‘You Can Make These Monthly Payments’: Dealership Tells Woman She Needs $4,000 Of Car Repairs. Then She Calls Her Dad

A woman says she lost trust in her dealership after a nearly $4,000 repair estimate left her questioning whether all of the recommended fixes were actually needed.

Darci (@darci_with_an_i) shared her experience after a trip to the dealership for a check engine light turned into a much bigger repair quote than she expected.

“Dishonest mechanics lying to customers,” she wrote in the text overlay of her TikTok.

Darci says she initially took her car in because her radiator fan was “running like crazy” and then her check engine light came on. She says she went to the dealership, which she called her “first mistake,” because she already knew that dealerships are often more expensive than independent shops.

According to Darci, the dealership told her she needed a new thermostat, which would cost $600. But after a “complimentary inspection,” she says she was also told there was a leak in her coolant line, adding another $600.

Then came another recommended repair: Darci claims the dealership told her that her two front struts had seized up—which would cost another $2,700.

With the total approaching $4,000, Darci says the dealership offered a plan in which “you can make these monthly payments,” which she described as “very pushy and sales-y.”

Still, Darci says she initially agreed to the thermostat and coolant repairs before calling her dad, who is a former mechanic. She says he offered to look into the coolant issue himself and suggested she move forward with replacing only the thermostat.

After inspecting her car, Darci says her dad found everything was “bone dry” and questioned why the dealership said there was a coolant leak.

“I trust him wholeheartedly,” Darci says of her dad. “I feel very confident there’s no leak.”

But the experience, she says, made her question whether she could trust the recommendations she received from her dealership. Darci added that she believes “women in general,” are more likely to be taken advantage of during vehicle repairs.

She also suggested some shops may assume she can afford more expensive repairs because she drives a nicer vehicle.

How Do You Know If A Repair Is Necessary?

Getting a long list of recommended repairs can certainly be overwhelming, especially when the bill suddenly jumps from a few hundred to thousands of dollars.

But not every recommendation means your car is unsafe to drive. Some repairs are corrective, while others may be preventative maintenance or issues that you or a trusted mechanic can monitor.

That’s why it is important to ask questions before approving expensive work, as some viewers also suggested. If a shop says something needs replacing or fixing, drivers can ask to see—with their own eyes—what the technician found and how serious the issue is.

Your vehicle’s owner’s manual can also help separate required maintenance from suggested services. Automakers provide maintenance schedules that outline when certain parts and fluids should typically be checked or replaced.

For larger repairs, getting a second opinion can also help. Fixxr recommends getting a fully itemized estimate and asking the mechanic to share the brand and part numbers before authorizing repairs.

In the end, doing that worked out in Darci’s favor. And while a second opinion does not automatically mean the first diagnosis was wrong or a technician was lying, it can help drivers feel more confident before committing to an expensive repair.

Viewers Debate Repair Estimate

Commenters who watched Darci’s video were divided, with some saying they understood why the experience made her question the dealership’s recommendations.

“They lied [to] you,” one person wrote.

“Never take your car to the dealership…” another added. “They’re nicknamed ‘stealership’ for a reason.”

Others focused specifically on the price of the repairs.

“2,700 for struts is a mega scam,” one viewer wrote.

Some commenters suggested getting more information before agreeing to expensive repairs.

“I always ask for them to show me,” one person said.

Another quipped it was “second opinion time.”

However, not everyone believed the dealership was necessarily trying to mislead her.

“They may have just fixed it for you,” one commenter wrote. “We do that sometimes, even though all people do is talk [expletive] about us. There’s no point in doing a thermostat without fixing the coolant leak.”

Others focused on the original problem she brought the car in for.

“Replace the thermostat,” one viewer suggested.

Another commenter said that this won’t be the first or last time someone feels misled by a dealership.

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“That’s going to happen for the rest of time,” they wrote.

Motor1 has reached out to Darci via direct message on TikTok. We’ll update this story if we hear back.

 

 

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