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 ($538)MiddleHigher-cost states ($685)
What it shows: CA is the highest at $685 and AR the lowest at $538, 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 under 50,000 (79%), 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 (56%), against 40% for all complaints: the biggest difference between the two.
Is it urgent, and what do owners notice first?
1,569 owner complaints name this part.
What owners describe. Noise: 27%; Dealer could not fix or repeat repair: 23%.
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 1,569 owner complaints naming this part, brake caliper is named in 19% 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?
55 mph or faster leads at 35%.
Owners reported it most often at highway speed. Tell the shop what speed it happens at, because that narrows the diagnosis.
How serious did it get for owners?
Among the 1,569 owner complaints naming this part, crash is the outcome owners report most often.
What it shows: Crash reported is the largest at 37, followed by Towed at 31; the smallest shown is Fire reported at 8.
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 rotor replacement problems track annual snowfall across states?
Across U.S. states, NHTSA owner complaints about brake rotor replacement run higher where annual snowfall is higher, after adjusting for the makes sold in each state. This is an association across states, not proof that annual snowfall causes this repair.
How to read it: Each dot is a state. Further right means more annual snowfall (inches); 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 annual snowfall (inches).
What it shows: States with more annual snowfall (inches) tend to sit higher on the chart across 34 states: a pattern in the data, not proof of cause.
- The 10 states with the most annual snowfall (Vermont, Maine, New York, New Hampshire, Michigan, Colorado, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Connecticut): reports of this repair run 51% above what the makes sold there would predict, and 7 of 10 are above expected. The 10 with the least (California, Florida, Louisiana, Arizona, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, North Carolina): 5% below, and 2 of 10 are above expected.
- Exceptions: Massachusetts, Wisconsin and Minnesota are among the highest in annual snowfall but report below expected; Arizona (27% above expected) is among the lowest but above expected.
- Split the states into thirds: the third with the least annual snowfall runs 6% below what the makes sold there would predict, the middle third 2% above, and the third with the most 50% above. Most of the annual snowfall effect sits in the third with the most.
- For annual snowfall, after allowing for the 1562 comparisons we ran, luck alone would produce a pattern this strong about 1 time in 433. Take out any single state and the annual snowfall pattern still holds.
- Weak spot: compare only states with similar days per year that cross freezing, median station and the pattern keeps about 7% of its strength, so part of it may come from days per year that cross freezing, median station instead of annual snowfall.
- For annual snowfall, 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.
Road salt and slush corrode exposed metal and seize moving parts, and freezing weather stiffens rubber, so repairs to exposed parts can follow harsh winters.
Do brake rotor replacement problems track public EV charging ports per 100,000 residents across states?
Across U.S. states, NHTSA owner complaints about brake rotor replacement run higher where public EV charging ports per 100,000 residents is higher, after adjusting for the makes sold in each state. This is an association across states, not proof that public EV charging ports per 100,000 residents causes this repair.
How to read it: Each dot is a state. Further right means more public ev charging ports per 100,000 residents; 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 public ev charging ports per 100,000 residents.
What it shows: States with more public ev charging ports per 100,000 residents tend to sit higher on the chart across 34 states: a pattern in the data, not proof of cause.
- The 10 states with the most public EV charging ports per 100,000 residents (Vermont, Massachusetts, California, Connecticut, Colorado, New York, Maine, Washington, Oregon, Maryland): reports of this repair run 35% above what the makes sold there would predict, and 6 of 10 are above expected. The 10 with the least (Louisiana, Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia, Alabama, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, Iowa, Wisconsin): 20% below, and 3 of 10 are above expected.
- Exceptions: Massachusetts, Washington and Oregon are among the highest in public EV charging ports per 100,000 residents but report below expected; West Virginia (21% above expected) is among the lowest but above expected.
- Split the states into thirds: the third with the least public EV charging ports per 100,000 residents runs 2% below what the makes sold there would predict, the middle third 1% below, and the third with the most 36% above. Most of the public EV charging ports per 100,000 residents effect sits in the third with the most.
- For public EV charging ports per 100,000 residents, after allowing for the 1562 comparisons we ran, luck alone would produce a pattern this strong about 1 time in 17. Take out any single state and the public EV charging ports per 100,000 residents pattern still holds.
- Weak spot: compare only states with similar auto repair shops per 100,000 registered vehicles and the pattern keeps about 31% of its strength, so part of it may come from auto repair shops per 100,000 registered vehicles instead of public EV charging ports per 100,000 residents.
- For public EV charging ports per 100,000 residents, of the 5 exception states, 1 read the same way for the other parts of the system (so that is the system there, not this repair) and 4 are specific to this repair.
Where charging is easy more drivers choose electric cars, which changes the mix of brake, tire and battery repairs.
Do brake rotor replacement problems track state safety inspection across states?
