Car Door Handle Repair Cost


Written by:  Howmuchisit.org Staff

Any car door handle will always have two parts:  one handle on the outside and another on the inside, and being frequently used, like most parts, it is subject to wear and tear, often leading to the assembly breaking down, preventing you from opening or shutting your car door properly.  It can also break off if enough force is used.

If this were to happen, then either the interior assembly will need to be replaced or the entire handle may need to be swapped out.   Chances are if the exterior door handle doesn’t work, the same can be said about the interior door handle as well.

Car Door Handle Repair Cost
Cirrus Passenger Door” (CC BY 2.0) by Paul Kehrer

How much does it cost to repair car door handle?

The cost to replace a car door handle will greatly depend on the mechanic/dealership you choose, the car you drive and your geographical location.  From our research, the parts alone, without any professional help, will often cost $40 to $125, while the professional help, often about an hour of labor time, including the parts, can range anywhere from $135 to more than $315 for either the interior or exterior car door handle.  The costs, for the most part, will greatly depend on the car you drive as a higher-end brand, such as Porsche and BMW, will be almost twice the amount of a Nissan or Chevrolet repair.

Make/ModelPrice Quoted (parts+labor)
Chevrolet Silverado$220
Chevrolet Tahoe$189
Ford F150$225
Ford Focus$127
Ford Fusion$144
Ford Ranger$158
Hyundai Sonata$158
Kia Sportage$133
Toyota Camry$185
Toyota Corolla$250
Toyota Sienna$133
Toyota Tacoma$193

Best-selling door handle parts at AutoZone, for instance, range anywhere from $45 to $125, with most being a third-party door handle part, not the genuine OEM part.  Most of the time, if you perform the repair on your own, the average cost will be about $75 or less.

According to a handful of quotes received by customers on RepairPal.com, the estimate ranged anywhere from $126 for a Nissan Armada to as much as $359 for a BMW 325i.

Kristen over at theFrugalGirl.com had a broken door handle and decided to perform the repair on her own after she called around and found it would cost $160 for just the handle and another $100 for the install at her local genuine Toyota dealership.




The repair process

To diagnose the issue, the door panel will be removed in order to gain access to the inside of the assembly.  With most cars, the outside door handle will be bolted to the outer door, while the interior door handle is often connected to a rod or link which moves the door latch.

Once the technician is able to gain access, the broken door handle will then be removed and either fixed or replaced in its entirety.

Before the car handle is installed, the door latch is also inspected to ensure it’s working; if not, this part will be replaced as well.  At this time, the entire car door will be checked to ensure its operating as well.

Lastly, the car handle will be installed in reverse order and tested to make sure it can open and close accordingly.

How do I know when the part should be replaced?

Oftentimes, if you try to open your door and it’s not budging, then the door handle is almost always the culprit.  In some cases, the door handle can break after excessive use due to the lack of lubrication or excessive contaminants found within the mechanism.

Tips to know

If you can no longer open your car door, do not attempt to force the door open or shut as this can cause more damage than good.

As long as you know the car handle is, indeed, the problem, then call either a local dealer or mechanic and ask them for a quote over the phone.  As this is a straightforward procedure, most will be able to offer a quote without having to see the problem in person.   If you’re on a tight budget, consider looking for the part at a local junkyard and repairing the car handle on your own.


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