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 ($319)MiddleHigher-cost states ($406)
What it shows: CA is the highest at $406 and AR the lowest at $319, 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 (94%), 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?
186 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?
55 mph or faster leads at 48%.
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 186 owner complaints naming this part, being towed is the outcome owners report most often.
Outcomes owners reported in complaints about this part. Towed: 6; Crash reported: 3; Fire reported: 2.
Which model years show up most in the complaints?
Among the 186 owner complaints naming this part that state a model year, complaints cluster in a few model years instead of spreading evenly.
What it shows: 2017 is the largest at 27 (15%), followed by 2015 at 18 (10%); the smallest shown is 2025 at 4 (2%).
Are the parts for this repair getting more expensive, or only the labor?
The federal producer price index for new steering and suspension parts rose 10.9% 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 steering and suspension parts, as shops buy them from makers, since December 2019, against consumer prices for motor vehicle repair. New steering and suspension parts: +10.9%; 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 2 equipment recalls that name leaf spring since 2015 (suspension and steering), covering 14,207 items sold as parts rather than whole vehicles; the largest, by Lippert in 2023, covered 13,997.
| Year | Maker and product | NHTSA component | Defect | Items |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Lippert: 8000lb Brake Axle, 7000lb Brake Axle | rear springs | certain Curt 7000 and 8000 lb axles. The U-bolts may have been improperly tightened, which can cause the axle. | 13,997 |
| 2019 | Imt Standen'S Limited Partnership: 3 Leaf Tapered Spring | rear springs | certain 3 Leaf Tapered Springs, part numbers 355-00 and TRA 2727, sold as aftermarket replacements for. | 210 |
Has this part been recalled abroad on cars that may share it?
Manufacturers filed 2 foreign recall campaigns that name leaf spring with NHTSA since 2015 (matched by the filing text); the latest, from Mercedes-Benz USA in 2019-10.
| Filed | Manufacturer | Foreign recall no. | What the filing says |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-10 | Mercedes-Benz - DBA Sprinter | 206 | Identification of Vehicles Make Line Model Year Inclusive Dates of Manufacture 2018 - 2019 Mercedes-Benz SPRINTER (910 September 19, 2018 (SOP) to August 20, 2019 Platform/VS30) Daimler Vans USA LLC One Mercedes-Benz Dr Sandy Springs, GA 30328-4201 Daimler. |
| 2019-09 | Mercedes-Benz - DBA Sprinter | 182 | Identification of Vehicles Make Line Model Year Inclusive Dates of Manufacture Mercedes-Benz SPRINTER (910 Platform) 2018 April 2018 to September 2018 Daimler Vans USA LLC One Mercedes-Benz Dr Sandy Springs, GA 30328-4201 Daimler Vans USA LLC A Daimler Company. |
How many recalled cars are actually fixed, so should I check mine?
Across 2 NHTSA recalls that name leaf spring filed 2015 to 2024, 75.4% of the 1,490 recalled vehicles had been repaired after 8 quarters, against 66.2% for all recalls, which leaves about 367 vehicles still carrying the defect.
| Year | Vehicles | Recalled vehicles | Repaired | Component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500, Sprinter 2500 | 1,232 | 77.3% | rear springs |
| 2021 | Chevrolet 5500hd, 4500xd; | 258 | 66.3% | rear springs |
How bad are the streets in the biggest city, and does it show in suspension repairs?
New York City DOT's pavement inspections since 2021 rate 11.3% of inspected street length poor (1 to 3.99 on a 10-point scale), highest in Bronx (16.6%) and lowest in Brooklyn (8.6%); this is one city, not a national figure.
What it shows: Bronx is the largest at 16.6%, followed by Staten Island at 13.8%; the smallest shown is Brooklyn at 8.6%.
Which counties have the roughest roads?
FHWA's road-condition records show poor ride quality (above 170 inches per mile of roughness) on 89.1% of measured road miles in District of Columbia, DC, 74.1% in Baltimore city, MD and 65.4% in Marion County, WV, against 13.8% in the median county.
What it shows: District of Columbia, DC is the largest at 89.1%, followed by Baltimore city, MD at 74.1%; the smallest shown is New Castle County, DE at 51.9%.
Are the bridges and roads where I drive in poor condition?
FHWA's 2024 National Bridge Inventory rates 6.9% of an average state's highway bridges poor; the share is highest in IA (19.2%), WV and SD, against a median state of 6.0%.
What it shows: IA is the largest at 19.2%, followed by WV at 18.6%; the smallest shown is NY at 9.4%.
Which New York counties have the most bridges flagged poor?
New York State DOT flags 10.0% of the bridges in its inventory poor, and the share is highest in Ulster County (21.1%), Columbia (19.8%) and Rensselaer (19.6%); this is one state, not a national figure.
What it shows: Ulster is the largest at 21.1%, followed by Columbia at 19.8%; the smallest shown is Dutchess at 16.1%.
