The Lemon Index$1,600 middle bill · most between $870 and $3,100
84 owner reports on 36 models
Ford Focus, Audi A4, Audi A3
Owners reported paying a median of $1,600 for a TCM replacement, with the middle half of bills between $870 and $3,100. That's 84 owner reports on 36 models (83 complaints to NHTSA and 1 YouTube video). Costs vary by shop and region.
What owners paid
- Under $50012%
- $500–$1,00017%
- $1,000–$2,50037%
- $2,500–$5,00021%
- $5,000 and up13%
Share of the 84 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Focus | 16 | $1,400 | $730–$1,900 |
| Audi A4 | 7 | $3,000 | $2,500–$3,400 |
| Audi A3 | 6 | $3,500 | $2,600–$4,800 |
| Chevrolet Cobalt | 4 | too few for a range | |
| Volkswagen Jetta | 4 | too few for a range | |
| BMW 5 Series | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Chevrolet Silverado | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Jeep Cherokee | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Nissan Murano | 3 | too few for a range | |
Models with 3+ reports. A model gets its own page and a range at 5+ reports. 27 more models with 1–2 reports count in the totals above.
Engine codes that can lead here: P0700. A code is where a shop starts, not proof the part failed.
Related repairs
Transmission replacement $4,500 · Clutch replacement $1,800 · Differential repair $2,600 · CV axle replacement $1,000 · Torque converter replacement $2,500 · Transfer case replacement $3,000 · Valve body replacement $1,900 · Driveshaft replacement $1,200
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): 11756613, 11725168, 11723284, 11697432, 11662230, 11658591, 11649857, 11647261, 11615007, 11611057, 11543137, 11542326 and more.
Said out loud on YouTube: $1,800 ▶
Quick answers
How much does a TCM replacement cost?
Owners reported a median of $1,600, and the middle half paid $870 to $3,100, from 84 owner reports on 36 models. Costs vary by shop and region.
Which cars need a TCM replacement most?
The most owner reports come from the Ford Focus, Audi A4, Audi A3. These are raw counts: popular models get more reports, so this isn't a failure rate.
Why do TCM 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 83 complaints to NHTSA and 1 YouTube video: 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.