The Lemon Index$1,800 middle bill · most between $1,100 and $3,000
247 owner reports on 89 models
Kia Soul, Nissan Altima, Ford F-Series
Owners reported paying a median of $1,800 for a catalytic converter replacement, with the middle half of bills between $1,100 and $3,000. That's 247 owner reports on 89 models (243 complaints to NHTSA and 4 YouTube videos). Costs vary by shop and region.
What owners paid
- Under $5004%
- $500–$1,00015%
- $1,000–$2,50046%
- $2,500–$5,00025%
- $5,000 and up11%
Share of the 247 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Soul | 30 | $2,800 | $1,600–$4,000 |
| Nissan Altima | 18 | $950 | $733–$1,200 |
| Ford F-Series | 13 | $2,500 | $2,000–$4,000 |
| Nissan Pathfinder | 10 | $1,600 | $825–$2,800 |
| Hyundai Tucson | 9 | $3,700 | $1,300–$4,500 |
| Nissan Xterra | 6 | $2,700 | $1,400–$3,900 |
| Toyota Prius | 6 | $1,700 | $1,700–$1,900 |
| Ford Escape | 5 | $2,000 | $1,600–$3,700 |
| Toyota Camry | 5 | $1,000 | $800–$1,000 |
| Buick Enclave | 4 | too few for a range | |
| Chevrolet Equinox | 4 | too few for a range | |
| GMC Terrain | 4 | too few for a range | |
| Honda Pilot | 4 | too few for a range | |
| Toyota Corolla | 4 | too few for a range | |
| Chevrolet Silverado | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Chrysler Pacifica | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Ford Edge | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Ford Explorer | 3 | too few for a range | |
| GMC Yukon XL | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Hyundai Santa Fe | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Mazda MPV | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Nissan Maxima | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Nissan Titan | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Toyota 4Runner | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Toyota RAV4 | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Volkswagen Passat | 3 | too few for a range | |
Models with 3+ reports. A model gets its own page and a range at 5+ reports. 63 more models with 1–2 reports count in the totals above.
Engine codes that can lead here: P0420 P0430. A code is where a shop starts, not proof the part failed.
Related repairs
EVAP system repair $618 · O2 sensor replacement $600 · EGR valve replacement $1,500 · DPF replacement $3,000
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): 11776254, 11774150, 11772852, 11770621, 11770425, 11769993, 11766891, 11761955, 11761559, 11751060, 11744702, 11742882 and more.
Said out loud on YouTube: $100 ▶ · $500 ▶ · $1,500 ▶ · $2,000 ▶
Quick answers
How much does a catalytic converter replacement cost?
Owners reported a median of $1,800, and the middle half paid $1,100 to $3,000, from 247 owner reports on 89 models. Costs vary by shop and region.
Which cars need a catalytic converter replacement most?
The most owner reports come from the Kia Soul, Nissan Altima, Ford F-Series. These are raw counts: popular models get more reports, so this isn't a failure rate.
Why do catalytic converter 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 243 complaints to NHTSA and 4 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.