How Much Does Transmission Repair Cost?

March 16, 2015

Transmission Repair Cost

The cost to fix a transmission varies significantly by the type of transmission and what needs to be fixed. The average transmission repair costs $1500 to $5000 in 2020 for most domestic vehicle makes and models in the United States. Major transmission repairs can easily cost $1000 to $2000 in labor alone and may take as little as a few days or up to a month to complete if you’re waiting on parts to arrive.

It’s possible the culprit could be a simple leak caused by a cracked fluid line. That’s cheap to fix. On the other hand, it could mean replacing a bad solenoid or installing a brand new replacement, and both can be quite expensive. You may even consider opting for a more affordable transmission rebuild if that’s the case. Let’s break down repair cost by component, type, and scenario.

What Factors Affect the turnaround time to Repair a Transmission?

The labor involved in repairing an automobile’s transmission is a big cost factor, and in some cases may account for more than half the total cost. Manage your expectations regarding the turnaround time for your mechanic to complete repairs. It can take extra time when you’re waiting on parts to get delivered, especially from overseas. Transmission parts cost more for CVT transmissions, and also for luxury brands, commercial vehicles, heavy-duty trucks, and import transmissions. Part availability can be cumbersome; some parts take longer to ship.

Skip to Specific Repair Pricing Below

How Much Does Transmission Leak Repair Cost?

The average cost to fix a transmission leak is $200 but pricing varies based on the underlying cause of the leak. Common leak causes include cracked fluid lines, a bad pan gasket, leaky seals, a damaged drain plug, broken torque converter pump, or faulty transmission pan. Keeping up with factory-recommended maintenance can help reduce or eliminate the likelihood of a leaky transmission.

How Much Does it Cost to Rebuild Your Transmission?

If rebuilding your transmission is an option, pricing will likely be in the $1500 to $3000+ range.

What Does a New Transmission Cost?

If rebuilding your transmission is an option, pricing will likely be in the $1500 to $3000+ range. The cost to install a new transmission can easily increase to $7,000 or more for luxury import SUVs like the Volvo XC90, Audi Q7, or Porsche Cayenne .

What is the Average Price of a Transmission Fluid Flush?

A transmission fluid flush costs about $200 but varies depending on what type of fluid your vehicle requires and its make and model. If your transmission is slipping you should get a single or double transmission flush to see if this is the cause (and likely most affordable option).

How Much Does CVT Transmission Repair Cost?

The average cost to repair a CVT transmission ranges between $3500 and $8000. The price varies by the make and model of the vehicle; Nissan and Honda CVTs tend to be on the lower-priced end while Subaru’s CVTs are toward the higher end. It is more expensive to fix a CVT vs. a traditional automatic transmission because they tend to fail catastrophically. If rebuilding the CVT is not an option it has to be replaced with a brand new machine.

What is the Cost to Fix a Transmission Solenoid?

Transmission solenoid replacement will set you back about $500 but typically costs more if the solenoid is inside the transmission or in import vehicles like Volvo, Land Rover, BMW, Mercedes, and Audi.

Average Cost to Repair Transmission Linkage?

If your transmission linkage is not malfunctioning but is loose, your mechanic can run a diagnostic scan and tighten it up for about $150. If you need to replace your transmission linkage it will set you back at least $250 with parts and labor.

How Much Does Reverse Gear Repair Cost?

The cost to repair a reverse gear problem varies depending on what is causing the gear failure. If an externally mounted control module solenoid is the culprit you are in luck because it should only cost about $300 to fix. If the cause is an internal component like a bad transmission torque converter you can expect to pay substantially more, between $650 and $1050 including parts and labor. If your check engine light is on and the code starts with the letter P, bring your vehicle down to one of our shops for a free transmission error code read and diagnostic.

Whether it’s a sports car or heavy-duty truck, the transmission is one of the most important machines in your vehicle. In addition to its status as one of the most important parts of your car, transmission repair cost also tends to be more expensive than most other repairs.

If you’re watching your budget like most people, it’s helpful to know ahead of time what sort of costs you could be looking at with various types of manual and automatic transmission repair. Realistically, you could see costs that run anywhere from a few hundred dollars for a quick fluid replacement to several thousand dollars for a full rebuild or transmission replacement.

Does Transmission Repair Cost Include Labor & Materials?

The cost to fix your vehicle’s transmission will cost anywhere from a thousand to two thousand more when labor costs are factored into the overall price, and the cost is not always included in the initial quote. Make sure you ask for a detailed breakdown when you get a price quote. Even if you are able to score a used transmission from a salvage yard for a few thousand dollars instead of having labor-intensive repairs the labor to swap the tranny is intense. Some automotive transmission repair jobs might sound simple but may actually require a lot of time and labor because they require removing the transmission from the vehicle to fix it. The transmission is also connected to other machinery in the car that has to be carefully detached re-secured after it’s fixed.

Cost Difference to Fix Domestic vs. Foreign Transmission?

Vehicles like BMWs usually cost more to repair because they’re considered an imported vehicle. You might see higher repair costs with imports like Mercedes, Volvo, Land Rover, Tesla, and Volkswagen while repairing a Ford or Buick might cost less because of their domestic status.

