ComplaintsforSam's Auto Repair

• Initial Complaint

  12/27/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Took car ******* Elantra 2014 into shop on Wednesday 12/20/23 at 11:30 am, my car was misfiring engine that morning, I called triple A and after they came in Triple A advised I take it there to **** auto repair, its Friday 12/22/23 and they still not have a diagnostic. The shop not once called me to say that car was being checked and they ordered an oil stick without my consent, they never called me to ask if I was ok with that being billed to me especially that it costs $48.00 when I could've bought one myself for $15 dollars at Amazon. I called once every day from Wed 12/20, Thurs 12/21, and today 12/22 to ask about the diagnostic process because as I waited, and the day was being over by 5pm the shop wouldn't call me. The person on phone was not happy that i would call, since they wouldn't do it, I only called once each day just to get an update since they wouldn't do that themselves. I'm being asked to pay for a $206.00 diagnostic which is still not done (not finished) after 3 days, and an oil stick that's super expensive which I did not authorize purchase of. So, at this point, I still don't know what's wrong with my car and after realizing that their mechanics there haven't done (finished) or figured out what my car has and their astronomical charges, I decided to get my car out of there, before they try to take more advantage of me. I'm a single parent, and a woman, poor, no money, and they didn't treat me very nice. A very bad experience and I feel robbed.

  Business response

  12/27/2023

  ************** dropped her vehicle off without an appointment.  Vehicle had 3 separate misfire codes, and misfire positions did not change when coils and plugs were moved.  A common cause for engine misfires is low oil level - engine oil dip stick was broken so oil level could not be checked without replacing it.  We ordered a dipstick from a local vendor instead of online, to get the component as quickly as possible to prevent down time and delays in further diagnostics.  My diagnostic technician had approximately 4 hours of diagnostic time invested into the vehicle, and she was billed for approximately 1 1/2 hours of time plus the engine oil dip stick. ignition coils and spark plugs all tested good, and fuel pressure data looked normal.  Issue customer had was only happening when engine was cold - after vehicle was warmed up, the problem no longer occured, and then the vehicle would have to cool down again to test drive once again.  The customer declined to have the diagnostics completed as she said she needed her vehicle.  Customer requested that all information was stated on the invoice provided to her - which it was.

• Initial Complaint

  08/31/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  On June 14, 2022, I brought my 2013 Chevrolet Cruze to ***'s Auto locked on *************************. with symptoms that the A/C was not blowing cold air. They diagnosed the problem as needing a new coolant tank with an estimate of approximately $500 with the stipulation that another item may need to be replaced for an additional $250. After spending $800, the same symptoms of the A/C not blowing cold air returned two days later. The car was brought back at the earliest convenient day of June 20, 2022. The diagnosis was that the A/C coil needing replacing for a cost of $1,300. They stated that they thought it was the coolant tank because that was the most often reason. A guess as to the solution is not a way to conduct business with that much money involved.

• Initial Complaint

  08/03/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I took my SUV to Sam's Auto Repair Service after it broke down and did not start. They charged me $500 to repair. The car broke down again 1 week later. I had my SUV towed back to their shop and they said it needed a new starter. They charged me another $1500-$2000 to replace the starter. My car again broke down and would not start when I got it home from their shop. I then had it towed to another mechanic shop that told me the starter was not put in correctly and they had to replace the starter again. Afew months later, my SUV broke again and I was told it was a bad starter again.

  Business response

  08/11/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/08/08) */ Mr. & Mrs. Martino's vehicle was towed into our shop on 5/4/2021 to repair broken bolts to the a/c compressor that someone else had broke off. We repaired the vehicle and on 5/8/2021, the vehicle was towed in because it would not start. We diagnosed the vehicle with a defective starter. We advised the customer and we were given approval to repair the vehicle. The customer called back a few days later stating that the starter was defective and that he had taken it to another shop for repairs. The shop found the flywheel was repaired previously incorrectly and this was making noise when the vehicle was started. The customer paid the other repair shop to replace the flywheel which entails removing the transmission. The other shop asked if we could supply another starter because of excessive wear on the starter drive. We recieved a phone call from the customer on 8/1/2021, stating the vehicle was at a repair shop and that the starter had failed. We explained to the customer that the repairs have a 12 month 12,000 mile warranty, whichever comes first. The vehicle was last at our shop 15 months ago, and we explained that the repairs were out of warranty. Please let us know if you have any further questions. Consumer Response /* (3000, 7, 2022/08/09) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) Sam's Auto had originally put in the wrong starter for my SUV the 2nd time it was towed back to them and again when I took it to another shop since all of the "mechanics" at Sam's Auto were incapable of fixing anything wrong with my car. After being towed back to them 3 times I had no choice but to bring it to a more honest and experience mechanic. The new mechanic advised that the wrong starter was put in by Sam's Auto and reached out to Sam's for a replacement that was under warranty. They again gave the new mechanic the wrong starter to be replaced on 10/26/2021. Business Response /* (4000, 9, 2022/08/10) */ There was not an incorrect starter installed in vehicle - the customer is wrong. As stated on her invoice which was signed, the starter has a 12 month OR 12,000 mile warranty from the original purchase of the starter. The starter IS out of warranty, as the purchase was over 12 months ago. We consider this matter closed.

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