A trip to the repair shop left one California driver facing an unbelievable bill.
The family took their 2017 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid AWD with 82,000 miles to a shop they regularly used for basic maintenance. But this visit ended with a repair list so extensive that the family questioned whether the SUV really needed all that work.
With a powertrain warranty that might cover the rear differential, the family took the SUV to a Toyota dealership for a second opinion. Technicians there reached a very different conclusion.
Unsure what to fix, the owner’s husband shared their experience on Reddit on October 5, 2026. He asked for advice on how to make sense of the conflicting recommendations.
Two Different Answers
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Looking for thoughts and advice, one shop says $13k in repairs, dealership says no repairs needed.
by
u/Buildinggam in
MechanicAdvice
According to the husband, the independent shop recommended roughly $13,000 in repairs. The list included wheel hub bearings, brake pads, rotors, and shocks at all four wheels, along with the front lower control arm bushings and front-left CV axle. The shop also suggested replacing the rear differential because they said it was making noise.
The shop gave the family photos and videos to back up its findings. Looking them over, the husband could see cracks in the control arm bushings and what looked like a small leak near the CV axle. Still, the bushings weren’t torn, and none of the shocks appeared to be leaking.
When the husband picked up the RAV4, dealership technicians walked him through their inspection. They acknowledged that some parts showed wear but said they didn’t need replacing right away. Their only suggestion was a possible wheel alignment to address uneven wear on the rear tires.
Taking It Further
After reviewing the dealership’s findings, the husband contacted California’s Bureau of Automotive Repair, which oversees repair shops in the state.
A representative suggested filing a formal complaint about the independent shop’s recommendations and explained that mechanics should have measurable evidence before declaring certain parts defective, such as checking a ball joint for excess movement.
The husband did not say whether he filed a formal complaint against the independent shop.