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 ($776)MiddleHigher-cost states ($988)
What it shows: CA is the highest at $988 and AR the lowest at $776, 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 3-5 years (47%), against 35% for all complaints: the biggest difference between the two.
Is it urgent, and what do owners notice first?
586 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.
Which other parts do owners name in the same complaint?
Among the 586 owner complaints naming this part, control arm is named in 9% of them, more than any other part.
Owners name the control arm most often in the same complaint, which is not proof that one caused the other. Ask the shop whether it checked the control arm too, so you are not quoted twice for one visit.
How fast were owners driving when it happened?
5-24 mph leads at 30%.
Owners reported it most often in parking lots and slow traffic. Tell the shop what speed it happens at, because that narrows the diagnosis.
How serious did it get for owners?
Among the 586 owner complaints naming this part, being towed is the outcome owners report most often.
What it shows: Towed is the largest at 18, followed by Injury reported at 16; the smallest shown is Fire reported at 2.
Which model years show up most in the complaints?
Among the 586 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 130 (22%), followed by 2016 at 66 (11%); the smallest shown is 2025 at 14 (2%).
When in the year do owners report it?
NHTSA owner complaints about this part run furthest above the usual seasonal share in April: about 44% 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: April is the largest at 11% (all: 8%), followed by January at 10% (all: 9%); the smallest shown is November at 6% (all: 7%).
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 1 equipment recalls that name strut since 2015 (suspension and steering), covering 584 items sold as parts rather than whole vehicles; the largest, by Tenneco Automotive in 2020, covered 584.
| Year | Maker and product | NHTSA component | Defect | Items |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Tenneco Automotive: 911 Carrera, 911 Turbo | front macpherson strut | certain Front Struts, part number POS 5N20. These struts were sold as part of Ohlins strut kits part number. | 584 |
Has this part been recalled abroad on cars that may share it?
Manufacturers filed 9 foreign recall campaigns that name strut with NHTSA since 2015 (matched by the filing text); the latest, from Bentley Motors in 2025-06.
| Filed | Manufacturer | Foreign recall no. | What the filing says |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-09 | Daimler Coaches | 177 | 573.6(c)(3) 1,238 Total Number of Vehicles Potentially Affected: 573.6(c)(5) Defect Description: Due to an assembly fault, the bolted connection on the fuel tank struts could loosen and thus the fuel tank could become offset. |
| 2019-08 | Mercedes-Benz | 166 | Therefore, the wheel carrier might have inclusions and/or cracks in the area of the camber strut connection. |
| 2018-09 | Mercedes-Benz | 163 | This might lead to chafing of the wiring harness at a brace strut while driving. |
| 2019-07 | Volkswagen Group. | 137 | 248-754-5000 Phone Washington, DC 20590 248-754-5093 Fax July 03, 2019 Date Subject: Notification of Recall Pursuant to 49 CFR Part 579.11 (a) Front Suspension Struts Dear Mr. |
| 2019-05 | BMW of | 108 | Over time, vehicle vibration may lead to a crack in the clamp PO Box 1227 which secures the strut within the bearing. |
| 2025-06 | Bentley Motors. | 086 | Washington, DC 20590 Subject: Notification of Recall Pursuant to 49 CFR Part 579.11 (a) Front left and right air suspension strut Dear Ms. |
| 2024-04 | Mercedes-Benz | 085 | April 19, 2024 Page 2 In the event of a crash, the positive battery post could contact a reinforcement strut in the engine compartment during the collision. |
| 2017-01 | Subaru. | 007 | Washington, DC 20590 RE: Foreign Safety Recall Campaign Report � Front strut attachment noise/damage on certain 2004-2009MY Subaru Legacy vehicles Dear Associate Administrator for Enforcement, Pursuant to 49 CFR Part 579.11(a), Fuji Heavy Industries USA, Inc. |
How many recalled cars are actually fixed, so should I check mine?
Across 4 NHTSA recalls that name strut filed 2015 to 2024, 85.4% of the 15,678 recalled vehicles had been repaired after 8 quarters, against 66.2% for all recalls, which leaves about 2,295 vehicles still carrying the defect.
| Year | Vehicles | Recalled vehicles | Repaired | Component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, Atlas | 10,303 | 96.6% | steering |
| 2022 | Bmw K 1600 Gtl, K 1600 Gt | 5,063 | 61.9% | rear |
| 2024 | Bmw K 1600 Gtl, K 1600 Gt | 191 | 99.5% | front |
| 2024 | Ford Explorer | 121 | 87.5% | front macpherson strut |
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 11 recall campaigns for parts matched to a strut replacement since model year 2015, covering about 3,986 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 strut replacement since model year 2015 | 11 recall campaigns covering about 3,986 vehicles |
How often does this part fail a real inspection, by car age?
