There is no component more complex and essential than a car’s transmission. Automatic transmissions are responsible for shifting gears without driver input to change gear ratios in an efficient manner as the vehicle moves forward, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually.
What Transmission Do I Have?
Transmissions are needed because internal combustion engines always output the greatest amount of power at a high rotational speed. At this high rotational speed, it is impossible for this high power to be driven to the wheels to be used for acceleration, low speeds or starting.
Using gear ratios, an automatic transmission reduces the engine’s rotational speed and increases the torque (or “power” to the wheels) in the process, using a torque converter as a fluid coupler.
In This Guide
- Average Cost
- Factors That Affect the Cost
- Symptoms of a Problem
- Rebuild Process
- Check the Warranty
- Finding the Right Repair Shop
- Other Helpful Resources
Vehicles are usually described as 5 or 6 “speed” meaning then have that many gear ratios to allow the vehicle to travel at the full range of speeds required and to make use of the engine’s output power as efficiently as possible.
Due to their complexity, constant use and function within a vehicle’s operation, transmissions experience a lot of wear and tear. Add to this the fact that many owner’s forget to check and change the fluid on a regular basis and it’s easy to understand why so many people have transmission problems.
Average Cost of Rebuild, Repair, and Replace:
Transmission replacement is one of the most expensive jobs done by any mechanic. According to Transmission Repair Cost Guide readers, the average cost of transmission replacement ranges from $1800 to $3400.
A used/salvage transmission ranges from $800 to $1500, a rebuilt transmission from $1100 to $2800 and a remanufactured from $1300 to $3400.
The labor to remove and replace a transmission ranges from $500 to $1200 for 4 to 10 hours of billed time.
Differences between rebuilt vs remanufactured? Check out our complete guide.
Rebuilds can cost just as much as a replacement depending on the extent of the damage. The upper end of the range is typically for the replacement of a high end vehicle’s transmission or a complete rebuild after a major mechanical failure.
Basic repair jobs are on the lower side, from $300 to $1400. For example, fixing a manual transmission often only requires a new clutch, a $800 to $1500 job.
Ways To Save Money
-Buying a remanufactured transmission yourself and only pay a local repair shop for the labor to install it (instead of paying the markup on a unit they buy). Use the guide below.
Visit our current transmission costs page to see what people like you have paid or been quoted recently to have their transmission replaced.
What Transmission Do I Have?
Reman Transmission Pricing – Links to Supplier Transmission Prices
| Transmission | Street Smart Transmission |
|---|---|
| 4L60E / 4L65E | 2100 |
| 4L80E | 2256 |
| 4T45E / 4T40E | 1935 |
| 4T65E | 1935 |
| 5L40E (Exc. BMW) | 2453 |
| 6T40 / 6T45 | 2432 |
| 6T75E / 6T70 | 2432 |
| 6L80 / 6L90 | 2559 |
| Allison 1000 | 2478 |
| 4R75E/W 4R70W | 2025 |
| 4R100 / E4OD | 2226 |
| 4F27E | 1856 |
| 5R55S/N/W/E | 2203 |
| 5R110W | 2432 |
| AX4N / AX4S | 2037 |
| CD4E | 1947 |
| FNR5 / AWTF-80 | 2148 |
| 6F50 / 6F35 | 2480 |
| 6R60 | 2559 |
| 6R80 | 2559 |
| AWF21 | 2233 |
| 6R140 | 3864 |
| 41TE (A604) | 1905 |
| 46RE (A518) | 2053 |
| 47RE (A618) | 2204 |
| 48RE | 2712 |
| 42RLE | 2152 |
| 545RFE | 2348 |
| 62TE | 2409 |
| 65RFE | 2478 |
| 68RFE | 3543 |
| W5A580 / NAG1 | 2589 |
| Nissan RE5R05A | 2583 |
| Nissan CVT | Call |
| 722.6 | Call |
This table above shows how much reputable suppliers typically charge for a remanufactured transmission, with direct links to the supplier’s website for that model transmission.
More Information by Transmission Type
Factors that Affect the Cost
The cost of transmission repair varies widely based on a number of factors, the most important of which is the type and extent of the repairs being performed by the mechanic.
