Avoid This Midas Location at All Costs…read more
On August 14th, a mechanic at this Midas store replaced the radiator on my 2012 Honda Odyssey. I drove the car daily afterward, including a round trip from Dover to East Brunswick -- over an hour each way in heavy traffic on Route 287 -- with no issues. No overheating, no leaks, nothing.
Then on Saturday, September 6th, I returned to Midas for an alignment and to check the ABS light. I had a noon appointment, but due to staff shortages, they didn't lift my car until 1 PM. After inspecting it, they asked me to come into the shop -- antifreeze was all over the floor. They claimed the radiator installation had been poorly done, and that the engine had overheated, causing a hose to burst. I was shocked, having driven the car for over two weeks without a single problem.
They handed me a $1,293.07 estimate just to get the car running again -- not including the alignment. They said I needed a new hose, radiator fan, and thermostat, but couldn't get the parts that day. With the store closing at 5 PM and it already being 3 PM, I had no choice but to leave the car. For reference, they quoted $241.99 for a radiator fan that costs $79 on Amazon and $130 at AutoZone -- just for the part.
They completed the repair on Monday and gave me a $100 discount since it was a follow-up to the original job. They also recommended replacing the hub, axle, and tie rod. Oddly, there was a note at the bottom of the invoice stating "transmission lines are a bit rusty," but they never mentioned it or gave me a quote.
Regarding the ABS issue, they first blamed the sensor -- even joking that "Duralast doesn't last" -- but by Monday, they changed their story and said it was the hub. I picked up the car Monday, still without the alignment or ABS fix, and paid $1,186.44.
On Tuesday, I drove 5 miles to work. Wednesday, I went to a meeting 2 miles from home, and on the way back, I noticed the RPMs were unusually high. The transmission started acting up, and I saw fluid leaking -- my driveway was stained. I popped the hood and saw transmission fluid leaking near the radiator. I called Mike at Midas, who told me not to drive the car and to bring it in another day since they were busy.
I dropped it off Friday morning, September 12th. Later that day, they said the transmission line was leaking and quoted $770 to fix it. I was furious -- the car had never leaked before, and this started right after their repair. I told them not to touch the car. When I arrived at 4:30 PM, Mike refused to give me my keys unless I signed a waiver stating I had declined the transmission line repair -- which was never discussed or quoted. He was rude and dishonest, but I signed just to get my car back.
The car was barely drivable, so I took it to a nearby mechanic. He fixed the transmission lines for $400 and showed me the damage -- a hole right next to the radiator, exactly where Midas had worked. He couldn't believe they had missed it.
There's no way they didn't see that leak when they fixed the radiator. I believe they damaged the transmission line during the repair and refused to take responsibility.
In the end, I spent nearly $2,000 and never got the alignment I originally came in for. I wasted time, dealt with unnecessary stress, and nearly lost my transmission -- and my car. Their repair recommendations were questionable too. The other mechanic said the tie rod didn't need replacing; the nut was just loose.
I strongly advise staying away from this store. I reported everything to Midas corporate via online submission and phone call, but it's been over a week with no response or follow-up.