In 181,687 New Jersey initial inspections in 2025 of vehicles sent through the safety lane, 1.0% of cars aged 16+ years failed the steering and suspension test against 0.0% of cars under 3 years (record counts, not a sample).
What it shows: 16+ is the largest at 1.0%, followed by <3 at 0.0%; the smallest shown is <3 at 0.0%.
Is it recalled or covered?
| Recall number | Vehicles | Cars recalled | What the recall says |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16V-367 | Toyota Yaris 2015 | 3,106 | A damaged strut mounting bearing may cause the strut rod to separate, causing a loss of vehicle stability and increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 25V-415 | Porsche Taycan 2025; Porsche Panamera 2026; Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid 2025 | 284 | An air suspension strut failure may cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 22V-090 | Lucid AIR 2022 | 203 | A sudden drop in ride height while driving can cause a loss of vehicle control. |
| 24V-091 | Ford Explorer 2023 | 121 | A loose or missing connection between the knuckle and strut can cause improper tire alignment, resulting in a steering pull or require increased steering effort. |
| 22V-927 | Audi E-Tron GT 2022 | 96 | An air suspension strut failure may cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 23V-437 | Volkswagen Golf R 2023; Volkswagen GTI 2023 | 59 | Loose suspension connections can cause steering instability, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 20V-329 | Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 2020; Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 2020; Mercedes-Benz GLS 580 4matic 2020 | 38 | Premature wear of the front struts and rear shock absorbers can affect vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 23V-849 | Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 2023; Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 2023; Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500 2023 | 33 | A loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash. |
3 more recalls name this part, on smaller fleets. The car finder at the top checks yours.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota | BZ4X 2023–2025 | T-SB-0043-26 | Aug 5, 2026 | Some 2023 2025 model year bZ4X vehicles may exhibit a creaking noise coming from the strut mounting bearing of the front suspension when turning. |
| BMW | 750i 2015–2020; 745e 2020–2022 and 2 more | B010522 | Mar 27, 2026 | The front and rear air suspension strut assemblies limited warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 8 years /80,000 miles as determined from the original in-service date. |
| Jeep | Wagoneer S 2024–2026 | 9100748 | Dec 18, 2025 | Before replacing front strut assembly components for a noise issue, please inspect the front upper strut mount bushings (LT/RT) by removing the plastic push pins and inspecting the mount BUSHING under the plastic cowl plenum (screen). |
| Volkswagen | Golf 2015–2021; Taos 2022–2025 and 15 more | V4016012043146_4 | Nov 18, 2025 | What is and what is not a leaking suspension strut. |
| Jeep | Grand Cherokee 4xe 2021–2025; Cherokee 2019–2023 and 9 more | 02-002-25 REV. A | Sep 12, 2025 | Shock And Strut Diagnosis And Replacement Guidelines Leaking, noisy, or weak shocks or struts. |
| Ford | Bronco Sport 2021–2025 | TSB 25-2347 | Jul 25, 2025 | Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit a clicking, creaking, clunking, rattle, rotational noise from the front strut area when turning the steering wheel. |
50 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.
While driving at highway speed, my 2022 Porsche Cayenne S experienced an air suspension / air spring strut failure requiring a dealer repair costing approximately $4,000.
I took it to 3 different dealers and they all suggested throwing parts at it (replacing the rear subframe for $3000 or a front driver strut for $1400) telling me that they don’t know if it’d fix it or not.
They wanted to charge $3,500 to replace the module as well as $2,300 to repair both front struts.
The nissan certified tech indicated to me, when loosening the strut bolts to get to the abs accelerator they snapped and now the struts would have to be replaced at a cost to me of $700.
Check your car
Replacing a front or rear pair of standard struts with an alignment costs $645 to $1,140 at $130/hr shop labor. A single strut costs $323 to $570. Quick-strut assemblies raise a front pair to $675 to $1,145.
