How the price estimate was built
What it shows: Our default range is $177 to $705; 5 of 5 published ranges overlap it.
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 ($383)MiddleHigher-cost states ($488)
What it shows: CA is the highest at $488 and AR the lowest at $383, 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?
2,306 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.
How fast were owners driving when it happened?
25-44 mph leads at 35%.
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 2,306 owner complaints naming this part, injury is the outcome owners report most often.
Outcomes owners reported in complaints about this part. Injury reported: 86; Crash reported: 6; Fire reported: 2.
Which model years show up most in the complaints?
Among the 2,306 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 633 (27%); the smallest shown is 2024 at 38 (2%).
When in the year do owners report it?
NHTSA owner complaints about this part run furthest above the usual seasonal share in January: 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: January is the largest at 13% (all: 9%), followed by February at 10% (all: 8%); the smallest shown is April at 6% (all: 8%).
Have prices for this kind of repair been rising faster than other car costs?
In the BLS consumer price index for U.S. cities, prices for motor vehicle body work are up 41.7% since December 2019, against 74.2% for motor vehicle repair and 55.2% for maintenance and repair overall (latest reading 2026-07).
Consumer prices since December 2019: motor vehicle body work against motor vehicle repair. Motor vehicle body work: +41.7%; Motor vehicle repair: +74.2%; Motor vehicle maintenance and repair: +55.2%.
Do reports of this repair follow the weather where owners live, county by county?
Across 33 U.S. counties with 10 or more NHTSA owner complaints about car door repair, reports run 49% above the national share in the third with the coldest winters against 3% below in the third with the mildest winters. This is an association across counties, not a cause.
Reports of car door repair by county, grouped by winter cold (heating degree days). Third of counties with the mildest winters: 3% below; Middle third: 23% above; Third with the coldest winters: 49% above.
- Split the 33 counties into thirds by winter cold (heating degree days): the third with the mildest winters reports car door repair 3% below what the national share predicts, the middle third 23% above, and the third with the coldest winters 49% above.
- Take out any single county and the pattern still holds; the one it leans on most is Erie County, NY.
- Weak spot: compare only counties with similar summer heat (cooling degree days) and the pattern keeps about 0% of its strength, so part of it may come from that instead.
- Still open: complaint city names are matched to counties by place name, so a county with postal-neighbourhood names is undercounted, and county elevation is the height of one point, not the county average.
Weather and roads act on a car where it is driven, not on a state average, so the county map tests the same mechanism more closely.
Do car door repair problems track days with snowfall across states?
Across U.S. states, NHTSA owner complaints about car door repair run higher where days with snowfall are higher, after adjusting for the makes sold in each state. This is an association across states, not proof that days with snowfall causes this repair.
How to read it: Each dot is a state. Further right means more days with snowfall; 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 days with snowfall.
What it shows: States with more days with snowfall tend to sit higher on the chart across 40 states: a pattern in the data, not proof of cause.
- The 10 states with the most days with snowfall (New York, Michigan, Maine, Alaska, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Colorado, Minnesota, Idaho): reports of this repair run 27% above what the makes sold there would predict, and 9 of 10 are above expected. The 10 with the least (California, Louisiana, Florida, Arizona, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Arkansas): 15% below, and 2 of 10 are above expected.
- Exceptions: Colorado is among the highest in days with snowfall but reports below expected.
- Split the states into thirds: the third with the least days with snowfall runs 12% below what the makes sold there would predict, the middle third 19% above, and the third with the most 26% above. Most of the days with snowfall effect sits between the lowest and the middle third.
- For days with snowfall, after allowing for the 1562 comparisons we ran, luck alone would produce a pattern this strong about 1 time in 10,000 or more. Take out any single state and the days with snowfall pattern still holds.
- Weak spot: compare only states with similar very hot days and the pattern keeps about 10% of its strength, so part of it may come from very hot days instead of days with snowfall.
