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 ($252)MiddleHigher-cost states ($321)
What it shows: CA is the highest at $321 and AR the lowest at $252, 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?
224 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 224 owner complaints naming this part, owners most often say loss of power followed.
What owners say happened after the problem. Loss of power: 12 (5%); Stalled while driving: 5 (2%).
If your car shows the signs above, get it checked before it gets as far as loss of power.
Which other parts do owners name in the same complaint?
Among the 224 owner complaints naming this part, fuel pump is named in 31% of them, more than any other part.
Other parts named in the same complaints. Fuel pump: 31%; Fuel tank: 15%; Fuel injector: 10%.
Owners name the fuel pump most often in the same complaint, which is not proof that one caused the other. Ask the shop whether it checked the fuel pump too, so you are not quoted twice for one visit.
How fast were owners driving when it happened?
55 mph or faster leads at 54%.
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 224 owner complaints naming this part, being towed is the outcome owners report most often.
What it shows: Towed is the largest at 22, followed by Fire reported at 18; the smallest shown is Crash reported at 2.
Which model years show up most in the complaints?
Among the 224 owner complaints naming this part that state a model year, complaints cluster in a few model years instead of spreading evenly.
What it shows: 2019 is the largest at 39 (17%), followed by 2015 at 36 (16%); the smallest shown is 2025 at 1 (0%).
Which engine sizes show up most in complaints about this part?
Among 220 owner complaints about this part where the VIN identifies the vehicle, 57% involve engines of over 5.0 L, against 13% of complaints about all the parts we track.
Engine size of the vehicles in complaints about this part, against all tracked parts. over 5.0 L: 57%; 2.1 to 3.0 L: 15%; under 1.6 L: 13%.
Has the replacement part I am buying been recalled?
NHTSA lists 10 equipment recalls that name fuel filter since 2015 (fuel and engine), covering 187,823 items sold as parts rather than whole vehicles; the largest, by Cummins Inc. in 2018, covered 91,286.
| Year | Maker and product | NHTSA component | Defect | Items |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Cummins Inc.: Isx15, X15 | delivery fuel pump | certain ISX15 diesel engines, part number D103012BX03, and X15 diesel engines, part number D103016BX03. | 91,286 |
| 2026 | K&N Engineering, Inc.: Replacement Fuel Filter | fuel filter | certain K&N and Spectre replacement fuel filters with part numbers KN81-0300, KN81-0301, SPE-2369, SPE-2358. | 44,053 |
| 2017 | A.L. Solutions Us: Diesel Fuel Filter | fuel filter | certain after market diesel fuel filters, part number ALG-7554. | 41,784 |
| 2017 | Uci-Fram Group, Airtex Llp: G2 In Line Fuel Filter | delivery hoses, lines/piping, and. | certain FRAM Model G2 inline fuel filters. The connection hoses supplied with these filters may be oversized. | 4,521 |
| 2021 | Cummins, Inc.: L9 | delivery hoses, lines/piping, and. | certain L9 Diesel Engines, with part number D563027BX03, that are equipped with a remote Stage 2 fuel filter. | 2,922 |
| 2023 | Cummins, Inc.: L9 | delivery hoses, lines/piping, and. | certain L9 Diesel Engines part number, D563027BX03. | 1,135 |
| 2022 | S&B Filters, Inc.: Diesel Fuel Tank | storage tank assembly | certain Diesel Fuel Tanks, with part number 10-1021. | 910 |
| 2025 | Cummins, Inc.: L9 | delivery hoses, lines/piping, and. | certain L9 diesel engines, part number D563027BX03. | 715 |
| 2015 | Uci-Fram Group/Airtex Llp: Fuel Pump Module Pf2032. | delivery fuel pump | certain replacement equipment fuel pump modules, part numbers C8006, PF2032, and DW3950, manufactured May 21. | 267 |
| 2024 | Cummins, Inc.: L9 | delivery hoses, lines/piping, and. | certain Cummins L9 diesel engines with part number D563027BX03. | 230 |
Has this part been recalled abroad on cars that may share it?
