Price of 30,000 schedule maintenance service

Boy am I disgusted. I paid $702 for my scheduled 30,000 mile service and then found out it can be as low as $198. Edmunds says it should be $188. Even Bellevue WA where I used to live for 35 years, and is an expensive place to live, was only $360.

Since this is the first maintenance I have ever paid, it was shocking and I feel taken advantage of. I had a 2009 Tacoma and was always under a free maintenance contract, and then with my 2011 was under the same free contract for the first 25,000 miles, so here I get my first maintenance bill to pay, with no prior comparisons, and it is a whopper for no good reason at all.

They included much more than is recommended in the Scheduled Maintenance Guide and didn't tell me anything about it. I feel like I was taken to the cleaners.

I am sure this is not representative of what Toyota wants to see and what other dealers do.

What have others paid for their 30,000 mile service on a 4WD Tacoma?

Richard

 

Wow. Did they at least give the reach around and use vaseline?
I bought almost everything from Amazon, spent a couple hundred IIRC, and an afternoon in the garage. Felt good knowing everything was actually completed and using good quality stuff as well.

 

What did they do for $700?

 

post a pic of the bill. you can block out the name of the dealer if ya want.

 

I just had my 30k service done at my favorite shop. I'd have done it myself, but I just didn't have the time and I don't want to put it off until 35K or 40k miles when I will have the time.

Anyhow, if you read the guide, it appears that on a 4x4, lubing the driveshaft, and changing the front/rear diff oil and xfer case oil is recommended at 30K. The shop looked up the 'recommended' service on their computer and those things showed up there. That's fairly labor intensive, AND the oil itself is expensive. So if they do that, it runs to quite a sum.

But here's the thing - if you read the fine print in the original maintenance guide you got with the truck - it's only recommended IF the MAJORITY of the operating time is in 4x4 off-road conditions.

That's why there's such a variation in expected prices.

You just need to go in fore-armed with the maintenance guide and know what services are actually required for YOUR PARTICULAR truck and make sure you're getting the right services.

But also, dealer labor rates (at least in my area) are up to $145 an hour, and even fairly simple jobs add up fast when you're paying that much per hour.

 

If you paid with a credit card, dispute the charge. But I would have told them there is no way I am paying this right then.

 

I paid 386, including extra labor because they have to remove my heavy aftermarket skid plates, and I had them be sure to tighten the 'propeller shaft' bolts (which IS a recommended service item) and the rear axle U Bolts (which is not) but all of which I've removed and reinstalled and were due to be checked.

But they didn't change any diff or transfer case oil for me.

 

I expect he signed off on the estimate at the time, and only found out later that it's a higher amount than some places might charge. That's going to be tough to dispute.

 

my tcase and tranny fluids looked great at 30k. i went ahead and changed out at the same time as the diffs though. Front and rear diffs looked nasty.

 

One final thought - click through on the "similar threads" link that shows up at the bottom of the page. Other folks have been through this before you.

 

Off of my dealers website. I would suggest doing what you can on your own to cut down cost. Yes you were taken to the cleaners:



CURRENT 30,000 mi * Required Scheduled Services
Replace engine air filter
Replace transfer case fluid (Severe
use/towing)
Inspect fuel system
Re-torque propeller shaft bolt
Lube propeller shaft
Inspect radiator core and condenser
Replace standard spark plugs
Replace fluid for both differentials
(Severe use/towing)
Rotate tires and inspect tire pressure
Replace engine oil and filter
Multi-point inspection
Visually inspect brake linings/drums
and brake pads/discs
Shop Supplies and Environmental Fees Sales Tax
Total $371.60


I forgot this as well:

Multi-Point Inspection 30,000 mi *
- Visually inspect brake linings/drums and brake pads/discs
- Inspect ball joints and dust covers
- Inspect drive shaft boots
- Inspect engine air filter
- Inspect steering linkage and boots
- Tighten nuts and bolts on chassis
- Reset the oil replacement light
- Fill fluids to proper levels
- Inspect brake lines and hoses
- Inspect engine coolant
- Inspect exhaust pipes and mountings
- Inspect steering gear box
- Inspect front differential oil (trucks at 15,000 miles cars at 60,000 miles)
- Inspect rear differential oil (trucks only)
- Inspect radiator core and condenser (trucks only)
- Check installation of driver's floor mat
Please Note:
- This schedule is based on your current driving habits. Should your driving habits change, please see your Dealer.
- For minimum maintenance requirements and applicable Special Operating Conditions, please refer to your Owner's Manual Supplement.
- All service prices include parts, lubricants and labor.
- 5w20 and 5w30 or, where applicable, 0w20 synthetic motor oil only. Waste disposal charges may apply.
- Maintenance recommendations and pricing are subject to change without notice.

 

I'm surprised they didn't walk you through everything they were going to do and the itemized cost. Every Toyota dealer I've been to in 3 states has done that. Might be time to try a different dealership.

 

I appreciate the first 10 responses to my exorbitant price paid for 30,000 mile service. I am writing a compliant letter and going to visit the dealer and present them with the facts and what I have discovered.

I wish I had paid by credit card, not debit card, but it was the first service I've ever paid for with Toyota.

The best advice is to take the scheduled maintenance items and ask them to only perform them and nothing else and to get a quote from a few dealers for comparison purposes.

I also found a service on www.Edmunds.com that shows the expected maintenance items and rates for the zip code I'm in. They showed $188.34 before taxes or extras for Toyota Tacoma 30,000 service for a 4WD.

Thanks,

Richard

 

I have found that if you find services lower at other dealerships most will match or beat prices.

 

this is one of the reasons I try and use an independent shop for my servicing.

 

Ouch...total for supplies plus a few tools: tq wrench, hose, and a socket adapter (snapped the POS one) was about $250. If I bought most off Amazon, probably would have been cheaper.

 

Sorry bro! Thats too much!!! i would do some research on the dealer and then go back an tell them to explain to all.

 

Holy hell which dealership was this at? When you are at 60K, PM me and I'll help you with most of those stuff since you are in the Bellevue area. I hate stealerships and that is why I did the 30K service myself.

 

I live in Spanaway, WA. Not too far from Seattle. Where would you suggest I go for a full service that is fair price? The Toyota dealer in Tacoma wants about $795. I just bought my 2005 Tacoma last week and rolled to 135000 today and feel it would be wise to go ahead and get a full service done.

 

find an independent mechanic who won't screw you over...