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 car door repair problems track spending on vehicle maintenance and repair per resident across states?
Across U.S. states, NHTSA owner complaints about car door repair 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 40 states: a pattern in the data, not proof of cause.
- The 10 states with the most spending on vehicle maintenance and repair per resident (New Hampshire, Colorado, Massachusetts, Alaska, North Dakota, Minnesota, Missouri, California, Utah, Maryland): reports of this repair run 10% above what the makes sold there would predict, and 8 of 10 are above expected. The 10 with the least (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky, Florida, New York, Ohio, South Carolina): 5% above, and 3 of 10 are above expected.
- Exceptions: Colorado and California are among the highest in spending on vehicle maintenance and repair per resident but report below expected; New York (27% above expected) and Ohio (40% above expected) are among the lowest but above expected.
- Split the states into thirds: the third with the least spending on vehicle maintenance and repair per resident runs 4% above what the makes sold there would predict, the middle third 2% above, and the third with the most 18% above. Most of the spending on vehicle maintenance and repair per resident effect sits in the third with the most.
- 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 17. Take out any single state and the spending on vehicle maintenance and repair per resident pattern still holds.
- Weak spot: compare only states with similar freezing days and the pattern keeps about 27% of its strength, so part of it may come from freezing days instead of spending on vehicle maintenance and repair per resident.
Residents who spend more on vehicle repair are fixing more or paying more per fix, which changes how many repair problems are reported.
How much of a repair bill is labor and how much is parts?
In the 2017 Economic Census, auto body, paint and interior shops took 52.5% of their repair revenue from labor charges and 47.5% from parts installed, close to the 51.0% labor share of all auto repair shops (U.S. Census Bureau, national, 35,516 shops).
| Shop type (NAICS) | Labor charges | Parts installed | All revenue of the shop type | Establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automotive body, paint, and interior repair and maintenance | 52.5% | 47.5% | $38.7 billion | 35,516 |
| Automotive repair and maintenance (all shop types) | 51.0% | 49.0% | $115.3 billion | 162,185 |
| Automotive mechanical and electrical repair and maintenance | 50.4% | 49.6% | $54.9 billion | 92,088 |
Has the replacement part I am buying been recalled?
NHTSA lists 8 equipment recalls that name door since 2015 (structure and latches/locks/linkages), covering 5,650,372 items sold as parts rather than whole vehicles; the largest, by Kiekert Usa in 2020, covered 5,641,577.
| Year | Maker and product | NHTSA component | Defect | Items |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Kiekert Usa: C1a | doors latch | cars built with certain Kiekert USA (Kiekert) C1A door latches. | 5,641,577 |
| 2016 | Morryde International, Inc.: Zero G Ramp Door | body door | certain Zero G Ramp Door hinges manufactured August 21, 2016, to December 12, 2016. | 2,500 |
| 2026 | Lippert: 3000 Series Ramp Door | body door | certain 3000 Series Hidden Hinge Ramp Doors. Please see the 573 Recall Report for a complete list of affected. | 2,154 |
| 2025 | Trimark Corporation: Left Hand Door Latch, Right Hand. | doors latch | certain door latches, part numbers 19233-01 (0534-EE3-001) and 19232-01 (0557-EE3-001), installed on Spartan. | 1,080 |
| 2023 | Lippert: Global Latch Lk702 | doors latch | certain Global latches, model number LK702, and part number 2021023898, used in Lippert series 3500 and 920. | 1,043 |
| 2025 | Lippert: Paddle Latch | latches/locks/linkages | certain Paddle Latches with part number 2021097882, equipped on REV Recreation Group vehicles when used in. | 815 |
| 2017 | Trimark Corporation: Striker Bolts | body door | certain door striker bolts, model number 070-0100, assembled into door systems for ambulance manufacturers. | 781 |
| 2020 | Trimark Corporation: Left Hand Door Latch | doors latch | certain 50-200 Door Latches, part numbers 24301/02 and 26756/57 used in certain emergency vehicles. | 422 |
Has this part been recalled abroad on cars that may share it?
