Dealer quoted me $10k for brake repair... Is this legit?

Hey folks, I have a 2013 Prius with 150,000 miles. I’ve kept up with all the maintenance, and it’s been a great car with no major issues.

Recently, the ABS light came on, but the car was still driving fine. I took it to the dealer, and they said there’s a leak in the accumulator, actuator, and the boost pump assembly. They quoted me over $10,000 to fix it. The car isn’t even worth that much.

Does this sound right? Should I get a second opinion?

I’ve told others this because it worked for me: if there are Prius taxis near you, ask them who their mechanic is. They’ll give you great service at a good price. Taxi drivers are smart and can’t waste money on repairs.

@Oran
This is a brilliant tip, you’re awesome.

The quote is way too high. They probably don’t want the job and are overcharging you.

You should find an independent mechanic for another opinion and a better quote. With your car’s age, I might consider using used parts.

@Brooks
Thanks so much!

Gracen said:
@Brooks
Thanks so much!

I agree, they gave you a ‘get lost’ price.

It should only cost around $2,400. Go to an independent auto shop, not the dealership. Dealerships don’t make much money off car sales, but they do from car services.

Raine said:
It should only cost around $2,400. Go to an independent auto shop, not the dealership. Dealerships don’t make much money off car sales, but they do from car services.

Dealership tried to charge me $3,600 for my 2010.

I went to the parts department, and they still tried to overcharge me—$800 each for the booster and accumulator.

Told them to forget it. Ended up buying parts from a Toyota place in Spartanburg, SC, for $550 each ($1,100 total).

Then bought a $400 scanner to do the bleeding.

Worked great… not a bad job.

@Bliss
This thread is very enlightening. Thanks!

Raine said:
It should only cost around $2,400. Go to an independent auto shop, not the dealership. Dealerships don’t make much money off car sales, but they do from car services.

Nope, not even that much. About $1,200, and that’s for all brakes and rotors replaced in about an hour.

@Archer
This isn’t for brakes; it’s for the actual master cylinder replacement.

Raine said:
It should only cost around $2,400. Go to an independent auto shop, not the dealership. Dealerships don’t make much money off car sales, but they do from car services.

You’re awesome, thanks for the tip.

They gave you a ‘go away’ price. It’s sad that dealers try to rip people off like this.

Always think of the dealership as the ‘stealership’ so you remember they’re always overpriced. If it isn’t warranty work, find a mechanic you trust.

Michael said:
Always think of the dealership as the ‘stealership’ so you remember they’re always overpriced. If it isn’t warranty work, find a mechanic you trust.

Will do, thanks!

That ABS actuator is an expensive part, and there are no aftermarket options. You need the OEM part, preferably new, and it’s a lot of labor to replace it and bleed the brakes. The quote is ridiculous, but it’s not a $500 repair either.

@Devin
Thanks for the advice.

The parts cost under $2,000 for both components. It’s 2–3 hours of labor, and you’ll need Techstream. There might be some aftermarket scanners that work too.

Definitely get another quote. Honestly, I wouldn’t even call that a quote; as others have mentioned, it’s more of a brush-off. Is this a dealership? Forward the ‘quote’ to Toyota USA; they might be interested.

@Xavi
Seriously thinking about that. Thanks for the info.

Took it to the dealer

There’s your problem