If the transmission needs to be completely replaced or rebuilt, drivers can expect to pay several thousand dollars for parts and skilled labor, while a few minor repairs and a fluid change will only be a couple hundred dollars.
Make
It also depends on the make of the vehicle, with US domestic models such as GM, Ford, Chrysler generally cost less than imported vehicles such as BMW, Mercedes and Volkswagen.
Extent of the Damage
What the car has been through can also affect the price as newer cars that have been well maintained will cost less than those that have been through tough times.
Old vs New
Considerably older or rarer cars are harder to find parts for, which also increases the cost.
Manual vs Automatic
Manual transmissions generally cost less to repair/replace than automatic transmissions.
Shop
Some shops charge higher prices than others for the same work (due to brand, location, reputation, etc.)
Your Location
Finally, the driver’s location will contribute a great deal to the overall cost of the procedure. Areas with higher costs of living, higher demand of services and/or lower availability of skilled technicians will charge higher hourly labor costs, escalating the overall price.
On average, a remanufactured transmission will cost between $1,300 and $3,400, depending on the make and model of your vehicle. The cost of labor to install it is in addition to the price of the unit and will typically run between $500 and $1200.
It is usually more expensive to replace your transmission with a remanufactured transmission than to have your transmission rebuilt at a transmission shop. However, if there is significant internal damage, the additional components (hard parts) required to get it back on the road can cause the final price of a transmission rebuild to be higher than a remanufactured transmission.
Here are the other differences between rebuilt vs. remanufactured transmissions.
As mentioned previously, when deciding whether to rebuild or replace a transmission it is important to know that either option can be more cost effective, depending on how complex and extensive the issues are (it can take a long time to troubleshoot and repair some problems, in which case a replacement would save you money).
Making this decision is difficult for the average consumer, which is why it’s so important to find a trustworthy mechanic.
Symptoms of a Problem
There are a number of symptoms of a damaged or worn out transmission to watch for, some of which are listed below.
Many problems can be solved/avoided by regularly changing a car’s transmission fluid or getting the transmission flushed on a regular basis as recommended by the owner’s manual (recommendations are typically between every 30-50,000 miles).
A single mechanical failure can cause the car’s engine to shut down and disable it entirely, so it is important to watch for these signs and get your car inspected at the first sign of trouble.
- Transmission is slipping between gears while driving or popping back to neutral
- Unusual grinding/clunking/humming noises – especially when in neutral
- Fluid smells like it is burned
- Clutch is dragging – clutch stays engaged and causes grinding noises when trying to shift
- Grinding or thumping when gear changes instead of smooth transitions
- Lag/delay between gear changes and/or higher than normal RPMs for a given speed or gear change
In the event that a transmission does begin to fail in some way (or fails completely), mechanics will often recommend a replacement, a rebuilding process, or other smaller repairs to ensure that the car will function properly and reliably. Each type of repair has different procedures and costs associated with it.
Has your transmission completely failed? Here are your 8 options to repair, replace, junk it, etc.
A full transmission replacement is one of the most expensive procedures a mechanic can perform on a vehicle. The cost of the other option – getting a transmission rebuilt – can be significantly less if the problem(s) can be fixed by simple procedures that deal with easy-to-replace parts.
However, it can also cost just as much or more than replacement in cases when there are major issues that need to be addressed. It all depends on how comprehensive the repairs are: from installing a few new parts to a complete overhaul.
Rebuilding involves removing the transmission, opening the case, inspecting and cleaning all the components and replacing the “soft” parts that are damaged or worn out. Some of these parts include seals, O-rings, bands, gaskets, valves, clutch components and filters.
Drums, shafts, pumps, converters, the casing and gears are referred to as the “hard parts” and rarely break because they are much more durable and rarely break. This process takes no more than 2-3 days in most cases.
If problems are caught early on, minor repairs are far more budget-friendly as they do not require complete removal/disassembling or replacement of “hard” parts, though the costs vary depending on the make and model of the vehicle and several other factors discussed below.
When it’s time to get a car’s transmission fixed, there are a few things to keep in mind in order to ensure high value, great work, and long-lasting results.