Manufacturers filed 87 foreign recall campaigns that name door with NHTSA since 2015 (matched by the filing text); the latest, from Tesla in 2026-08.
| Filed | Manufacturer | Foreign recall no. | What the filing says |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10 | Toyota Motor Corporation | 172 | Date: October 23, 2025 Foreign Safety Recall / Other Safety Campaign Report Subject: Door outside handle issue on certain Lexus vehicles 1. |
| 2025-09 | Ford Motor Company | 156 | Vehicles affected: 123 market(s): europe - germany estimated percentage of the affected vehicles 100% reason for this field action the driver / passenger may experience water leaks around the glazing apertures (front windshield, side-load door and side. |
| 2025-09 | Bentley Motors. | 146 | Washington, DC 20590 Subject: Notification of Recall Pursuant to 49 CFR Part 579.11 (a) The wiring harness between the door pressure sensor and the airbag control unit was not adapted for a right-hand drive vehicle layout. |
| 2026-08 | Tesla. | 130 | Affected markets or countries and the basis for determining the recall population: The recalled population includes certain Model Year 2018-2026 Model 3, Model Year 2020-2026 Model Y, Model Year 2022-2026 Model X, and Model Year 2023-2026 Model S vehicles. |
| 2026-08 | Toyota Motor Corporation | 118 | Date: August 3, 2026 Foreign Safety Recall / Other Safety Campaign Report Subject: Auto door lock issue on certain Toyota Land Cruiser 250 vehicles 1. |
| 2025-07 | Hyundai Motor America | 107 | Description of the defect/noncompliance: The subject vehicle's charging port door outer panel's adhesion could degrade over time while being driven in low ambient temperature(s) at high speed, increasing the risk of detachment during operation. |
| 2026-03 | Nissan. | 040 | Description of the Defect During final inspection at the Egypt plant, multiple vehicles were found with the door window glass shattered. |
| 2026-01 | Toyota Motor Corporation | 014 | Date: January 28, 2026 Foreign Safety Recall / Other Safety Campaign Report Subject: Rear Door Outside Handle issue on certain Toyota Prius and Prius Prime vehicles 1. |
How many lives have door locks that stay shut saved?
NHTSA estimates improved door locks (FMVSS 206) saved 486 car occupants and 641 light-truck occupants in 2012 alone, and 42,135 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| improved door locks (FMVSS 206) | 486 | 641 | 25,377 | 16,758 |
How many recalled cars are actually fixed, so should I check mine?
Across 23 NHTSA recalls that name door filed 2015 to 2024, 56.1% of the 3,713,190 recalled vehicles had been repaired after 8 quarters, against 66.2% for all recalls, which leaves about 1,630,549 vehicles still carrying the defect.
What it shows: Honda 2020 is the largest at 91.0%; the smallest shown is Ford 2023 at 32.3%.
How thoroughly has NHTSA crash tested side impacts and ejection?
NHTSA's crash test database holds 552 tests of side impact and ejection, led by FMVSS 226: ejection mitigation with 252 component tests.
NHTSA crash and component tests in its research database for side impact and ejection. FMVSS 214: side impact protection: 224; FMVSS 226: ejection mitigation: 76; FMVSS 226: ejection mitigation: 252.
Which U.S. counties get hail that damages cars?
NOAA Storm Prediction Center logged hail of 1 inch or larger most often in El Paso County, CO, Pennington County, SD and Sedgwick County, KS, about 40.9 reports a year from 2000 to 2024, against 1.5 in the median U.S. county; reports also reflect where people live to see and call in hail.
What it shows: El Paso County, CO is the largest at 40.9, followed by Pennington County, SD at 37.4; the smallest shown is Ford County, KS at 19.2.