Interestingly, many vehicles that you might think are completely foreign are assembled in the United States. However, most parts of those vehicles are manufactured overseas. For example, Honda and Toyota have assembly plants across the Midwest, but they manufacture most of their parts in Southeast Asia.

A foreign car doesn’t automatically mean you should expect to pay more for your transmission repair, but it’s something you’ll want to be aware of when you come in for servicing.

Transmission Warning Signs to Watch out For

My Check Engine Light is On, What Should I Do?

Common Signs of a Bad Transmission Control Module

Get Your State Inspection Sticker

Do Classic and Rare Cars Cost More?

One of the ways your mechanic may fix your broken transmission is by searching salvage yards for junked vehicles that still have viable parts on them. For example, a vehicle that was rear-ended and totaled by an insurance company because of frame damage could still have a viable transmission.

If your car is less than a decade old, there’s a good chance you could find a working used transmission at a salvage yard. Sometimes it can cost less to replace a transmission with a used machine rather than undergoing a transmission rebuild on your current one. However, if you’re driving a car that’s close to classic status, it would probably be a little more difficult to find a serviceable transmission at a salvage yard.

In such cases, you could be looking at a more expensive rebuild or the outright purchase of a new transmission, which would probably push your cost to anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000. If you drive a rare or expensive car, there’s a good chance your transmission repair will be higher than if you drove a common vehicle like an F-150 or an Accord.

Manual vs. Automatic Repair Cost

Did You Know? It usually costs less for manual transmission repair and replacement than it does to replace or repair an automatic transmission.

What’s Considered a Minor Transmission Fix?

Hearing that you need an entirely new transmission is one of the worst calls you can get from your mechanic. Sometimes it might seem like there’s a huge problem, but it turns out to be something minor like a damaged seal or broken fluid line.

Some of the parts inside the transmission that may fail over time include:

Bands
Filters
Gaskets
O-rings
Valves

In addition, a problem with the clutch could also require a transmission service. Remember that an automatic transmission has a clutch that might require repairs just like a manual transmission clutch might.

The cost to replace the clutch in a manual transmission is significantly lower costing $1200 to $1500 on average for most private vehicles.

Bear in mind that fixing some of these issues requires the labor of taking the transmission apart and removing it from the vehicle, so you’re also looking at labor charges and time for the repair, even if it’s just a busted seal.

Other pieces of your transmission that could break, but which are a rare occurrence include:

Converters
Drums
Pumps
Shafts

Transmission Repair vs. Rebuild vs. Replacement

If you bring your vehicle in and your mechanic tells you the vehicle needs a completely new transmission installed, you should know that you have a few options at varying price points. If you look in the right places, you’ll find some actually come with a warranty. Ask your mechanic for four separate quotes.

to rebuild your existing machinery,
install a third party rebuild,
repair by replacing with a good condition junkyard pull
install a new transmission with a factory warranty

Rebuilding an automatic transmission typically costs between $1,500 and $2,000.If your transmission still has good “bones”, rebuilding it could be a viable option to save money. You should also consider getting a used transmission pulled from a junkyard or having your mechanic install a rebuilt transmission from a reputable third party.

Budget-Friendly Transmission Fixes

Another reason you may decide to replace the transmission is that the auto transmission repair would cost just as much as getting a used replacement. If the difference in price between a repair and a replacement is just a few hundred dollars, you may want to consider the replacement.

Even though you might spend a little more for a replacement, you’ll be getting a transmission that’s in better condition and should cause fewer problems down the road. In some cases, transmission replacement might even save you money.

When is a Replacement Appropriate?

If you need a new transmission, your mechanic might suggest replacing it with a new machine if it costs less (less time spent on labor) than rebuilding one. It wouldn’t make sense to patch a broken machine if the cost to install a new or rebuild transmission is cheaper. This is especially true if the problem can’t be fixed by disassembling and replacing one or two components. If you have a classic car, collector car, or offroad vehicle, you should probably invest in a new transmission matching the other vehicle components’ level of quality.

How is a Transmission Rebuilt?

The process your transmission expert will take on a transmission rebuild is to disassemble the entire machine and inspect each piece to check it for problems. Parts that are worn out are replaced, and then the transmission is reassembled. Sometimes, this route is less expensive than a full transmission replacement because it’s only a few components that need replacement rather than the entire machine.

Don’t Forget: If your car is only a few years old, or you’ve recently had your transmission replaced, the transmission could still be under warranty. Check your vehicle’s warranty for details or speak with your auto dealer first.

When is the best time to get auto transmission repair?

Before the problem gets so bad that you need to get your transmission replaced! Follow the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule so that minor repairs do not snowball.

Get Your Free Price Quote

The difference between an early repair and a late replacement is thousands of dollars. If you suspect a problem with your vehicle or it is due for maintenance, make an appointment for transmission service diagnostic and a free quote as soon as possible with My Transmission Experts. We have automotive shops across the greater Houston area including one in Northwest Houston on Jones Rd; another on Hwy 6 North on the west side; Katy, Texas on Mason Rd on the Northwest Corner of Kingsland Boulevard; our Porter shop in Kingwood, Texas; and our newest auto shop in Montgomery, Texas near Conroe.

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