Dealers Misrepresents Toyota Service Schedules

Sad to say but most dealers do this, not only Toyota. Most of the services are just extra money-makers for the dealership. The Service Advisors must be on sales commissions.

Good for you that you know what services are recommended in the Maintenance Manual. You do not need to do anything more than is recommended in the manual, unless they can prove it to you. I just tell them no thanks or that I will take care of it.

 

Is this your first car? If it is, welcome to dealers. They all do this. So do all local mechanics and national chains. I'm willing to entertain there are unicorns out there that tell the truth. I, personally, have not met or heard of one.

If you ever find one, tell everyone about them and hope they get a lot of business because recommending Toyota's maintenance schedule is a sure fire way to get less business from your customer. And that's why most places don't follow it or outright lie.

 

The only service I recommend other than what is in the manual, is a drain and fill of the ATF WS in the transaxle. Oddly, most dealers will fight you that it never needs done. Because there is no official interval , you will hear many on Prius chat. The important thing is to change it, routinely.

I recommend 30,000 miles (50,000 kms) then 90,000 miles (150,000 kms) and then every 90,000 miles. (150,000 kms) but that is just my opinion.

 

Service is by far the most profitable segment of a dealership. It is their job to push all kinds of stuff. You say "No, thanks". It is the same when you get your oil changed. Just say no.

 

In my whole life of car ownership I have met 2 honest independent service shops (non-dealer) and only 1 is still in business (and I go to him). For minor things like 12V battery changing, spark plugs and oil I usually do it myself. Now that he showed me the process to change the trans-axle fluid I can do that myself as well. The only honest dealership service I've seen is the Lexus San Jose service center but they are not cheap at all.

 

for regular service, ignore their advice. when they tell you something needs to be fixed, all you can do is get a second opinion and try to educate yourself.

 

Ditto to everyone above. And don't forget how they treat your wife or daughter with a bunch of lies, till the male in the family shows up.

 

After your service contract/warranty is up, don't go to the dealership any more for service. Find a reputable independent shop instead. They in most cases will be more honest and also cheaper.

 

These days, lying to customers is much more 'equal opportunity' than one or two generations ago. With the greatly increased complexity of modern cars, lying to the male of the family has become very profitable too.

 

Maybe. Depends (a lot!) on the dealership, and the independent. The dealership service managers really set the attitude, and run the gamut.

You CAN get along with a pushy dealership service department, if you're just firm with them. Maybe, depending. Or try another dealer, if they're not too far afield.

Also, it's risky to assume independents are all sweetness and light. Too: they're working on a wider variety of cars, will tend to use generic parts, and will be less knowledgable. Well apart from independent Prius specialty shops like Luscious Garage.

All that said, I'm doing all my own basic services. Cheaper, more convenient, safer.

 

There are a few Toyota dealers who are honest, ethical, and reliable. Find them and treasure them.

 

Dealers love the check engine light or what they call the "idiot light"