MB
Matthew Brucato
Jun 16, 2026
Avoid this service department.
I own a 2015 Honda Pilot with approximately 106,000 miles. The vehicle had no check engine light, no loss of power, no exhaust symptoms, and was brought in for nothing more than a routine oil change.
After the oil change, I was told that my entire exhaust system was clogged and was presented with a repair estimate exceeding $10,000. I was told the catalytic converters, A-pipe, mufflers, heat shields, gaskets, and related components needed replacement. I was even advised that I would be better off putting that money toward a new vehicle.
This did not happen in a vacuum.
Prior to this visit, the dealership had repeatedly attempted to buy my vehicle from me. Multiple times I received offers that were a fraction of what the vehicle was actually worth. Then, after bringing the vehicle in for a routine oil change, I was suddenly told it needed over $10,000 in repairs and that I should consider replacing it.
When I asked for evidence, I was sent a blurry photo with a few specks of debris circled and was told that catalytic converter material was clogging the exhaust. For a repair recommendation of this magnitude, the evidence provided was astonishingly weak.
Fortunately, I did not authorize the work.
Instead, I took the Pilot to an independent mechanic for a second opinion.
Their conclusion: nothing is wrong with the vehicle.
No clogged exhaust. No failed exhaust system. No $10,000 repair bill.
Think about that for a moment. A vehicle that was supposedly in need of more than ten thousand dollars of exhaust work was examined by an independent mechanic and found to have no such problem.
This is also not my first serious issue with this dealership's service department. During a previous service visit, they returned my vehicle after forgetting to refill the transmission fluid. That kind of mistake can cause catastrophic damage and should never happen in a professional service environment.
At this point I have completely lost confidence in anything this service department recommends. Being told that a perfectly functional vehicle needs repairs approaching five figures, while simultaneously being encouraged to replace or sell that vehicle, is not something any customer should have to deal with.
If you receive a major repair recommendation from this dealership, get a second opinion before spending a single dollar.