ComplaintsforThornton Auto Sales & Service

• Initial Complaint

  01/11/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I took my vehicle to Thornton Auto repair in Nov 2022 to fix my Transmission. I provided him the money upon request $900. Then he advises me something else was wrong. I provided him over $280 for that. He then gives me my truck stating it was fixed. I drive my truck 3 days and notice it wouldnt change gears. He informed me to bring it in. I paid him another $200 to fix that. I pick my truck up and drive it for 2 days and noticed the truck wasnt changing gears. I took it back to him, and hes had my truck since December of 2022 and has yet to call or provide any updates. *** called him numerous of times and he never calls back. Af this point it led me to report tjis business

  Business response

  01/12/2023

  On August 23, 2022, Mr. ************************* arranged for his **** GMC C1500 truck to be towed to Thornton Auto Sales & Service LLC to replace his transmission. It took us much longer than expected to locate at suitable transmission for his truck due to its age (****),however after replacing the Transmission ****************** picked the vehicle up on October 4, 2022, with a 30-day warranty beginning 10/4/22. This warranty expired on November 3rd, 2022
  On October 31, 2022, ****************** dropped the vehicle off for a tune up and to have the rear main seals on the truck replaced. we also informed him there was a seal leaking on the transmission and we would fix it at no cost to him. ****************** picked the vehicle up on November 10, 2022. with no issues.
  On November 16, 2022, ****************** dropped the vehicle off to replace a leaking water pump and hose. ****************** picked the vehicle up on November 21, 2022. with no issues.
  On or about December 8, 2022, ***************** stating that he was having issues with the transmission. We offered to flush transmission and replace the fluid and filter at no cost to him. Once we completed that task it was unsuccessful.  
  
  End of statement
  
  ***** Thornton

• Initial Complaint

  11/09/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On 25 August I drove my car, a **** ****** Tribute to ********************** Auto Sales and Service repair in ******* ******* because my engine light was on. Even though my auto was not running hot he recommended that I needed a Thermostat. Mind you I informed him that the engine light had been on for a month or so. Against my better judgement I had him replace it.When I picked the car up the engine light was off so I assumed the car was repaired. a week later the engine light came on and the engine ran hot. I called Mr. ********************** who advised me to ''bring the car in. I was in ******, ** at the time and there was no way to bring the car back to *******. So I took the car to.**************** in ****** ** and had it repaired.A few days later when I returned to ******* I went to ********************** Auto Sales and informed the manager/boss what had happened and asked that they refund the entire $123 had paid them or at least half since I had to have a new Thermostat replaced at **************************** Madza charged $339).The Manager refused to even negotiate a refund except to offer me $9.34 for a thermostat. Didn't even mention the $7.95charge for the Thermostat gasket. I am requesting that this company refund the entire $123.00 because if the Thermostat that they replaced had been new there is no way it would have went bad in a weeks time.I

  Business response

  11/21/2022

  ************************ did bring his **** ***** on 8/25/2022, We Diagnosed his vehicle using our scanner. We received a code of "Code ****-FF Coolant Stuck Open", Which Indicated a bad Thermostat.
  
  I quoted his vehicle repairs at $119.98 Which Included Diagnostic, Parts and Labor. Part were New Thermostat and New gasket. He agreed and we repaired the vehicle.
  
   A while later, not sure when Mr. ******* Called and said that his vehicle was running hot, I informed him to bring it back. A few days later, he showed up to the shop with an invoice from another shop indicating that they had replaced the Thermostat and the Temperature Sensor, and he wanted a full refund from me.
  
  I asked ************************ why did that replace the coolant temperature sensor? He replied and he said, it was bad, and he also said that the thermostat was bad too. I ************************ how he knew the thermostat was bad. He replied, It was because they said it was. I asked ************************ did you tell them it was new?   He replied No. 
  
  But I couldn't give him a full refund. I explained to the Customer that I felt that the temperature sensor was bad, but they replaced both parts, not that the thermostat was new.
  
   I told him I could refund the price of the thermostat, but not the gasket because it was still on the car.  
  
  That's all I could do because they replaced the temperature sensor and the thermostat, and either could cause the car to run hot. 
  
