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 ($199)MiddleHigher-cost states ($254)
What it shows: CA is the highest at $254 and AR the lowest at $199, 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 (77%), 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 (54%), against 40% for all complaints: the biggest difference between the two.
Is it urgent, and what do owners notice first?
1,725 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 1,725 owner complaints naming this part, tire installation is named in 8% of them, more than any other part.
Owners name the tire installation most often in the same complaint, which is not proof that one caused the other. Ask the shop whether it checked the tire installation too, so you are not quoted twice for one visit.
What did owners say they paid?
Half of the 40 owners who wrote a dollar amount gave $1,013 or less; one in ten wrote more than $3,127.
These are bills owners wrote down, often covering more than this one repair. They show how far a job can run; get written quotes for your own car.
How fast were owners driving when it happened?
55 mph or faster leads at 56%.
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 1,725 owner complaints naming this part, crash is the outcome owners report most often.
What it shows: Crash reported is the largest at 41, followed by Towed at 33; the smallest shown is Fire reported at 2.
Which model years show up most in the complaints?
Among the 1,660 owner complaints naming this part that state a model year, complaints cluster in a few model years instead of spreading evenly.
What it shows: 2018 is the largest at 245 (15%), followed by 2015 at 197 (12%); the smallest shown is 2025 at 73 (4%).
What do state inspectors fail cars for?
Among 8,738,476 initial safety inspections in North Carolina in 2017, tires caused 8.5 failed items per 1,000 inspections, the most 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.
Was my tire a known defect, and which tire lines has NHTSA recalled?
NHTSA lists 139 tire recall campaigns filed since 2015 (every tire recall), covering 4,604,281 tires; the largest, Amp Mud Terrain Attack M/T in 2024, covered 673,000.
What it shows: Amp Mud Terrain Attack M/T is the largest at 673,000, followed by Michelin Agilis Crossclimate C-Metric at 542,110; the smallest shown is Bf Goodrich Commercial T/A A/S 2 at 104,000.
Does vehicle age change how underinflated tires are?
NHTSA's 2001 measurement of 11,530 vehicles found 8% of tires on cars 3 years old or newer underinflated by 8 psi or more against 15% on cars over 6 years old, and 12% against 24% on pickups, SUVs and vans.
Share of tires deviating 8 psi or more from the maker's pressure, by vehicle age, measured in 2001. 3 years or newer, pickups and SUVs: 12%; 3 to 6 years, pickups and SUVs: 15%; Over 6 years, pickups and SUVs: 24%.
How many potholes do big-city drivers report each year?
New Yorkers filed 30,624 to 49,909 pothole requests a year to 311 from 2020 to 2024, and Chicagoans filed 43,237 to 132,939 a year from 2012 to 2018; these are requests in two cities, not a national count.
What it shows: Chicago 2014 is the largest at 132,939, followed by NYC 2020 at 30,624; the smallest shown is NYC 2020 at 30,624.
Where are the roughest state highways in Colorado?
Colorado DOT's 2018 pavement survey puts 20.0% of its 11,345 state highway miles in the LOW drivability-life class, with the share highest in Lincoln County (46.4%), Morgan (42.3%) and Jackson (40.1%); this is one state, not a national figure.
What it shows: Lincoln is the largest at 46.4%, followed by Morgan at 42.3%; the smallest shown is Moffat at 30.5%.
Which metro areas drive the most miles per resident?
FHWA's 2022 urbanized-area table shows the most driving per resident in Nashville-Davidson, TN (41.9 vehicle miles a day), Knoxville, TN and Birmingham, AL, against a median of 21.3 across 493 urbanized areas.
What it shows: Nashville-Davidson, TN is the largest at 41.9, followed by Knoxville, TN at 33.0; the smallest shown is San Antonio, TX at 28.0.
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 3 recall campaigns for parts matched to a wheel alignment since model year 2015, covering about 3,643 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 wheel alignment since model year 2015 | 3 recall campaigns covering about 3,643 vehicles |
How many miles a year does my kind of vehicle really drive?
In the 2022 National Household Travel Survey, Van owners report driving an average 15,194 miles a year against 13,298 for Pickup owners, and 24.5% of Van owners drive 15,000 miles or more (reported mileage, survey-weighted).
| Vehicle type | Average miles per year | Share driven 15,000 miles or more | Vehicles surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Van | 15,194 | 24.5% | 648 |
| Car | 14,950 | 20.6% | 6,232 |
| SUV | 14,351 | 21.5% | 4,479 |
| Pickup | 13,298 | 22% | 2,331 |
Which tire on the car fails most often?
Driver-side front leads at 23.
Check that tire first, but look at all four: every position is in the reports.
How old were the tires when owners reported the problem?
2 to 3 years leads at 17.
A tire's age is printed on its sidewall as a four-digit date code (week and year): check yours.
