Disappointed.
Not that I am proud of it, but I am a returning customer to this Caliber Collisions location. 3-4 years ago this same car spent time here as a result of a fender bender due to a driver behind me in traffic. Caliber did an incredible job and I was very happy with the results. With such a good experience, why not make a return visit?
Due to a fender bender a month ago the front bumper was destroyed, the hood creased and headlights knocked out of place. I took the car to a place that I thought would perform the same as before. I was mistaken.
The entire time, I was treated as if a) I know nothing about cars, and b) as if I know nothing about my own car. This car gets babied. I detail it myself, so I have an intimate working knowledge of what it looks like and how it should look. I know every ding, scratch and gap, of which there are few. And prior to now, there were very few cosmetic issues.
This time was not a great experience. Essentially, I left my car with Caliber 3 times. When I first picked up the car, at the shop I noticed, without inspecting too closely that the grille was not aligned properly, and pointed this out to the service adviser. He asked if they could have the opportunity to make it right. My response was, "of course".
After taking the car home the first time, and in following days, I looked closely and found numerous additional issues. An auto body shop is supposed to bring your car back to the way it was when it left the factory (maybe not cases of severe damage to the frame). This was not the case this time.
Starting from the driver side to the passenger side:
1) The driver side headlight assembly was not installed properly, there were gaps and misalignment on the side edge that meets the fender. The bottom edge was not aligned with the top of the bumper. Huge gap between the headlight and the grille. Looking from the top, the headlight did not align with the grille.
2) The driver side bumper cover did not meet up with the fender properly, there was a ¾" gap.
3) Grille: a) Stuck our more one side than the other; b)The bottom was not aligned with the bumper.
4) Hood: a)Gaps on either side of the hood were not even; b)The front of the hood was pulled down by the latch too close to the grille so it was not level with the top of the fenders; c)Passenger side, there was a huge glob of clear coat that had not been properly dealt with. Likely a result of spraying too much.
5) Under the hood: a)The stickers for emissions were placed on the driver side and belong on the passenger side; b)There is an air intake that should have been replaced due to missing a fastening tab-Not something that should get loose in the engine compartment as it could create safety hazard; c)The cooling fan on the backside of the radiator/condenser was banging off the bottom of the above mentioned air intake as it turned; d)The AC was recharged, but did not sound the same when run-Normally, very quiet, but after taking possession of the car, it made a loud compression sound, as if not recharged properly.
6) The license plate bracket was crooked looking at it from the front and from the side not aligned with the profile of the bumper.
7) The passenger side headlight assembly was not installed properly, there were gaps and misalignment on the side edge that meets the fender. The bottom edge was not aligned with the top of the bumper. There was too small a gap between the headlight and the grille. Looking from the top, the headlight did not align with the grille.
In good faith, I gave Caliber Collision an opportunity to fix the issues. When they indicated that the car was ready, I inspected it a second time and though things were tightened up, I still found issues. The headlight assemblies not lined up, the license plate holder was STILL not corrected, the grille was not aligned with the front of the headlights. And with this second attempt to fix things, Caliber created additional issues, in that there were loose screws in the engine compartment, located in brackets that hold the tops of the headlight assemblies to other parts of the front end and the hood support rod didn't fit into the slot on the hood itself.
Left the car again. Got it back and things are still not right. I pointed these out to service adviser and in so many words, he said that this is the best it would get.
In all of the conversations, numerous times I was told that the car would not have the same look as parts underneath may not be aligned properly. This should not be the case when only components are being replaced and there is no damage to the frame. It is an auto body shop's job, to replace and align everything correctly.
This place needs quality control, additional training and a brush up on customer service.
There are some glowing reviews here, and I would have agreed a few years ago. Not now. Hopefully the above is enough of a caution for you to not take your car here for auto body needs. read more