The Lemon Index$590 middle bill · most between $424 and $812
264 owner reports on 74 models
Jeep Wrangler, Volkswagen Passat, Dodge Grand Caravan
Owners reported paying a median of $590 for a airbag module and clock spring replacement, with the middle half of bills between $424 and $812. That's 264 owner reports on 74 models (262 complaints to NHTSA and 2 YouTube videos). Costs vary by shop and region.
What owners paid
- Under $50032%
- $500–$1,00049%
- $1,000–$2,50016%
- $2,500–$5,0003%
- $5,000 and up1%
Share of the 264 owner reports in each price band.
Cars where it comes up most
Owner reports per model. Raw counts, not a failure rate: popular models get more reports.
Every model, what owners paid
| Model | Reports | Middle bill | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeep Wrangler | 55 | $500 | $500–$600 |
| Volkswagen Passat | 21 | $637 | $500–$700 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan | 12 | $278 | $244–$500 |
| Chrysler Town & Country | 11 | $500 | $266–$650 |
| Hyundai Elantra | 10 | $594 | $407–$721 |
| Kia Sorento | 10 | $700 | $425–$1,100 |
| Hyundai Sonata | 9 | $450 | $340–$805 |
| Volkswagen CC | 8 | $838 | $450–$961 |
| Hyundai Santa Fe | 7 | $400 | $318–$875 |
| Honda Accord | 6 | $650 | $538–$688 |
| Kia Optima | 5 | $390 | $350–$600 |
| Volkswagen Golf | 5 | $654 | $615–$712 |
| Chevrolet Malibu | 4 | too few for a range | |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee | 4 | too few for a range | |
| Nissan Altima | 4 | too few for a range | |
| Nissan Rogue | 4 | too few for a range | |
| Toyota Tacoma | 4 | too few for a range | |
| Dodge Durango | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Dodge Stratus | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Ford Mustang | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Kia Forte | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Nissan Armada | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Nissan Frontier | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Toyota RAV4 | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Volkswagen Tiguan | 3 | too few for a range | |
Models with 3+ reports. A model gets its own page and a range at 5+ reports. 49 more models with 1–2 reports count in the totals above.
Related repairs
Wiring harness repair $1,200 · ECM (engine computer) replacement $1,200 · TIPM replacement $1,100 · Car battery replacement $317 · Radio and infotainment screen repair $1,500 · Alternator replacement $800 · Window regulator replacement $400 · Starter replacement $788
The details
How we count
Every number here is a repair bill an owner reported, never a shop's price list. Two sources: the bills owners wrote in their own complaints to the U.S. government (NHTSA), and the dollar amounts owners said out loud in YouTube repair and ownership videos. A figure counts for a repair when that repair is the part named nearest to it. Left out: purchase prices, payments, rentals, towing, warranties and deductibles, amounts under $50 or over $15,000, parts-only prices ("the part was $80 on Amazon"), bills for two different repairs named together, and money someone else paid. One number per complaint (or video) and repair: the biggest, so it's the bill, not the diagnosis fee.
The range is the middle half of the bills (the 25th to the 75th percentile), so one wild number can't swing it. Owners who complain to the government often had expensive repairs, so a typical bill can be lower. Costs vary by shop and region, by dealer vs independent shop, by parts and by miles. This is what owners reported, not a quote for your car.
Check the bills yourself
NHTSA complaint numbers (search them at nhtsa.gov): 11773771, 11772550, 11760319, 11753456, 11698552, 11690182, 11671137, 11662974, 11620526, 11574296, 11547250, 11509018 and more.
Quick answers
How much does a airbag module and clock spring replacement cost?
Owners reported a median of $590, and the middle half paid $424 to $812, from 264 owner reports on 74 models. Costs vary by shop and region.
Which cars need a airbag module and clock spring replacement most?
The most owner reports come from the Jeep Wrangler, Volkswagen Passat, Dodge Grand Caravan. These are raw counts: popular models get more reports, so this isn't a failure rate.
Why do airbag module and clock spring replacement costs vary so much?
Shop labor rates differ by region, dealers usually charge more than independent shops, new, used and rebuilt parts cost different amounts, and some bills include other work done at the same time.
Where do these numbers come from?
From 262 complaints to NHTSA and 2 YouTube videos: the repair bills owners themselves reported. Owner reports, not a price quote.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints and YouTube videos (amounts said out loud), sorted by The Lemon Index. Owner reports, not a price quote. Costs vary by shop and region.