Can we talk about how much oxygen sensors cost now?

I was at AutoZone last week checking prices for a 2002 Civic and a single downstream sensor was $85. I remember paying $25 for the same part back in 2016. What happened to the cheap stuff we used to slap on these beaters? Anybody else notice parts creeping up in price like this?

2 comments

2 Comments

willow73219d agoMost Upvoted

Oh come on now. Prices went up because the old cheap stuff was garbage that failed in six months. You remember those $25 sensors from 2016? I put one on my Corolla and the check engine light came back on before I even finished the brake job I was doing. That's the difference between a proper denso or bosch sensor and the bottom of the barrel junk autozone used to stock. Maybe we got lucky back then because the cars were simpler, but these new sensors have to deal with tighter emissions standards and they actually last more than a year. You ever think about how much time you waste swapping a bad sensor twice instead of just buying the good one once?

henry_kelly5419d ago

Hell yeah, you're absolutely right to pile on! I had the exact same shock last year when I needed an oxygen sensor for my 2005 Focus. I was all set to grab the $30 special like the old days and the guy at the counter actually laughed at me when I asked for the cheap one. He said they don't even stock those anymore because people got so tired of the check engine light popping back on within a month, which I learned the hard way on my first car (a 98 Civic, classic beater). The $85 Bosch sensor I ended up buying has been solid for two years now, no issues. So yeah, the cheap stuff was a total crapshoot and I wasted more time and gas swapping those junk ones than I saved in money.