Every Time I Take My Toyota 4Runner To The Dealer For An Oil Change, They Tell Me I Need A New Cabin Air Filter, They Aren’t Getting Me Again

They're do every 15k miles according to Toyota. Depending on environment, they very well could be due every oil change. Furthermore, a low quality parts store filter is likely cheaper but you get what you pay for.

I had a 2005 Mazda 6 the engine blew before 30000 miles, I did the oil changes myself so I didn't have proof, I had to pay to replace the engine, I decided I would have the dealer change the oil from now on, Their "Technician" told me he found metal shavings in the oil and suggested an oil flush, I told him "Nah, I think you need to replace the engine" Huh? Yeah, That's a new engine and, Yeah if you found metal shavings I'm afraid that engine might fail too! I had a meeting with the dealership owner and told her, " I think your trying to rip me off, Replace the engine!" No argument, Engine was replaced. My guess is their "Technician" was replaced too!

Yep, running boards purchased at dealer during my first scheduled maintenance visits on my 2021 new Highlander. I am a research junkie and would not typically purchase an after market add-on at a dealer. However, after bringing in vehicle for that maintenance visit, I wandered the small shop they have, and don't you know they had the boards I wanted and at a price hard to resist. When asking what they would change to install, also a price I couldn't resist. Plus, they could install while I continued to wait.
My research had indicated an installation of these boards on a Highlander is a four letter process, but doable with many hours of patience.
I sighed off on the Xtra purchase and install and began to wait. An hour and a half into it, I received a visit in the showroom from my 'Team Leader' with the unfortunate news that my maintenance review resulted in finding a nail in the sidewall of one of these almost new tires. Of course not covered under warranty. Awŵwwwŵ they found a way of charging me more for what they realized was less than they probably could or should be charging for this running board purchase/install. Not being allowed in the shop, they showed me a picture of the tire with nail in side. Called husband, he says no to a plug on sidewall, makes sense. So I agree to new tire and continue to wait.
Another hour plus goes by and I receive an additional team leader visit. He shares with me that they need quit a bit more time for board install. I picked it up next morning.......Could not tell for the life of me which was the new tire, as they all had still most of their rubber tit's.
I continued my warranty scheduled oil change and tire rotation visits. Now grateful I need them no more.

Had the same experience with Valvoline Oil Change. They said i needed a new cabin filter and showed me the dirty one. About 6 months later (because of the smell coming from the air system) I changed the filter myself. Which to my surprise can only be changed from inside the cabin. They never came inside the cabin at Valvoline, which means they never showed me my dirty filter, nor did they change it!

They do that to me also. I tell them thanks for letting me know and that I can change it myself. My service guy understands. I'll go home look at it shake and or blow it out, even replace with another brand if really dirty. No rbkem.

No not all dealerships rip people off but engineering has built in problems that can only be fixed by a dealership or good mechanic! My 2017 Tundra 4 runner started having headlights dim over a few months till I was only able to drive with high beams and then not a single person flashed me for blinding them. Cost to replace bulbs? $12-1,500!!! Why because the engineers in their infinite wisdom decided to require the entire front end of the vehicle be removed in order to replace the $100 bulb!! Talk about piss pour engineering! Guess Toyota would have a different opinion!😡

On my 2019 Toyota 4 runner when is was new I took my truck to have them change the oil I was out of town in Florida. I took it to (Hollywood Toyota in Hollywood) . On 441 they change the oil but I didn't realize that they removed the bottom plate and never reinstalled it I realized it in N.J one week after. When I was removing snow from under the truck I call the dealership no one return my call or heard from them. Nothing i can do I'm to far away. But never going to that dealership.

The dealer said I have to have my brakes cleaned.

Same hing happened to me, replaced cabin filter myself 2 weeks before taking Rava 4 in for scheduled service and told them specifically not to replace filter. Did it anyway, complained, so didn't get charged. Never checked it to see if they actually did. Better yet, while I was waiting they told me I needed 4 new tires! They only had 15k miles on them!

Keep in mind most dealerships, for sure Toyota...they don't check the items they ask you to replace, if they don't see a change in the service book, they will just add it in your service charges, even if the actual item they want you to change doesn't need changing. I went to Toyota they said I need cabin filter I said no I don't I changed it last week...they said oh ok... 🤦 Just because a year ago ther last service was showing cabin filter change was not done, they just went and tried to charge me for it without checking the actual filter. What does that tell you? Simply that half the things they change might not even need changing...

I thought it was just me they tell me the same one time I got 2019 filter change with oil change they told me again. I told them it got change last I hate going there I got camary. They are a scam I thought they was be racist Easley SC

Subaru does this as well. My Outback went in for a regular oil-change, and a bit later the rep comes out and shows me my "dirty" cabin air filter, asking if I want them to change it. If I say yes, I end up with an extra $70 charge on the bill.

And then I figured out what was going on... They went to the little bit of work that it took to remove the existing filter, and if I say yes to them changing it, they grab a new one (that might cost $20 at the dealer) stuff it into the slot, and close it up, and next charging me an additional $50 for the labor. Were I to say "No, don't change it." they would just stuff the old one back into the slot, close it up and not charge me a penny.

