Repair costs

Track rod end replacement garage rates and how often MOTs call for it

What UK garages charge per hour, from ONS price quotes, and how often MOT tests fail on the items this repair fixes, from 130,233,413 DVSA MOT tests (2022 to 2025).

Prices updated 22 September 2026. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.

Garage labour rates

No public source records the price of this whole job, and the time it takes varies from car to car, so we do not publish a single figure. Garages charge by the hour, so ask for a quote that lists labour time and parts. The rates below are what UK garages charge per hour.

Local garage labour, per hour (65 shops)£78

Local garage, middle half£70 to £96

Main dealer labour, per hour (62 shops)£156

Main dealer, middle half£144 to £174

Median hourly rate charged for car repairs, from 1,058 local garage and 953 main dealer price quotes collected by the ONS, September 2025 to August 2026. The same shops are priced each month, so the number of shops is the real sample.

MOT defects this repair fixes

Track rod end ball joint has excessive play1.05 per 100
Track rod end ball joint has slight play1.00 per 100
Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt0.27 per 100

Records per 100 MOT tests at all ages (n=130,233,413 tests).

How often by age

All cars: 1.33 fail items per 100 MOTs that this repair fixes (n=130,233,413 tests), highest at 20 years with 2.54 per 100 (n=1,845,952). A test with two such items counts twice.

Fail items fixed by track rod end replacement, per 100 MOT tests of cars at each age.
Age	Per 100 MOTs	Tests (n)
3 years	0.051	8,016,463
4 years	0.10	8,699,937
5 years	0.23	9,425,360
6 years	0.41	10,382,720
7 years	0.62	10,537,318
8 years	0.95	10,440,457
9 years	1.41	9,949,012
10 years	1.72	9,049,507
11 years	1.96	8,087,514
12 years	2.12	7,303,151
13 years	2.18	6,612,160
14 years	2.25	6,054,526
15 years	2.27	5,591,675
16 years	2.27	4,858,625
17 years	2.34	4,040,458
18 years	2.47	3,261,622
19 years	2.52	2,479,858
20 years	2.54	1,845,952
21 years	2.41	1,321,417
22 years	2.15	913,980
23 years	1.88	619,531
24 years	1.56	428,815
25 years	1.46	313,355

Models that fail on these items more often

At least 1.3 times the rate of cars of the same ages and fuel, over ages with at least 1,000 tests each and 20,000 in total. Each generation of a model is compared on its own. 53 of these have their own page.

Model	Times as often	Tests (n)
SEAT Arona	at least 9.1	173,475
Renault Trafic	at least 6.0	428,817
Vauxhall Vivaro	at least 5.8	739,286
Fiat 500X	at least 5.6	139,151
Jeep Renegade	at least 5.5	110,103
Mercedes-Benz Citan	at least 4.8	80,122
Land Rover Range Rover Velar	at least 4.7	125,495
Kia Venga	at least 4.4	190,286
Vauxhall Adam	at least 4.1	237,726
Kia Soul	at least 4.1	97,370
Jaguar F-Pace	at least 4.1	202,046
Nissan Juke	at least 4.1	1,225,209
Nissan Qashqai	at least 4.1	2,264,112
Hyundai ix20	at least 3.9	116,300
Nissan Primastar	at least 3.7	36,364
Chevrolet Aveo	at least 3.6	36,812
Renault Megane	at least 3.6	441,407
Renault Grand Scenic	at least 3.4	98,535
Renault Kangoo	at least 3.3	229,058
Mitsubishi Outlander	at least 3.2	305,188
DS DS3	at least 3.0	425,461
Nissan Pulsar	at least 3.0	84,984
Renault Clio	at least 2.9	1,326,120
Hyundai i30	at least 2.9	422,957
Renault Modus	at least 2.8	51,726

46 more models

Model	Times as often	Tests (n)
Mitsubishi Lancer	at least 2.8	37,292
Renault Scenic	at least 2.7	175,093
Renault Twingo	at least 2.7	101,465
Hyundai i40	at least 2.7	85,833
Mazda CX-5	at least 2.6	257,821
Kia Ceed	at least 2.5	487,429
Nissan X-Trail	at least 2.5	370,278
Vauxhall Mokka	at least 2.3	930,592
Kia Rio	at least 2.3	395,218
Fiat Bravo	at least 2.3	20,980
Dacia Duster	at least 2.3	274,804
Nissan Pathfinder	at least 2.2	23,532
Vauxhall Tigrafirst used 2004 or later	at least 2.2	28,719
Nissan Navara	at least 2.2	286,820
Kia Sorento	at least 2.1	147,328
Mazda 2	at least 2.0	509,644
Mitsubishi Colt	at least 2.0	93,891
Vauxhall Corsa	at least 2.0	3,740,055
Fiat 500L	at least 1.9	85,411
Ford Fiesta	at least 1.8	5,660,045
Ford Transit Courier	at least 1.8	103,155
Volkswagen Beetle	at least 1.8	180,577
Jaguar S-Type	at least 1.7	49,246
Hyundai ix35	at least 1.7	209,126
Citroen C4 Grand Picasso	at least 1.7	88,311
Fiat Punto	at least 1.7	310,264
Peugeot 307	at least 1.6	140,556
Volkswagen Bora	at least 1.6	22,986
Suzuki Wagon R+	at least 1.6	32,729
Land Rover Freelander	at least 1.6	499,873
DS DS5	at least 1.6	20,165
Kia Sportage	at least 1.6	1,070,582
Citroen C4	at least 1.6	557,142
Hyundai Santa FE	at least 1.6	135,968
Citroen C4 Picasso	at least 1.6	25,245
Mitsubishi ASX	at least 1.5	116,909
Peugeot 308	at least 1.5	549,521
Citroen C3	at least 1.5	784,141
Peugeot 3008	at least 1.5	542,666
Ford EcoSport	at least 1.4	402,494
Peugeot 5008	at least 1.4	130,903
Mercedes-Benz CLC	at least 1.4	35,024
Kia Optima	at least 1.4	45,012
Tesla Model S	at least 1.4	41,739
MG 3	at least 1.4	81,125
Vauxhall Combo	at least 1.3	423,103

Models that fail on these items less often

At most 0.7 times the rate of cars of the same ages and fuel, on the same rules.

