I have had multiple problems with the Service Department here over the years. I was recently…read moreassured they were under new management and things would get better, but it's the same old story. I kept going because they offer free inspections when you buy a car there, but I've had so many problems that I won't even be going back for those. I also was given a free oil change (to try to apologize for the issues at my last inspection), but I have no plans to return to use it. I'd rather go somewhere trustworthy.
Two years ago during my inspection, I was told that my windshield wipers won't pass inspection. I suggested I would take the car to AutoZone to get wiper blades because I was afraid the dealership would be expensive; the attendant assured me that the price was pretty much the same and that she had just had her wipers replaced there, so I agreed to let them do it. When I saw the price they charged, it was more than double what I would have paid elsewhere.
This year when I got my car inspected (along with an expensive 125k mile service, replacing spark plugs), I paid and went to the car, which I was told was ready outside. When I got outside, I noticed the car was running and left in reverse. There was a worker in the area, so I asked him why it was left in that state. He shrugged his shoulders and said, "I don't know. I was just told not to touch it." I left since they said it was done. When I got home, I noticed that the contents of my glove box had been rearranged (poorly stuffed back in with some things left on the floor of the passenger side). I thought maybe they were looking for the registration & insurance papers, but I had given them to the associate, so that also seemed odd. Then, the next time I put my car in reverse, I noticed a big white exclamation mark on the backup camera screen, and the lines showing to where you will back up were missing. I googled this and found this is an issue requiring a reset of some sort. I attempted to fix it but could not get it to work. I contacted the Service Department about all of this. I spoke with the new manager (Chris, I believe). He thanked me for telling him about these issues since he wants to get things better. He said they would fix the backup camera for free, said he would talk to the techs about how they leave the cars for customers. He also offered me a free oil change next time to make up for the issues. I accepted.
A few days before the appointment to fix the backup camera, the lines reappeared, working properly again. However, one of the parking censors also fell out of the bumper and was sitting down inside the bumper, which resulted in a constant beep because it was pointing at the inside of the bumper. I called and explained that one problem was gone, but I had a new problem. They said they could use the existing appointment to try to fix it. I brought the car in and waited. Two hours later, I was told that the adhesive that holds it was no longer holding it, and they couldn't fix it without ordering a bracket, then taking the bumper off to install it. I was told it would be two hours of labor and the cost of the part. I replied noting this is a lot of money to fix a problem that I didn't do anything to cause, and the associate explained that this can happen over time, especially from the car being in the sun and car washes; the adhesive can stop holding. She told me they would cover 1 hour of the labor if I paid for the part and the other hour. I persisted that it was still a lot of money to fix an obvious flaw in the design, and she eventually agreed that they would cover the labor, so I made the appointment to get it fixed. She said the part would be in at the end of the week, and she would call me then to schedule an appointment. The following week, I hadn't heard from her, so I called the service department. She found that the part was in (she had forgotten to call me) and scheduled the appointment.
When I went in for the appointment, they fixed the issue, but she then brought me a bill for the fix with only $100 taken off (which wasn't even 1 hour of labor to which she originally offered, and she had eventually agreed to both). I asked about it, and she said that's all they could do. She noted there was "damage" to the bumper which caused the issue, so it was "user" caused. I asked for proof of damage and to speak with the manager. I waited, and the assistant manager (Jim) finally came out (saying the manager was on a call). He agreed to take $25 more off but said "that's all I can do". He then showed me pictures of the "damage" on a tablet, showing a bumper that was "flared out" at the edges, which he said indicated it had been hit. We went out to the car so he could show me that the bumper was now "flush" on the sides (which I don't recall seeing it wasn't before). He said someone must have backed into it in a parking lot, which could've caused the sensor to fall. I pointed to the bumper & ask