Car Dealerships Rant (Servicing)

[El Presidente]

I try to avoid servicing my Jeep at Jeep dealerships. I suspect you can substitute "Jeep" for any other dealership. There must be good ones out there .....I have just never found one.

When my Jeep Grand Cherokee hit 10,000 km I took it into the local Moorooka Jeep Dealership for service. The car was running generally well, but there was a TSB Transmission flash that needed to be done. No drama surely.

Picked up the car, $600 (for an oil change and filter effectively), no TSB flash done. didn't fill out the warranty booklet, black hand prints all over the driver door. Pitiful.

Again the car was running pretty well and I was off to Cuba shortly so no time to take it back. Can wait for the 20,000 service.

I am lucky in that I have a local mechanic Peter Foot who is a Jeep legend. Drives the same model as I do. He did my 20,000 service last week. $290. He couldn't do the outstanding TSB flash (which I knew prior) but under warranty I booked it into Jeep Mount Gravatt today.

The tosser at the front service desk got his back up because the 20,000 service was conducted outside of a Jeep Dealership.

"Listen mate, why don't you ask me what you can do as a dealership to bring me into the fold from this time on?. it is my second jeep"

It goes straight over his head. I get lectured instead. I tell him what I think of him, pick up my keys and walk out.

I still need a TSB done and will take it somewhere else but for the love of God are all dealerships so fricken clueless as to what good customer service is? I know they are called "Stealerships" for a reason and for the prices they charge, the inconvenience they deliver, the questionable work they perform on occasion, Why would you ever deal with them unless for a recall?

[ChanceSchmerr]

I've avoided the Hyundai dealership with my Tiburon (Coupe) for this same reason for years, Rob - clueless pricks who havn't a clue beyond recommending entirely unnecessary and expensive maintenance procedures and pawning overpriced "official parts" on you.

It helps that I can do basic maintenance and have lots of car-savvy friends too, though.....

Mind you - my car (2000 model that I left back in Canada while over here) is up near 320,000 km now. Most mechanics that see it now usually whistle appreciatively at the fact that I've still got it on the road at this point....

[saintsmokealot]

Salesman not mechanics can be dirtbags dealership or not. You have to go to someone you trust.

[CigarEnthusiast]

Just last month I found out another dealership never changed my oil as they claimed.

Toyota if that matters...

[Jones]

I get my Cadillac serviced at a dealership and and have always received good service. One they dinged the paint and after I told them the repainted the spot, and touched it up. Did not try to argue it was already there which I appreciate. I don't understand how an oil change can be 600 AUD though that seems insane. It's 80 usd at my dealership for full synthetic and they wash the car top off fluids tires etc.

[SofaKing]

I only use the dealership for warranty work outside of that its local places for routine stuff. Over the past 10 years I have dealt with Hyundai, Volvo, VW and BMW. Hyundai has been excellent,VW bad and Volvo the worst....brand new XC90 2nd oil change and the dealer forgot the drain plug which resulted in a blown motor. Replaced on their dime, incompetent dealership staff to say the least.

[CUBANO]

I took my wife's Toyota to the dealership for the 20,000 miles oil change. They call me and tell me I need a new water pump because is leaking. I know that is a lot of BS because I used to be a auto technician in my younger days. They said is under warranty and is not going to cost me anything.

They replaced the water pump and did a crappy job, because the new water pump was leaking and had to waste my time going back and another day without a car.

Will only go back for recalls.

[OZCUBAN]

I think it's that they make more money out of "SERVICING" than selling simple equation,I wholeheartedly agree with your comments though

I guess you will be sticking with your local guy ,who by the way will tell you like it is

We will be of to the Mazda dealership when we get back for the dreaded 10,000 km service,presumably capped time will tell

[topdiesel]

The mechanics are not usually the problem at the dealerships. They are usually highly trained. However, the service writers work on commission. This is where you have to wonder if you really need all the work they are suggesting.