Manufacturers filed 9 foreign recall campaigns that name fuel filter with NHTSA since 2015 (matched by the filing text); the latest, from Ford Motor Company in 2024-02.
| Filed | Manufacturer | Foreign recall no. | What the filing says |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-12 | Mercedes-Benz | 240 | The glow plug relay stage is mounted on the front side of the engine and is used to control the glow plugs and the fuel filter heater. |
| 2023-11 | Mercedes-Benz - DBA Sprinter | 234 | Description of Issue Mercedes-Benz AG has determined that on certain Sprinter (906 platform) vehicles, the fuel filter heating might be deactivated. |
| 2017-12 | Toyota Motor Corporation | 222 | Enclosures Foreign Safety Recall Report/Other Safety Campaign Report Date: December 1, 2017 Foreign Safety Recall/ Other Safety Campaign Report Subject: Fuel leak issue on certain Toyota RAV4 vehicles 1. |
| 2021-09 | Ford Motor Company | 209 | Sincerely, desi ujkashevic attachment docusign envelope id: 3ff7f39f-aef1-42fd-825f-1b4a8142d4c4 global recall process report of field action manufacturer ford � international market groups type of action update prior to sale-includes vehicles at dealers field. |
| 2021-09 | Volvo Car | 206 | Volvo Cars investigations has identified that there is a possibility that water may enter the fuel system. |
| 2021-07 | Mitsubishi Motors. | 179 | Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) has advised us that certain 2014 - 2020 MY Outlander vehicles equipped with 6B31 engine sold in Brazil are subject to a safety recall campaign involving the fuel injector. |
| 2022-05 | BMW of | 082 | Washington, DC 20590 RE: Foreign Safety / Non-Compliance Campaign Fuel Filter 2019-2020 BMW Models � (Diesel Engine) Dear Ms. |
| 2024-02 | Ford Motor Company | 021 | Sincerely, for: emily frascaroli, attachment docusign envelope id: 3f81eeaa-d70f-4f3b-a3c3-ef9440c79473 global recall process report of field action manufacturer gch - greater china type of action s - safety recall field action number 24s03 subject fuel filter. |
How many recalled cars are actually fixed, so should I check mine?
Across 4 NHTSA recalls that name fuel filter filed 2015 to 2024, 85.2% of the 93,886 recalled vehicles had been repaired after 8 quarters, against 66.2% for all recalls, which leaves about 13,887 vehicles still carrying the defect.
What it shows: Volkswagen 2022 is the largest at 89.8%, followed by Porsche 2020 at 88.4%; the smallest shown is Honda 2020 at 71.5%.
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 1 recall campaigns for parts matched to a fuel filter replacement since model year 2015, covering about 89 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 fuel filter replacement since model year 2015 | 1 recall campaigns covering about 89 vehicles |
Is it recalled or covered?
| Recall number | Vehicles | Cars recalled | What the recall says |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14V-708 | Ford Transit 2015 | 89 | A separation of the fuel filter from the cross member will disrupt distribution of fuel to the engine, thereby inducing an engine stall. |
NHTSA defect investigations naming this part (1)
| Case number | Vehicles | Opened | Status | What NHTSA looked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PE24014 | Ford F-250 SD 2015–2021; Ford F-350 SD 2015–2021; Ford F-450 2020; Ford F-450 SD 2015–2021 | May 9, 2024 | Open | Sogefi secondary diesel fuel filter. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMC | Yukon XL 2021–2022 | PIT5917B | Oct 10, 2022 | This Preliminary information communicates an issue where there is no selection to reset the fuel filter life in the IPC and engineering is working on a fix. |
| Cadillac | Escalade ESV 2022 | PIT5947 | Sep 26, 2022 | This Preliminary information communicates an issue where the fuel filter life reset function is missing from the DIC. |
| Volkswagen | Golf 2017–2019; Atlas 2019–2021 and 3 more | VIN4APIN20210225 | Feb 25, 2021 | Customer states MIL-on P0087, P0148 and/or P053F MFI in cluster warning U0199 Customer states fuel odor/leak in the rear part of the vehicle (without a punctured fuel tank, hoses or pipes) or difficulty fueling fuel tank or fuel coming back up filler. |
| Audi | Q5 2015; TT Roadster 2015 and 18 more | Scheduled Maint | Jan 27, 2017 | Fuel filter ? replace: added A3 2.0L. |
| GMC | Sierra Denali 2015; Sierra 2500 2015 and 1 more | PIP4949E | Jun 8, 2015 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a hard start or a no start. |
| Chevrolet | Impala 2015 | 15-06-04-001 | Apr 9, 2015 | This informational bulletin provides technicians with service tips for CNG high pressure fuel filter replacement (housing under rear of vehicle). |
7 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.
