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Have you ever felt like a car dealer overcharged you for a simple repair?
In a TikTok video clip, Julia Lutz (@juleslutzz) says she received a quote from a Honda dealer to fix her 2018 CR-V sun visor that would not stay up. They told her it was broken and she needed a new sun visor. With parts and labor, it would be $500.
Julia says, “I was quoted $500 to fix my stupid sun visor. Do you know why they said it was $500? Because the part is so expensive. However, I found a replacement for my CR-V on Amazon for $50.”
The quote seemed high, so she went on Amazon and found the replacement sun visor for her 2018 CR-V for $50. So, she ordered the part. Before Julia tells her story, imagine your car with a broken sun visor.
If you have had a defective sun visor, you know how irritating it can be. You are driving, and the driver’s side visor won’t stay up. It slips down just enough to block your vision, and you can’t see the road. You keep pushing it up into place, and it falls right back down.
Such a simple thing can be a safety hazard. So, you go to the dealer and they tell you that with parts and labor, it will be $500 to fix it. They can get you in in three days if you make an appointment.
You’ve been dealing with this for two months and can’t overlook it any longer. So, you make the appointment and get it fixed.
However, you see a TikTok video from Julia Lutz ,and she just fixed her Honda CR-V sun visor for $50 with a part she purchased on Amazon. You are furious now, because you just paid the Honda dealer $500 to fix your exact same issue.
You think, why are car dealers overcharging people for such minor repairs?
Julia didn’t have the Honda dealer replace her sun visor; she says, “So, I watched a YouTube video five days ago to learn how to replace it. So, I’m going to watch it again.”
“The only thing I’m a little nervous about is that my visor does not have a light on the mirror. So, I don’t know if it’s going to be compatible or not. Regardless, I will upgrade my CR-V, which I’m super pumped about.”
“So, I also received a quote from Honda for another $3,000 for other repairs that they say I need. So, I will do as much of it myself as possible.”
“Honestly, if this does even work out, I would rather not have a sun visor because hitting my head on the visor all the time is getting so annoying.”
So Julia removes the old broken visor, plugs in the light cord, pops in the new visor, and turns and tightens it with her screwdriver.
“Oh, my gosh,” she says with excitement. The new sun visor works perfectly.
“I’m going to drive around now. This is so amazing. I just saved $450 by fixing it myself,” she grins.”
How much should a 2022 Honda CR-V sun visor replacement cost?
Typically, Honda dealers charge around $190 to $200 to replace a broken sun visor in a 2022 Honda CR-V. So, the dealer Julia went to was overcharging her.
Why is the dealer cost so high?
I checked the price of the OEM sun visor from Honda, and the parts alone are $178.90. So they were charging her $321 for labor. Julia was being taken advantage of by this Honda dealer.
But That’s Not All Of Julia’s DIY Repairs
In another video clip, Julie says she also replaced her CR-V’s cabin air filter for $25, and the Honda dealer wanted over $100 to replace it for her when she changed her oil.
Julia says, “Honda will replace my cabin air filter for about $100, and I found this on Amazon for $25. So, I watched a YouTube video just now. I think I got the correct size. I typed in 2018 Honda CR-Vs on Amazon, and it says this is the right size.”
Next, Julia opens the car’s glove box, pulls out a car fax, registration, insurance, and owners manual. She finds the clip that drops the box down and sees the cabin air filter.
She pulled out the old filter that was not that dirty and said, “It’s not even that dirty; one leaf, please, and the dealer said, I need a new one.” Since she has the new filter, she replaces it anyway.
Julia figured out the new filter’s direction, slipped it into the slot, and was done.
She says, Yes, I did it! I just saved myself $80. I’m taking myself to the movies. So, that was the number two project on my car.”
According to Capital One, replacing the cabin air filter on a 2018 Honda CR-V at a Honda dealership can typically cost between $40 and $100. This includes the cost of the filter itself and the labor involved in replacing it.
This Honda dealer charged Julia the maximum price they could to replace a simple cabin air filter.
Why are car dealer maintenance repairs so high?
Honda and all car dealerships’ higher maintenance costs are primarily attributed to higher overhead expenses, specialized tools and equipment, and brand-specific training for their mechanics.
Julia and other customers pay extra for larger facilities (showrooms, customer waiting areas, service department), higher employee salaries, and advertising costs. These expenses are ultimately passed on to customers.
Conclusion
Julia’s experience with her 2018 Honda CR-V is a testament to the potential savings of DIY repairs. By watching a couple of YouTube videos, she saved a significant $ 530 on two repairs.
How About You?
Has a car dealer overcharged you for a simple repair? If so, click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know.
Check out my Honda CR-V story: I Traded My 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid for a 2025 CR-V Sport Hybrid, Now I’m Not Sure It Was a Good Idea.
I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you’ll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.
Photo credit: Denis Flierl via Julia Lutz
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Source: torquenews.com