Model	Times as often	Tests (n)
Audi Q5	at most 0.4	422,669
BMW X1	at most 0.4	414,040
Mercedes-Benz GLC	at most 0.4	298,696
Porsche 911	at most 0.5	174,386
MINI Countryman	at most 0.5	415,833
Suzuki Vitarafirst used 2015 or later	at most 0.5	248,462
Audi Q7	at most 0.5	191,601
Land Rover Range Rover Evoque	at most 0.5	704,715
Land Rover Range Rover Sport	at most 0.5	498,033
Suzuki Celerio	at most 0.5	110,627
Audi Q3	at most 0.5	499,272
Audi A5	at most 0.5	501,056
Honda HR-Vfirst used 2015 or later	at most 0.5	124,839
BMW X3	at most 0.6	404,678
Audi A6	at most 0.6	510,103
Toyota Hiace	at most 0.6	55,241
Porsche Cayenne	at most 0.6	118,942
BMW 4 Series	at most 0.6	417,430
Volkswagen Touareg	at most 0.6	149,245
Jaguar XF	at most 0.6	399,683
BMW X5	at most 0.6	366,311
Audi A7	at most 0.6	67,548
MINI Paceman	at most 0.6	31,176
Porsche Macan	at most 0.6	115,297
Volkswagen Tiguan	at most 0.6	901,561

26 more models

Model	Times as often	Tests (n)
Fiat Ducato	at most 0.6	272,846
BMW 1 Series	at most 0.6	1,589,384
Toyota IQ	at most 0.6	67,409
Mercedes-Benz S-Class	at most 0.7	107,268
Audi Q2	at most 0.7	261,047
Volvo V40first used 2012 or later	at most 0.7	384,615
Ford Kuga	at most 0.7	1,137,353
Skoda Yeti	at most 0.7	303,988
Toyota Verso	at most 0.7	112,639
MINI Clubman	at most 0.7	109,425
Toyota RAV4	at most 0.7	502,711
Porsche Boxster	at most 0.7	129,291
Land Rover Range Rover	at most 0.7	352,624
Mercedes-Benz GLE	at most 0.7	113,268
Volkswagen T-Roc	at most 0.7	260,443
Vauxhall Insignia	at most 0.7	834,880
BMW Z4	at most 0.7	141,225
Mercedes-Benz E-Class	at most 0.7	964,062
BMW 3 Series	at most 0.7	1,972,463
Volkswagen Up	at most 0.7	501,026
Mercedes-Benz SLK	at most 0.7	227,766
Mazda CX-3	at most 0.7	102,215
Peugeot Boxer	at most 0.7	203,202
Volkswagen Passat	at most 0.7	792,205
Lexus IS	at most 0.7	154,326
BMW X6	at most 0.7	61,274

Read this with care. A fail rate is not a measure of build quality. How far cars are driven, how they are used and how well owners maintain them all change it, and wear items such as tyres and brake pads are common fails. Compare a model only with cars of the same age. Methodology and limits.

Other repairs

Exterior bulb replacement£3.99 median
Tyre replacement£87.05 median
Headlight alignmentlabour rate
Coil spring replacementlabour rate
Wiper blade replacement£9.99 median
Handbrake repairlabour rate
Brake pad replacementlabour rate
Suspension ball joint replacementlabour rate
Anti-roll bar link replacementlabour rate
Headlight bulb replacement£3.99 median
Engine warning light diagnosislabour rate
Screenwash top-uplabour rate
Suspension arm bush replacementlabour rate
CV boot replacementlabour rate
Brake disc and pad replacementlabour rate
Shock absorber replacementlabour rate
Corrosion welding repairlabour rate
Binding brake repairlabour rate
Washer system repairlabour rate
Exhaust repair£212.09 median
Emissions fail repairlabour rate
Brake pipe replacementlabour rate
ABS warning light repairlabour rate
Airbag warning light repairlabour rate
Brake imbalance repairlabour rate
Wheel bearing replacementlabour rate
Tyre pressure sensor replacementlabour rate
Horn repairlabour rate
Number plate replacementlabour rate
Exhaust mounting repairlabour rate
Wheel nut or bolt replacementlabour rate
Steering rack gaiter replacementlabour rate
Brake efficiency repairlabour rate
Headlight mounting repairlabour rate
Headlight unit replacementlabour rate
Headlight lens restorationlabour rate
Swivel pin replacementlabour rate

All repair costs All MOT defects

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Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025, and the MOT inspection manual published on GOV.UK. Prices: ONS consumer price inflation price quotes, September 2025 to August 2026, UK.

MOT data updated 28 September 2026. Prices updated 22 September 2026.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA or the Office for National Statistics. How we calculate these figures · Data sources