ComplaintsforChristian Brothers Automotive - Brodie Lane

• Initial Complaint

  08/26/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  They are the most dishonest mechanic shop I have ever encountered! My check engine light came on with a code for 1 bad O2 sensor. I took it in and after having my Jeep for 5 days told me I needed 2 O2 sensors replaced. They charged me $970 (which is ridiculous for a 30 minute repair) and as soon as I got it back, every alarm started going off. I researched it and found out a loose negative battery connection can cause the electrical problems and check engine light to come on and throw codes. I took it back and told them to check them and sure enough the negative cable was loose. They told me they never checked it or touched and replaced it. And everything was resolved. They refused to refund the cost of replacing the 2 O2 sensors that were not faulty and refused to take accountability for not starting with the battery first. The service manager, ******* lied to me several times and told me the diagnostic took 3 hours and tried to convince me I got a deal. They are crooks and take advantage of people! They also recommended that I needed over $3000 worth of recommended service that I had done a year ago.

• Initial Complaint

  04/22/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  (3/29/22-3/30/22) - Work done on 2008 Tahoe noise under hood, etc. Had full diagnostic $2,597.84 said work guaranteed 36,000mi or 3 years (4/7/22-4/12/22) - Week later, noticed/suspected oil leak; returned to Christian ***** who then said "different problem" - not covered under **************** estimate was over $2,000; I complained that the Tahoe was supposed to have been "fixed," to no avail. Upon pick up, noticed the charge had been lowered to $735.04. Again, I thought the Tahoe was "fixed."(4/19/22) - Tahoe started "slipping" upon exceleration, which means it still had not been "fixed," after two diagnostics and almost $4,000 costs; so I decided it was time to make formal complaint.

  Business response

  05/07/2022

  Since 2013 **************** has trusted us with her vehicles, and we value her trust and patronage. We've serviced her Tahoe for the past three years. At the time of ****************** first visit this year (March), the Tahoe had ******* miles on the odometer. The vehicle is in good condition, but as with most in this bracket, will periodically require repairs due to age and high mileage.

  
  1) On March 29, 2022, **************** brought in her Tahoe stating that there is a metallic sound coming from under the hood. We diagnosed and discovered multiple issues with the power steering system, including leaks, and **************** authorized the repairs. The power steering system is now working as designed.
  
  
  2) On April 07, 2022, **************** brought in her Tahoe stating that there is an oil leak coming from under the hood area. We rechecked our previous work, confirmed that the power steering system is not leaking, and identified the engine oil pan gasket as the primary source of the oil leak. **************** authorized the repairs. The engine oil pan is now properly sealed and is no longer leaking.
  
  
  3) On April 21, 2022, **************** brought in her Tahoe stating that when you accelerate truck is struggling and seems like its not going. We diagnosed and found that the transmission is slipping badly. We provided **************** with estimates to replace the transmission with a new unit or a recycled unit.

  
  *None of the issues outlined above are related*. The first two problems that caused **************** to bring her Tahoe to ** were accurately diagnosed and properly repaired. The third issue was properly diagnosed. We did not charge the customer to diagnose issues two and three.
  
  We certainly understand and commiserate with ****************** frustration; however, the transmission failure was unpredictable as there were no issues, symptoms, or signs of slippage present during the most recent visits or over the course of the past three years. We routinely advise customers against making repairs to vehicles that have serious issues that will negate a return on their investments. We would have done the same for **************** had we known.

  Customer response

  05/09/2022

  Complaint: 17064844
  
  I am rejecting this response because: *********** indicated they had performed a full diagnostic on the vehicle, which to any learned person would mean they examined every mechanical part of the vehicle, including the fluids associated with the car. There is no way an oil leak would have been missed or dirty transmission fluid, or a back light being out if that truly was the case and for which was fully paid as a result of the first repair. Each repair resulted in a subsequent trip back to the repair shop, which now has resulted in basically an unusable vehicle for which I have already invested ~$3,500. ********* on this third visit kept my vehicle for about two week, then submitted a recommendation for a new transmission at a cost of ~$7,500. See attached. All of this should have been disclosed during the first repair, of which I could have made a reasonable decision regarding the financial commitment proposed. That was not done. It was like a bait & switch, take advantage of this 73 year old female. 
  Unacceptable. 
  
  Regards,
  
  *****************************

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