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If you have had some suspicions that you are not getting what you pay for in maintenance and repair at your Toyota dealership service department, your inner voice is likely spot on.
Recently, a former Toyota mechanic shared the shady practices his customers are coming to him with, which he is discovering while working on their cars as an independent garage owner and mechanic.
“I want to share with you some things that I’ve been noticing, because I get a lot of folks that they used to service their car at the dealership. They don’t like how things are going, and they kind of start slowly bringing their cars out to the independent world. They’ll come to our shop. They kind of share with us their experiences. And through it, I’ve been noticing a trend that I’d like to bring to your attention, and you really need to be aware of because I’m seeing this a lot and a lot more. And if you pay attention, you’re going to know it and catch them in it.” ―Host of the Car Care Nut YouTube channel in a recent tell-all video episode.
Moreover, other mechanics and former Toyota employees are chiming in as well, backing up his observations.
I worked at a Toyota dealership as an automotive service advisor. We used aftermarket parts all the time in the service/repair of Toyotas. And you better believe they marked those prices up on parts. I was always so disgusted by this. Hence why I left.” ―@SibRevs
A New Wave of Dealership Repair and Maintenance Scams
In previous articles, we’ve discussed the tricks of the trade car dealerships resort to when it comes to selling new and used cars.
However, this pales in comparison with the tactics car dealership service centers use to cheat customers with maintenance and repair services that are outright fraudulent.
In short, charging overly marked-up prices on non-OEM parts when you are led to believe you are getting OEM parts to ensure that your Toyota is getting the best care possible.
New Dealership Scams You Should Be Aware Of, Summary
To help you understand what is going on, here is a summary of the latest Car Care Nut video with comments from other former employees about what they have seen going on with unsuspecting customers in their dealership service departments.
1. Lack of Transparency: Service Centers have switched to providing customers with non-itemized lists in their repair estimates to hide suspiciously high markups they are placing on the parts you are paying for. Only in the final repair bill will you see a breakdown of the charges―but by then, it’s already too late.
2. Overcharging on Parts Using the Non-Itemized Estimates: With any business that supplies parts, accessories, etc., of any type, you can expect some markup to help cover their expense for ordering and shipping/handling. However, the markups are hidden, and only by making a cost-comparison within the industry will you know whether the markup is overly inflated.
I went to the dealership to buy 2 front strut mounts for a 2017 RAV4 XLE . They wanted 368 dollars for those 2 mounts, but you can order them directly from Toyota parts for 98 dollars each. The local dealerships are out of control with parts markup.” @josealdecoa2417
Scummy Mazda dealership near me has a 400% markup on parts — I showed them the MSRP on a Mazda parts website and they halve their prices — so now only 200% markup! ―@theanimaster
3. Not Getting the OEM Parts You Paid For: It might seem reasonable to pay a marked-up price since you are getting an OEM part. But what if that part is not OEM?! Instead of only-OEM, your dealership service center could be buying discounted non-OEM parts from local parts stores they have an arrangement with to increase their profits with something that they are already overcharging you for.
At the Toyota dealership where I used to work, if parts are not in stock, NAPA parts were ordered. ―@MonkeyDelicious
I worked at a Lexus dealer for 14 years, and this video rings so true…aftermarket power steering fluid, brake fluid, and oil. ―@jasoncorkran6169
Related article: Everything You Need To Know About Saving Money Buying Toyota and Lexus Parts
4. Upselling Abuse Using “Free” Hooks: Anytime you take your Toyota in for its free oil change, tire rotation, or whatever it may be offered “free”, you have just taken the bait, and risk being snagged with this hook for an upsell that you do not need. The whole purpose of anything offered “free” at a dealership is to get you and your car in their web where the goal is to either find or create a problem with your car.
Let me tell you one thing. Nothing is free in life but the love of the Lord. Flat out. That’s the truth, folks.” ―Car Care Nut Host
Worked for Toyota dealership as a mechanic, gone through all their schools for a long time, so as for BMW, Honda, Jeep, and more dealerships……one word that is the most important on all dealerships is “UPSALE.” The more you sell as a mechanic, the more money you make as a flat-rate mechanic. ―@yiannimolonavepower
Toyota/Lexus service departments really have become the new kings of upselling unnecessary services and just outright lying to customers about bogus repairs. Just in the last year, I’ve saved three friends of mine around $11K in repairs that the Toyota techs and service writers were trying to tell them they needed, all of which were completely false or blown way out of proportion. A cam sensor seal is weeping oil, so you need an entirely new cylinder head, for one example. Disgusting. ―@JasonStovero3v
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5. The Multi-point Vehicle Checklist Lie: Never rely on a dealership service department for their multi-point vehicle checklist, whether it is provided free or even charged for as part of a pre-purchase inspection. Most service centers do not actually do them but claim they did, handing you a report stating everything is ok, when it really is not.
