Your airbag light came on, the horn stopped working or the buttons on your steering wheel went dead. All of them run through the clock spring, a flat ribbon cable coiled behind the steering wheel that stays connected while the wheel turns.
So how much does it cost to replace a clock spring? With the carmakers’ own parts and job times at $132 an hour, it comes to $115.11 on a 2016 Ford Super Duty, $259.36 on some older Toyotas and $596.88 on a 2007 to 2010 Jeep Wrangler.
Many of those cars were recalled for their clock springs, and Kia and Hyundai cover the part for 15 years on some models. Then the repair is free.
In this guide I will show you what the parts and job times add up to, which recalls pay for it and what owners paid. I will also show you the signs to watch for and why the airbag light should not wait.
What the Carmakers’ Own Parts and Times Come To
Ford found that dust can get into the clock spring of some 2016 F-Super Duty trucks. The steering wheel lights go out first, then the switches on the wheel and the horn, and finally the airbag light comes on.
Ford pays its dealers 0.6 hour to replace it. With Ford’s parts from a dealer parts website, checked October 14, 2026, and $132 an hour, Tekmetric’s US average from June 2026:
So the job comes to $115.11, or $128.16 with a heated steering wheel. On the trucks in Ford’s recall, built from December 1, 2014 to July 5, 2016, it is free.
Toyota calls the part a spiral cable. It recalled about 1.4 million cars whose spiral cable could be damaged as the steering wheel turns, and it pays its dealers 0.9 hour, 0.1 of it for paperwork.
Toyota’s spiral cable kit is $140.56 at a dealer parts website, so the job comes to $259.36 at $132 an hour. On the recalled cars it is free.
On the 2007 to 2010 Jeep Wrangler, the clock spring is part of a steering column module, and that makes it the dearest of the three:
So it comes to $596.88. Jeep recalled about 393,900 of these Wranglers because dust could get inside the clock spring, so check the VIN before you pay.
Check for a Recall First
These are the clock spring recalls in this guide. A dealer does the work free on any car still open in the recall, and NHTSA’s recall lookup shows it by VIN:
- Ford 22V-337: 2016 F-Super Duty trucks built December 1, 2014 to July 5, 2016.
- Toyota 14V-168: some 2009 and 2010 Corolla and Matrix, 2008 to 2010 Highlander, 2009 and 2010 Tacoma, 2006 to 2008 RAV4 and 2006 to 2010 Yaris models.
- Jeep 16V-290: 2007 to 2010 Wrangler, and 16V-288 for right hand drive Wranglers from 2011 to 2016.
Some carmakers extended the warranty instead of recalling the cars. Kia covers the driver’s clock spring for 15 years with no mileage limit on 2011 to 2015 Sorento, 2012 and 2013 Rio and 2014 and 2015 Forte models.
Hyundai does the same on 2012 to 2014 Azera and Veloster and 2013 and 2014 Elantra GT models. Jeep also extended the clockspring warranty on left hand drive 2011 to 2016 Wranglers, so ask a dealer whether yours is still covered.
What Owners Paid
Here is what owners told NHTSA, the US road safety agency, they paid or were quoted, with a link to each complaint:
- A Kia dealer replaced the clock spring on a 2012 Kia Optima for $389.39, filed in May 2019.
- A broken clock spring on a 2016 Ford Explorer cost $541.10 to repair, filed in January 2021.
- A 2015 Jeep Wrangler needed a second clockspring after the recall had replaced the first, and the owner paid $593.67, filed in March 2020.
- Nissan quoted $617.89 to replace the clock spring on a 2010 Rogue and realign the steering angle sensor, filed in October 2021.
- A 2010 Toyota Corolla needed a second spiral cable at 58,000 miles, seven years after the recall fitted one, and the owners had to pay $775, filed in December 2021.
- A Hyundai dealer replaced the clock spring on a 2013 Sonata for $805.77, after the owner was told the recall covered only some VINs, filed in September 2025.
- A clock spring on a 2018 Jeep Wrangler cost $1,137, not covered by the owner’s extended warranty, filed in November 2024.
- A failed wiring harness and clock spring reel on a 2020 Acura MDX came to $3,888.91, filed in November 2025.
So owners paid or were quoted $389.39 to $1,137 for a clock spring, and $3,888.91 when the wiring harness went with it. Two of them paid for a second one after a recall had replaced the first.
Signs of a Bad Clock Spring
The airbag light is the main sign. Dead steering wheel lights, buttons and horn can come first, as Ford’s recall describes.
A clock spring is not the only cause of an airbag light. Crash sensors, seat connectors and wiring disturbed by a remote start or stereo install can set it too, so ask the shop to read the airbag codes before it orders a part.
Why the Airbag Light Should Not Wait
A broken clock spring can cut the circuit to the driver airbag, and then the airbag will not deploy in a crash. Ford, Toyota and Jeep all give that as the reason for their recalls.
Have it checked soon after the light comes on. If it comes on after a collision or with other warning lights, have the car looked at before you drive it far.
Clock Spring Questions You Might Have
How much does it cost to replace a clock spring?
With the carmakers’ parts and times at $132 an hour, it comes to $115.11 on a 2016 Ford Super Duty, $259.36 on some older Toyotas and $596.88 on a 2007 to 2010 Jeep Wrangler. Recalled cars are fixed free.
How long does it take to replace a clock spring?
Carmakers pay their dealers 0.6 to 0.9 hour for the job.
What are the signs of a bad clock spring?
The airbag light comes on, and the horn, the steering wheel buttons or the steering wheel lights stop working.
Can I drive with a bad clock spring?
The car still drives, but the driver airbag may not deploy in a crash. Have it fixed soon, and check for a recall first.
Is a clock spring covered by a recall?
On many cars, yes. Ford, Toyota and Jeep have all recalled cars for their clock springs, so check your VIN on NHTSA’s recall lookup.
Where These Prices Come From
- Ford recall 22S35 (October 2023 supplement), Toyota recall E0M (2014), and Jeep recalls S33 (November 2016) and S40 (August 2016), on NHTSA’s website.
- Part prices, checked October 14, 2026: FordPartsGiant GC3Z-14A664-E, GC3Z-14A664-F and W705985-S437, ToyotaPartsDeal 04004-07122, and MoparPartsGiant 5156106AF and 6505656AA.
- Luxury Auto Works, Airbag Light Diagnosis, Austin, Texas, February 13, 2026. Tekmetric, Average Auto Repair Labor Rates by State, June 30, 2026, and the owner complaints to NHTSA linked above, read October 14, 2026.
I hope this helps you get the airbag light sorted quickly and for the right price. If you have any questions, you can email me at costcheckr@gmail.com.