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 20 recall campaigns for parts matched to a car door repair since model year 2015, covering about 2,378,138 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 car door repair since model year 2015 | 20 recall campaigns covering about 2,378,138 vehicles |
Is it recalled or covered?
| Recall number | Vehicles | Cars recalled | What the recall says |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17V-652 | Ford F-250 SD 2017; Ford F-450 SD 2017; Ford F-150 2015–2017 and 1 more | 1,101,107 | A door that opens while driving can increase the risk of injury. |
| 17V-040 | Nissan Altima 2015–2017 | 341,005 | If the rear passenger doors inadvertently open while the vehicle is in motion, it may increase the risk of injury to the rear passengers. |
| 20V-437 | Honda Odyssey 2018–2020 | 324,196 | A power sliding door that fails to latch may open while moving, increasing the risk of injury. |
| 25V-404 | Ford Mustang Mach E 2021–2025 | 197,432 | The inability to enter or exit the vehicle in an emergency increases the risk of injury. |
| 19V-849 | Volvo V60CC 2015–2017; Volvo S60CC 2015–2017; Volvo S60 2015–2017 and 2 more | 144,937 | A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant. |
| 23V-502 | Ford Transit Connect 2015–2016 | 112,225 | An unlatched door can open while driving, increasing the risk of injury. |
| 25V-106 | BMW X3 2022–2024 | 40,736 | Doors that can be inadvertently unlocked and unlatched may open unexpectedly, increasing the risk of injury to rear seat occupants. |
| 17V-233 | Mitsubishi Outlander 2016; Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 2016 | 35,674 | If a door opens while the vehicle is being driven, it can increase the risk of injury. |
12 more recalls name this part, on smaller fleets. The car finder at the top checks yours.
NHTSA defect investigations naming this part (5)
| Case number | Vehicles | Opened | Status | What NHTSA looked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PE25010 | Tesla Model Y 2021 | Sep 15, 2025 | Open | Electronic door handles become. |
| RQ19005 | Ford C-MAX 2015; Ford C-MAX Energi 2015; Ford C-MAX Hybrid 2015; Ford Escape 2015 and 11 more | Dec 19, 2019 | Closed Feb 7, 2022 | Door latch. |
| EA18004 | Land Rover Range Rover 2015–2016; Land Rover Range Rover Sport 2015–2016 | Jul 2, 2018 | Closed Oct 17, 2019 | Door latch. |
| RQ17005 | Land Rover Range Rover 2015–2016; Land Rover Range Rover Sport 2015–2016 | Aug 4, 2017 | Closed Jul 3, 2018 | Door latch open while. |
| PE16001 | Ford C-MAX 2015; Ford C-MAX Energi 2015; Ford C-MAX Hybrid 2015; Ford Escape 2015 and 5 more | Jan 16, 2016 | Closed Oct 29, 2016 | Door latch. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda | Odyssey 2024–2027 | ATI&09182026901 | Sep 18, 2026 | Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. |
| Jeep | Grand Cherokee 2021–2026; Grand Cherokee 4xe 2022–2026 and 1 more | 9100905 | Sep 10, 2026 | Passive Entry O/S Dr Handle Prior to replacing an inoperative passive entry door handle, perform Star Online S2623000040. |
| Jeep | Recon 2025–2027; Wagoneer S 2024–2026 and 1 more | 114080 | Aug 19, 2026 | Handle bracket - exterior door & bracket. |
| Mercedes-Benz | E 450 4matic 2025–2026; AMG EQS 4matic+ 2025 and 33 more | LI72.00-P-080885 | Aug 14, 2026 | Complaint The Dark Chrome finish on the retractable door handle appears discolored, stained, or faded. |
| Jeep | Cherokee 2026 | 23-034-26 | Aug 14, 2026 | Door Latch 12V Battery Drain Customers must experience the following: SYMPTOM: The 12v battery is depleted. |
| Dodge | Charger EV 2025 | 08-304-26 | Aug 5, 2026 | Flash: Driver Door Latch Module (DDLM) and Passenger Door Latch Module (PDLM) Updates Customers may experience one or more of the following: SYMPTOM: Door glass does not drop when opening the door. |
69 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 (11)
