarterly job separations as a share of auto repair shop employment across states?
Across U.S. states, NHTSA owner complaints about brake master cylinder replacement run higher where quarterly job separations as a share of auto repair shop employment is higher, after adjusting for the makes sold in each state. This is an association across states, not proof that quarterly job separations as a share of auto repair shop employment causes this repair.
How to read it: Each dot is a state. Further right means more quarterly job separations as a share of auto repair shop employment; 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 quarterly job separations as a share of auto repair shop employment.
What it shows: States with more quarterly job separations as a share of auto repair shop employment tend to sit higher on the chart across 31 states: a pattern in the data, not proof of cause.
- The 10 states with the most quarterly job separations as a share of auto repair shop employment (Colorado, South Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana, Nevada, Georgia, Alabama, Arizona, Texas, Florida): reports of this repair run 29% above what the makes sold there would predict, and 8 of 10 are above expected. The 10 with the least (Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois, California, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio): 7% below, and 2 of 10 are above expected.
- Exceptions: Georgia and Alabama are among the highest in quarterly job separations as a share of auto repair shop employment but report below expected; Minnesota (20% above expected) is among the lowest but above expected.
- Split the states into thirds: the third with the least quarterly job separations as a share of auto repair shop employment runs 7% below what the makes sold there would predict, the middle third 14% above, and the third with the most 27% above. It steps up steadily.
- For quarterly job separations as a share of auto repair shop employment, after allowing for the 1562 comparisons we ran, luck alone would produce a pattern this strong about 1 time in 43. Take out any single state and the quarterly job separations as a share of auto repair shop employment pattern still holds.
- Weak spot: compare only states with similar all-sky sunshine at the surface, kWh per square meter per day and the pattern keeps about 21% of its strength, so part of it may come from all-sky sunshine at the surface, kWh per square meter per day instead of quarterly job separations as a share of auto repair shop employment.
- For quarterly job separations as a share of auto repair shop employment, of the 5 exception states, 3 read the same way for the other parts of the system (so that is the system there, not this repair) and 2 are specific to this repair.
Where shops lose and replace workers faster, fewer experienced technicians are available, which changes how repairs are diagnosed and redone.
Do brake master cylinder replacement problems track solo operators as a share of all auto repair businesses across states?
Across U.S. states, NHTSA owner complaints about brake master cylinder replacement run higher where solo operators as a share of all auto repair businesses is higher, after adjusting for the makes sold in each state. This is an association across states, not proof that solo operators as a share of all auto repair businesses causes this repair.
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 4 equipment recalls coded to this part since 2015 (service brakes and parking brake), covering 83,861 items sold as parts rather than whole vehicles; the largest, by Brembo S.P.A. in 2018, covered 80,081.
| Year | Maker and product | NHTSA component | Defect | Items |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Brembo S.P.A.: Front Master Cylinder | foundation components master. | certain motorcycle front brake master cylinders, part numbers 10.4623.62 and 10.4623.63. | 80,081 |
| 2020 | Motorcar Parts Of America, Inc.: Master Cylinder | foundation components master. | certain Duralast NM4222 and NM55381 brake master cylinders sold as aftermarket replacement parts for. | 2,403 |
| 2020 | Brake Parts Inc.: Brake Master Cylinder | foundation components master. | certain brake master cylinders sold under Raybestos, NAPA, and AC Delco brands, part numbers MC391232, M4840. | 1,339 |
| 2020 | Tenneco Automotive: Beetle, Jetta | foundation components master. | certain Beck/Arnley Master Cylinders, part number 072-9831, sold as aftermarket or replacement parts for. | 38 |
Has this part been recalled abroad on cars that may share it?