  ************************ told me that he would see in court and stormed out of the office.

  *********************************

  Owner

  Customer response

  11/28/2022

   
  Complaint: 18363346
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *******************************

• Initial Complaint

  12/20/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  This transaction started back on October 25 2021. I was charged $1779.07 to put a new motor in a 2003 Mitsubishi Montero Sport, due to a knocking sound coming from the motor that was in the truck. I gave Mr.******** $500 on 11/11/2021 because he called stating he'd found a motor for the Montero. So week's go by I don't hear anything from ******** auto so I call and ask about the status of my vehicle? Mr.******** then goes on to let me know the first motor was damaged while being removed from the other car, so he's trying to find me another engine. Then on December 9th 2021 he calls and says we're test driving your vehicle it's running great but your heating coil is bad which was not the case when ******** came to tow the truck to his shop in October. I let Mr ******** know I would be to pay him the remaining balance and pick up the truck on Friday 12/17/21. When I got to the shop I was told "your truck is running great sir" that was far from the truth the vehicle would not start at first then once started it wouldn't run without cutting of and that was after the replacement of a new motor. Now he is refusing to fix the issues that he has caused to the vehicle and doesn't want to complete the service that I've payed for. I would like for the business to fix the problem and fast. Thank you

  Business response

  02/01/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2021/12/29) */ I (Thornton Auto Sales & Service LLC) picked up ***** ********'s 2003 Montero Sport on or around 10/18/2021 vehicle and towed it back to my shop. I tried to start the vehicle while at the tow site, and it was making a knocking sound so cut it off and winched it up on my trailer. Mr. ******** was there and assisted me. When I go back to my shop, my staff unloaded the vehicle at the shop. Within the next few days, we performed a diagnostic on vehicle to see what going with the vehicle. It was determined that the engine was blown, and it has a knocking rod. I contacted Mr. ******** the flowing day and told him our findings. He told me in a text to find him a cheap engine. (Please See attached text Message) Once I found an engine that was in his price range estimated cost was $1776.86, which included engine, labor, and new fluids. I called and informed him of the price, He did mention to me about the vehicle also need Oxygen sensors. I told him let's get the engine first and we would add the oxygen sensors after that. I also told him that I would require a deposit of 500.00 for this job. He said Ok and would be over in a couple of days to pay it. He paid it on 11/11/2021. The 1st engine I ordered from my supplier was damaged by them which voided the sale. A couple weeks later I found another engine in the same price range and ordered it. On 12/10/2021 we were almost finished installing the engine, I called Mr. ******** and updated him that the engine was almost in, and was about to start the vehicle. Attempting to give the customer a heads up he might be able to get his vehicle that day or the next Mr. ******** replied saying, I didn't give him play by play updates while this was going on. And he was out of town and didn't have all the funds at that time because I didn't keep him up to date. He did say he would try and come up with the remainder of the balance. Later that afternoon on 12/10/2021 when the engine started we begin to add coolant to the engine, we then noticed that the coolant was running out inside the car below the drivers dash, (which indicated that the heater core is busted). This item is located inside the car behind the dash and is very expensive to get to. On 12/10/2021, when I told Mr. ******** about the busted heater core, he went off on me and stating that, that's my problem the heater core was not busted when I pick up the car. Mr. ******** yelled and cursed me so bad, that I hung up the phone. I told my employees to park the vehicle in the back and move on to the next job. Later that night Mr. ******** texted me an apologized for his behavior on 12/10/2021. On 12/17/2021 the day that Mr. ******** came to pick up the vehicle, it was running rough because the oxygen sensors has not been replaced but I did eventually smooth out. I told him that the engine needs two oxygen sensors and a mass air flow meter. He stated that since I cut him off when he was telling me about the oxygen sensors, I should replace them for free. I replied No, I will not absorb that cost. Oxygen sensors can cost between $89.00 and $129.00 each and he need two plus 2-3 hours of labor at $75.00 per hour. Again, he started fussing talking loudly and using profanity. at me and my staff. I repeatedly me asking stop cursing. It got so bad, I finally asked to leave. He also has a lady friend with him, and she was trying to get him to stop and leave the premises also. I also told him that storage would start Monday 12/20/21 5 at 5: pm. My daily storage rate is 25.00 this is written on all my Estimates, Quotes, and Invoice's. Mr. ******** received a copy of this on 11/11/2021 when he paid the deposit. This vehicle has been ready for about a week or so now. It's my policy is if vehicle has not been picked up within 3 days after completion of work it would be subject to storage Vehicle was ready on 12/10/2021. As far as the heater core leaking, there is no way that we would damage a part that inside the vehicle located behind the dash while working on the engine under the hood. To repair the heater core on that vehicle the cost would be around $551.43. Please see attached text messages

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