Tuffy Auto Service Center Cedar Rapids

Reviews 5

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Cyndi Ann

I brought my car here to get the brakes done: rotors, pads, shoes, the works. After having my car for an entire Saturday afternoon, it was done. Cost me over $800, but thats beside the point. Immediately upon driving my car out of the parking lot, I found that my car now made a strange noise and vibration when I braked. I gave it a few days to rule out "breaking in" the new brakes, and when it didnt go away, I took the car back in. They blamed me for the noise/vibration, saying that it was because I didnt use my emergency brake enough. So they "fixed" the noise and told me to use my e-brake occasionally to prevent it from happening again. I got my car back and could still hear the noise faintly, but fine. Over the next week or so, I used my e-brake daily, but the noise and vibration came back and got worse than before. So I took my car back AGAIN. This time they said the "maybe the drum they put in was out-of-round". Why wasnt that checked when I took it back the second time? So after a couple hours they call me in for a test drive, to make sure they got it right. After breaking a few times, it came back AGAIN, so they did even more work, and finally got it right. Its been a week and half now, and Im still noise-free. Finally. What kind of an auto repair shop doesnt test drive a vehicle after changing the brakes? If they had tested it, they would have heard the noise/vibration and should have fixed it on the spot. I wasnt charged for my subsequent visits, but this company was a HUGE waste of my time, and I have ZERO confidence in them as a business. And I feel that I was over-charged for the breaks to begin with. FIND A DIFFERENT MECHANIC.

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Anonymous User

Note that four of their 5 star reviews were all done on Dec 12th. Looks like the mechanics had a slow day and decided to talk themselves up... Can I give this automotive shop zero stars? This place gave me the run around. My engine was idling rough. They first told me that they just thought it was dirt and that they would clean out my fuel line. Still idled rough after, and so of course I brought it back. They then told me that I needed new coil packs on top of my spark plugs (each plug has their own on an F150), because they werent sending a charge to my spark plugs. I told them to go ahead and change the spark plugs, but that wasnt it. While they changed those they said that they looked inside my engine and didnt notice anything wrong, so they wouldnt charge me for that. Seemed to be nice guys, but I was strongly beginning to question their competence.This ordeal was over a week time period. They finally gave up by telling me it was my computer, and it would cost around $1,000. I called the nearby ford dealership and brought it to them. Within 15 minutes at the dealership they told me that it was a bent rocker arm and that they had the parts there and would only charge me labor. They charged me hundreds of my dollars for things that didnt to be done, I guess I will let them have one star for being nice guys...so if you want your car worked on by incompetent nice guys, I suggest this place.

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Anita Lindgreen

Overall I was not pleased with the service I received. I scheduled a 9:00 am oil change. I get to Tuffys and am greeted nicely. Although my car sat in the parking lot for a half hour before they even pulled it into the shop. Which was not a huge deal because it looked like they where pretty busy. They finally start to work on my car around 10 am. After 45 minutes their assistant manager comes up to me and explains all of the "problems" with my car. He told me I needed my wheels balanced, a new cabin air filter, new front breaks and a break fluid flush. Keep in mind that all of this needed to be done "immediately". I think the mechanic was trying to con more money out of me, I am a young girl who does not look like I know much about mechanical work. Which I do not, but I do know to get a second opinion. So I opted out of their services. I got a second opinion from my regular mechanic who is in Dubuque. He said their is absolutely no reason for a break fluid flush, and no reason for a tire balancing. I did need new break pads though. They quoted me 450 dollars (just for my breaks!?). I got other estimates from other local shops all ranging from 130-200 dollars. Overall I feel like they tired taking advantage of me, and Tuffys will not be receiving my business again.

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Missy Drzycimski

If you are a woman, much less a young woman then I would go elsewhere. I went in and legitimately needed 4 new tires to the tune of over $500. The manager then proceeds to tell me that he wont do the alignment because I have a bad ball joint and he had to replace the control arm in order to align the car. Now, I had the control arm replaced a year ago at my regular mechanic so I knew he was full of crap. He pulled this game of "your car is unsafe" and "I dont want to see your new tires get shot because you wont get this done". He also offered to align my car for free if I let him do the control arm work to the tune of almost $400 extra (bringing the total to well over $1,000). I walked out of there with just 4 new tires and made an appt with my regular mechanic to do any work that actually needed done (if any, other than an alignment). This is not the first time this Tuffys location, and this manager, have pulled this kind of crap with me. They are quick which is the only reason I used them again as it was rather urgent but they will always find other things wrong with your car and pressure/bully you into having them do unnecessary work. DO NOT USE THEM.

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Cyle Bowers

I took my 01 jetta in. I kinda knew what was wrong with it. But wanted second opinion and its hard to find a decent price place to work on German cars. Figured it wouldnt hurt. I waited 45 mins for them get done. I went in telling them my fans not working and it gets hot so be careful. I get called into the garage area. Where my cars almost at 260 degrees which if you know that the vr6 has aluminum block at 260 it can do damage. So I am pissed since you know I know way more than them which is obvious if you listen to them talk. I went home and just changed the part (radiator fan) thinking it had power issue that theyre known for. Sure enough fixed it. But wondering how he got it that hot I decided to borrow a 6k machine to check the back log. Wow did they beat crap out of my car. Hit almost 8grand. At one point my car shut off it doesnt cut off till around 160. So that tells you something. Im now having engine issues after effects of engine being to hot. I read other reviews that say they mess with cars I have heard same stuff many times before. Of course they will defend themselves and say they didnt do it. My kids say same thing.

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