Fiona Foster

Review of Mark Miller Toyota

Wow. Mark Miller's service department is the epito...

Wow. Mark Miller's service department is the epitome of a rip off. On my first visit, I was initially impressed by the detail of their diagnostic report on my car, delivered straight to my email in a handy PDF, complete with prices. What I was not happy about, however, was that they charged me top dollar for a set of new tires. I suppose that's my fault... I should have known better, or at least done my research.

Now, here's the kicker: my Prius dies unexpectedly. I get towed to the dealership. They run a diagnostic on my car, and tell me that my hybrid battery needs to be replaced. I agonize. I research. I explore other options. Much to my relief, I find another shop in the West Valley that specializes in hybrid repairs. I get towed there, and after they run their diagnostic, it turns out that my car ran out of gas, and the battery was not, in fact, dead. Hmm, well, that's interesting. So I ask about the air filter for the battery fan, which the dealership claimed was "dirty" and covered with "lint and debris" and thus largely contributed to the hybrid battery failure. The other autoshop said my fan was fine... in fact, it was CLEAN! That assessment made much more sense, as I've kept my car meticulously clean and well maintained since I purchased it used two years ago. Not only that... but the other autoshop quoted a new battery at $600 less than Mark Miller, with a 3 year warranty instead of Toyota's wimpy 1 year warranty.

I realize that car dealerships are frequently complained about, especially in the case of a very annoying (and expensive) hybrid battery failure. I'm writing this review because I'm appalled at the lack of honesty and expertise I experienced in my two visits to Mark Miller, and am absolutely sure I will not return. Ever. I advise others to do the same... especially for service needs.