Most cars have between two and four motor mounts in total. A rear-wheel drive vehicle with a lengthwise engine usually has two engine mounts plus a transmission mount, while a front-wheel drive car with a sideways engine typically combines side mounts with one or more torque mounts. The exact count depends on the engine and drivetrain layout. 

When a shop says one of your motor mounts has failed, it helps to know how many there are and where they sit. The answer changes from vehicle to vehicle, but the layouts follow a few predictable patterns. Here is how many motor mounts a car typically has, where to find each one, and how our engine mount bushings cover every position from the front motor mount to the rear engine mount. 

How Many Engine Mounts Does a Car Have? 

Industry guides such as SlashGear put the typical count at two to four engine mounts, depending on the vehicle and its engine. That total usually includes the mounts that hold the engine itself, the transmission mount and any torque struts or torque arms that control rocking. Larger trucks, performance vehicles and unusual layouts can differ. 

The easiest way to understand your vehicle is to start with its drivetrain layout. Whether the engine sits lengthwise or sideways decides where the mounts go and how they share the load.

Motor Mount Locations on Rear-Wheel Drive Vehicles 

On most rear-wheel drive cars, trucks and many 4x4s, the engine sits lengthwise in the engine bay. The typical layout for these vehicles uses the following mounts: 

  • Two engine mounts: One on each side of the engine block, bolting to brackets on the frame or crossmember.
  • One transmission mount: At the rear of the transmission, sitting on a crossmember under the vehicle. 

That gives three mounts in total, carrying the engine and transmission as a single unit. Muscle cars, classic V8s and full-size trucks commonly follow this pattern. Engine swaps such as LS conversions often change the mount design, which our guide to LS swap motor mounts explains. 

Motor Mount Locations on Front-Wheel Drive Vehicles 

Front-wheel drive cars and many crossovers mount the engine sideways, with the transmission bolted to one end. The mounts are arranged to resist the strong twisting force that a transverse engine creates as it drives the front wheels: 

  • Engine side mount: At the end of the engine opposite the transmission, usually near the top.
  • Transmission side mount: At the opposite end of the engine, supporting the transmission.
  • Front and rear torque mounts: Often called torque struts or dog bones, these stop the engine rocking forward and backward. 

Depending on the design, that adds up to three or four mounts. The rear motor mount or rear engine mount on these vehicles often works hardest, because it resists the engine's rocking under acceleration.

Engine Mount Location Diagram Explained

Cost item 

Typical range 

Source 

Average engine mount replacement 

$643 to $798 

RepairPal national estimate 

Labor portion 

$328 to $481 

RepairPal national estimate 

Parts portion 

About $316 to $317 

RepairPal national estimate 

Labor per mount 

About $100 to $450 

AutoZone 

Simple rubber or steel mount, parts only 

About $10 to $150 

AutoZone 

Hydraulic or active mount, parts only 

From about $50 to $200 and up 

AutoZone 
 
Use the table as a quick guide when you read a diagram of motor mounts location for your own vehicle. Some parts catalogs list the transmission position as an engine transmission mount, so look for both names. The engine and transmission mounts work as a team, so a failure at one position puts extra load on the others.
 

Why Mount Position Matters When Replacing Them 

Each position carries a different load, so mounts are not interchangeable even on the same vehicle. A torque strut bushing is designed to resist push and pull, while a side mount carries weight. When one mount fails, the others take on more work and often wear faster, which is why many owners replace the engine and transmission mounts together on high-mileage vehicles. 

Our range covers motor mount kits, front and rear motor mount inserts, engine torque strut bushings, torque arm insert bushings, motor and transmission mount combos and complete engine and transmission mount sets. Our polyurethane resists heat, oil and torque reaction far better than rubber. If you suspect a worn mount, our guide on how to check motor mounts shows you how to find the culprit. 

Motor Mount InsertsMotor Mount Inserts

Motor Mount Inserts

FAQs

Looking for more information about motor mount locations? Below we answer the most commonly asked questions

How many motor mounts does a car have?

Most cars have two to four motor mounts, including engine mounts, a transmission mount and any torque struts. The exact number depends on the engine and drivetrain layout.

Where are the motor mounts located?

On rear-wheel drive vehicles they sit on each side of the engine with a transmission mount at the rear. On front-wheel drive vehicles they sit at each end of the engine with torque mounts front and rear.

Is a transmission mount the same as a motor mount?

They do a similar job but in a different place. The transmission mount supports the transmission, while motor mounts support the engine, and together they carry the drivetrain.

What is a torque strut mount?

A torque strut, sometimes called a dog bone, is a mount that stops the engine rocking forward and backward. It is common on front-wheel drive vehicles with sideways engines.

Which motor mount usually fails first?

On front-wheel drive vehicles, the rear torque mount often fails first because it resists rocking under acceleration. On rear-wheel drive vehicles, the side mount opposite the torque reaction often wears fastest.

Should I replace all motor mounts at once?

If they are the same age and the vehicle has high mileage, replacing them together often makes sense. If only one has failed and the others are healthy, replacing that one is reasonable.

Cover every mount position with parts built to last. Browse our engine mount bushings, from insert kits to complete engine and transmission mount sets.