The Ultimate Guide to Buying a Used Toyota: One Owner’s Shocking Story of Repair Bills Doubling the Car’s Purchase Price

For those without ample financial resources, buying a used car is often the first choice. In reality, this is a sensible option as it helps buyers save a significant amount of money compared to stretching their finances for a brand-new vehicle.

However, beyond the price advantage, used cars come with a higher risk of breakdowns compared to new cars. For extremely old cars, repair costs can even exceed the car’s price, not to mention the unreasonable charges from some repair shops. The story of a car owner, as shared on Reddit, serves as a prime example.

The owner of a 2005 Toyota Highlander took to the platform to recount their experience with the recently purchased used car. With over 160,000 km on the odometer, the SUV was a bargain at just $5,000.

After about a week of driving, the owner noticed strange noises coming from behind the steering wheel. Concerned, they took the car to an auto repair shop, only to be presented with a lengthy list of necessary repairs totaling $8,913.

The repair shop’s list included replacing the shocks and stabilizer bars for all four wheels. According to Carscoops, replacing all four at once doesn’t seem reasonable unless they are genuinely damaged beyond repair.

Additionally, the shop recommended replacing the lower control arms and stabilizer bars at the front of the Highlander, citing their age as the cause of the strange noises.

The expenses didn’t end there, as the owner was also sold a set of tires and a tire insurance package for $721. Notably, the installation and balancing of the tires cost a staggering $221. As per Carscoops, most tire businesses would offer free installation and balancing if the tires were purchased from them.

Furthermore, they also replaced the battery and performed an electrical system check for $89. The most expensive item on the list was the brake system, costing $1,158, which included replacing the rear brakes, flushing the brake fluid, and “cleaning all oil after repairing oil leaks.”

In the comments below the post, experienced mechanics suggested that the repair shop was being overly cautious and trying to address potential or probable issues rather than actual problems.

Thai Son (Tuoitrethudo)