‘Who’s really scamming me?’: Man gets two different service recommendations from two Toyota dealerships on the same car in 24 hours

A TikTok creator named Letsgodotcom went viral after posting a two-part video series exposing a questionable service recommendation from a Toyota dealership. He took his Toyota in for routine service and caught the advisor in a contradiction within minutes. When he asked for a copy of his write-up to get a second opinion, he was refused, so he drove to a different Toyota dealer the next day.

The first TikTok video shows Letsgodotcom explaining that a service advisor recommended two add-on services: a brake fluid flush and an EFI throttle body service. The advisor told him these are usually done at the 30,000-mile service, and since his car was at 32,000 miles, they were recommending it now. But Letsgodotcom had already had his 30,000-mile service done at a different Toyota dealership.

“I got that 30,000-mile maintenance a while ago,” he said, according to Motor1. “So, why do I really need that right now?” When he pushed back, the advisor told him “the technician saw,” but Letsgodotcom was never shown an inspection summary. He was then refused a copy of the recommended services write-up when he asked for it.

Getting a second opinion from another Toyota dealer proved the first one wrong

The second video, posted the next day, has drawn more than 15,400 views. Its caption reads: “Part 2 which Toyota dealer is scamming me.” Letsgodotcom drove to a different Toyota dealer, where the service advisor told him he does not need an oil change or a brake fluid flush. On the EFI throttle body service, the second advisor confirmed it is not necessary right now and that it would have been checked in a multipoint inspection. 

Toyota’s long-standing reputation for reliability is part of why owners trust dealership service advice, but whether Toyotas still live up to that reputation is something mechanics have complicated opinions about.

Two Toyota dealerships gave him two completely different answers on the same car within 24 hours. A brake fluid flush is a legitimate Toyota 30,000-mile service item, but the EFI throttle body service is more questionable. Commenter T13thy, who identified as a technician, was direct: “EFI is just snake oil. Can’t visually check it without removing the intake and no tech gonna do that.”

Service advisors at dealerships work largely or entirely on commission from services sold, which creates a direct incentive to pitch services on the margins. The Federal Trade Commission has long advised car owners to always ask for a written copy of the technician’s inspection notes before approving anything, compare it against their own service history, and get a second opinion for expensive or unfamiliar work. 

Dealership oil change intervals are another area where owners should pay close attention, as Toyota’s recommended oil change schedule has drawn warnings from mechanics who say it can shorten engine life.

Letsgodotcom took photos of his documentation instead of waiting for the shop to hand it over and then did exactly what the FTC suggests by visiting a second dealer. As he says in his video, “If I really need it, they would be recommending me the same stuff, right? And if they do recommend it to me, I want them to show it to me – because the last place, they didn’t even want to give me the order form.”

Any reputable dealership should be willing to provide a written copy of the technician’s inspection notes without hesitation. Being cautious of any advisor who refuses to hand over documentation or who is pushy about selling services is an important step every car owner should take before approving any repair work.