ComplaintsforLead Foot Diesel Performance, LLC

• Initial Complaint

  01/07/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  08/19/22 **** did a substandard repair of my 2017 **** F-350, that needed an EGR Replacement. In removing the old one, they broke a bolt off, instead of making the correct repair, they drilled a new smaller hole beside the broken bolt, thereby weakening the joint going to the turbo, which is under extreme pressure. The repair didnt hold and caused me to break down in the **** desert. A local mechanic repaired it enough to limp home but wouldnt pull our fifth wheel. We brought a new truck capable of doing so and came straight home to ******. I took the old parts and confronted Lead Foot Diesel Performance and they said they were trying to save me $3000.00 by this method (which they withheld all information from me). They also said they would credit me $1085.00 against an engine replacement (a 2017 with less than ***** miles). I refused because I had lost all confidence in their ability and honesty. I had my truck repaired at ********** in ****** for $21,495.00. We could file sooner because the failure occurred while on vacation in ****.

  

  Business response

  01/10/2024

  On 08/19/22 Lead Foot Diesel did a very common repair on ********************** 2017 **** F-350 with ****** miles. *** *** valve had failed causing the truck to derate power. We replaced the *** valve with **** OEM parts along with a few of the gaskets on the *** piping that were necessary to replace at the time. ********************** truck made it ****** miles and nearly one year before returning to our shop with issues in August of 2023. *** engine replacement ****************** is speaking of that cost him $21,495.00 occurred after leaving the other shop ****************** out West while on their drive back to *******. *** truck did not have engine failure due to the *** pipe gasket failure, but rather from the issues listed on invoice #*****. ****************** was upset with us that the gasket had failed and cost them down time while out ****, not to mention that due to the other shop's mistakes he was now going to be needing a motor. So out of kindness and professionalism we offered ****************** a full refund for the $1,085.05 from August of 2022 in the form of store credit to go towards his larger needed repair. This store credit was originally offered to ****************** in August of 2023 at his time of departing with his vehicle from our shop, and he seemed pleased and grateful with what was offered to him. ***n we received the attached emails from ****************** December 28th, 2023 and once again agreed to give a full refund for the $1,085.05 in the form of store credit. On these emails please also note that ****************** claimed he was "ready to repair our truck and are attempting to scrape up the money to do so", when in fact it turns out that ********** had already repaired the truck "I had my truck repaired at ********** in ****** for $21,495.00" as seen on the BBB complaint. We have been nothing but honest and sincere with ******************, so we don't see why he would lie to us in the emails from December 28th, 2023. Lastly, please see the attached no charge diagnostic invoice from 8/11/23 #***** where ****************** stated over the phone that the mechanic from the other shop out West dropped two sockets while working on his truck and could not locate them. 

  Customer response

  01/11/2024

   
  Complaint: 21107685
  
  I am rejecting this response because: The dishonesty lies with ****, the irrefutable facts are: in performing the original repair to the *** Lead Foot broke a bolt off the *** coupling and drilled an additional hole to "*****-rig" the repair.  This was done without my knowledge nor consent and is a substandard "repair" which solely led to engine failure due to a massive exhaust leak.  **** lied by omission in doing so, THAT is the point of my complaint.  **** attempts to shift blame to others with no proof.  I repaired my truck at ********** because I caught **** in two lies: they made an unauthorized shoddy repair that they knew or should have known, would not last and did not disclose the unauthorized repair; I was not going to trust them with another repair.  **** is attempting to "muddy" the waters by attempting to cast blame on everyone else but themselves. In reality, **** is responsible for the cost of the entire engine replacement since their botched repair to the *** was the nexus for the complete engine failure, and they know it.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *************************

  

  Business response

  01/16/2024

  Lead Foot Diesel is not in any way lying or attempting to "muddy the waters" on the situation. We are simply stating the facts. The facts are: We repaired the *** valve on the 2017 F350 on August 19, 2022, that repair eventually failed several thousand miles and several months down the road and caused the customer down time while on a trip. The customer stopped to have the failure looked at, at another shop on June 23, 2023 in **** after having forced the truck to continue to move on it's own for several hundred miles instead of having it towed which is not always healthy for the vehicle. The customer never contacted us in this time period informing us of the situation or allowing us to advise them properly. That shop "fixed" the failed part and got the customers truck back on the road, and some time after leaving that other shop in **** the truck developed a ticking noise. On July 11, 2023 the truck was driven to and dropped off at our shop with these complaints: 
  "Truck over heated when out West. Was here last August. Now it has developed a tick noise on the way home. Soot on the driver's side exhaust manifold."
  Upon our inspection we found the codes P2074 (manifold absolute pressure/mass air flow-throttle position correlation at Higher Load) and P2263 (turbocharger/supercharger "A" boost system performance) in the truck's system. As we looked further into the engine bay we found a massive exhaust leak at the passenger side up pipe right where it hooks to the turbo where the previous shop tried to remove it and did not line it up correctly. Lead Foot Diesel never touched this part at any point. This large boost leak caused the truck to overheat which can over time cause engine failure. As an example of how hot the truck got from the boost leak, we found where the wiring harness for the air compressor that runs to the air bags was completely melted as it is routed near this leak. Also, while speaking with the customer on the phone on 7/31/23 about the issues with his truck he stated that the previous shop had lost two tool sockets in the engine bay and were unaware of where they went. What if while the truck was apart at the other mechanics shop those or one of those sockets had fallen into an open engine component and ended up in the motor? This is also a large possibility of a second cause for engine failure. We offered to tear down the old engine upon the time of engine replacement to see the exact cause of failure, and the customer declined. Lastly, the vehicles computer shows the stored data logs telling us the exact time of engine failure. And based on the mileage of the vehicle while it was at our shop, this failure occurred on the customers way home after having left that other shop in ****. When we informed the customer of all of this, he was a bit upset but understanding in what really happened to the truck. When he came to pick his truck up in August of 2023 without repairing it we did not charge any diagnostic fees out of kindness, and he seemed fine at the time. We have not heard a word out of the customer since then and now all of a sudden in late December he is upset with us and has filed these complaints. This is the truth, and these are the facts.  