I don’t like multi-point inspections folks. It’s a disaster waiting to happen…because they’re one-size-fits-all and they usually miss half the stuff if you really follow the multi-point inspection.” ―Car Care Nut Host
One Source of Many of These Scams
While it is tempting to blame the mechanic who works on your car, this might not always be the case.
Several comments point the finger at the Service Advisors or Service Managers:
I worked at a multi-brand luxury dealership for six years. Until that time, I hadn’t realized that “Service Advisors” are primarily paid on commission. To me, that’s a monumental conflict of interest. Find a dealership/mechanic you trust…when in “doubt”, get a second opinion before paying to have your “blinker fluid” replaced! ―@miata1370
The reason why stupid service advisors that aren’t honest try to sell you extra s**t is because they’re based on commission. Management pushes them to sell more. They get bonuses and prizes at Dodge dealerships for doing this kind of s**t. Always go off your manufacturer’s suggested maintenance schedule. Also, get a second opinion if it’s something that’s expensive or if you’re questioning it. ―@Salmjam88
“I work for a Toyota dealership and we always use OEM fluids for everything except engine oil, which we use Mobil One for. I totally understand the parts markup. The shop rate is already $ 175 an hour. Why are we also overcharging for the parts?
None of it benefits the technicians, unfortunately, since the service advisors are the ones who are making over 6 figures on selling our work. Also, on the point of MPIs (Multi-Point Inspection). You hit the nail on the head: techs aren’t paid for them, so they will do them as quickly as they can so they can do work they’re actually paid for. Most of the time, a car will come in for an oil change and tire rotation, which pays 0.5 hours altogether, and then an MPI for nothing, so they will just briefly look over everything and only note obvious things like leaks or broken suspension components. There’s no motivation for them to take their time with the MPI because it only hurts them since it keeps them from doing work where they actually make money.” @wildcard3699
New Dealership Scams You Should Be Aware Of!
THE SOLUTIONS TO THESE SCAM PROBLEMS WITH TOYOTA
Here are some practical solutions for car owners to avoid these service department scams at Toyota dealerships (or any dealership), including those involving inflated pricing, deceptive parts use, and misleading service tactics:
Avoiding Parts Price Markups
- Ask for parts pricing up front and request it to be itemized.
- Cross-check part prices on Toyota’s official parts website or third-party OEM sites (e.g., RockAuto, ToyotaPartsDeal).
- Ask if you can supply your own parts if pricing seems excessive.
Detecting Non-OEM Parts Billed as OEM
- Request the original parts packaging or part numbers used in the repair.
- Ask the service writer to note “OEM parts only” on the work order.
- Keep old parts when possible; request this when you drop off the car.
“Free” Services That Discover (or create) New Problems
- Treat “free inspections” as upsell opportunities, not favors.
- If new issues are found, ask for photos, videos, or proof (e.g., brake pad thickness measurement).
- Get a second opinion from an independent mechanic before agreeing to major repairs.
Non-Itemized Repair Estimates
- Always ask for an itemized written estimate, including:
- Parts (with pricing)
- Labor hours and rate
- Shop fees
If they won’t itemize, take your business elsewhere as this is a red flag.
Maintenance Checklist Scamming
- Bring your owner’s manual or Toyota’s official maintenance schedule (available online by VIN or model/year).
- Compare the dealer’s checklist with Toyota’s and refuse unlisted services.
- Decline services like injector cleaning, coolant flushes, or transmission flushes unless specifically required by mileage/time.
- Take photos of the checklist areas before the inspection to see if someone at least touched the areas.
- Have the Service Manager sign the work order stating that the vehicle checks out in all areas noted by a green box or other indicator.
Avoid a Commission-Paid Service Manager
Unfortunately, there is not much you can do about this at a dealership service department; however, the message behind the video and the comments made by many posters is that it is always better to spend the time to find an independent mechanic or garage that you can trust, and never take your car to a dealership outside of warranty-covered repairs.
Now it’s your turn to speak your mind: Have you been scammed lately by Toyota or any other dealership with these types of tactics? Let us know about it in the comments section below.
Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati who currently researches and restores older vehicles, often incorporating engine modifications for improved performance. He also covers modern cars—including EVs—with a focus on DIY mechanics, tool use and selection, and other topics related to automotive repair. Follow Tim on Twitter (@TimBoyerWrites) and Facebook, for daily updates and insights on new and used cars and trucks.
Image Source: Deposit Photos
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Source: torquenews.com
