The Lemon Index$788 middle bill · most between $493 and $1,000
194 owner reports on 60 models
Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, BMW X5
Owners reported paying a median of $788 for a starter replacement, with the middle half of bills between $493 and $1,000. That's 194 owner reports on 60 models (180 complaints to NHTSA and 14 YouTube videos). Costs vary by shop and region.
What owners paid
- Under $50026%
- $500–$1,00043%
- $1,000–$2,50022%
- $2,500–$5,0006%
- $5,000 and up4%
Share of the 194 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Accord | 67 | $800 | $700–$900 |
| Hyundai Sonata | 14 | $461 | $310–$715 |
| BMW X5 | 7 | $1,600 | $1,100–$2,800 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee | 7 | $800 | $422–$1,700 |
| Ford F-Series | 5 | $1,000 | $600–$1,500 |
| Kia Sorento | 4 | too few for a range | |
| Volkswagen Passat | 4 | too few for a range | |
| Chevrolet Equinox | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Chevrolet Impala | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Chrysler Pacifica | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Ford Escape | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Honda CR-V | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Honda Passport | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Honda Pilot | 3 | too few for a range | |
Models with 3+ reports. A model gets its own page and a range at 5+ reports. 46 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 · Airbag module and clock spring replacement $590 · Car battery replacement $317 · Radio and infotainment screen repair $1,500 · Alternator replacement $800 · Window regulator replacement $400
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): 11774710, 11770775, 11770656, 11765823, 11755801, 11752376, 11751380, 11746875, 11743929, 11742278, 11734463, 11730231 and more.
Said out loud on YouTube: $100 ▶ · $117 ▶ · $120 ▶ · $200 ▶ · $300 ▶ · $300 ▶ · $386 ▶ · $400 ▶
Quick answers
How much does a starter replacement cost?
Owners reported a median of $788, and the middle half paid $493 to $1,000, from 194 owner reports on 60 models. Costs vary by shop and region.
Which cars need a starter replacement most?
The most owner reports come from the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, BMW X5. These are raw counts: popular models get more reports, so this isn't a failure rate.
Why do starter 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 180 complaints to NHTSA and 14 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.