ComplaintsforNorth American Transmission

• Initial Complaint

  02/02/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  We had our 2009 Toyota Venza towed on 12/22/21 to Buddy at North American Transmission after Disney Car Care told us that the transfer case had exploded and the cost would be over $3,000 to fix. My home mechanic recommended we find a transmission specialist and after researching on the internet we called Buddy. He stated he has been working on cars since he was 12, as this was previously his father's business. Buddy stated he was an expert and could do the repair for a fraction of the cost (roughly $300). We had already purchased the part from Disney Car Care and we sent the $780 part in the car, paying $113 for AAA to tow the car to Buddy. After looking at the car Buddy texted my wife stating that "the rear differential that drives the wheels in the back of the car is what locked up and broke the transfer case so we will need to find the rear differential after the new year". Buddy attached pictures and we trusted that this was indeed the case. Upon returning after the new year Buddy stated that half his workers were out with COVID and he was backed up with cars. We were patient since my daughter, who works at Disney, was out of town and didn't need the car. On 1/11/22 my wife called Buddy who stated that he was trying to figure out how to call and tell her that he instructed his mechanics to do the original job only and install the new transfer case without fixing the rear differential. He said that once the part was in he didn't move the car back 5-feet and the new transfer case exploded, just as the original did. Buddy then became agitated saying he didn't know the history of the car and that he wanted the car off his lot, stating he was going to put in in the street. Buddy stated that he had ordered another used transfer case for $400 and he would give that to us, but that he wanted the car off his lot. He later reneged on this promise and refused to give us the part. We had to have the car towed to my daughter's apartment.

  Business response

  03/16/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 10, 2022/02/25) */ Contact Name and Title: ******(BUDDY) ******* MAN Contact Phone: XXXXXXXXXXX Contact Email: **********@aol.com please refer to attached files for the response. I could not get it to paste here Consumer Response /* (3000, 12, 2022/02/25) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) The response from Buddy at American Transmission is absolutely false. Prior to the holiday break we had a conversation that his mechanic stated the rear differential was bad, causing the transfer case to explode. When I asked what we should do Buddy stated that we would have to wait until after vacation and that it meant more parts and labor. At no point did we say that we would hold him to the labor he originally quoted. He texted pictures of the issue. We were very patient and waited over two weeks for them to return from vacation, then Buddy stating that his staff was out with COVID, followed by them being very backed up with cars. We did not call him at all during that time and when I did call, he stated that he had instructed his mechanic to just do the original job and that he didn't even know how to call me to let me know that upon putting in the new transfer case we provided, the car didn't move 5-feet before the new case exploded again. He said he ordered a new transfer case. Buddy over the next few days changed his story stating that he was going to push the car into the street and that he wanted it off his lot. This person is completely unethical. When my husband called stating that we just wanted the car fixed, it was Buddy that became irate and irrational and hung up the phone. Buddy kept wanting to provoke an argument stating that he did not like my husband's "New York attitude". I was present for this conversation and my husband did nothing but remain calm. Buddy went back on his word to provide the new transfer case and wanted no responsibility for the car. He clearly was overwhelmed by the timeframe with the holiday break and his staff having COVID. We tried to be understanding and patient and Buddy was angry and refused any reasoning. Do not use this person! He will start out amicable, seemingly knowledgeable, and then he turns on a dime. We have photos and text to further prove how Buddy tried to take the easy way out and then wanted to blame the customer. Business Response /* (4000, 14, 2022/03/01) */ Since I was not paid one cent and the customer does not have a work order or receipt that they paid me anything as far as I am concerned, we are just plain done with them. The customer called me with a very condescending attitude trying to make me responsible for any repairs to a car that was broken when it came to us. They are very persistent as you can see from this complaint.The customer did call me and tell me to push the car outside because they were towing it out and not paying me anything. I pushed it out to be rid of them and their as I call it New York attitude. You definitely cannot please all customers and my record for low complaints stands on it's own.In conclusion like I said before they towed it out on their request and since I was never paid I am not willing to do any more than I have already done

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