In other words, they do all the labor, and then only charge you for it if you buy their overpriced filter (you can get them on Amazon for under $10 each, usually). The hardest part of the job was opening the glove-box a bit wider than normal, and labor was a total of 5 minutes max to pull the filter out and put it back in.

More than likely the tech didn't inspect it and went off the service history and maintenance schedule which some techs will do if the glovebox is full. Especially when it's a licensed tech since we run off flat rate times not an hourly wage no excuse to not inspect it but at that point I would ask if the filter has been replaced since last service.

Same with me. I had changed both the engine air filter and the cabin filter the night before. Drove about 1 or 1.5 miles to the dealer for a recall appointment. They marked it down as dirty as well. I laughed and said they are crazy.

I know the car industry well. My family owns 26 new car dealerships and countless other businesses. I did not go into the business because I did not wish to not live up north. But I've always sworn by Toyotas. I used to like Hondas but now they are too cheaply made. I would never buy a new Toyota. Is there taking out all their great engines and replacing them with much smaller engines with turbos. That's going to be a disaster for owners as these turbos are going to fail. Just like all the CVT transmissions out there fail. I had my Toyota Sequoia serviced at Scott Clark Toyota in South Charlotte for years and I felt very comfortable because I had a great service writer who I trusted. He was extremely honest and because of it I would always bring him in some venison. He was gone on a sabbatical and I had to bring my Sequoia back to the dealership. I was waiting in the customer lounge when he and another service writer teamed up on me and told me that I had to have a new steering assembly as mine was leaking oil. Before covid that was $1200. Also that my valve covers were leaking and that this week would most likely lead to an engine fire and I needed to get these done ASAP. He also told me that I must change the cabin filter or it's going to lead to some really negative consequences with my family's health. Growing up I worked in all departments of my dad's Chevy dealership + we had other dealerships as well. Including Honda. Over the years and through high school and through my summer vacations I worked in the parts department, the used car prep department, the new car prep department and when I got my license I actually moved into sales and went on to f&I school in Chicago. So I knew what these two guys were doing. I was calm and I said I was going to get a second opinion on that cuz I think they are wrong. They said they were weren't and focused on the health problems. The cabin filter would cause me if I didn't change it. I very calmly looked at them both and told them I'm walking out to the service department. I'm not going to let my vehicle out of my sight. I want it now. I want the keys in my hand. I don't want them touching it. I looked at them both as they looked at me as though they were astonished. The Toyota Sequoia in this year does not have a cabin filter. Shame on you. Get me my vehicle. I'm not paying a thing and I left and never went back. That was Scott Clark Toyota off East Independence boulevard just south of 485 Charlotte, North Carolina. I have not been back to a dealer since I find local guys that used to work at the dealerships that couldn't take it either but they're certified and amazing. In fact, I just had a new engine dropped into my 2004 Lexus GX470 that had 80,000 mi on it for five grand and now this is the only vehicle I'll probably end up driving through the rest of my life. Dump the dealerships. And never pay above sticker and don't even do that. People are idiots and they were and they start to pay all these dealer fees. I've never paid a dealer fee and I wouldn't pay one. I walk first. Nitrogen and the tires? What a hoax. Car dealers and politicians are still the most crooked people out there, but you have to include bankers and money managers. In some cases. Other money managers are great. What a dishonest world this has turned into. I am so glad I was born when I was born. This whole world has become a scam on the internet. The car dealers and politicians feed right into it and all they do is lie to us.

Took my 4 Runner to a Toyota dealership in Boston MA. They said there was a "hole" in my transmission housing so I needed a new one. I took the car to a transmission replacement company - no hole, not even a leak. I'm 60k miles past that advice....

I have a 2015 Toyota Corolla "S" and I was told by my dealer that I had a boot leaking oil from a front Strut and the cost would be $900.00 I said ok. I took it to a Wheel Alignment/Brake specialist and they said nothing is leaking. I brought it back to Toyota and told them and they didn't only look upset, but told me that it was someone that just started working there. Always get a second opinion and or someone that specializes in that area!

It's not just Toyota, Nissan of San Bernardino is doing the same thing. I had it happen to me. The crazy part is Nissan damage my glove box and then said they didn't do it because they never go in there, but it's part of the Synthetic Oil Change along with rotating tires which they did not do. My question is as consumers, what can we do to stop this madness? It's not fair and it's false advertisement. Can't a class action lawsuit come from this if you have proof as many of millions of people have?

