I went into the dealership for the 40k mile service which involved some fluid changes, tire rotation and brake wear test. I walked out of there $1300 poorer, after they nickel and dimed me for a bunch of other things that came up during the inspection. I even turned down some of the “suggested services.” I won’t be going back there again. Anyone else get this treatment?
Don’t take your vehicle to the dealership unless it’s covered by Toyotacare. They overcharge for EVERYTHING.
Let’s see the list.
yea they took you for a ride
I’ll be going to my private mechanic at that point. They don’t tell me I need stuff done that isn’t actually necessary
Are the “car care” policies worth getting?
Dealers are not in the business of helping you. They are big entities in the business of making money. Good rule of thumb is that unless you’re going to buy or car or getting warranty work, it’s a good idea to avoid dealers.
There are, of course, exceptions to the rule. But for the most part it’s true. And this isn’t just toyota.
“Toyota isn’t as bad…”?
Hell, I’ve come close to getting physical with a Toyota service writer or two over my refusal to take a “fuel system flush” or a radiator flush once a year!
Apparently listing services and costs violated r/toyota policy
yes. they are the absolute worst.
Always go in knowing what you need, never let the dealer talk you into a bundle of services. Just do a tiny bit of homework, reference the manual and keep a binder. I can’t put a # on the amount of times they’ve offered me something I didn’t need, and I change everything early. Nothing better than “yea got that done at x miles not even close buddy”.
I had a service advisor tell me he pays his techs extra for the recommendations they put on the tickets. I do not trust that dealership.
What did they do to yours? How many miles? Maybe it’s not as bad as you think.
Happens all the time.
I had a Honda dealer try to do the same with me. Example - they said they changed the air filter, and I showed them that the air filter I installed was still there!
Another - they say they lubricate all the doors. Turned out they sprayed a little lithium grease - cost would be under $1.
I refused to pay because they were frauds. I did pay for legitimate maintenance, but not the crap.
Almost all dealers will do the same. Ironically, my BMW dealer has been great - never trying to upsell or execute mystery work.
Do you think a service department is incentivized to add services/repairs for year end bonuses or positive performance reviews?