My question is about Toyota dealer trying to get me to pay for a wheel alignment as early as 10,000 miles. Does Toyota actually recommend this so early or is the dealer just trying to screw me over? My current vehicle is a 2018 Toyota RAV4 Limited 8 speed automatic with 29,000 miles. They say my tires have uneven wear but I cannot see any at all. They have been trying to get me to have this alignment since my 10,000 mile service. They did the same thing with my last vehicle at the same dealership, a Corolla. Are they using some microscopic caliper to find this uneven wear or is this a farce?
Tell them you don't see any tire wear, and ask them to physically show it to you.
It's a myth or a lie. Read the explanation, here:
http://www.agcoauto.com/content/news/p2_articleid/77
Have you checked your owners manual? Toyota seems to be trolling customers on their 10k miles maintenance lately trying to cause problems with infrequent oil changes and too early expensive maintenance items.
My parent's car owners manual (Kia) says rotation every 7500 miles which seems laughably early to me but then again I have no experience with tire rotation or wear so I can't confirm the reliability of my opinion.
According to various google sites, the wheels can generally go 3+ years without alignment.
Take it to a tire expert and see what they tell you?
Unless you hit something I cant see any reason you would need an alignment at 10K miles, that's ridiculous
OK, … you need wheel alignment when you notice uneven tire wear, steering pull, or an off-center steering wheel. All these things you can check yourself.
Uneven tire wear: … just get a cheap tire depth gauge, measure a tire thread right across each tire (say at each longitudinal groove going across) - record it. You may need alignment if difference across each tires is significant.
Steering pulling to left or right: … just go onto flat stretch of a road, drive normally, let the steering wheel go momentarily. If car pulls on its own to the left or right, you may need wheel alignment ( make sure pulling is not due to road profile - camber or slant, road sloping to the right for drainage)
Steering wheel off-center: … is it, when you driving straight? Is it different now than when the car was new? If it is off-center, … you bent something, you need to have things checked.
Anyway, … you only have 10,000 miles since new. If all checks OK above, you don’t need phlunkin’ alignment!
All above said, … there is TSB out there that says latest RAV alignment specs have been revised. Just perhaps, is that what your dealer is trying to tell you they have to do to your car? Ask, … but you really don’t need to realign your car. Most current RAVs are fine with an original alignment.
F.S.
