Servicing your Toyota at the 50,000-mile mark includes routine maintenance activities like an oil change and a cabin air filter replacement. But you may also be due for more expensive services, like replacing your tires and brakes.
Of course, all service timelines can vary based on your commitment to routine maintenance and everyday driving habits. To give you a general idea, here are all the maintenance-related activities that you should be aware of as your Toyota’s odometer approaches 50,000 miles.
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What is the Toyota 50,000-mile service?
The 50,000-mile mark isn’t technically a regular service interval for a Toyota. Scheduled maintenance is recommended every 5,000, 10,000, and 15,000 miles, though. So if you do the math, some of these Toyota maintenance activities also fall on or around the 50,000-mile mark
5,000 miles (or six months):
Inspect and adjust all fluid levels
Inspect battery and spark plugs
Inspect brake linings/drums and brake pads/discs
10,000 miles (or 12 months):
Replace cabin air filter and engine air filter
Replace engine oil and oil filter
15,000 miles (or 18 months):
Inspect ball joints and suspension
Inspect brake lines and hoses
Inspect drive shaft boots
Inspect exhaust pipes and mountings
Inspect radiator and condenser
Inspect steering gear, linkage, and boots
Inspect rear differential oil and transfer case oil
However, around the 50,000-mile mark, some of these routine inspections may reveal the need for more substantial replacements, like new tires or brakes.
Let’s take a closer look at some of these maintenance activities, so you can better understand what to expect from your Toyota service center at 50,000 miles.
Cabin air filter replacement
Replacing the cabin air filter
in your HVAC system every 10,000 miles will help ensure fresh and clean air is coming into your car. Whenever you turn on your heat, ventilation, or air-conditioning (HVAC), your Toyota pulls air from the outside and filters it before sending it into the cabin. Failure to replace the cabin air filter could lead to poor air quality or foul odors inside the vehicle.
This service may need to be more frequent if you regularly drive on dirty roads or in highly polluted areas/cities.
MORE: HVAC systems: everything you need to know
Engine oil and oil filter replacement
Almost all new vehicles use synthetic oil mainly because it lasts longer and runs cleaner—which is excellent news for your maintenance routine!
Nevertheless, synthetic oil still needs to be replaced every 10,000 miles or once a year, whichever comes first. Don’t forget your oil filter change, too!
MORE: How much should an oil change cost?
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Fluid level inspection
Every time you book a service appointment with your Toyota dealership or local mechanic, they will generally inspect all your fluid levels for free.
During this inspection, your service provider will check the transmission fluid
, brake fluid, antifreeze/coolant, windshield wiper fluid, and power steering fluid
. Any fluids that are below normal will be topped off and added to your total service bill (or for free if you have ToyotaCare, more on that next). All of these fluids are crucial to the overall performance of your Toyota. Failure to keep them at the appropriate levels could cause critical components of your vehicle, like the engine and transmission, to function improperly or even fail.
So if it’s been more than 5,000 miles since you’ve had your Toyota serviced, it’s best to get a quick fluid level inspection. Better safe than sorry!
Tire rotation
Rotating your tires every 5,000 miles will help disperse natural wear and tear across your four tires. That’s because the tread on your front tires typically wears down at about two times the rate of your rear tires.
By rotating them around the vehicle, your tire surface will degrade more evenly, optimizing performance and increasing lifespan. Speaking of lifespan, though, no matter how diligent you are about rotating your tires, the tread will eventually dull, given enough miles.
The penny test is a good indicator of tread condition. Stick a penny in a tire groove. If you can still see Lincoln’s head, it may be time to consider new tires.
Tires will last an average of 50,000 miles with proper maintenance, but it’s best to start testing with your lucky penny around 30,000 miles. Keep an eye out for “buy three, get one free” service specials when it comes time to replace your tires.
MORE: Winter tires vs. all-season tires: Which is better?
Brake lining and brake pad inspection
Some brakes will last 25,000 miles and others will last 70,000 miles. But it all depends on your driving habits! You're probably looking at the lower range if you slam to a stop at every red light. But you can easily extend the lifespan of your brakes by coasting to gradually slow down when you can.
For the average driver, brake lining and pad replacement will fall near the 50,000-mile service mark. Typical warning signs include needing to hit your brake pedal harder or hearing squealing/grinding noises as you slow down. Make sure to schedule service for your Toyota as soon as possible if you begin to notice either of these indicators that your brakes are going bad.
Does ToyotaCare cover regular maintenance?
When you purchase a new Toyota from a dealership, you automatically get two years or 25,000 miles worth of ToyotaCare, which includes a no-cost maintenance plan and 24/7 roadside assistance:
No-cost maintenance plan: maintenance reminders, engine oil and filter change, multi-point inspection, and inspect and adjust fluids (all work uses Toyota Genuine Parts and is done by a Toyota-trained technician)
24/7 roadside assistance: battery jumpstarts, lockout protection, emergency fuel delivery, tire service, towing, and winching
The ToyotaCare Plus plan extends this regular maintenance warranty to four years or 45,000 miles. But, unfortunately, if your Toyota is already at 50,000 miles, you’ll need to plan on paying for these services out of pocket.
Or, you could add towing and labor coverage
to your car insurance policy and buy a third-party pre-paid maintenance plan to replace your expired ToyotaCare services. What is a good maintenance schedule for Toyotas?
The Toyota Venza
and Toyota Prius
are highly efficient and great for commuting. The Toyota Highlander
and Toyota Sienna
offer plenty of space for you and your family. The Tundra
has plenty of hauling capacity for your most challenging tasks. The moral of the story: the specific Toyota model you drive will demand different things, particularly based on how you drive. So, your car’s individual maintenance schedule will vary.
Luckily, Toyota has created this handy tool for scheduling maintenance
: simply input the year, model, and mileage of your Toyota vehicle, and it will display a PDF of all your current maintenance requirements! "I thought I was already paying the lowest rate possible for my age group, but Jerry
found me a better deal for the same coverage with Travelers! Everything went so smoothly that I couldn’t help but make a change right away.” —Athit S.
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