Approximately 13,000 miles later, during routine fuel filter maintenance, I suspected the failure had returned.
Two weeks later, the dealership called and said that my truck had "fuel contamination" because there were "shavings and rust" in my fuel filter housing and it would cost $21k to replace the entire fuel system.
I had to spend $10,000.00 getting it fuel filter system had metal savings.
Maintenance is always uptodate ad fuel filters changed by dealer every 5,000 miles.
Check your car
Our calculator's default fuel filter replacement cost is $249–$331 for an inline filter on a fuel-injected car, parts plus labor. Where the filter sits, and which shop does the work, move that number more than anything else.
What does fuel filter replacement cost cover?
The estimate covers the filter itself and the labor to swap it, at the hourly rate for the shop type you pick. For the default setup that's $30–$70 in parts and $90 in labor. It doesn't cover anything the job turns up, such as a corroded fuel line fitting or contaminated fuel in the tank.
Taxes, shop fees and a diagnostic charge are also outside the range. Ask whether the quote includes new sealing washers, because reusing old ones can leak.
How much do filter type and shop change fuel filter replacement cost?
Filter location is the big lever. An inline filter sits on a fuel line and is quick to reach. An in-tank filter or strainer is part of the pump assembly, so the tank usually has to come down. Here are the calculator's ranges, changing one setting at a time from the default.
| Setting | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Default: inline filter, fuel-injected | $249–$331 |
| Inline filter, carbureted or older car | $155–$197 |
| In-tank filter or strainer (drop tank) | $663–$911 |
| Independent shop (about $100/hr) | $217–$300 |
| Dealership (about $175/hr) | $333–$416 |
The in-tank job costs roughly three times the default because labor jumps from $90 to $240. Check which type your car has before you compare quotes.
How do I know it's the fuel filter, and how urgent is it?
A clogged filter starves the engine of fuel. You'll notice hard starting, hesitation when you accelerate, a rough idle or a loss of power under load. These symptoms also fit a weak fuel pump, so a shop should confirm the cause rather than guess.
Stalling is the line to watch. A car that cuts out in traffic is a safety problem, not a maintenance item. If it only hesitates now and then, plan the job soon but you don't need to tow it.
How do I get a fair quote?
Give two or three shops the same details: year, make, model, engine and whether the filter is inline or in the tank. Ask for parts, labor hours and fees as separate lines. A quote for an inline filter and one for a drop-tank job aren't the same work, so don't compare them.
Ask the shop to show you the old filter when you pick the car up.
What does the estimate leave out?
It's a range for a typical car, not a quote for yours. Some makes need special line-release tools or take extra time to reach the filter, and that adds labor. Filters that are built into the fuel pump module may not be sold separately at all.
If a quote lands well above the range for your filter type and shop, ask what's being added before you pay. Your next step is to enter your setup in the calculator and take that range with you.
Frequently asked questions
Can I replace a fuel filter myself?
On many inline filters, yes, and it saves the labor line. You're opening a pressurized fuel line, so relieve the pressure first and keep sparks away.
Is a cheaper aftermarket filter okay?
Often, but a poor filter lets debris through to the injectors. Ask which brand the shop is fitting.
Does the dealership always cost more?
Its hourly rate is higher, so the total usually is too. Filter location still moves the price far more than shop choice does.
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, Foreign Campaigns (filings under 49 CFR 579.11, public API) file downloaded 2026-10-05
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall quarterly reports (basis of the Annual List of Recall Completion Rates) file downloaded 2026-10-05
- 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.
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 ($258–$322) on 2026-10-06: our default's midpoint is 0% above the middle of that range. Methodology