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 2 recall campaigns for parts matched to a leaf spring replacement since model year 2015, covering about 1,258 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 leaf spring replacement since model year 2015 | 2 recall campaigns covering about 1,258 vehicles |
Is it recalled or covered?
| Recall number | Vehicles | Cars recalled | What the recall says |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24V-517 | Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500 2023–2024; Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 2023–2024; Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 2023–2024 | 1,232 | An axle that moves out of position can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 20V-426 | Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (vs30) 2019 | 26 | The incorrect leaf spring shims may negatively affect vehicle handling, increasing the risk of a crash. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford | Ranger 2024–2025 | SSM 53822 | May 22, 2025 | When replacing the rear leaf spring assemblies on 2024-2025 Ranger vehicles built on and before 28-Apr-2025, if the vehicle was equipped with composite leaf springs, replacement of both the driver side and passenger side with steel leaf springs will be. |
| GMC | Sierra 1500 2020–2024 | PIT6177A | Sep 12, 2024 | This Preliminary information communicates an issues of the left rear leaf spring making a squeaking noise due to diesel fuel contamination that may occur during refueling after the fuel nozzle is removed from the fuel filler pipe. |
| Volvo | XC90 2023; S90 2023 and 7 more | A10246 | Sep 26, 2023 | The corrective action is to inspect the leaf spring and only replace if the matching serial number is found in the Serial Number Matrix located in TIE. |
| GMC | Canyon 2015–2025 | 17-NA-394 | May 1, 2023 | This technical bulletin provides a procedure for lubricating the rear leaf springs and re-torque the bolts to correct a squeak, clunking noise. |
| Chevrolet | Silverado 2500 2015–2025; Silverado 3500 2015–2025 | 21-NA-138 | Oct 20, 2022 | This service bulletin provides a repair procedure to correct a customer concern of a Squeak, Grind or Clunking Noise from Rear Leaf Springs. |
| Chevrolet | Silverado 3500 2020–2024; Silverado 2500 2020–2024 | 20-NA-022 | Jul 19, 2022 | This technical bulletin provides a procedure to re-torque the leaf spring u bolts to correct a condition of Clunking Noise from Rear of Vehicle (Re-torque Leaf Spring Bolts). |
41 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?
1 complaint quoted word for word, each with its NHTSA number.
The rear leaf spring broke on my 2024 Toyota Tacoma at approximately 16,000 miles during normal highway driving.
Check your car
Replacing one leaf spring costs $165–$569 in parts and labor. How much of the assembly you replace and how many springs set the price: both springs run $305–$1,053, and a larger job scope runs $235–$820.
Of the complaints that named a model and year, 45.1% (32 of the 71) involve a model year that has a manufacturer service bulletin for this repair. Owners reported the spring failing at 7,000 miles (median of 66 complaints with a mileage), on trucks 2 years old (median age at failure, 233 complaints).
Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500 left rear leaf spring squeak: GM bulletin PIT6177 points to diesel fuel
GM issued Preliminary Information PIT6177, then revised it as PIT6177A and PIT6177B. It covers a squeaking left rear leaf spring on 2020-2025 Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500 trucks. The bulletin blames diesel fuel contamination on the spring, not a broken spring.
A service bulletin is guidance for technicians. It is not a recall, and it does not mean every truck has the issue. Still, if a shop quotes a new spring only because of a squeak on one of these trucks, ask whether they checked the bulletin first. The Silverado 1500 is the second most common pickup in the complaints.
Ford Ranger composite leaf springs: SSM 53822 affects the replacement parts
The Ford Ranger has the most leaf spring complaints of any model in the data, with peak complaint years from 2019 to 2021. For 2024-2025 Rangers built on or before 28-Apr-2025, Ford's SSM 53822 sets out a procedure for replacing rear leaf springs on trucks that came with composite springs.
If your Ranger has composite springs, make sure the quote lists the parts called for in that message. A like-for-like steel spring may not be the right part.
A Ford Ranger owner told NHTSA: "Right rear leaf spring was found to be broken on vehicle 2ith 70,000 miles by Ford technician during oil change." (NHTSA complaint #11653091) Rangers had a peak in complaints, but this owner's failure came at high mileage, and a routine service visit found it.
Trailer leaf springs failing within the first 1,000 miles of towing
What this means for your bill: on a trailer that broke a spring early, ask whether the replacement spring has a higher load rating, or you may be paying for the same failure twice.
Most leaf springs broke at 55 mph or faster, and many owners needed a tow
Among complaints that gave a speed, the median was 55 mph, and more than half of failures happened at highway speed. Very few were found with the vehicle parked.
Owners filed reports of crashes and fires, but a report does not prove the spring caused them. For the bill, this means a sagging or cracked spring you find at home costs only the repair. The same spring breaking on the highway adds a tow and possibly axle or hitch damage.
Doing both leaf springs roughly doubles the calculator estimate
Doing the second spring at the same visit costs less than two separate jobs, because some of the labor is shared. A Nissan Titan owner said the left rear spring started to uncoil "and had to be replaced followed by right rear." (NHTSA complaint #11412919) If one side failed early, the other side is often next.
Use that setting if you are moving to a heavier-rated spring.
Frequently asked questions
Do leaf springs need to be replaced?
Not always. On 2020-2025 Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500 trucks, GM bulletin PIT6177 blames a squeaking left rear leaf spring on diesel fuel contamination, not a broken spring. Ask whether the shop checked that bulletin before quoting a new spring for a squeak.
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 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
- BLS Producer Price Index, commodity data for motor vehicle parts (series WPU14120502); 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 Office of Defects Investigation, recall quarterly reports (basis of the Annual List of Recall Completion Rates) file downloaded 2026-10-05
- NYC DOT, Street Pavement Ratings (NYC Open Data 6yyb-pb25), SystemRating bands from the NYC DOT pavement rating metadata data from 2025
- FHWA Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) national section data, roughness (IRI) by county; poor-ride cut from the FHWA Conditions and Performance Report data from 2026
- FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 delimited state files (highway bridges, BRIDGE_CONDITION code P) data from 2024
- New York State DOT, Bridge Conditions (NYS Open Data wpyb-cjy8), poor_status flag data from 2025
- 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
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 ($859–$1,025) on 2026-10-06: our default's midpoint is 0% below the middle of that range. Methodology