| Maker | Vehicles | Date | Notice number | What the maker extended |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiat | 500 2012–2019 | Jun 16, 2026 | 23-021 | Broken exterior door. |
| Chrysler | Town and Country 2015–2017; Town and Country 2017–2019; Town and Country 2015–2016 | Feb 4, 2025 | 23-001 | Sliding door lock actuators failing to lock. |
| Dodge | Grand Caravan 2015–2017; Grand Caravan 2017–2019 | Feb 4, 2025 | 23-001 | Sliding door lock actuators failing to lock. |
| KIA | Sportage 2017 | Mar 24, 2021 | WTY020_DP | Door latches not opening from outside. |
| KIA | Sportage 2017 | Mar 24, 2021 | WTY020_TSB | Front and rear door latches not opening from outside. |
6 more extension notices name this part: Toyota, Chrysler, Honda, KIA. Ask the dealer whether one covers your car.
What do owners say?
4 complaints quoted word for word, each with its NHTSA number.
The dealer thinks it is a faulty door latch actuator ($530 parts and labor).
I’m told this malfunction is the result of a faulty door actuator, and repairs would cost over $300.
$375 for all three (manual 2.2 software update, water pump replacement, and all door handles checked).
Left side door trim keeps popping off Replaced driver front door handle, on 25 march 21 Same type defect reported for passenger side on 13 December 23 Local dealer refused and charge $520.41 estimated.
Check your car
Car door repair cost starts at $177–$705 for a dent and reaches $940–$2,340 for a full replacement door. Those are our estimates at the calculator's default settings ($120 an hour), so treat a quote far outside them as a reason to ask questions. If the problem is a door that won't latch or pops open on the road, skip the price for now and get it looked at today.
Below: what each kind of damage costs, how your quote compares with five published ranges, and what owners have paid when the latch, handle or lock is the problem instead of a dent. To price your own car, start with the calculator.
How much does car door repair cost?
Plan on $177–$705 for a dent, $590–$1,525 for a panel that needs body work and paint, and $940–$2,340 to replace the door. The table shows what our calculator returns for each kind of damage at its default vehicle and shop settings.
| Damage | What it involves | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Dent or crease | Dent repair, parts and labor at $120 an hour | $177–$705 |
| Panel damage | Body work plus paint | $590–$1,525 |
| Full door replacement | Replacement door, parts and labor at $120 an hour | $940–$2,340 |
The ranges are wide because doors are. A dent with intact paint is a few hours of work. A crushed panel means filling, sanding, priming and painting, and paint labor is where most surprise charges hide.
Before you say yes to anything, ask the shop which of these three rows you are paying for. A quote that doesn't say is a quote you can't compare.
What moves the car door repair cost the most?
Damage size comes first, and after that the shop and the vehicle. The parts are the same at every shop, and the hourly rate isn't. Here's the dent estimate at three shop types:
| Shop type | Hourly rate | Dent estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Independent shop | About $100 | $157–$645 |
| Default | $120 | $177–$705 |
| Dealership | About $175 | $232–$870 |
For the pay side of that rate, see the BLS profile of automotive service technicians.
The vehicle matters less than most people expect, at least for a dent:
| Vehicle type | Dent estimate |
|---|---|
| Economy (Civic, Corolla, Focus) | $170–$660 |
| Default | $177–$705 |
| SUV or truck (Tahoe, Ram 1500, 4Runner) | $188–$765 |
| Luxury or performance (BMW, Mercedes, Corvette) | $188–$765 |
Those are dent estimates only, so ask for a door-specific quote on a luxury car. If a dealer quote is your only one, get a second before you approve it.