The Process: How a Transmission is Rebuilt
The process of rebuilding a transmission is rather lengthy and labor-intensive. Mechanics must disassemble the transmission to look for problems and replace the parts that are causing it to not function properly. Through this process, the part(s) causing the mechanical failure are eventually found and replaced instead of having to install a brand new transmission.
Generally speaking, there are three different aspects that must be checked before any transmission rebuild or replacement:
1) Changing the Fluid
The first is probably the easiest, and definitely the most affordable: changing the transmission fluid.
The cause of many problems is low or dirty transmission fluid, which can also cause the vehicle’s fuel economy decrease. This causes shifting to become noticeably “stickier” and, in some cases, the car will change gears and stay stuck in neutral. This “fix” often costs less than $100, though many vehicle owners find that they can do it themselves.
2) Checking for Trouble Codes
Next, the mechanic checks the vehicle’s computer system that controls automatic shifting (for automatics). Transmission slipping and hard shifts can actually be caused by the computer if it is not reading the RPM correctly. Sensors can be easily replaced without disassembling a transmission, so this is the second easiest (and cheapest) repair that can fix the problem(s).
3) Test Drive & Inspection
After a number of diagnostic tests including test driving the vehicle and a comprehensive inspection, the technician will remove the transmission from the vehicle and disassemble it.
Each part is inspected, cleaned and replaced if necessary (especially if it is outdated). Parts such as seals and gaskets are replaced anyway. The electrical system is tested and any required repairs are made.
If the problem was found and none of the “hard” components require attention, the unit is assembled and reinstalled into the engine. After another test drive to ensure everything is working properly, the car is returned to its owner.
Check if the Warranty is Still Valid
This might seem obvious to some, but if your vehicle is still relatively new/low mileage you should call the dealership or check the owner’s manual to see if your transmission’s problem is still covered by your powertrain warranty before calling a mechanic.
A typical powertrain warranty is for 5 years or 50K miles (whichever comes first), but they vary widely depending on the manufacturer and can range anywhere from 4-10 years and 50,000-100,000 miles. The following components are typically covered: transmission case and all internal parts, torque converter, converter housing, automatic control module, transfer case and all internal parts, seals, gaskets.
A warranty will cover the cost of repairs (parts and labor) if the damage was caused by poor workmanship or a manufacturer defect. However, if the vehicle’s maintenance schedule was not followed then the warranty might be void and not be honored.
Parts that experience significant wear-and-tear and are expected to be replaced at regular intervals such as CV joints and boots and clutches are excluded from most warranties. Certain components may or may not be covered depending upon the manufacturer of your vehicle. Refer to your owner’s manual for a complete list of what is and is not covered.
Find the Right Repair Shop
Due to their complexity and how difficult they are to service, choosing the right mechanic to handle your transmission can make the difference between a long-lasting repair and one of questionable quality.
As with any car maintenance, it’s best to get a quote from a certified technician or repair center before making an assumptions. In fact, it’s generally a good idea to gather multiple quotes and compare prices in order to make a sound decision based on quality and value.
Do some research both online and locally and to find highly rated shops that have solid reputations with online reviews and your local BBB.
The cheapest service is not always the best option as some repair shops offer unrealistically low prices in order to get you into their shop so they can add hidden/additional fees onto the final price.
Consider getting friends or family to recommend a mechanic who repaired a transmission for them and did quality work.
In fact, a warranty should be the number one thing that drivers look for when choosing a repair shop.
Looking for a shop? Try our shop finder. We typically recommend shops that are willing to install transmissions on behalf of customers.
Due to the wide range and severity of problems that can occur and the variance of costs involved, it is advised to get mechanics to explain exactly what is wrong with your transmission and what has to be done to fix it. They should also be able to give you a clear estimate as to what the price will be once they have done basic diagnostic tests.
Finally, drivers should pay attention to the appearance of the repair shop itself. Good repair shops are clean, inviting, and customer-centered. Less attractive options are dirty, poorly operated, and not as focused on the customers they’re supposed to be serving.
With careful attention to certifications, warranties, and shop conditions, it’s easy to find a low-cost, high-value transmission repair shop that can get the job done right.