Of the complaints owners filed about struts, 31% (274 of the 883 complaints that named a model and year) involve a model year with a manufacturer service bulletin for this part. Ask the shop for that bulletin before you approve the job. Owners who named a price paid a median $1,800 (48 complaints that named an amount).
Ford Explorer and Expedition owners file the most strut complaints, and the Palisade joins them on 2020-2022 models
The Ford Explorer tops the strut complaint list. Its reports cluster on 2015, 2016 and 2023 models, around 41000 miles. The Ford Expedition follows, with complaints concentrated on 2017-2019 models.
The Hyundai Palisade is the newer name on the list. Its complaints bunch up on 2020, 2021 and 2022 models. Owners filed them without a typical mileage, so they point to the vehicle generation rather than to wear.
If you own one of these models, compare your model year with the peak years before you accept a quote. A cluster of complaints on your year is a reason to ask the dealer whether a service bulletin covers the noise or leak you are hearing about.
Ford Explorer owners filed 35 of the 896 strut complaints, most for 2015, 2016 and 2023 models, and you can see every problem reported for the Explorer across all 9,079 of its complaints.
Strut quotes of $1,800 to $4,500 usually cover more than the calculator's front pair
The quotes show why. A 2015 Toyota Highlander owner told NHTSA, "Essentially, the lift gate is unreliable to lift or close most of the time. The cost estimate from the dealer exceeded $1,800 for the replacement of both struts." That is a power liftgate job, not a suspension job.
A 2015 Toyota 4Runner owner reported, "At approximately 55,000 miles the service tech found that all four struts were leaking and required $4,500 to repair and replace." (NHTSA complaint #11354918) That covers all four corners, which is double the axle this calculator prices by default.
If your quote is well above the calculator, check two things: whether it names liftgate or power struts, and how many corners it covers.
A quote that lists shock absorbers along with struts is common: the replacement shock absorbers is named in 14% (125) of the 896 strut complaints, and you can price the shock absorbers separately.
Control arms and ball joints are the parts most often named alongside a failed strut
After shocks, control arms are the part owners most often name in the same strut complaints. Ball joints and control arm bushings follow. All three sit in the same corner as the strut, and a worn one can cause the same clunk over bumps.
This matters for the bill in two ways. If the noise comes from a control arm, new struts will not stop it. That fits the 2016 Jeep Cherokee owner who told NHTSA, "I notified the dealer who changed the strut for over $300 and it still occurs." (NHTSA complaint #11048293) Also, replacing an arm while the strut is already out saves labor compared with doing it on a second visit, and the alignment the calculator includes then covers both jobs.
If the shop says the clunk is coming from the control arm rather than the strut, the control arm is named in 8% (76) of the 896 strut complaints, so price a control arm replacement before you approve the job.
Dealers appear in far more strut complaints than independent shops
Owners mentioned a dealer 430 times in these strut complaints, compared with 49 mentions of an independent shop. The calculator shows what that choice is worth.
A dealer visit makes sense when a recall or extended coverage might apply. For an out-of-warranty strut with no open campaign, the complaints show that many owners paid dealer rates when they did not have to.
Most strut complaints start in town-speed driving, not on the highway
The largest group of owners noticed the problem between 5 and 24 mph, and the median speed when trouble started was 35 mph. This fits noise being the most common symptom owners describe: clunks and knocks show up over bumps, in turns and at low speed.
A smaller group was on the highway when trouble started. Few owners needed a tow.
98 strut complaints describe a crash
A report does not prove the strut caused the crash. Several of the recalls involve struts that can separate. One example is the Toyota Yaris strut mounting bearing campaign 16V367000, where the consequence listed was a loss of vehicle stability.
Frequently asked questions
Can you replace just one strut?
A 2016 Jeep Cherokee owner told NHTSA the dealer changed the strut for over $300 and the problem still occurred, and control arms are the part owners most often name alongside a failed strut.
Why is strut replacement so expensive?
Quotes of $1,800 to $4,500 usually cover more than a front pair.
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
- USDA ERS Rural-Urban Continuum Codes 2023 (codes 4 to 9) with 2020 Census county population, joined to NHTSA owner complaints file downloaded 2026-10-06
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year 2019-2023, counties summed to states (B08301), joined to NHTSA owner complaints file downloaded 2026-10-06
- 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
- 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.
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 ($1,144–$1,348) on 2026-10-06: our default's midpoint is 0% below the middle of that range. Methodology