Normally, it will run you between $400 to $600 but this can differ broadly depending on the type of vehicle that you own and location. One of the major components of this spend is usually in labor costs ($15 to $30) — on top of fuel pump itself, which generally retails for another $200-$400. Fuel pump replacement in most luxury or high-performance cars can easily run over $1,000 due to the complexity of their design and quality of their parts.
Fuel pumps are essential for pumping up fuel from gas tanks into engines at an ideal pressure — typically 30 to 80 psi, depending on the vehicle. Failure usually results in stalling, hard starts and poor acceleration. Replacing a fuel pump involves draining the gas tank, removing at least part of the fuel tank to access the pump (which is frequently mounted inside or near the top of the tank), and installing a new component in what can be a time-consuming repair.
Recently, this has also changed as some newer vehicles use two fuel pumps: a low-pressure one in the gas tank and a high-pressure pump near the engine. Two pumps can go bad and then the repair cost may double. Moreover, the fuel pump being on its way out means that other parts which draw their power from a clean fuel supply, such as the fuel filter and fuel injectors likely have become clogged over time, and will need to be replaced too - only increasing how much this fix is expected to cost.
According to a 2019 study by AAA, the average life expectancy of a fuel pump is somewhere between 100,000 and 150,000 miles, so it's likely that at some point during the life of your vehicle you'll have to replace its fuel pump. Basic maintenance like never letting fuel drop below a quarter tank and routinely replacing your fuel filters will help keep a fuel pump running longer and decrease the chance of an expensive repair.
Some fuel pump failures have resulted in auto recals, as was the case in 2020 when Subaru and Toyota recalled over 1.5 million vehicles for defective fuel pumps. Issues of this scale have made it all the more crucial to keep a dependable Fuel Pump in good working order such that you can ensure engine condition and safe driving.
In the end, how much a repair for a Fuel Pump problem can be affected by factors such as labor rates and parts availability—and if any other part of the fuel system needs to be replaced. Maintenance work and early repairs can prevent your car from expensive sudden breakdowns or it will keep everything up to date.