More Information by Make & Model
What to Read Next
- 10 Most Common Transmission Problems
- 8 Options to Consider if Your Transmission Has Failed
- How to Change Your Transmission Fluid
- Is Your Car Stuck in One Gear or Speed is Limited? It Might Be in Limp Mode.
- Torque Converter Problems & Symptoms to Watch for
Find a Shop
A good repair shop is hard to find. We can help. Click Find a Shop and we’ll give you a step by step guide on how to find a great repair shop.
What Transmission Do I Have?
Have a Question or Experience?
Had a repair, replacement or rebuild done in the past? Have a quote on a job and not sure if it’s too high? Have a question about a particular situation with your transmission? Post your comments below.
I drive a Nissan Sunny 1.6. It’s a 10 year old car. Of late when I drive the car makes a lot of noise when passing through bumpy road. Could it be the suspension has worm out?
Accord 2.4 iVtect. year 2013 Thailand
Its crank crunk SOUND while moving position from P to R after park on slope even nose UP or Down, that unsatisfied sound hit the whole car vibrated.
Told them several Honda car services but not reasonable explanation accept,just said its normal for this type/ model accord 2.4 iVtect .
I observed that it is abnormal designed HONDA must return all them to modification before heavy damage for own car or beyond warranty ( not more than 100,000 km. ).
Anyone got this problem like this please advice.
Thanks’
Sudha Tonggamnerd
Also is there anything the transmission mechanics could of done differently so that I would not have had 3 seperate occasions/charges from the start? They did not find water in the transmission until the second visit.
Hi Im a young female from New Zealand, that now owns a 99 Audi A6 4.2 Quattro Saloon. Unfortunately without knowledge of the vehicle I’ve since paid torque converter replacement,parts & labour ($2800) cooler+valve body ($2000) and now 2 months later I have no reverse gear . I have been quoted $3500 but Mechanic says I could possibly have the labour covered under warranty. The worse thing is they have never been upfront with me about the work that needs doing beforehand. My question is have I’ve been overcharged on previous work & also how many hours labour is involved in replacing drum & broken piston so that I may know if I’m being charged the labour fairly.? I hope I’ve made sense
My boyfriend works on cars and can remove/install transmissions and motors along with just about anything else. He also works for a very good garage. He got an offer for some side work and since the people had the new transmission already he wants to charge only $450 to do it for them. He was told that that was to much and they new someone who would do it for $100. Which they are having problems with the transmission that that same guy installed in their Jeep. Matt, my boyfriend told them that was very cheap and their shop wouldnt do it for less than $1000 for the install/remove. People dont realize what it takes to #1 work on foriegn cars and #2 what it actually takes to do this on the ground without lifts. Anyone else who works on cars feel the same. Also in his experience, the person who bought the transmission and wanting the work done, usually doesnt get the right transmission so thats more work for him to find them the right one. He rebuilt my dads 78 Chevy motor and it took him forever to get the right parts in that my dad got on his own and they didnt go with the motor he had in the truck. Matt charged my dad $500 and my dad gave him an extra $100 for doing a great job. That is freaking cheap. Matt is not out to rip people off he works to help people and make some money. I just wish people would realize that mechanics work hard and have to deal with people that are always out looking for the cheapest even when it is the cheapest! Just goes to show you get what you pay for when you try to go to cheap and get over on the mechanics too.
I just got my car back after having the automatic transmission rebuilt, it is a 2002 Honda Accord SE.
the cost was $1090. labor and $1673.66 parts. shortly after I left the shop the check engine light went on again so I went back and he said not to worry about it??? Also I was charged 2 times for a COUNTERSHAFT 2nd GEAR, and he told me that there are two, one on each side of the inside of the transmission (WHAT?) Is that true? Because it was $108.75.
I am very nervous about this shop I have a BAD gut feeling mostly because he wanted me to pay cash and was clearly upset when I used my bank card. HELP!
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Hi, I own a Chevy Uplander 2007 with 117,000 km. I’m in Hamilton, Ontario. There is a shop here quoted me a rebuild transmission for $4100 (incl. tax and labor). Is that too much? Any suggestion will be appreciated.
