“Only go to the dealer for recalls.”
A woman says she went to the dealership for a routine oil change and tire rotation—and walked away questioning nearly $1,000 in recommended work.
Jazzy (@jazzy7281977) shared her frustration after she said the dealership told her she needed several additional services, including a new cabin air filter.
“Dealerships are a big scam artists 90 dollars to replace my already white cabin air filter,” she wrote in the text overlay.
Jazzy says she went in for an oil change and tire rotation, but the dealership came back with close to $1,000 worth of recommended work.
One of those items was replacing the cabin air filter.
“For $89 they wanted to charge me to replace this,” Jazzy says, holding the filter up for viewers. “This thing is white, white.”
AAA says automakers commonly recommend replacing cabin air filters every 15,000 to 30,000 miles, though the exact interval depends on the vehicle and driving conditions. Dust, pollen, soot, smog, and other airborne debris can shorten a filter’s life, especially for drivers in areas with poor air quality or heavy dust and dirt.
That said, testing your air filter based on its color alone also isn’t a perfect test.
AAA recommends checking both the filter’s condition and airflow. Signs that a cabin filter may be restricted include weaker airflow from the vents and persistent odors. Another AAA maintenance guide suggests holding the filter up to a light source: If light no longer passes through, it may be time to replace it.
So Jazzy’s filter appearing “white, white” doesn’t necessarily prove it was still good. But without knowing the vehicle, mileage, service history, or why the dealership recommended replacing it, there’s no way to determine from the video alone whether she actually needed a new one.
And the $89 price tag isn’t wildly out of line with industry estimates. RepairPal reports that the average cost of an air filter replacement, including parts and labor, is roughly $91 to $114. But its estimates vary significantly by vehicle: a Honda Civic, for example, runs about $61 to $76, while a Toyota Corolla can cost $113 to $140.
AAA gives a lower estimate, saying a cabin air filter replacement typically costs $15 to $50, though it notes prices can be higher depending on where you buy the filter.
Some drivers also skip the shop altogether. Consumer Reports says cabin air filters are among the repairs people often do at home and are usually easy to replace, though access can vary by vehicle. AAA similarly says many can be changed in about 15 minutes.
Some viewers said the dealership may not have been judging the filter by appearance at all.
“They don’t even pull it out. They look at miles and make recommendation[s],” one wrote.
“Not a scam; you have a choice to buy or not to buy. Our dealership shows everybody their filters and asks, ‘Do you want to replace these,’” another claimed.
A small shop owner also pushed back on the idea that the price itself made the service a scam.
“Is not a scam; I own a small shop, and my expenses are around $20k a month between shop rent and employees. A dealer rent alone is around $30k a month,” they said.
Others were firmly on Jazzy’s side.
“Only go to the dealer for recalls,” one person advised.
“Con artists,” another said.
A third commenter argued that dealerships may simply count on customers not wanting to do the job themselves.
“They probably just assume people are too stupid and lazy to change it themselves,” said one.
A few viewers said replacing the filter is easy enough to handle at home.
“Takes 5 min and YouTube. Behind your glove box. Never go to the dealer,” they wrote.
Motor1 contacted Jazzy via TikTok direct message. We’ll be sure to update this if she responds.
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