Vehicles Are Costing More To Repair—Here’s What It Costs To Fix The Most Common Problems

The most frequent “check engine light” fix noted in a recent report is to replace the catalytic ... [+] converter, which costs an average $1,313.

It should come as no surprise to anyone who’s been paying attention to the economy that auto repair costs are rising.

According to the annual Vehicle Health Index of common “check engine light” repairs conducted by the auto service website CarMD.com, car repair costs increased by 2.8% last year, averaging $403, with replacement parts being 4.7% costlier to purchase, due to inflation and the industry’s nagging supply chain issues.

Unfortunately, this comes at a time when motorists are holding onto the rides tenaciously in the face of unaffordable new-vehicle transaction prices that average around $48,000. Owners are now keeping their vehicles for an average of eight years, which has pushed the average age of all vehicles in the U.S. to a record high 12.1 years. And more older cars on the road means more repairs necessary to keep them running.

Among issues that cause the check engine light on a vehicle’s instrument panel to illuminate, the most common repair drivers encountered last year was to replace the catalytic converter at an average $1,313. While converters will eventually wear out and need to be swapped out as a car’s miles rack up into six figures, the rate of replacement has accelerated by skyrocketing converter thefts. A report conducted by Carfax estimates that 153,000 of these critical emissions-control components were stolen in 2022, typically for the precious metals used to make them work.

We’re listing the most common repairs and the national average cost to repair them, as noted by CarMD, below.

The prudent course of action if the warning light stays on (it’s usually an outline of a car’s engine) is to make an appointment to take the vehicle to a technician to have the problem evaluated before it turns into a mechanical malady that’s far costlier to fix. Unfortunately, too many motorists tend to ignore the alert if the car still seems to be operating normally. It could be something as quick and cheap to fix as a loose or defective gas cap, which costs nothing to tighten and an average of $25 to have replaced.

For starters, not having a needed fix addressed will cause the vehicle to fail an emissions test, which would delay registration and essentially render it legally un-drivable until repairs are made and it passes a subsequent inspection. The issue could also result in reduced fuel economy, as the engine’s electronics help to compensate for what could otherwise require a minor fix (like a bad spark plug). Over time, the neglect could eventually lead to a much costlier repair. For example, the aforementioned catalytic converter can fail prematurely if other mechanical woes, like driving with a faulty a faulty oxygen sensor or ignition coil, are ignored.

Diagnosing a check engine issue a simple process, with problem codes obtained by a scanner plugged into the car’s OBD II (onboard diagnostics) jack. Auto parts stores will often perform a scan at no cost. Or a motorist can purchase a hand-held scanner and look up what the code indicates via the Internet, but a proper mechanic likely has a more-sophisticated diagnostic tool. That’s essential because today’s cars are packed with an array of complex computerized sensors.

The type and costs of check engine repairs depend largely on a vehicle’s age, driving conditions, upkeep, and whether or not the owner addresses the issue in a timely manner. Not surprisingly, the website found that cars, trucks, and SUVs from the 2007 and 2008 model years were most likely to suffer a check engine indicated malady last year, with newer cars from 2021 and 2022 being the least prone to flash the warning light.

CarMD’s study found that the typical service bill was the highest in western states last year, at an average $415.74, and was the cheapest in the Midwest at $375.84. The average repair bill was $403.85 in the Northeast and $409.38 in the South.

These are the most common check engine maladies and their average repair costs, as noted in CarMD.com’s Vehicle Health Index. The 2023 Index is based on repairs needed on more than 17 million in-use vehicles reported to and validated by CarMD's network over the past calendar year. We should note that, especially in these inflationary times, the costs noted may yet be higher. And as always, they will vary based on local wage rates and parts availability.

The full report is available here.