Across U.S. states, NHTSA owner complaints about brake rotor replacement run higher where state safety inspection is higher, after adjusting for the makes sold in each state. This is an association across states, not proof that state safety inspection causes this repair.
How to read it: Each dot is a state. Further right means more state safety inspection (annual 2, biennial 1, none 0); 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 state safety inspection (annual 2, biennial 1, none 0).
What it shows: States with more state safety inspection (annual 2, biennial 1, none 0) tend to sit higher on the chart across 34 states: a pattern in the data, not proof of cause.
- The 10 states with the most state safety inspection (Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, Missouri, West Virginia, Connecticut): reports of this repair run 46% above what the makes sold there would predict, and 8 of 10 are above expected. The 10 with the least (Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky): 0% above, and 4 of 10 are above expected.
- Exceptions: Massachusetts and North Carolina are among the highest in state safety inspection but report below expected; Colorado (39% above expected) and Arizona (27% above expected) are among the lowest but above expected.
- Split the states into thirds: the third with the least state safety inspection runs 6% above what the makes sold there would predict, the middle third 1% below, and the third with the most 39% above. Most of the state safety inspection effect sits in the third with the most.
- For state safety inspection, after allowing for the 1562 comparisons we ran, luck alone would produce a pattern this strong about 1 time in 11. Take out any single state and the state safety inspection pattern still holds.
- Weak spot: compare only states with similar auto repair shops per 100,000 registered vehicles and the pattern keeps about 45% of its strength, so part of it may come from auto repair shops per 100,000 registered vehicles instead of state safety inspection.
- For state safety inspection, of the 3 exception states, 1 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.
A state that inspects brakes, tires, lights and steering every year or two finds worn parts early.
Are the parts for this repair getting more expensive, or only the labor?
The federal producer price index for new disc brake assemblies and parts rose 36.7% from December 2019 to January 2026, while the consumer price index for motor vehicle repair, labor and parts together, rose 55.2% (BLS, national).
What it shows: Motor vehicle repair, labor and parts together is the largest at +55.2%, followed by New disc brake assemblies and parts at +36.7%; the smallest shown is All motor vehicle parts at +17.4%.
Has the replacement part I am buying been recalled?
NHTSA lists 2 equipment recalls that name brake rotor since 2015 (service brakes and parking brake), covering 9,083 items sold as parts rather than whole vehicles; the largest, by Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. in 2021, covered 8,384.
| Year | Maker and product | NHTSA component | Defect | Items |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.: Mkc1 Brake Unit | service brakes, hydraulic | certain Hydraulic Electronic MKC1 brake units, with part numbers 10-1202 and 25-1202. | 8,384 |
| 2024 | Spektrum Brakes Llc: Dynamic Friction R1 | foundation components disc | certain Dynamic Friction R1 brake rotors, part number xxx-03054+kits. | 699 |
Has this part been recalled abroad on cars that may share it?
Manufacturers filed 3 foreign recall campaigns that name brake rotor with NHTSA since 2015 (matched by the filing text); the latest, from Hino Motors Sales U.S.A. in 2023-03.
| Filed | Manufacturer | Foreign recall no. | What the filing says |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-03 | Hino Motors Sales U.S.A. | 032 | PART 579.12 Foreign Safety Recall / Other Safety Campaign Report Subject: Front Brake Rotor Issue In accordance with 49 CFR part 579.12, Hino Motors Ltd. |
| 2021-04 | Mercedes-Benz - DBA Sprinter | 088 | Description of Issue Mercedes-Benz AG has determined that certain individual Mercedes-Benz Vito/V-Class vehicles of platform 447 (VS20) from a time-limited vehicle population could be equipped with a front axle brake caliper carrier which could have been. |
| 2018-04 | Toyota Motor Corporation | 067 | Description of Problem: The subject vehicles are equipped with a vacuum pump assembly, which provides vacuum for the brake booster. |
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 2 NHTSA recalls that name brake rotor filed 2015 to 2024, 86.9% of the 1,217 recalled vehicles had been repaired after 8 quarters, against 66.2% for all recalls, which leaves about 160 vehicles still carrying the defect.
| Year | Vehicles | Recalled vehicles | Repaired | Component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Alfa Romeo Giulia, Stelvio | 719 | 80.0% | service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2021 | Audi E-Tron | 498 | 96.8% | service brakes, hydraulic |
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.
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%.
Has the maker published a fix?
