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Rogue Dealership Problem
One of the most common misconceptions of taking your particular make and model of car to a franchised dealership garage you bought a vehicle from is that you are in safer hands.
A franchised dealership is a car dealer with exclusive rights from a specific brand or manufacturer to sell new and used models to the public.
Buying from franchised dealership with the franchisees’ name preceding the make’s name such as Bob Dubb Toyota, Bob Dubb Ford, Bob Dubb Chevrolet, etc., is an implicit guarantee that their service center should provide better financing, car service and warranty protection, and exceptional customer service with a particular make of car.
In fact, automotive franchise owners are required to adhere to and comply with regulatory standards set by the auto manufacturer they are associated with.
If only this were a perfect world.
Prius Scam Alert
However, despite their association with a particular automaker, not all dealership garages or service centers are competent…or honest.
That was the message in a recent Toyota Maintenance YouTube channel where the host displays a 2018 Toyota Prius C brought in by an elderly owner. After going through the vehicle’s maintenance and repair servicing records, the host discovered that the dealership garage had been conning the car owner with a fake up-sale swindle on non-OEM parts and services not recommended by the auto manufacturer.
Related article: Biggest Scam Caught by an Honest Toyota Mechanic
In short, the dealership was not complying with Toyota policies in order to defraud car owners into paying for unneeded parts and services.
Related article: Car Repair Shop Scams You Need to Know About
The said parts and services involve:
1. A “Coolant Conditioner” that charged the owner an extra $24 plus tax and labor.
2. An “Engine Oil and Fuel System Conditioner” that charged the owner another $33 plus tax and labor.
Neither of which are Toyota OEM parts nor are even recommendations for maintaining a Prius.
Adding insult to injury, the garage failed to check and replace a cabin air filter with obvious mouse damage and never replaced the car’s engine air filter.
See It for Yourself
To see just how bad it was for the car owner, follow along with this video courtesy of the Toyota Maintenance YouTube channel that serves as a warning to car owners and the children of elderly parents who might discover that their parents are being scammed with similar cons.
I'm Mad! Don't fall for this scamm!
For additional articles on scams to watch out for, here are a few for your consideration:
- Repair Scams Only Another Mechanic Could Catch
- Second Opinion Reveals One Bad Repair and Two Toyota Dealer Scams
- Avoid This Common Car Repair Scam with a Simple Touch Test
Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on “Zen and the Art of DIY Car Repair” website, the Zen Mechanic blog and on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites and Facebook for daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.
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Image source: Deposit Photos
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