Is it recalled or covered?
| Recall number | Vehicles | Cars recalled | What the recall says |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21E-027 | Ford F-150 2015–2018 | 2,394 | An incorrectly installed ball joint may cause the ball joint stud to break, which can compromise front wheel control, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 22V-040 | Porsche Cayenne 2021–2022 | 1,241 | Rear axle misalignment may cause premature or uneven tire wear, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 25V-605 | Hyundai Ioniq 5 2025 | 8 | A loss of vehicle stability control increases 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeep | Wrangler 2026; Wrangler 4xe 2026 | 19-001-26 | Jan 9, 2026 | Tie Rod and Draglink Adjustment Clamp Fasteners Not Fully Secured Customers may comment on the following: Degrading steering alignment. |
| Audi | S5 Cabriolet 2015–2024; S7 2015–2025 and 62 more | TSB_2056386_11 | Oct 17, 2025 | This bulletin provides information about the steering wheel alignment. |
| GMC | Sierra EV 2025 | N252507500 | Sep 17, 2025 | Certain vehicles may have a condition in which the rear lower control arm bolts were not fully torqued. |
| Tesla | Model 3 2017–2025; Model Y 2020–2025 | SB-25-31-004 | Jun 24, 2025 | A firmware diagnosis feature is being introduced on Model 3 and Model Y vehicles that monitors wheel alignment over time. |
| Chevrolet | Express 2015–2025; Bolt EV 2017–2024 and 37 more | 05-03-07-009L | Feb 25, 2025 | This service bulletin provides information on Wheel Alignment Specifications, Requirements and Recommendations for GM Vehicles. |
| Audi | S3 2015–2025; Q4 Sportback E-Tron 2022–2025 and 59 more | A4424092056386_10 | Dec 6, 2024 | This bulletin provides information regarding wheel alignment. |
49 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai | Accent 2018–2019 | Aug 2, 2023 | 23-BE-008H | Horn inoperative due to internal contact alignment. |
What do owners say?
4 complaints quoted word for word, each with its NHTSA number.
Also charged $660 dollars for wheel alignment and placement of shims with a camber adjustment that “wheel wobble will never happen again “.
Took truck in to get alignment done and the reapir shop wants to charge $700 dollars for replacement drag link because they cannot adjust draglink due to previous recall.
Due to safety recall v06, I am no longer able to adjust the steering wheel in my truck after an alignment, leaving the steering wheel in a $60k truck off.
The tires were replaced & alignment done 2/16/21 for $1900.
Check your car
A four-wheel alignment costs $153–$306 at a shop charging $120 an hour, and the estimate is labor only. Front-end versus four-wheel, and independent shop versus dealership, move that range the most.
What does the estimate cover, and what does it leave out?
The estimate is the labor to measure and reset the wheel angles on one vehicle, priced at $120 an hour.
It leaves out parts. If a tie rod, control arm or ball joint is worn, most shops will not align the car until it is replaced, and that repair is priced separately. Tire balancing, a new set of tires and any inspection fee are also outside the number. Ask whether the quote is the whole bill or only the alignment line.
How much does each choice change the price?
Three choices move the number: how many wheels, which shop, and how many cars. Each row changes one setting from the default.
| Setting | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Default: four-wheel alignment, $120/hr shop | $153–$306 |
| Front-end (two-wheel) alignment | $102–$153 |
| Independent shop (about $100/hr) | $128–$255 |
| Dealership (about $175/hr) | $223–$447 |
| Two vehicles | $306–$612 |
| Four vehicles | $612–$1,224 |
Pick four-wheel if the rear tires wear unevenly or the shop says the rear angles are out of range; a front-only job leaves the rear wheels as they are. Ask the shop to show the before-and-after angles for the wheels it adjusted.
How do you tell it is the problem, and how urgent is it?
Suspect the alignment if the car pulls to one side on a flat road, the steering wheel sits off-center when you drive straight, or one tire edge wears faster than the rest. A recent pothole or curb hit is the usual trigger.
None of these is an emergency, but tire wear is cumulative. Book it within a few weeks, and before you buy new tires, since a bad alignment can wear the new ones out early. If the steering feels loose or you hear clunking, have the suspension checked first, because alignment will not fix a worn part.
Is a lifetime alignment plan worth it?
A lifetime plan is $200–$300 and is not included in the estimate. At the default price it breaks even after 2–4 visits, so it only makes sense if you keep the car and will realign after new tires or suspension work. Ask what voids the plan and whether it transfers if you sell the car.
How do you get a fair quote?
Ask whether the price covers two wheels or four, and whether it includes a printout of the angles. Ask what happens if a part is too worn to adjust: do you pay for the alignment you did not get? Compare the answer with the table for your shop type. A dealer quote well above $447 or an independent quote well below $128 for the default job deserves a second opinion.
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
- North Carolina Division of Air Quality, Vehicle Safety and Emissions Inspection Frequency Study data from 2017
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census (P2 urban and rural population), joined to NHTSA owner complaints file downloaded 2026-10-06
- NHTSA National Center for Statistics and Analysis, Tire Pressure Special Study: Vehicle Observation Data (DOT HS 809 317) data from 2001
- NYC Open Data 311 Service Requests (erm2-nwe9, descriptor Pothole) and City of Chicago 311 Service Requests - Pot Holes Reported - Historical (7as2-ds3y) data from 2025
- Colorado DOT, Highway Quality in Colorado 2018 (data.colorado.gov skxn-j975), cond field (drivability life class) data from 2018
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2022, Table HM-72 (urbanized areas: daily vehicle miles per capita) data from 2022
- 49 U.S.C. 30120 (Remedies for defects and noncompliance), text via Cornell Legal Information Institute; NHTSA recall campaigns data from 2026
- FHWA, 2022 NextGen National Household Travel Survey, vehicle file 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. 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 ($186–$273) on 2026-10-06: our default's midpoint is 0% above the middle of that range. Methodology