Toronto, Ontario — Despite rising labour costs, U.S. car repair costs fell three percent in 2024, a new study has found.
According to CarMD’s newly released 2025 Vehicle Health Index, which was based on information from 31 million auto repair procedures, the declines came in spite of increases in labour costs which rose 1.4 percent.
The increases were offset by a five percent drop in parts prices.
CarMD found that the most common—and costliest—repair in 2024 was replacing the catalytic converter, averaging US$1,348. This is most often seen in older or poorly maintained vehicles, reflecting the current trend of drivers holding onto their cars longer.
“Catalytic converters typically don’t fail in newer vehicles unless underlying issues like faulty spark plugs or oxygen sensors are ignored,” said David Rich, CarMD’s technical vice-president. “With many drivers keeping their vehicles longer, we’re seeing more wear and tear on these components.”
“With tariffs looming, we urge drivers to stay on top of regular maintenance,” Rich added. “It’s one of the best ways to prevent small issues from snowballing into major repairs.”
According to CarMD, the ten most common check engine light-related repairs in 2024 included:
Replace catalytic converters: US$1,348
Replace oxygen sensors: US$254
Replace ignition coils and spark plugs: US$400
Replace mass air flow sensor: US$323
Replace EVAP canister purge control valve: US$144
Replace ignition coils: US$218
Tighten or replace fuel cap: free to tighten; US$28
Replace fuel injectors: US$464
Replace thermostat: US$254
Reprogram powertrain control module: US$108