Is my car door repair cost quote too high?
Compare it to the row that matches your damage, not to a headline range. Their numbers are their own opinions, but they show how far the spread runs:
| Source | What they priced | Their range |
|---|---|---|
| Ryansautomi.com | Door skin or partial panel | $200–$600 |
| Elmersautobody.com | Full door repaint | $300–$1,000 |
| Harryscollision.com | Medium dent with paint damage | $500–$1,000 |
| Iseecars.com | Replace with a used door, painted | $500–$800 |
| Status-automotive.com | Replace a door | $500–$2,500 or more |
Two things stand out. Our panel-damage row ($590–$1,525, body and paint) and replacement row ($940–$2,340) sit above several of these. Scope is the likely reason: a used salvage door only saves money when it already matches your color.
J. D.
If your quote is well above the row for your damage, ask for it itemized: parts, labor hours, paint materials, and any calibration for sensors in the door or mirror. One question settles most of it: "What's the labor rate, and how many hours is this?"
Should I repair or replace my door?
Repair when the metal is intact and the damage is a dent, a crease or a scratch. Replace when the door skin is torn, the frame is bent, or the repair quote gets close to the replacement row.
- Small dent, paint intact: paintless dent repair is the cheap path. byerscollision.com puts it at $75–$450, which starts below our $177–$705 dent range.
- Dent with cracked paint: you're in panel-damage territory, $590–$1,525.
- Torn skin, bent frame or rust-through: replacement, $940–$2,340. Ask whether the price includes paint and whether the door is new, used or aftermarket.
Ask for the old part back if the shop replaced a door, and ask how the color will be matched to the neighboring panels. If the damage is more than a door, our collision repair estimate is the better starting point, and a small scratch may not need any of this: see what a scratch repair costs.
What if the problem is the latch, handle or lock, not a dent?
Then the price depends on a small part behind the door panel, and owners report anywhere from $85 to $3,950. Everything above is dents and paint. A different group of door problems shows up in government records: a handle that snaps, a latch that won't catch, a lock actuator that stops responding.
One caveat, once: the NHTSA data here covers door latches, handles, locks and actuators, not body damage, and these are owners' own reports rather than lab results. Nothing in it says how often a dent gets repaired. It does show what owners paid when the mechanism failed.
3,663 owners told NHTSA about these parts on 2015–2025 models. The 18 who wrote a dollar amount into their complaint gave a middle figure of $520, and the middle half ran $300 to $800. That's a small group, so read it as a sense of scale, not a price list. Their words:
- A 2015 Kia Sorento owner: "but one by one, the doors stop working....and if out of warranty, dealers want $400+ PER DOOR LOCK." (NHTSA complaint #10861772)
- A 2015 Ford Explorer owner: "driver-side outside door handle just broke off when I went to open the door - $149" (complaint #11043100), at 1,167 miles.
- A 2016 Hyundai Tucson owner: "they replaced the driver door lock actuator for $392 IN 12/13/2019." (complaint #11317074)
- A 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan owner: "dealer advised that door locking actuator was bad and estimated $1,650 TO REPAIR." (complaint #11384689)
The spread between $149 and $1,650 is the point. A handle and a lock actuator are different parts on different cars, and dealers priced them very differently. In these complaints, 1,330 mention a dealer and 98 an independent shop, so far more of these owners named a dealer.
If your quote is for a lock or latch, ask the shop to name the failed part and to show it to you. Then check your VIN before paying.
Is a door that won't latch safe to drive?
No. If the door won't latch, or it can open while you're moving, stop driving it until it's fixed. That's the one door problem where price comes second.
Of the 551 complaints that gave a speed, 28% were at 55 mph or faster, and 3% were parked or under 5 mph. Owners reported 40 crashes, 16 fires and 124 injuries on the NHTSA form, and 3 deaths. Those are all complaints that name a door latch, handle, lock or actuator, so not every one is a door popping open, but the pattern is why this page leads with safety.
