American Five Star Auto Repair and Transmission

Reviews 3

JA

jasen Santiago

BEWARE OF THIS COMPANY!!! What ever you do, do not think twice about using this company. A little history; back in October I brought my truck to American Five Star to fix my door handles and to resolve a wobbling that occurred every time that I would use my brakes...I knew a guy who had a working relationship with this company, so I figured if they knew that I knew him they wouldnt try to do anything shady with me. I could not have been more wrong. After having them look over my truck, they some how turned my broken lock cylinders (in my doors) and bent brake rotors into $3000 worth of items that NEEDED to be done IMMEDIATELY. I really wish I would have read the reviews instead of just blindly trusting these guys, because after doing my own research after the fact, I found that not only was I grossly overcharged for the work I had done, half the things they charged me for didnt even NEED to be done. Not only that, my door broke again a month later...(well get to that) Fast forward to today...Truck started falling apart again. Engine light on, heavy idle, smells like something is burning. Even though I knew that I shouldnt go back, I hoped that whatever the issue was that it would be covered under the 2-year warranty that they supposedly provide. (ha!) They were nice enough to provide a tow service and quoted me $30 to have it towed to their shop. The next morning I got a call with the damage; needs new spark plugs and all of the ignition coils replaced. Nothing covered under warranty...$553.00. Now, for those of you who dont want Google those items, I can by a FULL SET of ignition coils and all of my spark plugs for UNDER $100. Obviously, this set off a red flag, so I called a mechanic who was referred to me from a guy who actually used their service...When I told him the price he almost spit out his coffee, not only that, he explained to me that if all my ignition coils needed to be replaced as I was told, my truck wouldnt have even started. As the case in many of these reviews and in my past experience THIS COMPANY WILL CHARGE YOU FOR PARTS AND LABOR THAT YOU DO NOT NEED. So, I call and ask Kathy (more on her later) how much I owed them to pick up my truck...$125.00! For what? Well, $50 to do the diagnostic and $65.00 for the tow. More than twice than what was quoted to me...Oh, and the door? Not under their warranty either...Dont ask me how. The door was broken, they fixed it and a month later it was broken again. When I asked how this could be Kathy just kept telling me that all they did was re-key the lock cylinders. Okay? Well it broke after you fixed it..."all we did was re-key the lock cylinders". Yes, I realize this, but you fixed the door and now its broken. "All we did was re-key the lock cylinders"...Apparently Kathy is convinced that because all they did was re-key the lock cylinders the 2-year warranty isnt going to cover it. And finally, on to Kathy...Shes half way decent when she thinks that youre going to hand her over your money, but the second she knows youre not, WATCH OUT!! This lady was trying to argue with me about why I brought my truck to them in the first place. The best part of that argument was when she read her notes out loud as her defense and said exactly what I was saying the whole time. I have never been yelled at before by a supposed professional. (who, according to her, has been scheduling car repairs for over 20 years!!!) Even through her loud noises it was clear that she had no real response...She said everything I needed to hear when she said, "youre the one who signed off on everything, not me!" Yes, Kathy, I did...I trusted you and you lied to me. You lied about what I needed back in October for $3000 (actually it was only $2884.00 which was one of Kathys big comebacks), you lied about the 2-year warranty for the service you provided, you lied about the towing cost and then lied about what needed to be replaced today. If you use this company after everything youve read, be prepared to look in the mirror and wonder what the heck you were thinking...

JA

jacquelyn edens

I am a young woman with little to no understanding of the inner workings of cars - and, unfortunately, the owner of some very problematic autos! I have been using American 5 Star for about 3 years now, for 3 different cars (1997 Honda CRV, 2000 Mercury Mystique, 2001 Buick Century), and I cannot speak more highly of American 5 Star, and the owner, Eric, who really cares about his customers and the cars safety. Highlights: *REPUTABLE, HONEST & FAIR - Eric and his staff always tell me what needs to be done, and which items are important/immediate and which can wait. I have price shopped their estimates and seen other mechanics, and I have found American 5 Star to be extremely HONEST, and never inflate numbers or the immediacy of a car problem *VERY REASONABLE PRICES, and coupons on their websites *FREE SAFETY CHECK: All-Inclusive Courtesy Check with every service - they check everything from your lights, to brakes, to everything under the hood - FOR FREE *KNOWLEDGEABLE about all my cars, and quickly able to diagnose specific issues (even problems that wont show on the diagnostic, or multi-symptom issues). Can do everything from oil changes to very complicated engine repairs. *RESPECTFUL, KIND, FAST employees that greet and assist you immediately, get to your car asap, and take the time (sometimes, for me as long as 20 minutes!) to explain exactly what is going on. *ONLINE STUFF: You can access your cars history of service with American 5 Star, and they will remind you via email (or however you prefer) of upcoming maintenance *LADIES - I feel so comfortable referring all my friends, especially females here. I have been taken advantage of by so many mechanics. Once (at Midas) I even had to call my scary uncle to come and yell at a mechanic for me because he had very obviously not fixed my car and was charging me for the part and labor (and my car still didnt run!). You will not have an experience like that at American 5 Star. This is probably what I love the most about this place. I know that my car is going to be well taken care of by capable people, and at reasonable prices. NO SCAMS, NO SEXISM, NO INFLATED PRICES. If you are having a car issue, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND visiting Eric and staff at American 5 Star Transmission!!!!!!!!!

A

Anonymous User

Today the G-ds must be smiling on me. for days I would find a oil stain in my driveway. ok my cars not new, I had it for awhile but its paid for. the next problem I had was when I would start off driving the car would jerk , I guess its time to check out the problem .1 shop told me my rack & pinion was bad an needed to be changed $$, an we dont do transmission work , I went to another shop, i was told my rack an pinion needed to be replaced.$$ . The transmission fluid was very dirty an most likely needs an overhaul $$$$$. . I called American five star auto care center an asked 1 do you fix rack an pinions an if so how much. I then asked about transmission repair , again how much. The man on the other end of the phone asked me one question an one question only at first. ( do you live far from the shop an is the car drivable.) his name was rich. he told me to bring the car over an lets put it on the lift an see whats wrong. rich explained you dont need a rack an pinion the hose to the rack was cracked . The transmission fluid was dark an dirty . every thirty thousand miles you would change fluid to the transmission . he called it maintance. As for the jerking . two broken motor mounts,not a transmission overhaul. I was so surprised I did an oil change as I was waiting for my friend to pick me up. I couldnt believe , the inspection they did on my car to see what maintance I would need in the future , so I wont have big car repair bills down the road. Rich, the adviser was great ,Eric an all the rest of the techs were also just great . two thumbs up AMERICAN CAR CARE YOU SAVED MY HIDE THANKS Peter Palen

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