[Miner]

Current favourite over here at the moment are system flushes - Cooling, breaks, oil, fuel, air con etc. These are extra over and above the service cost, so it doesn't matter if you have "capped price servicing". Each flush costs upwards of $100 and it seems with my new cars they all need these manufacturer recommended flushes every year....

"It a time issue sir, has nothing to do with how many kms you have done in the vehicle".

I think the dealers make their money out of servicing and not from car sales.

[Jones]

Yes they car sales are very low margin some times even at a loss. Service is there bread and butter, at least in US.

[kuma]

I've got a Toyota 4X4 Tacoma and every three thousand miles I get a oil change free of charge. Reason it is free

is because I bought the truck from this same dealership. For the most part they are ok but labor (doing the grunt work)

is very high price wise. Parts for the truck are not that bad. Anyway they found out that my frame (truck frame) that is

was all rusted to the point that I have a hole the size of a grapefruit on the drivers side part of the frame.

Well long story short they dealership had to replace the frame on there dime. Come to find out there was a recall

on Toyota pickups from 2006 to 2010 from Maine to Maryland. This rotting of the frames was / is do to the Sodium

Cloride used to melt the snow here in the northeast of the states. Instead of using salt DOT (Dept. Of Transportation)

uses Sod. Clor. which works great in melting snow and ice but also melts metal over time! Well I got a new frame which

dealership replaced in two days which cost them fourteen thousand dollars. So to answer your question Rob I guess

in this department I'm doing ok. cheers!

[JohnS]

El Pres,

I don't mean to make light of your situation, but the Jeep ads in Australia emphasise to 'not hold back' in that famous jingle and I'm glad you spoke your mind.

I can only add that I too don't bother with warranty and I agree with Miner...dealerships make a 'top up' from warranty servicing to make up for the lower margins on new car sales.

[Fosgate]

Sorry to hear Prez. Friend went through something similar on his Jeep 4dr Wrangler the other week. Only he did the oil change and went to pick up his keys and they had his receipts to sign off on and there was a white piece of paper covering all but the signature area. Pulled the paper up and read the report that the recall was not done but they were wanting him to sign off that it had been done. This is a big local dealer and every time he has to take it in he has to fight with them and they usually play dumb.

My brother also had a bad experience with the Chevy dealer with his duramax pickup. They had a recall and he had to take it in to have it done. First they were only going to replace the bad injectors and he demanded all of them if they are a faulty product which he had to fight for that. Then they changed the oil and fuel filters as part of the recall but tried to make him pay for it. Another argument ensued and for some reason they never did send him a survey on that repair.

[mrsgucia]

$600 for a Jeep oil & filter change! That's a robbery!

You didn't get no charge schedule maintenance for the first 3 or 4 years when buying new? That's what I'm always negotiating first when buying new vehicle. But I'm buying Fords only.

[Duxnutz]

Oh god. VOLKSWAGEN !!! Never, ever buy a VW. The recall, the insane service costs. You'd think after a massive international gearbox recall they'd actually up their service.

Packs of *****AS (subtract the A!)

I've had several jeeps and loved them, but a co worker talked me out of it recently after 2 of his tyres had a sidewall failure shortly after purchasing it. Wouldn't replace them under warranty.

[SofaKing]

Instead of using salt DOT (Dept. Of Transportation)

uses Sod. Clor. which works great in melting snow and ice but also melts metal over time!

Ever look at the bridges/ expansion joints! They are rusted and falling apart from 95 to 91, remember Mianus (depending how long you have lived here).

[kwsaw63]

$600 for a 10k service is daylight robbery. I used to work for a car dealership many decades ago, and I know the pressure to charge as much as possible for servicing (that's where dealers make their profit as sales generates little to no margins) but $600 for an oil and filter change is ridiculous! The service guy's attitude also needs major adjustment - where you take your car for servicing is your prerogative and at most you void your warranty.

Having said that, there are good dealers in this world. I service my 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer at a Mitsubishi dealership in Kuala Lumpur and have nothing but good words to say about them.

