My wife's 2023 Crosstrek was due for service, so we called Lee's Summit Subaru to book an appointment. I asked the service advisor what service was due for the car, as I was unsure at the time what had constituted the previous service on the car, which had just under 17,000 miles. I was told that she needed the service maintenance package 2, and when I looked on Subaru's website, I concluded that, per their recommendations, that would entail oil and filter change, tire rotation, multi point inspection, and changing the cabin air filter (if needed). We booked the appointment for January 2, 2024. The service ended up being $333 with tax! When my wife showed me the invoice from the dealer service department, all looked good, until I came to the brake fluid flush and change.
I found it to be a bit perplexing that they would do this service at that mileage interval, so I did my due diligence, and checked on Subaru's website, as well as numerous Subaru dealer websites nationwide. And then, I called every other Subaru dealers' service departments in the Kansas City area, and spoke with them. Further, I put in calls to dealerships of other brands in the Kansas City area. I couldn't find one dealer service department, Subaru or otherwise, that recommended doing this service prior to 30,000 miles.
It was only after this that I called to leave a message for the service drive manager, expressing my concerns over being billed for this unnecessary service. Rather than get back me directly, he had the service advisor who handled the ticket on January 2 call me. I spoke with her, and she told me that Subaru recommends the 15,000 brake fluid flush and change, and that's what they go by. I informed her that I had already talked to multiple Subaru dealership service departments, and not one had ever done such a service prior to 30,000 miles. Frustrated at getting nowhere with the service advisor, I once again called and left a message with the service drive manager voicing my concerns. He finally returned my call toward the end of the day, and explained that, a.) this was the service we requested, and b.) this brake fluid flush and change fell with the guidelines of Subaru of America. I informed him that a.) we weren't aware we were buying this added service, and b.) it sounded an awfully lot like he was telling me "hey, Subaru lets us do it". He eventually agreed to refund the cost of the unnecessary brake fluid flush and change, but all the while maintaining that it was the correct service at the 15,000 mile interval, even making the statement that they had just had a meeting about it earlier that day.
Oh, it ain't over! We finally saw the refund of $91 show up in my wife's account, and that seemed a bit short. So I called Lee's Summit Subaru back to speak with their service manager, and left a voice mail to return my call. The service manager did return my call, and this conversation mirrored that I had already had with the service drive manager, except in one crucial matter. He told me that they go by Subaru's "severe" maintenance schedule, due to the snow and ice and road salt we get out here. Like this is New England, or upstate New York. So apparently, they are the only Subaru dealership in the whole of the Kansas City area, and the only auto dealership in the whole of the Kansas City area, that considers driving in this area to be "severe conditions". At no point has anyone with Lee's Summit Subaru admitted to wrongdoing, even though they refunded us $91, leaving us with what was still a pretty high bill for a routine oil change, tire rotation, and multi-point inspection.
We have since decided to take our cars to a different Subaru dealership for major service intervals, and take them to Firestone for the routine maintenance and service like oil change and tire rotation. I would advise to avoid Lee's Summit Subaru for servicing your vehicles. And if you find yourself there for whatever reason, get the pricing up front, and look in your owner's manual to see what the manufacturer's recommended service is for your vehicle at that mileage. Don't let them BS you, don't let them convince you that they're just looking out for you and your car. We've been getting service there since 2022, and assumed they would never recommend an unnecessary service, or overcharge us. We were wrong. And if you've been over billed by these folks, know your rights. Contact the consumer complaint unit of the State of Missouri's Office of the Attorney General. read more