I have a 2004 Ford Expedition. In March 2015, the transmission was going, it only had 2nd, 4th and reverse. I took it to a local shop and he rebuilt it for $1,500. 8 months later, I was backing up and I heard and felt grinding in transmission and it totally seized up. I called the shop that fixed it in March and then had it towed there. The owner told me he would take care of it. He had the vehicle for 4 weeks, and I called him about 20 times and he kept saying he would be getting to it. He finally finished it, I went by to pick it up, his employee asked me if there was any charge because the owner wasn’t there, and I told him I didn’t know but that his boss said he would take care of it so I assumed there was not. I also assumed it took him 4 weeks because he was putting paying customers in front of me.
A day later the owner called me saying that there was a charge, it was $450 for the gears. He said that when they repaired the transmission in March, they fixed something else, and that this time it was a different problem. He said he would not charge me for labor, just the cost of the gears.
During the 4 weeks that he had my vehicle and the numerous phone calls, he never told me what the problem was, and how much it would cost to fix it. I will go over and pay him the money, but I would like to get your opinion on this situation. Do gears for my vehicle cost $450?
Have a 2002 Toyota Camry and have been told the transmission is shot. Car otherwise is in good condition. Is it worth it to fix as it is only worth $4-5000. Still owe $3000.
I have a 1989 Ford Bronco 2 2 wheel drive [my pet] . The automatic trans was rebuilt in 2005 and has less than 10K miles since then . Sometimes not driven for months . Recently when starting cold it will not shift out of first gear for about 4 miles of driving [until it warms up] then everything shifts perfect . I found that if I move shift lever into 2nd it will then go into 2nd but still not shift into higher gears until warmed up . I took it to trans shop for filter and fluid change and was told that metal in pan and torque convert bad $2500 for repair . This does not make sense to me as if torque convert bad would it not be worse when warmed up and fluid hot and thin ? I have no problem spending $$ on this vehicle but want to know if I am being ripped off .
So my car wouldn’t change into gears and i knew it had to be the transmission, so i took it to a local auto shop to change the transmission. They said that it would cost me $2500 for the transmission so i pay it in all and towed my car in. After 3 weeks or so they called me and said that it wasn’t the transmission they said that it was the ECU and i had to take to a dealership to refresh it because they didn’t have the equipment to refresh it. And said that i have to pay the labor too in order for me to take the the car to Kendall so i did and costed $1000 or so, so in total it costed me $3500 and up already.
But the time when i took my car in it wouldn’t moved, but after they change it. The car would go only in 1 gear with the new transmission. I didn’t have any income so i drove it to the Kendal dealership instead of towing ir to refresh the ECU. After 2 week they called me that the transmission is not working properly. It costed me $98 for the refreshing. So im confused because its a new transmission. Then i took it back to the local auto part to fix it but they wouldn’t because they said that when i drove it i broke it and the warranty was off when i drove it to Kendall. So i dont what i should do. I got all the receipt for changing the transmission and when at Kendall. So help me out.
I have a 2010 Nissan Murano that had 142,000 miles on it when the transmission began giving me problems. It would not be drivable but after sitting for a short period of time would again become drivable. Took it to the Nissan dealership. They said I needed a new transmission or as an alternative they could replace the transmission fluid and see if that would correct the problem. Now after another 5,000 miles and less than one month later, the car again will not move forward or back. Service engine soon light is on this time. A call to the dealership confirmed that it will need the new transmission that is not really “new.”
The price for this is $3899. They said the Nissan Warranty on this new transmission is only good for 12 months or 12,000. miles. This means in 2.5 months I could possibly need another “remanufactured” transmission. What do you suggest?? Thank you.
I have a 2004 Jetta Turbo 1.8L, 2 months after getting my car I found out it needed a new transmission (because it was pulsing while I was driving and would shift into N while driving on the freeway) The shop I took it too said it would take 3 days tops (and $3,300) because I have a very expensive transmission. He then calls me and says they are going to rebuild it instead because they can’t find a tranny that looks just like mine so they didn’t want to risk it. It’s been almost 2 weeks now and today they called me with another stalling excuse saying they rebuilt the tranny and put it in and it still drove bad they are going to have to replace some kind of valve that went bad with the transmission. I am so upset its over 2 weeks now and I still have no car. Is this something that sounds right or a stalling tactic?
