A bad steering column can pump up your repair costs. Don’t let worn-out components hijack your steering; learn with knowledge.
A steering column replacement is a complicated repair, involving specialized labor and specialized parts. Prices can vary widely depending on your vehicle and the extent of the damage.
Learn what factors research and replacement costs come from, learn ways to save some money, and whether you should attempt to replace it yourself.
Steering Column Replacement Cost
Your location (independent auto repair shop, dealership, etc.) and your car’s vehicle (make and model) will largely dictate how much you’ll pay to replace the steering column.
On average, you should expect to pay anywhere between $500 and $1500 for the full replacement job at most auto repair shops. Expect to pay at least double that with the dealership.
It would be possible to replace your steering column, however, it is considered a more advanced job, so it is probably a good idea to have solid mechanical experience if you’re planning on tackling it.
If that is your plan, you can commonly find a used steering column for under $100 on eBay or an online social media marketplace (or $200 – $500 for a new component) and take your time replacing it.
The newer the car and the more features and technology it has, the more difficult the replacement will be.
At the end of the day, most car owners will need to hire a professional mechanic to replace their steering column. Just because you change your oil, or even your spark plugs, does not automatically qualify you to change your steering column.
With a job like this, it makes sense to receive quotes from at least 2 or 3 local mechanics. You may be surprised at the difference in their estimates. It’s not unusual to see estimates vary by hundreds of dollars!
That being said, this is a job for a good mechanic, not the cheapest mechanic, since this component is directly related to the safety of the driver and passengers.
Additional Features Influencing Costs
Several additional features may impact the actual cost of replacing a steering column.
Some of these features are cruise control, radio controls, and the ECU. Let’s break down how each of these features may affect the pricing of your steering column replacement.
Cruise Control
If you have cruise control in your steering column, it adds complexity to the installation.
The technician will not only need to ensure the new column is compatible with the cruise control, but they may also have additional work configuring the column.
In essence, cruise control will result in slightly higher costs to replace your steering column.
Radio Controls
Most steering columns now offer the ability to control the car’s radio, allowing you to increase/decrease volume, change stations, and much more while keeping your hands on the wheel.
If your original column had these features, you’ll want to ensure your replacement has them too.
This will result in increased costs, because radio controls will usually come in at a higher price than a steering column without radio controls.
ECM option (Engine Control Module)
The ECM (or PCM) can affect the final costs of replacing a steering column.
The ECM controls various aspects of your vehicle’s performance, and it often works with the steering column to ensure it’s doing what it wants it to do.
A technician may need to reprogram the ECM following the installation of a new steering column, depending on how new your car is and its make/model.
That additional labor could increase the final figures that you pay!
Steering Column Development
It would be difficult to imagine the improvements steering columns have undergone through the decades. In the early days, steering columns were nothing more than a shaft connecting the steering wheel and front wheels. It wasn’t much, but it did the trick.
Things did improve when, sometime in the early 1900s, the designers at least added a universal joint, which added flexibility to the steering column and made for a smoother steering experience. That was certainly an improved design option.
The next significant leap for steering column adaptations was during the 1920s, when this type of column had its design in conjunction with a steering box and/or rack and pinion assembly; it made steering more precise, and cars were more responsive to frontal control.
Safety became a priority in the 1950s and 1960s when collapsible steering columns were introduced. These steering columns are designed to compress upon impact, which lessens the risk to the person in the vehicle. An improvement that has probably saved many lives.
Now, we have tilt columns, powered steering, and steer-by-wire. They have come a long way in the last few decades. Steering columns certainly aren’t just a plain shaft anymore. Steering technologies will continue to advance, with a clear idea of what they need to do, while surely making it less of a way of driving the vehicle.