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 ($78)MiddleHigher-cost states ($100)
What it shows: CA is the highest at $100 and AR the lowest at $78, 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 (81%), 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 (67%), against 40% for all complaints: the biggest difference between the two.
Is it urgent, and what do owners notice first?
137 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 83%.
Owners reported it most often at highway speed. Tell the shop what speed it happens at, because that narrows the diagnosis.
Which model years show up most in the complaints?
Among the 124 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 21 (17%), followed by 2016 at 19 (15%); the smallest shown is 2025 at 4 (3%).
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.
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 5.
Which tire on the car failed, as owners reported it. Driver-side front: 5; Passenger-side front: 3; Passenger-side rear: 2.
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 3.
A tire's age is printed on its sidewall as a four-digit date code (week and year): check yours.
Has the maker published a fix?
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitsubishi | Outlander 2022; Eclipse Cross 2022 | TIN-22-31-001REV | Aug 31, 2022 | This is a Revised Technical Information Notice advising dealers that 2022 Eclipse Cross has been added to the investigation of wheel balance concerns at PDI or shortly after delivery. |
| Chevrolet | Silverado 2500 2015–2021; Silverado 1500 2017–2018 | 100310001F | Mar 1, 2021 | This informational bulletin provides information on Wheel Balancer Mounting Instructions. |
| Genesis | G70 2019–2020; G90 2018–2020 and 2 more | 20-SS-004H | Nov 19, 2020 | This bulletin provides tire vibration service procedures, including how to optimize vehicle vibration performance. |
| Volvo | S60CC 2016–2019; XC60 2015–2019 and 12 more | ST-227-2018-08-1 | Aug 18, 2018 | Road Force wheel balancing is the proper tool for diagnosing and repairing such issues and all of our retailers need to be prepared for these issues. |
| Toyota | Tundra 2016–2018 | SET-TSB-18-001 | Apr 3, 2018 | Discusses best practices and proper equipment operation when addressing tire balance concerns on Tundra models equipped with Southeast Toyota accessory tire and wheel packages. |
| Toyota | 4runner 2017–2018 | SET-TSB-18-002 | Apr 3, 2018 | Discusses best practices and proper equipment operation when addressing tire balance concerns on 4Runner models equipped with Southeast Toyota accessory tire and wheel packages. |
10 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?
3 complaints quoted word for word, each with its NHTSA number.
I took it to the dealership and they balanced the tires and charged me $120.00.
Tires were problematic at less than 36K miles, but dealer did not mention anything other than a need to rotate and balance the tires.
I religiously bring my vehicle into the dealer for all maintenance, including rotating and balancing the tires every 3,000 miles.
Check your car
Balancing four tires costs $60 to $120 at a flat rate of $15 to $30 per tire, and the shop you choose sets the price: the priciest shop type in the calculator charges $120 to $200 for all four.
The shake shows up on new cars. Owners reported it at 17,000 miles (median of 71 complaints with a mileage), and 78% of the 132 complaints that gave a speed were at 55 mph or faster. The most complaints came from the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (16 complaints, most from 2015, 2016, 2018 models, median 10,000 miles). If a fresh balance does not stop the vibration, look at the driveshaft: driveshaft is named in 11% of these complaints (22), far more often than in complaints overall.
Silverado 1500 tire balancing complaints come at 10,000 miles; the F-250 SD's come at 51,000
The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has more tire balancing complaints than any other model, spread across 2015, 2016 and 2018 trucks. Their median mileage is 10,000, so for most of these owners the vibration started while the truck was still new. The Ford F-250 SD is different: its complaints have a median of 51,000 miles. For a heavy-duty Ford, a balance problem is more likely to show up after the tires have been replaced or have worn.
The Jeep Wrangler's complaints peak on 2018, 2021 and 2022 models, with a median of 4,000 miles. A Wrangler owner who is shaking right after delivery matches that pattern. For the Kia EV9, every complaint is on 2024 models.
Driveshaft shows up in 11% of tire balancing complaints, 44.8 times its usual rate
The driveshaft is named in 22 tire balancing complaints. That is 44.8 times more often than it appears in complaints overall, and it is the strongest link to another part on this page. Several of the most-reported models are pickups (Silverado 1500, Ram 1500, F-250 SD). For those trucks, a vibration that is still there after a road-force balance points to the driveshaft. A driveshaft repair costs more than the $60–$120 the calculator gives for balancing four tires. Tire installation (lift 29.3) is the second most common link.
If a new balance still leaves the shake, note that the driveshaft is named in 11% (22) of the 203 tire balancing complaints, so price a driveshaft replacement before the next visit.
78% of tire balancing complaints describe the problem at 55 mph or faster
Owners say the vibration shows up at highway speed. The median speed in these reports is 60 mph, and no reports describe the car parked. A car that feels smooth around town but shakes at highway speed fits this pattern. Only 1% of owners needed a tow, so this is usually a trip to the shop, not a breakdown. Owners reported 2 crashes and no fires or injuries.
21% of tire balancing complaints say the dealer could not fix it on the first visit
Dealers are named in 132 complaints and independent shops in only 3, so most of these repairs were done under warranty or at dealer prices. One in five owners describe going back more than once. A RAM 1500 owner told NHTSA: "I brought to back to the dealer with 380 miles on it, they road forced balanced the wheels, said they were off." (NHTSA complaint #10991967) A 2016 Ford Transit owner said the fix was simple: "Took it to have the front wheel balance checked and each wheel has +2 oz (06-08-17 1025 miles) the wheel balance fixed the steering wheel vibration problem." (NHTSA complaint #11010675)
Tire balancing bulletins name Silverado and Sierra trucks, Genesis sedans, Volvo and Mitsubishi models
No recalls cover tire balancing. There are 16 manufacturer service bulletins. GM bulletin 100310001F gives wheel balancer mounting instructions for the Silverado 2500 (2015–2021), Silverado 1500 (2017, 2018), Sierra 2500 and Sierra Denali. That overlaps with the Silverado 1500 model years that have the most complaints. Volvo bulletin ST-227-2018-08-1 tells retailers to use road-force balancing on XC60, S60cc and V60cc models. Genesis bulletins 20-SS-004H and 20-SS-004HG give vibration procedures for the G70, G80 and G90. Mitsubishi notice TIN-22-31-001REV covers wheel balance concerns found at pre-delivery inspection on 2022 Outlander and Eclipse Cross models. Toyota bulletins SET-TSB-18-001 and SET-TSB-18-002 apply only to Tundra and 4Runner trucks fitted with Southeast Toyota accessory wheels and tires. If one of these bulletins lists your car, bring the bulletin number to the service visit.
Sources
Data shown on this page
- NHTSA owner complaint file (2015-2019 · 2020-2024 · 2025-2026) 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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall flat file (tire recalls, report type T) file downloaded 2026-10-05
- 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
- 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. Reported: figures as reported by the publisher, not independently verified.
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 ($37–$55) on 2026-10-06: our default's midpoint is 0% above the middle of that range. Methodology