[MIKA27]

$600 bucks for an oil and filter change is highway robbery!!

As for Dealerships, I avoid them like the plague and in most cases, you can go to almost any non Jeep dealership and still have your warranty guaranteed. Which of course you are well aware of.

I have a Wrangler, just did my own oil and filter change and cost bugger all.

Dealerships in general are a Monopoly IMO and there never is any customer service. It's amazing how they even get any business with their CBF attitude.

When I first purchased my Wrangler, I thought I'd get some advice from my local dealership in Southbank, all they cared about was selling me a service rather than providing me a service by way of advice. I'm lucky I have a great mechanic who I take all my business to at a third of the cost.

[polarbear]

I'm currently in the middle of an argument with my local Toyota dealer after my Hilux spat a bottom end bearing (Engine Shat Itself) after less than 100,000kms. Upon pulling down the engine we found that there was no oil in it. It had its 90K service 4 months prior

It required a whole new bottom end and top end engine rebuild.

$10k later I have my car back

The vehicle was serviced every 5,000km through Toyota as required but the log books weren't filled out for the 85k and 90k services (I know, I should have checked) so now they're making me pay for it as they say they have no record of the vehicle being serviced.

I've forwarded them their invoices for the last two services but they aren't budging.

My insurance will cover the cost, so I'm not out of pocket but I wont be using Toyota again

My main mechanic (who services my hot rod) is now a Toyota approved repairer, so I'll be going to him from now on, even after I buy another Hilux. I'd rather pay his fees than get Toyota to service my car for free!

[cigcars]

I've had to send summonses to car dealerships about ripping me off repair-wise; I've been through the ringer with thievin' mechanics; I find it's best to just have your faithful independent, general purpose mechanic's shop that's been tried and true to you, and proven that they won't rip you off, to take all one's automobile troubles to. The ones who have their own non-affiliated shops, and who you can safely get a job done in UNDER $400 or so.

Having worked for a major transportation hub I've been told about horror stories of attempted ripoffs of mainly female car owners. One bus driver told me about a lady who took her car to the famed 3-named muffler boys about her brakes, and they told her she HAD to have new rotors, new shoes, new pads, etc. The bus driver looked under her hood, checked the brake fluid, and it was low. He said to her this is probably your problem. She proceeded to go buy some, but he said, "No, I'LL buy it for you." He added the brake fluid and her problems were disappeared, everything worked well and with no problem. All she needed was an .85 cent can of brake fluid, and these jackasses told her she HAD to have over $400+ worth of work done.

And I do need to stop there. Because again, some of what I'd experienced through the years, if I relive them here in memory - I'll probably be viewed as a raving, crazy, S-C-R-E-E-E-E-A-A-A-M-M-I-I-N' lunatic, I'd be so pissed and mad at remembering what had happened. There is truth to the old, old saying that Time heals ALL wounds. So I'm not gonna pick the scab off of distant memory to become fist-shaking outraged again at this time. Good topic, though.

[Shikar]

I just paid $650 for my S550 oil change service at the Mercedes dealership in Houston last week. The service is impeccable. They pick up my car from work, drop off a new E class loaner, and by evening deliver my car back and take their loaner.

They are on time. Car is always clean, has mints, lip balm and a bottle of water. Communication is excellent and my service advisor, Michelle, is always awesome.

Regards.

[MIKA27]

I just paid $650 for my S550 oil change service at the Mercedes dealership in Houston last week. The service is impeccable. They pick up my car from work, drop off a new E class loaner, and by evening deliver my car back and take their loaner.

They are on time. Car is always clean, has mints, lip balm and a bottle of water. Communication is excellent and my service advisor, Michelle, is always awesome.

Regards.

