Your car shudders on a smooth road, and the shop wants to take the transmission out to replace the torque converter. It is a big bill for a part you probably had never thought about before.
So how much does torque converter replacement cost? Three owners’ bills filed with NHTSA run from about $1,500 to $3,300, for a Subaru Legacy, GMC Sierra and Toyota RAV4. Those repairs were reported between 2022 and 2025.
I will show you those bills, current converter kit prices, what the labor involves, and which Honda owners may still have warranty help. First, make sure the quote is for the converter itself.
Which Part Is the Shop Replacing?
The round converter sits between the engine and automatic transmission. Reaching it means separating the transmission from the engine, which is why the fitting bill can be much larger than the part price.
A quote for a leaking converter seal is a different repair. If that is what your shop found, see the transmission leak repair guide.
The torque converter clutch solenoid is different too. It controls oil pressure for the clutch; replacing a transmission solenoid does not mean replacing the round converter.
What Owners Paid for the Converter Job
These owners described completed replacements in NHTSA’s public complaints. I kept their bills separate from quotes for a complete transmission:
- A 2012 Subaru Legacy owner paid about $1,500 for the converter, fluids, parts and labor at a mechanic. The complaint was filed October 24, 2022, after the car shuddered and stalled at intersections.
- A 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 owner reported paying $2,400 to replace the converter, in a complaint filed November 15, 2025. The owner described shaking while shifting without a warning light.
- A 2018 Toyota RAV4 owner paid $3,300 for a dealer replacement, in a complaint filed August 20, 2023. A change in how the drivetrain felt prompted the service visit.
The Subaru account includes fluid and labor explicitly. The other two give the replacement bill without an itemized breakdown, so these examples cannot tell us the tax, hourly rate or converter price at each shop.
What the Converter Costs Before Fitting
Here are two genuine converter kits, checked October 17, 2026. The part numbers come from Toyota’s Camry repair bulletin and Honda’s Pilot/Ridgeline bulletin:
These are online kit prices before fitting, shipping and tax. Have the supplier match the part to your VIN and transmission; the Honda bulletin covers the 6-speed automatic, not every Pilot or Ridgeline.
The kits are only part of the shopping list. Toyota also calls for fluid, exhaust gaskets, rings and fasteners. Honda specifies fluid and several replacement nuts and bolts, with different quantities for some AWD models.
How Much Labor Does Replacement Take?
Toyota and Honda publish the time they allow for these warranty repairs. These times give you a starting point, but your shop may quote more or fewer labor hours.
Using Tekmetric’s June 2026 US average of $132 an hour, here is the labor alone. Each amount is the factory time multiplied by that rate:
The extra parts and fluid still need pricing before you have a full estimate. Do not add a second alignment charge automatically to the Honda operation above, since that factory time already includes it.
For the Camry, the procedure also includes cleaning the pan, fitting new magnets and checking the software. Toyota specifically tells dealers not to replace the engine computer as part of this repair.
When a Shudder Needs Something Else
A vibration alone does not identify a failed converter. GM’s bulletin 22-NA-015 separates engine faults, valve body faults and converter clutch slip on the trucks and SUVs it covers.
The technician compares engine speed, transmission input speed, torque and clutch pressure during a road test. If the problem is in the valve body, replacing the converter leaves the cause behind.
There is also a fluid fix for certain 2019 new-body Silverado and Sierra 1500 trucks with the MQE transmission and L3B or L84 engine, built before March 1, 2019.
GM’s bulletin 19-NA-121 calls for a specific fluid exchange for their clutch shudder. A returning shudder needs diagnosis. This applies to those trucks, not every slipping transmission.
Honda Owners May Have a Covered Repair
Honda bulletin 23-078, revised May 21, 2025, extends converter coverage to 10 years or 150,000 miles from the original purchase date, whichever comes first.
It covers eligible 2017 and 2018 Pilots and 2017 to 2019 Ridgelines with the 6-speed automatic. The repair requires code P0741 and confirmation that the VIN qualifies.
Call a Honda dealer with your VIN and ask about bulletin 23-078 before paying for this job. This is a warranty extension, so a search for safety recalls alone may miss it.
What I Would Ask Before Agreeing to the Bill
Ask for one written estimate showing the converter brand and part number, labor hours and rate, fluid, seals, other hardware, software work and tax. Have the shop include its parts and labor warranty too.
If the recommendation changes to a rebuild, ask what damage or contamination was found inside the transmission. The access work overlaps, so compare the complete repair options before approving another round of removal labor.
Questions About Torque Converter Replacement
Can you replace the converter without replacing the transmission?
Yes. Toyota’s Camry procedure and Honda’s Pilot/Ridgeline procedure both replace the converter while keeping the transmission. Damage elsewhere in your transmission can change that decision.
Can I drive while waiting for the repair?
If the car stalls or loses drive, stop using it and arrange a tow. The Subaru owner above described stalling at intersections. For a mild shudder, have the shop assess the car before planning more driving.
Is this a good DIY job?
I would leave it to a transmission shop unless you already have the equipment and experience to remove and reinstall a transmission. Honda’s procedure also involves setting fluid level at the specified temperature and checking alignment.
How long will the shop keep my car?
The factory hours above are working time, not a promised collection time. Diagnosis, waiting for the correct converter and the shop’s schedule can keep the car there longer. Ask for a completion date when the part is confirmed.
Where These Prices Come From
- NHTSA owner complaints 11490689, Subaru Legacy, 11699612, GMC Sierra and 11539620, Toyota RAV4, filed in 2022, 2025 and 2023; checked October 17, 2026.
- ToyotaPartsDeal, converter kit 04004-48106; HondaPartsNow, converter kit 06260-R9R-010, checked October 17, 2026.
- Toyota, T-SB-0312-17, Torque Converter Flex Lock-up Shudder, November 13, 2017. US Camry application, parts, labor and repair procedure.
- Honda, 23-078, version 6, May 21, 2025. Warranty extension, parts and labor for eligible Pilot and Ridgeline models.
- Tekmetric, Average Auto Repair Labor Rates by State, June 30, 2026; checked October 17, 2026.
- GM, 22-NA-015, July 2022, shudder diagnosis; 19-NA-121, April 2020, specified truck fluid exchange.
I hope this helps you understand what the shop is charging for. If you have a question about your converter quote, you can email me at costcheckr@gmail.com.
