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Engine repair

Head gasket replacement cost

Use the parts prices, labor hours and local totals to plan for this repair. Confidence B applies to a broad repair category; this is not a shop quote for your specific vehicle.

$903 to $937parts range
11.31 to 16.59labor hours
0diagnostic hours modeled
per repairprice basis
Animated automotive components representing head gasket replacement

Cost and coverage

How this repair affects warranty value

Head gasket replacement uses $903 to $937 for parts. At the $147.62 median modeled metro rate, the midpoint repair time plus 0 diagnostic hours adds about $2,059. The published benchmark and its date are listed separately; this calculation is a planning estimate. Tax and shop supplies are excluded.

Service-contract coverage for this repair has not been verified here. Ask for the quoted agreement's covered-part, failure-cause and exclusion clauses before assuming reimbursement. Ask which authorization, diagnosis and payment-limit rules would apply to this repair.

Check documented coolant-loss causes before assuming a head-gasket replacement. Ask the provider how the diagnosed cause, overheating and maintenance history affect the quoted agreement.

See all engine repairs

Local estimates

Estimated total repair bills by city

These examples combine the same parts benchmark with modeled independent-shop labor rates in four metros.

MetroLabor midpointTotal estimate
Dallas, TX$144/hr$2,305 to $3,663
New York, NY$160/hr$2,457 to $3,959
Los Angeles, CA$165/hr$2,504 to $4,049
Miami, FL$144/hr$2,307 to $3,667

Estimate notes

Machine-shop work, overheating damage and the original cause of failure can move the bill outside this range. The published national range is not a quote for a particular vehicle. Taxes, fees and related repairs are excluded.

National benchmark: $2,572 to $3,386, with $903 to $937 in parts and $1,669 to $2,449 in labor. Source: RepairPal, updated 2026-09-03. Local totals normalize the published labor range to this site's metro labor model.

Before authorizing a repair

What to check before paying for head gasket replacement

Check what the repair price includes

The estimate is for per repair. Parts cost $903 to $937; repair labor is modeled at 11.31 to 16.59 hours, plus 0 diagnostic hours at each endpoint and the midpoint.

Machine-shop work, overheating damage and the original cause of failure can move the bill outside this range. The published national range is not a quote for a particular vehicle. Taxes, fees and related repairs are excluded. Ask the shop to identify which of those items are included before comparing two totals.

Compare the estimate with a shop quote

This repair totals about $2,979 using a $147.62 hourly rate, the median modeled midpoint across our metros. We calculate that amount from our assumptions; it is not an observed average bill for your exact car.

This repair category uses a published RepairPal benchmark. Your engine, how hard the part is to reach and the choice of replacement part can still put a quote outside that range.

Check the cause as well as the component

A contract can list engine coverage and still exclude the cause of this failure. Ask the administrator about diagnosis, labor-rate limits, connected damage and preauthorization before the shop starts work.

Factory coverage and an open safety recall are separate checks. Use NHTSA's VIN recall lookup to check the individual vehicle; a model-level recall count cannot tell you whether your car is affected.

Ask for these details in writing

  • The diagnosed condition, the part number and the number of assemblies being replaced.
  • Parts type, labor hours or flat-rate charge, diagnosis, fluids, calibration and taxes as separate lines where applicable.
  • What you owe if the repair is declined or a contract claim is denied.
  • The repair warranty and the amount that requires your approval before extra work begins.

The FTC's repair guide recommends a written estimate identifying the condition, parts and labor. Its service-contract guidance explains why authorization, exclusions and reimbursement limits matter.

RepairPal · Source updated 2026-09-03; checked 2026-10-18. Current source prices may differ.

Need to describe a symptom before a diagnosis? Choose the exact vehicle and open the underlying source. Our mechanic-visit guide helps you record when the symptom occurs. A symptom match alone does not justify replacing this part.

Evidence behind the price

What supports the head gasket replacement estimate?

This category has an attached RepairPal benchmark. Its local estimate still uses modeled labor and broad vehicle assumptions.

Published benchmarkAttached

RepairPal, source date 2026-09-03.

Model-specific repair ranges0

0 named model ranges are retained for this repair. A nameplate range does not establish the price for every year or trim.

Local laborModeled

City totals apply our labor assumptions. Diagnosis, parts choice and approved hours still need a vehicle-specific quote.

Library audit reviewed October 18, 2026. Source dates are retained; the review does not turn assumptions into observed prices.

Documented conditions

What the source records say about this component

1 selected problem file names this component or its manufacturer repair path. The file can describe inspection, software or a smaller repair, so a match does not establish that this complete assembly needs replacement.

Manufacturer documented

Coolant intrusion into the cylinders

Ford Escape · 2017, 2018, 2019

Low coolant paired with white exhaust or a rough cold start appears in Ford's documented 1.5L coolant-intrusion procedure.

Affected scope
2017 to 2019 Ford Escape. 1.5L EcoBoost engine. Specific build dates apply and should be checked against the bulletin
Manufacturer check or remedy
A Ford technician follows the published pressure and inspection procedure. Where the condition is confirmed and the vehicle meets the criteria, the bulletin specifies short block and head gasket replacement.
Safety and eligibility limits in this source
  • The temperature warning appears or the engine overheats
  • Coolant is rapidly disappearing
  • The engine is shaking severely or the warning light is flashing
  • Coverage is VIN specific. A bulletin does not by itself promise a free repair.
  • Never open a hot cooling system.
Original sourcesTSB 19-2139 · Nov 21, 201921N12 · Jun 9, 2022Source record reviewed August 2, 2026. Read the full condition and checks →

Check who is responsible before paying

An open recall, a warranty extension and a service bulletin have different eligibility rules. Check your VIN with the manufacturer and confirm any time, mileage or diagnosed-condition limits. A bulletin alone does not promise a free repair. Existing faults generally fall outside a newly purchased service contract.

Read an OBD II codeA scan tool can name the condition the vehicle computer detected. It cannot inspect a connector, test fuel pressure or prove that the component named in a generic description has failed.Bulletin, recall or warranty?Three official looking documents can describe the same bad part while creating very different rights. The document number, VIN scope and remedy language matter more than what someone called it at the service counter.Describe a car problem“It makes a weird noise” is honest, but it leaves the technician guessing. A few observations about timing and conditions can make an intermittent fault much easier to reproduce.
Look up the exact model year →Read the system's documented conditions →

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