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet | Corvette 2020–2025 | 22-NA-026 | Feb 13, 2024 | This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Brake Pulsation, Noise and/or Visible Pitting Condition to Brake Rotor Surface. |
| Chevrolet | Tahoe 2015–2022; Suburban 2015–2022 and 1 more | PIT5681C | Jun 17, 2022 | This Preliminary information communicates the location of the GM Accessory Performance Brake System Rotor. |
| Volkswagen | Golf Sportwagen 2015–2019; GTI 2015–2022 and 19 more | V461902201517330 | Feb 3, 2022 | Brake rotor, vibration / pulsation instruction (u.s. |
| Ford | Mustang Mach E 2021 | TSB 21-2206 | Aug 25, 2021 | Some 2021 Mustang Mach-E vehicles may exhibit a vibration or pulsation from the brakes. |
| Nissan | Armada 2017 | NTB18-079a | Jan 27, 2021 | 2017 ARMADA; front disc brake rotor service information This bulletin has been amended. |
| Cadillac | CT6 2019–2020 | 20NA164 | Aug 18, 2020 | This technical bulletin provides a service procedure to correct a customer concern of a Wire Brushing Type Noise Heard from Brake Rotors. |
32 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 (1)
| Maker | Vehicles | Date | Notice number | What the maker extended |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chrysler | Town and Country 2009–2011 | Aug 24, 2015 | D-11 | Front brake rotors. |
What do owners say?
4 complaints quoted word for word, each with its NHTSA number.
Toyota tells my I have to pay $440 to recondition the rotors.
It only has ~14k miles on it and the rotors have already warped.
Front brake rotors required replacement when car odometer reading was 16700 miles.
Front brake calipers sticking causing premature wear out of pads and driver side rotor at ~11900 miles.
Check your car
Replacing one pair of rotors at an average chain shop, with OEM-quality parts, comes to $522–$716 in our calculator. That covers the two rotors on one axle plus the labor to swap them. Use the calculator above for your car and shop type, then compare it with the quote in your hand.
What changes the price of a rotor job?
Three inputs in the calculator move the number, and each has a clear effect.
| Choice | Option | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Default | 2 rotors, OEM quality, chain shop | $522–$716 |
| Rotor grade | Economy (aftermarket) | $322–$536 |
| Rotor grade | Performance | $762–$1316 |
| Quantity | Full set (4 rotors) | $1044–$1432 |
| Shop type | Independent | $495–$680 |
| Shop type | Dealer | $596–$815 |
When you ask for a quote, name the grade of rotor and how many you want replaced. A quote that says only "brake job" gives you nothing to compare.
Should you replace or resurface the rotors?
Our data can't settle this for you. The calculator prices replacement only, and it has no measurement of how thick or how worn your rotors are. The deciding fact is a number your shop can read off the rotor: its thickness against the minimum the manufacturer allows.
Ask the shop to show you that measurement. If they recommend replacement, ask why resurfacing won't work. If they recommend resurfacing, ask whether the rotor will still be above its minimum after the cut.
How can you tell the rotors are the problem?
A pulsing pedal or a shudder through the steering wheel while braking points at the rotors more often than at the pads. Grinding or a squeal can come from the pads, and the rotors may be fine. You can't tell which by ear, so a visual inspection is the real test.
If the brakes feel different from normal, don't wait for the quote to be perfect. Get the car inspected, and treat a pedal that sinks or a car that pulls to one side as a reason to stop driving until someone has looked.
How do you get a fair quote?
Get two quotes for the same job: same grade, same quantity, same axle. Ask each shop what's included, and whether the pads are replaced as part of the job, since new pads on worn rotors can cause problems. Ask for the old rotors back so you can see the wear yourself.
What does this estimate leave out?
It prices the rotors and the labor to fit them. It does not include new pads, calipers, brake hoses, fluid or wheel bearing service, and a shop may add any of these once the wheel is off. It also can't see rust or a seized caliper, either of which can raise the bill. Treat the range as a starting point, and ask the shop to explain every line that goes beyond it.
Frequently asked questions
Do rotors need to be replaced in pairs?
Yes, as a rule. Replacing both rotors on an axle keeps the braking even from side to side. The calculator's default of 2 rotors is one axle.
Does a shop have to replace my pads when it replaces the rotors?
Often, yes. Pads that have worn against old rotors tend not to seat properly on new ones, so many shops replace both together. If a shop leaves the pads alone, ask why.
Sources
Data shown on this page
- NHTSA owner complaint file (2015-2019 · 2020-2024 · 2025-2026) 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
- NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, joined to NHTSA owner complaints file downloaded 2026-10-06
- DOE AFDC Alternative Fuel Stations file (public, open stations; Level 2 and DC fast ports) with Census 2023 population, joined to NHTSA owner complaints file downloaded 2026-10-06
- State inspection programs, multi-state tables and each state agency page, joined to NHTSA owner complaints file downloaded 2026-10-06
- BLS Producer Price Index, commodity data for motor vehicle parts (series WPU141205041C); BLS Consumer Price Index item SETD for the repair row file downloaded January 2026
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall flat file (equipment recalls, report type E) file downloaded 2026-10-05
- 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
- 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. 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 ($574–$698) on 2026-10-04: our default's midpoint is 3% below the middle of that range. Methodology