Save Your Car - Avoid Murray's Tire & Automotive
My husband's family has used Murray's, a small auto shop, for several years. They have purchased tires, gotten cars inspected, had oil changed, and some other work, as well.
Recently, I brought my Jeep Wrangler to Murray's for a state inspection in March. The inspection revealed that I needed new brakes, so our bill was over $600 for the inspection and new brakes.
A few weeks later, in April, I noticed that the "check engine" light was illuminated when I started up the car. Once we started moving, the car was sputtering, as well, so we took it back to Murray's. The verdict: only 5 of the 6 cylinders were firing. They notified me that they were replacing the spark plugs, starter and putting in a new engine coil. We paid over $500 on April 17th for all this additional work.
Two weeks later May 2nd, we took the Jeep out for a drive, since it was such a nice day. About 10 miles from home, the car broke down and just stopped working as we were rolling up to a traffic light. Luckily, we were able to push it to the side of the road. AAA arrived and jumped the car. The AAA technician stated that said my starter "looked really old." My starter should have looked brand new, as Murray's supposedly replaced it just two weeks prior.
We got the Jeep to Murrays, and on the morning of May 4th (two days later), the owner Mike Murray told me that I needed a new engine, as there was no oil in the jeep. I told him what AAA told me about the starter, and he said "those guys are always wrong," referring to AAA. I then proceeded to ask about why there wasn't any oil in the jeep, as the Jeep had been in the shop multiple times in the month and a half leading up to the current issue. Mike Murray told me that "it's not [his] job to check the oil unless [he is] doing an oil change." I was not due for an oil change for another 1,000 miles. I also hadn't driven more than 50 miles since I had gotten it out of the shop, so where did the oil go? It does not add up.
My husband got on the phone with Mike to ask more questions, and Mike said he would get back to us with an estimate. This was on Monday, May 4th. Because we still had not heard from him, my husband went to Murray's to check in on Thursday, May 7th. When my husband got there, Mike Murray said he was waiting to hear from us about what he wanted to do. I am not sure why he would be sitting around waiting for us to call him when we were told he would call us with an estimate a few days prior.
My husband asked more questions about why the oil wasn't checked, and how it couldn't have been gone or leaking since there are no oil leak spots in our parking lot. How could all the oil disappear when we have barely driven the car. Mike Murray then says, "You teach right? Your wife is like a high school student, they don't listen well." My husband says, "Are you saying my wife can't listen, because I was actually on the phone when you spoke with her." Mike Murray says, "Well then, you both can't listen."
We subsequently took the car to another mechanic, who miraculously found oil in the Jeep. He thinks this shop added oil after to the fact to cover up their mistakes. Our new mechanic, also let us know that this isn't the first time, he's seen cars messed up by Murrays Automotive. They've had several new customers due to the mistakes Murrays makes, and will never own up to.
Overall, this experience with Murray's Automotive and especially with owner Mike Murray has been wholly negative, frustrating, and overly expensive. The repair history that he claims to have provided does not add up given the current issues. Moreover, his lack of professionalism was exhausting to deal with and is just unacceptable. He attacked my husband and I's intelligence and listening skills, which is obviously no way to speak to a customer. Our interactions have been honestly ridiculou. We will never use Murray's Automotive again. read more
