Best Of

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYoOiVsHJTw

Stories like these lend a counterpoint to the talking point that EVs are more reliable due to their mechanical simplicity (tl;dr: this guy and his brother each own a new-ish Hyundai EV and both had the same failure at nearly the same time). I wonder whether EVs suffer fewer or more disabling events compared to ICE vehicles. If your ICE vehicle is misfiring, you can limp it home and limp it to the mechanic. If a controller in an EV breaks, it's likely to brick the vehicle.

@nyccarguy - it's probably worth a call to Costco to see whether the road hazard plan will contribute even though you didn't have it replaced there.

It was an expensive trip to the Toyota dealer today. Not THAT expensive since I know how your minds automatically go places. The Highlander has been screaming for service for about a week. With close to 73,000 miles, it needed a full synthetic oil change & tire rotation. It also needed a new left rear door handle that my daughter broke off trying to not fall off of a long board on our driveway.

That’s before I got “the video” showing me the dirty cabin filter, telling me the rear wiper blade that is in dire need of replacement, the tear and slight bubble in the (now) right rear tire sidewall, that I should buy 2 tires and need an alignment.

I get a call from my service advisor. Wants to go over everything with me. “Cabin filter & rear wiper, I know you do that yourself.” “They tell you that you should replace tires with the AWD system, but I’ve never seen an issue with Toyotas, but it is up to you.”

He said the tires are at 6/32 or about 50% worn. I told him I got the tires at Costco and they have road hazard. He told me to bring it there then, no problem. I told him the problem with Costco is that it’s not going to be quick. The tire is $242 on tire rack and if he can get it today and get close then I’ll take it. I also told him the car drives fine and I haven’t noticed any unusual wear patterns or driving issues so I’ll skip the alignment . Again. “No problem. I’ll get the tires here later this afternoon and get the car back to you today .”

Grand total: $1,137.15

Expensive door handle.

@Michaell said:

What size are the tires? With all the other services, that doesn't seem like that bad of a total.

Our Highlander has 18” tires. 235/65 R18. Michelin Cross Climate 2. I just got the 1 tire.

I’m not complaining about the price I paid. I think I got a good value for the money. I just wasn’t expecting to spend over $1,000 today. That’s all.

Oh.

Then .... ouch.