Dealership full of crap on Service?

2021 Tacoma Sport.. bought in March.. no I don’t drive a lot! 1600 miles . I can do my own maintenance but I am taking the 4 “free” services.. Trying to schedule my first but keep giving me the runaround.. it doesn’t have enough miles, etc. There Are other things that need addressing after coming from the factory , rotation . Torquing etc.. Your Thoughts?

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I have a 2020 Sport and it only has 1800 miles on it. Haven't done a thing to it and don't intend to until the mileage requires it. Don't worry about it losing the "free" services. When you believe it needs servicing, then get it done, "free" or not.

 

Personally I would skip the dealership service and do it myself. Just make sure you follow the recommendations in the manual and document your work, that way if something happens in the future we can show you followed the rules.

 

Those freebies are tire rotation at 5000 miles and a oil change at 10. I would wait for the tire rotation , but I'm not going 10 before an oil change. Just my .02 worth.

 

During my 20K free oil change, the dealer stripped the threads on my skid plate bolts. In this case, free was not worth the price.

 

I skipped the free services on my ‘20. I did the first oil & filter change myself a year ago at 5K mikes. Getting ready to do another now since it’s been a year.

I have other vehicles which don’t get a lot of miles on them, but I generally make sure they get an oil change annually. OP in your case I would wait until it’s been a year.

 

Included 5K services are from Toyota, not a dealer. A dealer bills Toyota for those "free" services. You need to pay as a regular oil change or do it yourself.

 

I was the same way having less than 5k miles for my 1st service visit. Had to pull teeth just to get it in for an oil change and tire rotation. Once in all was good except they said the oil filter was changed due to the low mileage. They replaced it at 9k miles and change on the 2nd visit along with the tire rotation, and this multi page vehicle inspection while topping off any fluids. 3rd visit was about 20 minutes for just a tire rotation telling me all was good. Just received an email last week to schedule my final service visit. L doubt i'll be back as we have a really good toyota certified napa garage closer by i already bring our prius to.

 

My 2017 just turned 11k miles. I've always done my own maintenance.

 

Toyotacare is good for the free oil changes and the $3 cabin filter they put in at 20K miles. Also was helpful for me in the case of an ECU update which improved my transmission. Otherwise, don't expect them to be going out of their way. It's an opportunity for you to decide if you want to keep returning after the free stuff is over. I was glad to have it, honestly.

 

I've seen several posts where they stripped out the oil drain. I'm not sure I trust em.

 

I'm at 6300 miles/5mos on the truck. I go in tomorrow for a couple issues. My interior lights computer fried when I pulled and replaced the dome light bulb and a few days later my TPMS system quit reading and then finally threw a code. Could be interrelated. Ironically, they offered to do my Toyota Service at the same time but the writer did strongly recommend the oil change at 10k. I told her I had already changed the oil twice, once at 1000 and then just at 5000.

I'll take it in at 10k to have them rotate and go through and document all the recommended checks but I will be doing the oil change myself.

 

I was in the same place as you. Purchased a 2021 in December 2020. I have about 1800 miles on my truck. Since it has been a year I changed the oil. That was advice i was given during my early years. Not sure if that is correct in this day and age but I guess I still believe in that general principal. Make sure you have the proper tools for the oil change. This was my first time with the Toyota oil change procedure with these vehicles.

I would also recommend that you at least remove all 4 wheels. I was swapping out all 4 and putting on my snow tires. 3 out of 4 came off relatively easily. The one that would not was one of the hardest removals that I have ever experienced. Had to use a heat gun on the hub to free it up.

 

I've never had an issue. Last car was a Subaru and had them do the first free one at 2k. This Tacoma they said I can get the first one whenever. They are doing it Jan 5th with a little over 2k miles on it.

The only reason they are touching it is because it's free. It's usually so many miles or so many months. Sorry to hear about this. Stealerships are terrible. Even the "better" ones like mine, you gotta watch them and be specific. But it seems like yours are being pricks for no reason. I'll go another 3k after the change they do, then I'll put on my baxter stuff and go 3-5k from there. If you bought it in march, and only have 2k miles on it, they should change your oil. That's 9 months. Isn't it usually like 6 months?

What dealer exactly is this? Location & name.

 

My ‘16 hasn’t been back to the dealer since I bought it new with 10 miles (now at 71k). Did the oil changes etc myself as it was cheaper to buy the stuff and do it myself than dedicate hours at a dealership...let alone the risk they screwed something up.

 

The maintenance guides show mileage and time. First oil change at 10kmi or 1 year. I'd remind them that you're asking for them to follow Toyota's maintenance manual.

EDIT- First service is a waste. It's the 10kmi/1yr that you need to force them to do.

 

8 some years ago, I bought a Matco 24" long 1/2" drive flex head ratchet. Stopped wrenching, got into industrial maintenance 7 years ago. I have never used that ratchet ever since.

I bought a 2019 Tacoma in October, Toyota Certified Pre-Owned. Dealer did a fresh oil change and tire rotation prior I took delivery of the truck.

Fast forward to last week, after 5000 miles, I was ready to do the oil change.

I had to dig the big ratchet out to use it, twice! First on the oil filter, yes I have the correct filter wrench. Then, the lug nuts. My high torque model

$116 Milwaukee M18 Cordless Lithium-Ion 6-1/2" Circular Saw - 2630-20 - ( MILWAUKEE ) - BARE TOOL

Milwaukee M18 Fuel 1/2" impact only took out 3 out of the 24 lug nuts.

So, OP, screw them. Do it yourself.

And, please remember, the 2 year "free Toyota Care", they only change the oil and filter on 10k and 20k miles, top off oil on 5 and 15k miles.

 

My dealer told me up front that miles didn't matter that I get 2 free oil changes regardless.

 

i used my 4 free services but i wasnt pleased with half of them one tire rotation i lost 2 lug nuts and after seeing that i torqued the rest and found a few loose

another oil change and the tech didnt lub up the oil filter housing O ring and it split so i had oil leaking a day after the service.

ive always done my own oil changes + other services/maintenance and have been hesitant to let shops touch my truck and this just confirmed it.