Friend got ripped off by Toyota dealer; how to report them?

Friend of mine posted on Facebook how she took her 2021 Rav4 to the local Toyota dealer (Toyota of Pullman) for an oil change and they charged her $160...

"Is $160.00 normal for a routine oil change ??
I went to the dealership and got an oil change and they told me they went to a full service oil change process. Normally 75 but I got a discount cause they didn't charge me for tire rotation. Doesn't include cost of oil, gaskets, labor, etc. So how is it really "full service"? So in short total cost was 160 for oil change and cabin filter. When I called all other Toyota dealerships and they were shocked it was so high. CDA Parker Toyota would have been less than half of the cost of the Toyota of Pullman. Literally so freaking crazy!"

"I should have quoted before but I thought most were about the same ... they even told me the washers had some corrosion on them and it would cost 50 bucks to replace them. I told them no to leave or and they still charged me 7 bucks to put them back on! This place was a rip off for sure!"

Other people chimed in and reported similar issues with this dealer. What is the best way to report this dealer to corporate?

 

did they give her an estimate before the work was done or did they do it and then hit her with the price? Does she have an itemized invoice for what they did?

 

Even $75 for an oil change is an absolute rip off

 

If she feels it was predatory or deceptive she could try filing a complaint with the state consumer protection office: https://www.atg.wa.gov/consumer-protection#:~:text=Overview,of unfair and deceptive practices.

I dont know if the higher cost is due to a lack of other dealers in the area and they think they have a hold on the market down there. Have you called this dealer to see what they would quote you for the work to see if it is the same price?

My dealer has a 2 or 3 pack of oil changes, is she sure she didn't inadvertently purchase one of those, they can be around $115-$120 if i remember correctly

 

Honestly good luck with anything happening for such a small amount.

No idea where to file a complaint but obviously move on to another dealer.

 

Leave it to your friend to figure out. Generally I find that inserting yourself in another adult's situation, especially one you know only one half of, is a shortcut to unpleasantness.

 

They're going to justify it by saying the cabin filter/labor was $80. Mark my words.

 

According to my last bill at Toyota dealership I paid $115.11 for the 4Runner.

 

I agree. The local Honda dealership saw my wife coming - they charged her $80 for a cabin air filter on one of her visits.

 

Make a report with your local Better Business Bureau. It’s a valuable resource many of us do not use anymore. Trust me not too many businesses want a bad rap with them.

 

Maybe she is hot?

 

Dodge dealership did the same thing to my wife. I was so mad I ripped it out, went to the service department and demanded a refund. They gave it to me.

 

You said it's a 2021 so it should have been free for the 2 years from Toyota.

 

Some dealers are scammers

 

what's the best way to report it to the corporate? just call corporate lol.

that said though, they will probably tell her that dealers are independently owned and operated and they set their own pricing. not a lot corporate can do except slap the dealer on the wrist. they dont own the dealers.

it's a 2021 so technically the vehicle should be covered under the 2 year maintenance program, but she could be past the coverage due to mileage.

best option is to 1) file a complaint with the BBB 2) find a new dealership or 3) find a reputable independent shop

 

Then OP should post pics

 

$160 for a Rav4 is nonsense. It takes 4.1 quarts of full synthetic oil...retail is 7 or 8 bucks a quart..round up to $40 with taxes and folks who say they paid $9 a quart.

A cabin filter for a Rav 4, oem MSRP, is $22.30.

So, basically the dealership charged $100 in labor...to drain oil and fill it back up, then replacing the cabin filter, which takes under a minute.

I'd tell your friend to go back and show the GM of the dealership what his employees did and what is he/she going to do about it. If the GM poo poos it, contest the charge and go on a social media blitz with her receipt and a description on what the dealership did.

 

Why is she taking it to a dealership to get the oil changed? You do that, you deserve what happens.

 

Toyota doesn’t touch my cars until they say it’s free first... I’d never pay them to do anything as their markup on parts is 20-40% and their markup on labor is 100 to 400%

 

Maybe if they came to my house and did it in my garage lol and that’s still a little to much. They would have to offer me 20% off before I’d let them come do it

 

Welcome to inflation!

 

That's the other thing; she said that the dealer she bought it from is 80 miles away and is too far to drive for the free oil changes. Apparently this dealer told her only the dealer that sold her the vehicle can do the free oil changes.

 

Sounds like one of them nitrogen and balance beads for the tires and blinker fluid places

 

I have known several dealer mechanics over the years and they admit dealers they have worked for are shady.
I am a lucky DIY service guy to have a nice garage/workshop available to work in. My old house pretty much required work in the driveway so I understand the need to farm it out. I can change the oil filter AND fuel filter in my Cummins which requires 3 GALLONS of oil for much less than $100 and that is using Rotella T4/T6 and high end Fleet Guard, Baldwin or WIX filters. BTW I have been running T6 or T4 in my 90 22RE (T4 for my old Honda ATVs too) for decades. I buy T4 in 5gal buckets for $70, haven’t found T6 in buckets yet but still looking. I get filters and sometimes other automotive fluids from ZORO for a good price, they are a great company to buy from.

 

Your title says $160 but the receipt is $115. This is all on her. If she didnt get a cost breakdown, its on her. If she didnt give auth for other services before hand, its on them. If she signed paperwork as she turned the vehicle over, and they performed services, its on her. The fact they broke down labor for an oil change is where I am confused. Every dealer I have ever dealt with has a "set" price for services like that.

Side note... if she isn't family and you "just friends" plus you arent getting laid, leave this problem to her or her father.

 

I think that was a different poster with the receipt, for a different service...

 

Post the receipt so we can see what they actually charged for. Sounds like she got a lot more done than an oi change and filter.

 

Nobody "deserves" to be ripped off.

 

Was she really ripped off? Did she sign the work order authorizing it to be done? Dealerships will not do anything until a client signs for work to be done. To easy to lose in court if she didn't sign the work order.

If she didn't sign the Work/Repair Order authorizing the work to be done, then she got ripped off. If that happened, I'm sure if she speaks to the service manager, he will gladly give her money back. But most likely she signed it authorizing the work to be done.

Can you post of pic of her invoice?

but like MeefZah said, let her figure it out...

 

I think some Toyota dealers will charge up to $60 just for the oil, I’ve seen them charge as much is $40 for a cabin air filter, $40-$60 for an engine air filter, and $40-$80 for rotating the tires.

It’s easy to see how you can spend up to 200 bucks, depending on what they did. I don’t think you are in California where charging $180 an hour for labor is routine.

Without posting an actual invoice, it’s hard to tell what happened.