Honda Dealership Tells Woman She Needs New Brake Fluid Every 2 Years. Is That Even Remotely True?

A woman at the Honda dealership for routine service was told her vehicle is overdue for a brake fluid change, which should happen every two years. She wants to know if this is true.

TikTok creator Brooke (@brookemcgee_) posted a video from her local Honda dealership on October 10. She whispers into the camera, "You know what I hate? Slimy car dealership people who try to convince me to get things done to my car that I do not need."

What is Brooke referring to? She says, "This woman told me I need a brake fluid change. And I said, ‘When am I supposed to get that?’ She said, ‘Every two years or every 30,000 miles.’ I said, ‘My car has 21,000 miles on it, so can I wait? I’ve had the car for four years.’"

Brooke continues, "To which she said I should’ve already definitely had a brake fluid change. Get the car guys, please tap in."

Viewers React to the Honda Dealership’s Brake Fluid Change Advice

In the comments section, some viewers said the dealership employee was more likely trying to be helpful and not actually slimy at all.

"As a salesperson, I can tell you you’re exactly right," joked one viewer. "Don’t get any maintenance ever. Not even an oil change. Make sure you void your warranty."

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A second person said, "You know what I hate? Customers who don’t understand cars and automatically assume everything is a scam. Do you tell your doctor he’s wrong and trying to scam you when he suggests something? Same thing here. Mechanics are the car doctors."

"Yeah, she said two years or 30K miles," said a third viewer. "The fluid degrades over time even if you don’t drive enough. Four years on the same brake fluid is crazy."

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How Often Should You Change Your Vehicle’s Brake Fluid?

According to Jiffy Lube, car owners should generally have their brake fluid changed every two to three years or approximately every 45,000 miles. The key is to check the owner’s manual for your specific make and model to determine what’s best for your car.

And is it really that big of a deal to go without a brake fluid change for an extended period of time? In short, yes. Jiffy Lube explains that the chemistry of brake fluid changes over time due to age, which can impact how your brakes function. That, of course, can lead to a safety risk. Not only that, but you can consider it preventative maintenance that helps you avoid other, more serious issues down the line.

Of course, car enthusiasts online offer mixed opinions on this subject. Some Reddit users posting to a r/MechanicAdvice thread on the subject said it’s a modern phenomenon likely tied to legal liability. Other drivers said they actually take the fluid change schedule in their owner’s manual seriously and follow it exactly.

One Reddit commenter said, "I always recommend every 2 years, but pushing it to 3 is not terrible. For people on tight budgets, with every fluid due, I recommend to do other fluids like transmission or differential fluids before brake fluid."

Motor1 contacted Brooke and Honda via email for comment. We’ll update this if either responds.

 

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