“In Paul we trust.”
A woman on social media is gaining popularity after exposing what she claims is a pattern of dealership scams—beginning with her own local Ford dealership.
User @chai.t43 kicked off her video by declaring, “The car industry is a scam.” She says she brought her 2019 Ford Taurus in for a check and was told it had “collapsed struts,” plus a grab bag of other supposed issues. The fix, she says, would’ve run her thousands.
Instead of signing off on the repairs, she turned to a trusted local mechanic named Paul. And according to her, that’s when the truth came out.
“All I needed was an [expletive] alignment,” she says. “I cannot believe that these [expletives] over at Ford were trying to scam me out of $7,000 of random [expletive].”
She credits herself for having “the brains” to get a second opinion and accuses the industry of preying on customers.
Her takeaway was blunt: “Moral of the story is don’t trust corporate America.” She urged viewers to always double-check big repair quotes with a smaller, independent shop.
As of this writing, her video has just under 7,500 views.
In an emailed statement to Motor1, Ford declined to comment, noting it was difficult to investigate @chai.t43’s specific complaint without knowing the dealer.
“That said, Ford does not own dealerships,” a spokesperson told Motor1. “They are individually operated.”
Not every car problem calls for a second opinion, but there are moments when it’s absolutely worth it. The Car Guys note a few red flags to watch for.
For instance, if the issue is complicated, the shop may not be able to clearly explain what’s wrong or why a repair is needed. If you have the feeling that something is off, it’s smart to get another set of eyes on it.
A fresh look can keep you from paying for work you don’t need or reassure you that the first shop got it right. A pricey estimate is often the first signal to slow down, which is exactly what @chai.t43 did. Strut repairs can run into the thousands, so it made sense for her to involve someone else.
The same applies to major engine or transmission issues, especially if the diagnosis is unclear or the shop appears rushed.
Obtaining a second opinion is usually straightforward. As @chai.t43 showed, start by finding a trusted mechanic who is familiar with your make. You might have to pay a diagnostic fee, but it’s usually a small price to avoid a much bigger bill. It’s also a good time to ask questions and gain a clearer understanding of your options.
According to Jiffy Lube and Yelp, we’re talking up to $200 in most cases. But it can cost as little as $50. NerdWallet notes it can go up to $300.
Viewers who watched @chai.t43’s video backed her claim that some car dealerships will push expensive repairs even when they aren’t needed.
“Dealerships are the most dishonest business models on the planet,” one man wrote.
A second chimed in, “Buyers beware, in my state [there are] two dealership owners that can be trusted, the rest are a no.”
“They call them stealerships for a reason,” another quipped.
Others said this problem isn’t limited to Ford dealerships.
“It’s not Ford, it’s the dealership,” one said. “ALL dealerships will try to rip you off when you buy your car and after.”
Another shared a personal experience, “I went to Clermont Toyota, and they gave me a list of front-end parts needing [to be] replaced. They said the whole front-end was shot, went to another mechanic, just needed cv axles replaced. Guess I won’t be going there anymore.”
A third noted, “I got scammed by Honda.”
For many, stories like @chai.t43’s reinforced the value of a second opinion.
“In Paul we trust,” one user quipped.
Another agreed, “Always get a second opinion.”
A third added, “Smart girl! You made a very good move getting a second opinion! Car dealers take advantage of you anytime you give them the opportunity to do so.”
Motor1 has reached out to @chai.t43 via a direct message on TikTok. We’ll update this if they respond.
What Owners Are Saying
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motor1.com?
– The Motor1.com Team