Manufacturers filed 4 foreign recall campaigns that name brake master with NHTSA since 2015 (matched by the filing text); the latest, from BMW of North America in 2020-12.
| Filed | Manufacturer | Foreign recall no. | What the filing says |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-12 | BMW of | 234 | Due to the geometric configuration of the BMW Group Company vehicle bodywork, the cowl panel cover, water drainage path, and location of the brake master cylinder reservoir, and during certain environmental and vehicle 5. |
| 2020-12 | Kia America. | 230 | Jeffrey Giuseppe Acting Associate Administrator for Enforcement National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Attn: Early Warning Division (NVS-217) 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20590 VIA EMAIL Re: TREAD Act Reporting of a Foreign Country Recall. |
| 2017-10 | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) | 174 | 573.6(c)(3) Total Number of Vehicles Potentially Affected: 463,973 573.6(c)(5) Defect Description: Due to a supplier error, the surface of the brake master cylinder piston in affected vehicles may have received improper treatment. |
| 2020-04 | Toyota Motor Corporation | 073 | Enclosures Foreign Safety Recall Report Date: April 8, 2020 Foreign Safety Recall / Other Safety Campaign Report Subject: Brake master cylinder seal issue on certain Toyota Corolla vehicles 1. |
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 |
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 14 recall campaigns for parts matched to a brake master cylinder replacement since model year 2015, covering about 867,172 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 master cylinder replacement since model year 2015 | 14 recall campaigns covering about 867,172 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20V-332 | Ford F-150 2015–2017 | 292,311 | A loss of brake fluid may result in a change in brake pedal travel and feel, increased pedal effort and reduced front brake function, possibly requiring greater effort and distance to stop the vehicle. |
| 22V-150 | Ford F-150 2016–2018; Ford Expedition 2016–2017; Lincoln Navigator 2016–2017 | 195,864 | A loss of brake fluid may result in a change in brake pedal travel, increased pedal effort and reduced front brake function, requiring greater effort and distance to stop the vehicle. |
| 23V-458 | Honda Passport 2021–2023; Honda Ridgeline 2020–2023; Honda Pilot 2021–2022 and 2 more | 124,077 | Brake master cylinder separation can cause a loss of brake function and increase the risk of a crash. |
| 25V-236 | Ford Expedition 2017–2018; Ford F-150 2017–2018; Lincoln Navigator 2017–2018 | 123,611 | A brake fluid leak can cause reduced brake function and extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 25V-859 | Acura ILX 2016–2020 | 70,658 | Reduced brake function can extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. |
| 18V-888 | Toyota Tacoma 2018–2019 | 44,121 | Reduced brake performance can lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 19V-277 | Audi Q5 2018–2019; Audi SQ5 2018–2019 | 12,645 | A short casting can cause a sudden loss of brakes, increasing the risk of crash. |
| 24V-723 | Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport 2024; Volkswagen Atlas 2024 | 1,591 | An obstructed brake fluid port can cause a loss of brake function, increasing the risk of a crash. |
6 more recalls name this part, on smaller fleets. The car finder at the top checks yours.