  Customer response

  01/16/2024

   
  Complaint: 21107685
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  I will seek legal means in a court of law on this matter.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *************************

• Initial Complaint

  01/03/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Jan.03.2024 **** Dodge Ram 2017 yr ******. Is mileage Ask to find and fix why engine light stays on.They gave me the price of *******. Then wanted ******* up front to order parts before touching.So we owed *******. They added a part that they didn't call to get approval.He said they did me a favor add part on and extra stuff that was also done for me but what extra unknown.Well I did not ask for any they put on after they put a new turbocharger ,explained why it needed it cause of the computer reading.After they put it and they claim it needed fuel control actuator.So they added but not approved by me and I had to pay the extra money they would not and couldnot to adjust to what was not approved. He claim to take off then adjust the bill. I did not have the extra money. We had to borrow that *******.So they took it off but no repercussion on the engine if was not changed.So is it or not totally not fixed that they won't warranty. Also why all these extra parts charged when can get a turbocharger all ready to put it on didn't need any calibration.So the big question is it fixed or not. They were able to take off and put old back on. But he claimed that was other problem, SO IS IT *********** OR DO I HAVE TO WORRY .

  

  Business response

  01/09/2024

  The very simple response to this is, the truck came in needing a turbocharger replaced. We replaced the turbocharger and the technician the performed the repair attempted to test drive the truck. During the test drive the idle became erratic. ***** returned to the shop to diagnose the erratic idle and found the fuel control actuator was failing. This was not part of the customer's initial complaint when the truck was dropped off. ***** came into the office and asked me to call the customer to see if they wanted us to repair it while the truck was in our care. I called the phone number left by the customer when they dropped off the truck. A man answered the phone, I quickly explained the new found issue and was told by the man to go ahead and replace whatever needed to be replaced to ensure the truck was in good working order. 
  
  We replaced the *** (fuel control actuator) and the erratic idle was cured. The customer was called to come pick up the truck, when they got here ******* became completely unhinged screaming, yelling, cursing everyone out over the added expense of the fuel control actuator. ******, not knowing that I had called and talked to her husband about this, tried for half an hour to explain and reason with her. She never stopped yelling and screaming, even in front of other customers who said she was insane and a psychopath. Their words, not ours. The other customers actually fled the scene as they were worried about her psychotic behavior. Her husband even told her to "shut up" she then started cussing him out and the scene moved out into the parking lot where she continued to scream and yell erratically.  We did remove the fuel control actuator and took the cost of it off her invoice. The initial complaint they dropped the truck off for is fixed, the turbocharger works perfectly now. The fuel control actuator will eventually fail completely and the truck will have further issues. The *** failed during our test drive, these things happen in the automotive repair industry, it's very annoying for us and our customers. We generally handle these situations very professionally and they work out great, when you are dealing with a completely unhinged person that won't even let you speak or explain the situation you end up here, on the Better Business Bureau trying to read a complaint that's completely incoherent, as was the conversation in our office. This lady needs *****, we are actively praying for her.  

  Customer response

  01/09/2024

  They claimed  they called.I pulled up phone report,no number be found.Number2 They way they described me is false,yes I screamed and yelled after they told me that I owed extra money. THEY ALSO SAID I could not get my truck until I payed.Yes I yelled loud but I did not cuss yes my husband told me to be quiet cause I was embarrassed him. THEN  the man I  yelled at, he did introduce himself.Way he said just overheard the conversation and  explained what the extra money was for ,he forgot to tell you he did not know if the man called me or not. Then he forgot to mention that he had it put on for kind gesture.So that sound like he had put on to be appreciated. Then he said that I had to pay for the part.Then he said I will have it taken off and put on old one. So that made me think that he had put on cause it was not good.So how you can take  something off and put old one. So I was not supposed to mad or like he claimed that I was crazy or was a mad woman. IF I WAS THAT WILD AND CRAZYLADY why didn't  call police or ambulance.Because he wrote falsely about the cussing and yelling and acted crazy.I admit I did scream and hollered at him.I was demanding that I sho I ld pay for something that was added on and approved.Yes I guessed I ran the customer off but I wanted them to know how I was being  treated and they added parts that was not approved and so far  my truck is still going. HE WOULD NOT COVER THE NEW PART OR TAKING IT OFF AND PUTTING BAD ONE BACK ON.SO I WONDER IF THEY FIXED MY TRUCK OR NOT.I SHOULD GO ON EXPLAINED WHAT HE SAID  THEY WAY I ACTED. THE OTHER REVIEWS  ALL MOST SOUNDED THE WAY WHAT HAPPENED TO  ME. 

   

  

  Business response

  01/18/2024

  We serve thousands of customers here and we have no ill intent against any of them. Nobody employed by Lead Foot Diesel is paid on Commision there's no financial gain for any employee here to sell you a part you didn't need. It is your right as the customer to refuse any repairs we suggest on the truck , we are simply here to inform you of the issues we found. We hope nothing but the best for you and your husband in the future.  

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