Sort your situation into three tiers:
- Stop driving: the door opens on its own, won't stay latched, or the "door ajar" light stays on and the door moves.
- Get it checked this week: the outside handle broke, a lock works only sometimes, or the door only opens from inside.
- You have time to shop around: a dent, a scratch or a cosmetic problem with the door latching and locking normally.
Ford's recall 17V652000 is the clearest example. It covers 2015–2017 F-150 and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 Super Duty trucks, 1,101,107 vehicles in all, where a bent or kinked actuation cable or a latch problem can let a door open. NHTSA's consequence line reads: "A door that opens while driving can increase the risk of injury." The recall record is here.
What should I ask the shop before I approve a door repair?
Five questions cover most of the risk:
- Which damage row is this: dent, panel, or replacement?
- What's the labor rate, and how many hours?
- Is the door new, used or aftermarket, and does the price include paint?
- Is there a recall or warranty extension on this part for my VIN?
- Can I see the old part, and get it back?
A good shop answers these without hesitating. If they don't, that's your answer.
Before you spend a dollar
Car door repair cost comes down to three questions: how big is the damage, which shop are you using, and is it a body problem or a mechanism problem.
Today: if the door doesn't latch, stop driving it. Look up your VIN for recalls. This week: get two itemized quotes, one from an independent shop and one from a dealer, and compare them to the row for your damage. Before you approve: ask which part failed and ask to see it.
Use the calculator for your car to see your range by shop type and damage, and see how we calculate and where the numbers come from if you want to check our work.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to fix a dent in a car door?
Expect $177–$705 in our estimate, $157–$645 at an independent shop and $232–$870 at a dealership. A small dent with intact paint can cost less with paintless repair, and a dent with cracked paint moves into the $590–$1,525 panel-repair range.
How much does it cost to replace a car door?
Our estimate is $940–$2,340 for parts and labor at $120 an hour. Published sources run from $500 for a used door to $2,500 or more, and luxury or feature-heavy doors cost more.
How much does a door lock actuator cost to replace?
Owners who told NHTSA reported $392 on a 2016 Hyundai Tucson, $400+ per lock on a 2015 Kia Sorento and a $1,650 dealer estimate on a 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan. The middle of the 18 dollar amounts owners gave for door latch, handle and lock repairs was $520.
Is it worth fixing a car door or should I replace it?
Repair if the metal is intact. Replace if the skin is torn, the frame is bent, or repair costs approach the price of a replacement door. Ask for both quotes, itemized, before choosing.
Can I drive with a car door that won't latch?
No. A door that can open while you're moving is a safety risk. Owners reported 40 crashes, 16 fires and 124 injuries in complaints naming door latches, handles, locks and actuators.
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
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), U.S. city average file downloaded 2026-07
- NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county climate files 1991-2020, joined to NHTSA owner complaints placed in counties by city name file downloaded 2026-10-05
- NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, joined to NHTSA owner complaints file downloaded 2026-10-06
- BEA Personal Consumption Expenditures by State 2024, motor vehicle maintenance and repair, joined to NHTSA owner complaints file downloaded 2026-10-06
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2017 Economic Census, Other Services, revenue from labor charges and parts installed (EC1781LABOR) file downloaded 2017 data, published 2021
- 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
- NHTSA Vehicle Safety Research and Development Database, crash test database API (vehicle and component tests) file downloaded 2026-10-05
- NOAA Storm Prediction Center, Severe Weather Database (hail reports 1955-2024); county land area from the Census Gazetteer file downloaded 2025 (file covers through 2024)
- 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. 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.
Owner complaints quoted
Other sources
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 5 established price guides on 2026-09-29: our default's midpoint is 32% below the middle of the median of 5 published guides. Methodology