I took our Toyota Corolla in for an oil change, during the oil change the mechanic drove the car around the block with no oil in it!
We had custom ordered special edition Corolla. It was serviced by the book at the dealership, all receipt kept. The car was 10 years old but had only 50k miles on it. It was generally serviced on time rather then mileage.
Anyways I took the car in for servicing, they put it up on a hoist and drained the oil. Rather the stay at the dealership, I went to a nearby park. After a bit I saw our car drive by. I figured, its a test drive and its done. When I got back to the dealership they tell me the car is not done and I see the mechanic starting to add oil to the car..I rushed in and pulled the oil stick ...No Oil !!!. I confronted the mechanic which brought in the service manager, which brought me to Dealship manager..Compression tests show the engine was damaged..I wanted a new engine.... they wanted to make it right and sell us a new car at a bad discount. I took the car home and parked it on the street....Over the next weeks the dealer did not budge. Phone calls and emails to Toyota went nowhere. I was getting ready to go to court. Then a drunk plowed into the parked car...Silver lining, the Insurance paid top dollar when the found it was a special edition and all the service records in the car...
Now after the whole event I am left wondering something because of the things the dealership said...Did they try to "wear out" our car, so that as loyal customers, we would buy a new car from them?

Read your owners manual and look at the recommended maintenance due to mileage!!!! That is what they are telling you! They have no idea if you had it changed last week they are just trying to get you to do the recommended maintenance due to mileage !!!!!!

I drive a 2004 4Runner with 275K miles. At 60K, my dealer told me that my power steering rack was leaking and I needed a new one when I was getting an oil change. $1400. I still have the original power steering rack and Ive changed my own oil ever since. At 110K, my steering got really hard to turn. I thought my power steering pump went out. I YouTubed the problem, I had to grease my steering link shaft. F the dealer

I am pretty handy when it comes to vehicle maintenance and have done most of it myself on previous vehicles. My current vehicle has a lifetime power train warranty through the dealership but to keep that warranty all required maintenance listed in the owners manual must be done by ASE certified personnel. So I limit any maintenance done by the dealer to only the required in the manual and take care of all the recommended maintenance myself. I purchased factory running boards and asked about cost of installing, they quoted 6 hours labor. The work consisted of removing 8 total nuts placing the running board on the studs and then replacing the nuts. Took meesa than 20 minutes to install both running boards myself. Dealers take advantage of those with lack of knowledge and/or laziness when they quote how long task take.

Exact same thing to me. I had just changed both my air filters. Amazingly the dealership needed $120 to change them immediately. Toyota may build a good car, but their dealership service departments pull this scam constantly it seems.

I have a 2020 Toyota Tundra with 45K miles. I took my Tundra too the Toyota Dealership in Chadds Ford PA. I average a little above 8K miles a year and I was told that for me to service my Truck it would cost me a little less than $5000 dollars and $2000 for a set of tires. The service manager told me that if I buy 3 tires they would give me the 4th for a dollar. Supposedly I need my 4x4 suspension serviced as well as all the filters in my truck. Including $80 to change windshield wipers. All of this made me skeptical about taking my truck to the dealership

The price isn't shocking at all. It probably says 0.3 hours in the book. So thats what you're getting charged for the job. So 0.3x$130=$39. $39+$15=$55 (plus tax, or about the $62 you were charged).
While I know, it doesn't take 0.3 for those ones, thats how it works, especially if you go to the dealer where its flat rate.
Those are the things the mechanic will sell you cause they'll take him mins to do, if he even does it. And he'll get paid for about 12 mins time for the job, even though it only took him 2 mins.

I just visited the Toyota dealership where I bought my 4 Runner. I was told my oil change would cost 104.00.i really cannot understand why it cost so much. I told the advisor to cancel my appointment. I called another Toyota dealership and was able to get another appointment the next day. I did have a coupon for an oil change for 49.99. They also did a video of things that they said that I needed performed and sent it to me while I was there. I have serious issues with my normal dealership. I think I am going to try a local oil change shop.

Where is this Toyota Dealership? Why is it not listed in this "REAL" news story?

I had a bad experience with a Toyota dealer also. I bought a new Corolla with the protection package , undercoating, rustproofing, interior and paint protection. I checked the work and found undercoating was done, (by an outside vendor), rustproofing was spraying something into the small drain holes in the 4 doors and that was it, no rustproofing anywhere else, interior protection was spraying the carpets that are completely covered with floor mats,when questioned, the service manager said they sprayed under the floor mats, that's it, nothing on the seats, dash, or door panels. The paint protection was basically washing the car, I sprayed water on the car when I got home and it didn't bead up anywhere. You can tell they didn't do anything to the paint. I went back to the dealership and questioned the service manager and he told me that that is all they do for the protection package. I told the dealership manager that I wanted my money back and he asked if I would let them do the job again. I told him no because they didn't do it right the first time and I would have to be there and watch them. I told him they are thieves and they give validity to the name, stealer dealer, i asked them about msds papers for every chemical they have on site and he was clueless. I did get $690. back of the $900 I paid them. I own a 2009 truck that I maintain, the paint is like glass, the interior is like new, I had it rustproofed with New Hampshire oil. It has 139k miles on it. I feel bad for the people that are constantly getting ripped off by these dealerships. They all try to sell parts or services that aren't needed. I would bet there are 1 out of 20 honest dealerships out there.
It is not just automotive industry, any service type business has the ability to rip off the public. Honesty went out of the window and greed has taken over. I am 70 years old and have repaired everything that I can and learned that I don't trust anyone and trust has to be earned. Question everything a dealership or service person says and tell them to show you the proof and take pictures of what they say is wrong.