AAMCO Transmissions & Total Car Care

Reviews 3

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Armando Zamora

If there was a NO STAR rating I would give it to this place. On 03/10/2016 the transmission in our minivan started acting up so we thought lets take it to a transmission shop. We choose AAMCO in Renton, WA thinking they were good a week after on 03/18 and after $5086.20 (for a rebuilt job) we got it back. After a few months my wife said something didnt feel right with the way it shifted, so on 10/19/16 we took it back to AAMCO and they took it on warranty and said it was a small leak on a seal and it was fixed after they flushed it. Id like to clarify that we waited a week and never received a call from them I had to call them to find out that the vehicle was ready. Well it was shifting kinda hard but they said it was ok. Then again on 11/18/2016 while I was driving it actually went on limp mode so I turned around ( was a few miles from AAMCO Renton) and took it straight to them. Once again they took it. Next day I called to find out and the manager said "It will be a few days we need to run tests. Ill call you back". A week went by an no call so I stopped by and our car was parked outside were I parked it. The guy at front desk said they did some tests and they were going to rebuild it again. From that day we did not received ONE SINGLE CALL. we had to call every other day and sometimes I stopped by and every time I saw the minivan parked in the exact same spot collecting dust. Two months went by and we did not received a call again. They stopped answering our calls after the first month so we started using other peoples phones to call. Every time they came up with a different story. "Waiting for parts, running tests, waiting for more parts, we cant figure it out we might just get you a brand new whole unit". Then on 12/29/2016 they said we just took your transmission to a builder to have it fixed!!! It wasnt until 01/16/2017 that we finally got it back. That was OVER TWO MONTHS paying for a rental car and my Wife missed a week at work, on top of that paying for insurance and monthly payment for a car we did not have. I requested my payment back or at least part of it to cover the expenses their bad service caused and they refused offering a $200 service credit, like ever want them to touch my car again! 2010 VW Routan 4.0 ***Update 02/03/17 A week ago a response to this review was posted by Vince Ornato & Louise Bostock. I emailed to the address they provided and it has been a week and no answer. If the boss does not care about the customer why would the employee do right? I think this is a made up email address so people think they actually took care of the problem... Well. they didn;t. *** Update 07/17/17 Got an Email and a Phone call from the new owner. and after a talk with him i agreed to give them a chance. Service was great and prompt. got my car in and out after a transmission issue (again) just this time they honored their warranty quickly and in an impressive timely manner. Kudos to Chandra (the new owner) and Bill (Service Manager). As long as this folks are in charge I wont hesitate to bring my vehicles for service.

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Anonymous User

The transmission in my 93 Ford Bronco XLT began slipping and I was a few weeks away from needing it repaired so I could drive it for my move to San Diego. I called AAA and asked them for a list of places they repair and so began my search for the right place to entrust with my vehicle. After 12 or more phone calls, I caved and called AAMCO in Renton. I was apprehensive to go to a major repair chain like them because it was my understanding that AAMCOs are the Walmart of vehicles. After speaking with Tim (a corporate employee who travels from AAMCO to AAMCO when they are low on people), I was sold on coming there. It wasnt that there was a military discount or that they were willing to do a free diagnostics (which could cost hundreds at other places) but the mere fact that Tim was honest and pleasant, something that Id failed to get the impression from all of the other places I spoke with. After my diagnostics, I spoke with Jason, one of the full time employees and explained my situation to him. Not only did he ensure that the repairs went quickly, but he also made sure I was up to date on what the repairs were and why they needed to be done. I appreciate this from mechanics because Ive had repairs done at other establishments where I wasnt sure why decisions were made without discussing them with me first. I made it clear that I only had so much money and Jason worked with the owner Vince (an amazing manager who is willing, articulate, and sociable) to bring the costs down on my repairs, without cutting corners on the service. All in all, I had to rebuild my transmission, replace my water pump system, replace the motor in my rear window, re-do the wiring to my headlights and my instrument cluster, and change a few gaskets. they finished days earlier than I expected. I did my research and knew the price range for what I would need to spend but these guys cut near a grand off, keeping it affordable. This is a great team of people, all through the office and garage. Everyone was willing and helpful. I was a little sad to have been finished with repairs there, as I will be living in San Diego now, but if youre looking at extensive repairs and want great and trustworthy service (with a warranty), this is where you should put your dimes.

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Stephanie Evans

Our experience with this Aamco shop, has been the absolute worst. In March, my transmission blew in my SUV, I had taken my SUV to Aamco first and also shopped around at other shops including the Chevy dealership. We worked with Ryan at the shop, who was really nice and helpful and we ultimately made the decision to have Aamco replace my transmission with a rebuilt transmission, which holds a 3 year warranty. We took it back in for its 10 day check-up after the work was complete and everything was fine. It took them 3 days to order and install the warranty after we gave them the go ahead. In mid-May we noticed my SUV was jerking and and then started to have acceleration issues. I called Aamco that day to let them know I would be bringing it back in to look at. On my way home from work and on the way to Aamco from Seattle to Renton, my new (with warranty) transmission went out, just 2 months later. We had it towed to Aamco that day, it took the shop 5 days to get any information to us, with us having to call the shop to even get updates. After a week of "Running Tests" they determined I need another new transmission, so they need to order it to come in. This is on a Thursday that they let us know this (I expect they are ordering that day or next day), keep in mind, we had to call the shop on this Thursday to find this out. Its a holiday weekend coming up, so they tell us the soonest we can get it in is Wed the following week and we would have the truck later that day or the next day. We call on Wed, no transmission and its now not going to be there until Friday or Monday. During this entire time, they are not calling us to give us an update, we are having to call each time to get any updates or information. Also during this time, we are wasting money on rental cars, as we need transportation. Ive spent $3500 on a transmission that failed that is under warranty, now spent over $500 on rental cars... wishing we had just gone with the dealership over Aamco. I wouldnt have such an issue if they actually communicated with us, and made an effort to get the job done for us. Got the run around the entire time. Ryan is not there any longer, which is probably why service sucks! DO NOT USE AAMCO especially the Renton location!

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