I bought a used 07 Impala LS 93k miles on it as basically my work car paid a little more then i should but i needed a car bad at the time. Have a year into her about 130k miles on her my transmission went on me, i only had reverse no normal drive and little to no power in any other gear. I got a quote from the repair shop/dealership i normally go to which is parks chevrolet in charlotte NC they told me $3,300 for a brand new tranny. As i was getting the money up to make the repairs a friend of mines talked me into going with a smaller shop and getting my transmission rebuilt instead of getting a brand new one. I went with Larry’s transmission he charged me $1,800 plus i got a few other repairs done. I still paid around $3,000 but i got 4 repairs for the price of one. Hopefully she last me another year and half give me time to get my money up for a brand new car..
I have 2001 Rav 4 Toyota. A transmission was installed to repair. Mechanic stated needed a pressure pump due to transmission fluid isn’t going through, also needed a c converter replacement. Charges are 2575.00. Is this charges are reasonable. Elk grove village, illinois
I have a 2006 Acura MDX with 121,000 miles on it. It has been serviced regularly. I recently noticed a small/slight whining sound as I accelerated onto freeway traffic. Took it in to dealer for regular servicing and asked them to check on the whine. I’m told I need a new transmission (dealer’s cost $5200), but they couldn’t/wouldn’t say how soon it must be done. I have not experienced any of the shift/RPM/etc. problems listed by others (yet). I have a couple of road trips planned this summer and am concerned about getting stuck in the middle of nowhere, yet a small whine seems negligible at this point and not worth a complete replacement right away (even if I can find someone to do the work at a lesser price). Is this foolish? Should I focus on getting the replacement done a.s.a.p.? Or can I wait until other problems start showing up? Any help/advice welcome. Thanks.
I have a 2005 Chrysler 300 Touring AWD but it does not go above 20-30 mph. It sometimes won’t move front or backward (if in reverse). I have to turn it off and restart every time to get it to move. I plan on getting the car to the shop for transmission diagnostics. Any recommendations or thoughts? Should I be expecting a full replacement/expensive rebuilt OR is this a known issue with this model?
I’d appreciate any help..
Hey Kam. It sounds like it’s in limp mode, which can be caused by a number of different problems. It’s impossible to say before the results of the diagnostics. Check out this page about limp mode.
Thanks for the information, really appreciate it.
I have a 2010 Chevy Equinox that has 103000 miles on it. The other day I noticed it was over revving without accelerating. Called my dealership to make an appointment but needless today it didn’t make it that far. Died in a parking lot. Couldn’t get it to move in reverse. Had it towed to a dealership where before they looked at it quoted 5-6000 to fix it. That seems a bit outlandish after reading everything here. Wonder if they are just preying on a young woman?
I have a 2003 Acura TL base with 144k miles. I got an engine light on a couple of week s ago and on researching the code I got P1730,P1705,P1700.
2 local shops gave me a price of 3000 with an year warranty and a work of 5-10 days.
AAMCO gave me 2500-2700 for 4 days and year warranty for rebuild.
Wholesale Transmission in NJ gave 1600-1800 for 3 days repair. It has a ATRA membership.
All said I need to rebuild transmission and change oxygen sensor. I am confused about the last shop pricing. Where should I repair and which of these sound reasonable as all said we have open it and see for the final quote of repair. The local dealer is where I usually do my repairs.
I have a 2005 BMW 530i & the transmission fault indicator came on the other night driving home. I didn’t notice it until afterwards but I did find some fluid on the garage floor so it was leaking some fluid. I have almost 250k miles on the car so probably not worth repairing as I have only got 1 quote for approx. $4,500. Was hoping to keep it or just running around town as a 2nd car. Just looking for some opinions from those that know more than me as my first thought is to sell as mechanics special or possibly donate to a charity. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks
Great website. Wish I found it before I spent $3500 for the transmission on my 2002 TBird with 97000 miles on it. I really wasn’t sure if it was the transmission or just the coils as it would hesitate a lot when shifting gears. As soon as I left the shop, it idled roughly at the red light. Called right away — taking it back. Is there anyway to really tell if it’s the transmission? I trusted this shop as they always were fair and seemingly honest but I live in south Florida so that says a lot.