And this is why their motto is: "The best or nothing"

[spicycorona]

My Better Business Bureau review of Acura of Boston:

"

This review is specifically intended for the service department at Acura of Boston(Bernardi Acura). To preface, I serviced my Acura there for 4 years. Service included oil changes, tire mounting/balancing, PCM replacement, etc. From day 1, the service there was sub-par. About half of the Service Assistants there seem less than capable, and even worse, most of the Service Assistants have no clue about the cars that are sold and serviced in the dealership in which they work. So what is their job? First of all, unless you don't know what a swirl is, or don't care about the longevity of the shine of your car's paint job, DO NOT LET THEM WASH YOUR CAR. My first and most serious issue only revealed minor annoyances with Acura of Boston's service. It was a intermittently blinking check engine light that would happen every time I was in the car at some point. Of course after 3 times at the dealer, one for more than a day for diagnosis, they couldn't "recreate" it. A phrase that I would hear over and over for 4 years. One day it happened, I called them and drove it right into the service bay. "Here I recreated it for you". Luckily I didn't let them dodge that one as it would have been in the thousands after the warranty expired. Now that I have finally ditched Acura of Boston, I am back to a mechanic who I had previously dealt with for years at my family's business. The first time I went to him for an oil change I told him the minor problems that I was trying to get fixed at Acura of Boston for years. They are: Squealing serpentine belt, and creaking front suspension. It took my mechanic about 4 minutes to find that there is a Technical Service Bulletin on the AC compressor's bolts which could cause belt noise. Funny, I had never heard of that TSB before (the TSB was released years prior). Acura's solution was to lubricate the tensioner every time it started to squeal again, they successfully dodged that one until I couldn't put up with them anymore. Well played. As for the suspension noise, which they couldn't "recreate" after 5 test drives over the course of over a year; loose sway bar bushings. Thanks ***. Every year I have snow tires mounted on the stock wheels in the fall and summer tires in the spring. In order to mount tires, you need to balance them, every time. This act requires one to remove the stick on weights on the interior of the wheel and replace them. I simply asked them to remove the leftover adhesive so it would look horrendous. Their solution: sand/scrape off the adhesive along with the paint on the wheel. Now my wheels are rusting. The Bluetooth. I let them know that my Handsfreelink Module has failed, will not work, and is draining the battery(I was on my third), like it had in millions of other Acuras. You think they would know? No, give me the diagnostic fee then I'll tell you what you and I already know. After a frustrating exchange with the less than pleasant service assistant, I disconnected it myself in about 10 minutes. I also never heard about the TSB on the leaking power steering hose that could cause a fire. I guess I didn't pay enough in diagnostic fees to receive that service. My last experience was a simple oil change. But the car was left there for a few days, and in those few days we got hit with a large snow storm. I picked up the car (it was washed) and the interior driver side door and seat was sprayed with what looked like dried up salt solution. No big deal, I knew who I was dealing with... "I'll clean it up". After I examined the exterior of the car, again, because I knew who I was dealing with, I noticed the driver side A pillar was moderately scratched. This led me to call the Service Manager. This unpleasant exchange was my last with Acura of Boston. I won't be buying or servicing a car there ever again. After second hand experiences with two BMW service departments, and one Lexus service department, Bernardi Acura somehow looks even worse. You've been warned."

I didn't even mention the habitual failure of side view mirror actuators which they needed to "recreate" every single time I went back to get it fixed. 150 dollar "DIAGNOSTIC FEE" F OFF. Granted they fixed it for free once, but they're malfunctioning again and I'll shoot myself before I go back there. I swear to god terrible service is a tactic to make people not even try to go there for repairs. They must lose money on it. They rely on sales, and warranty work for profit. <My guess.

[spicycorona]

I just paid $650 for my S550 oil change service at the Mercedes dealership in Houston last week. The service is impeccable. They pick up my car from work, drop off a new E class loaner, and by evening deliver my car back and take their loaner.

They are on time. Car is always clean, has mints, lip balm and a bottle of water. Communication is excellent and my service advisor, Michelle, is always awesome.

Regards.

Another account of Merc or BMW having far superior service. But you do pay for it.