NHTSA defect investigations naming this part (1)
| Case number | Vehicles | Opened | Status | What NHTSA looked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RQ16001 | Ford F-150 2015–2016 | Sep 28, 2016 | Closed Jul 5, 2020 | Brake master cylinder. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAM | 2500 2015 | 9004412 | Aug 25, 2021 | MASTER CYLINDER, Brake A new master cylinder reservoir has been made available that is backward compatible but not interchangeable with old parts as follows: 68144489AA MASTER CYLINDER (OLD) or 68144492AA RESERVOIR (OLD) should be replaced with 68285796AA. |
| Honda | Accord Hybrid 2017 | A20-001 | Feb 7, 2020 | Service Bulletin - The brake tandem motor cylinder on certain vehicles may only operate in failsafe mode if saltwater (in areas where road salt is used) enters the brake tandem motor cylinder and corrodes its metal components. |
| Dodge | Durango 2018–2019 | 9004028 | May 8, 2019 | MASTER CYLINDER, Brake Prior to replacing master cylinder, please call Paul Kuehl at (248) 535 -7013 and/or Tim Parks at (248) 202-0919. |
| Chevrolet | Bolt EV 2017 | PIC6234A | Oct 8, 2018 | This Preliminary Information communication advises the technician that Electronic Brake Control Module, Brake Pressure Modulator Valve, Power Brake Master Cylinder Booster Assembly and the Master Cylinder for the Chevrolet Bolt EV will be placed on a parts. |
| RAM | 3500 2017; 2500 2017 | 9003788 | Sep 27, 2017 | Master Cylinder, Brake Before replacing the master cylinder please call Paul Kuehl at (248) 535-7013. |
| Cadillac | Escalade 2017; Escalade ESV 2017 | 17298 | Aug 1, 2017 | The bulletin file gives no description beyond its title (17298-service update). |
2 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 (4)
| Maker | Vehicles | Date | Notice number | What the maker extended |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge | Dart 2012–2015; Dart 2012–2014 | Nov 3, 2017 | 06-001-16 REV. A | Hydraulic clutch master cylinder and reservoir hose reducing pedal. |
| Dodge | Dart 2012–2015; Dart 2014–2015 | Nov 3, 2017 | D-160-1 | Hydraulic clutch master cylinder and reservoir. |
| Jeep | Cherokee 2014–2015 | Nov 3, 2017 | 06-001-16 REV. A | Hydraulic clutch master cylinder and reservoir hose reducing pedal. |
| Jeep | Cherokee 2014–2015 | Nov 3, 2017 | D-160-1 | Hydraulic clutch master cylinder and reservoir. |
What do owners say?
4 complaints quoted word for word, each with its NHTSA number.
The dealer diagnosed a failed brake booster with master cylinder assembly and quoted ~$4,230 for repair.
They provided a quote for $2,309.10 stating it was the Master Cylinder.
In August 2021 ABS brake light is on and on 8-26-2021 I paid Approximately $1000 to have the master cylinder replaced to correct the problem.
Took the vehicle in to the local dealer and they looked at it , charged $140.00 to tell us that it needs a $2000.00 Brake Master Cylinder assembly.
Check your car
A brake master cylinder replacement costs $209–$361 for a midsize car at a chain shop. The price rises to $244–$431 for an SUV or truck and $293–$557 for a luxury car or a dealer-grade part.
Of the complaints owners filed, 45.3% (441 of the 973) name a model and model year that has a recall for this part, which may or may not cover a given VIN.
Brake master cylinder complaints name lost braking 114 times, and 7% of owners needed a tow
Owners described losing steering or braking in 114 complaints, and 44 reports mention a crash, with 17 injuries reported. A report does not prove the master cylinder caused the crash. Fluid leaks came up in 32% of complaints and warning lights in 24%, the two signs most owners noticed first. Failures were mostly reported at town speeds, with 26% at 55 mph or faster.
One in five brake master cylinder complaints describe a repeat repair or a dealer that could not fix it
When a new cylinder does not cure a soft pedal, the brake booster, named in 299 of these complaints, is the next part owners report.
2015 and 2016 models draw the most brake master cylinder complaints, while 2025 had the most failures
By model year, 2015 (239 complaints) and 2016 (232) lead, matching the Ford recall years. By the year the failure happened, reports peaked in 2025 with 168, after the 25V236000 and 25V859000 recalls were issued; the data shows the timing but not a cause. Owners of 2015 models reported a median of 50,000 miles at failure, while 2019 models reported a median of 5,150, so newer vehicles in this data are failing far earlier in their lives.
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
- NHTSA owner complaint files with VINs decoded by NHTSA vPIC data from 2025
- North Carolina Division of Air Quality, Vehicle Safety and Emissions Inspection Frequency Study data from 2017
- Census LEHD Quarterly Workforce Indicators 2024, NAICS 8111, joined to NHTSA owner complaints file downloaded 2026-10-06
- Census Nonemployer Statistics 2021 and County Business Patterns 2023, NAICS 8111, 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
- 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 ($656–$796) on 2026-10-06: our default's midpoint is 0% above the middle of that range. Methodology