Bronco Nation

Dealer Recommended Services at 21K

Sirdude
Apr 18, 2025

Rank III

Apr 18, 2025

Good Morning Folks……
I have a ’21 Badlands with about 21K miles on it. I took it to the dealership this morning to get an oil change and tire rotation. They did that work and then the service “advisor” recommended some additional services which were:

Throttle Body SVC $191.17
Transmission Fluid exchange $427.99
Ford Fuel Service $374.30
Coolant Service $317.37
Brake Fluid Service $234.99
Rear Diff Service $313.16
Transfer Case Service $238.82
4 Wheel Alignment $179.95
For a Total of $2399.28

Now I might have been born at night, but it wasn’t LAST night. None of these services are require at this point……with the possible exception of the brake service. I wonder how many poor folks that don’t know any better take them up on this “generous” offer. I don’t go by the manufacture’s recommendation on most things, I usually have it done sooner, but this ought to be against the law. Ok…end of rant.
raqball, Xpathf1nderX

Rank Benevolent Dictator

Apr 18, 2025

#1
Your response is definitely not a rant, but a very honest look at a dealership trying to take advantage of someone who knows nothing about vehicles. Not only is the work not needed, but their prices are a total rip off.
With only 21K, you certainly do not need your fuel injectors cleaned and fuel filters replaced. Same goes for the 4 wheel alignment, and you would know if it was out or not. As to the rear diff service, Ford recommends this gets done at 100K., and the others are just as bad!
I certainly hope that you pointed out to the dealership, that what they were suggesting is a complete rip off.
I would suggest that you find a new dealer and let them know why!
raqball, extra toasty

Rank IV

Apr 18, 2025

#2
No salt tram towers were harmed in the making of this post...
the poacher, PSUTE

Rank IV

Apr 18, 2025

#3
the poacher
Your response is definitely not a rant, but a very honest look at a dealership trying to take advantage of someone who knows nothing about vehicles. Not only is the work not needed, but their prices are a total rip off.
With only 21K, you certainly do not need your fuel injectors cleaned and fuel filters replaced. Same goes for the 4 wheel alignment, and you would know if it was out or not. As to the rear diff service, Ford recommends this gets done at 100K., and the others are just as bad!
I certainly hope that you pointed out to the dealership, that what they were suggesting is a complete rip off.
I would suggest that you find a new dealer and let them know why!

And... what is Ford Fuel Service and Throttlebody Service?

What is due at 20,000 miles is the cabin airfilter, which they didn't mention. Lol.
No salt tram towers were harmed in the making of this post...
PSUTE, Deano Bronc

Rank Benevolent Dictator

Apr 18, 2025

#4
Eninty
And... what is Ford Fuel Service and Throttlebody Service?

What is due at 20,000 miles is the cabin airfilter, which they didn't mention. Lol.

The Throttle body service cleans the fuel injectors, and the throttle body. Not surprisingly, the Ford Fuel service also cleans the fuel injectors (he is getting charged twice for the same service) and replaces the fuel filters. None of this needs doing at only 21K miles. I am amazed they forgot the cabin filter for $400. !
raqball, Deano Bronc

Rank IV

Apr 19, 2025

#5
the poacher
The Throttle body service cleans the fuel injectors, and the throttle body. Not surprisingly, the Ford Fuel service also cleans the fuel injectors (he is getting charged twice for the same service) and replaces the fuel filters. None of this needs doing at only 21K miles. I am amazed they forgot the cabin filter for $400. !

I've looked for it in the on-line OE Ford parts catalog and can't find a fuel filter for the Bronco. I cannot find anywhere in the parts catalog for a traditional in-line fuel filter that is a periodic replacement part. The maintenace schedule I posted earlier shows no requirement to replace the fuel filter at any given mileage. I suspect the Bronco's fuel filter is like most modern cars and is a lifetime part integrated with the fuel pump.

And does cleaning the fuel injectors entail removing each one (either the 4 or 6) and cleaning them in a high-frequency parts cleaner? Modern fuels contain detergents that keep fuel system parts clean. I have a car with 400,000 miles on it with an in-tank integrated fuel filter and with fuel injection. I've never touched the fuel injectors, nor even used fuel cleaning additives in it. I also have a 27-year-old car with fuel injection, which does have an in-line fuel filter. Again, that car, now at 200,000, I've never touched the fuel injectors. It gets driven just over 1,000 miles annually, so the gas sits for months at a time in the tank. Modern cars just don't need a lot of maintenance.

Not a flame, just posting my observations.
No salt tram towers were harmed in the making of this post...
the poacher

Rank IV

Apr 19, 2025

#6
OP, bottom line is, at 21,000 miles, your Bronco needs none of those services, unless you routinely do deep water crossings, then you may want to consider changing the diff juices.
No salt tram towers were harmed in the making of this post...
Deano Bronc, the poacher

Rank III

Apr 19, 2025

#7
Eninty
OP, bottom line is, at 21,000 miles, your Bronco needs none of those services, unless you routinely do deep water crossings, then you may want to consider changing the diff juices.

"your Bronco needs none of those services", which exactly why I did not opt to take advantage of them. The kicker is I got one of those rating sheets that showed all those things are still in the "green". That is about as hypocritical as it gets, in my opinion.
Deano Bronc, Eninty

Rank IV

Apr 21, 2025

#8
Sirdude
Good Morning Folks……
I have a ’21 Badlands with about 21K miles on it. I took it to the dealership this morning to get an oil change and tire rotation. They did that work and then the service “advisor” recommended some additional services which were:

Throttle Body SVC $191.17
Transmission Fluid exchange $427.99
Ford Fuel Service $374.30
Coolant Service $317.37
Brake Fluid Service $234.99
Rear Diff Service $313.16
Transfer Case Service $238.82
4 Wheel Alignment $179.95
For a Total of $2399.28

Now I might have been born at night, but it wasn’t LAST night. None of these services are require at this point……with the possible exception of the brake service. I wonder how many poor folks that don’t know any better take them up on this “generous” offer. I don’t go by the manufacture’s recommendation on most things, I usually have it done sooner, but this ought to be against the law. Ok…end of rant.

Why on Gods green earth would you take your vehicle to a dealer for oil change and tire rotations? Anyway you cut it, that paved the way for them to pillage your wallet.
I trust these people as far as I can throw them. Your experience proves my thoughts.
the poacher

Rank IV

Apr 21, 2025

#9
Sirdude
Throttle Body SVC $191.17
Transmission Fluid exchange $427.99
Ford Fuel Service $374.30
Coolant Service $317.37
Brake Fluid Service $234.99
Rear Diff Service $313.16
Transfer Case Service $238.82
4 Wheel Alignment $179.95
For a Total of $2399.28

I Added the ford performance rear diff cover, so I did the front and rear Diff's myself at 40K. At 45K I took it in for oil change and I asked them to do the tranny fluid (did not want to mess with this myself due to extended warranty ) The charge was $349 for both, Soooo (Transmission Fluid exchange $427.99) is most defiantly a rip-off!!!!
the poacher

Wherever you go, there you are!

Apr 21, 2025

#10
The OP's post is exactly why people refer to dealerships as stealerships.. Dealerships like that give Ford, or any vehicle manufacturer for that matter, a bad name and a bad reputation..

Call that dealership out so anyone close can avoid them like they have the plague...
onX Trail Guide & Tread Lightly Member
2023 Badlands 2 door in Hot Pepper Red 🌶️ 🌶️
Deano Bronc, extra toasty

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