I took my 2007 Civic LX with only 25k miles on it into the local Honda dealer garage for an oil change and inspection.
They told me that I should change the tranny and brake fluids and that each one would cost a total of $119.95 (each!). Actually I said no to the brake fluid because I figured that I would shop around but I said okay to the tranny fluid because I THOUGHT the guy said $19.95 NOT $119.95! (I only found out it was really $119.95 when I went to pick it up; otherwise I'd have never agreed to this!)
When he explained about the brake fluid he said something about how it all had to be flushed out with nitrogen or something (? not sure, I really didn't pay much attention to the details) and it was a process that required this kind of charge, to get it done the right way.
So my question is: Was I a victim of dealer gouging? Is there any way that changing tranny fluid should really cost that much on a car with less than 25k miles on it? And does it really cost that much to change out my brake fluid?
I am very skeptical because they previously told me I needed new rear brakes. I said no but then about a year later I finally had them done at a local garage for about 1/2 the price of the dealer. That brake job was about 6 months ago. Now, I took it in to the dealer again, as above, and they once AGAIN told me I need new rear brakes! I said, "How is that possible? I just had them done about 6 months ago?!" The guy sheepishly said, "Oh, well, it says here you still have 4mm left so it doesn't have to be done right away!" I said, "Hmm, well, I shouldn't even be CLOSE to needing new brakes at this point!" "Oh,", the dealer guy said, "well, they don't always measure them real accurately..."
Should I report this shop to the State consumer fraud division?