Aamco Transmissions - Auburn

Review: Had my transmission rebuilt here. Shortly thereafter (still under warranty) I noticed a fluid leak. I had my vehicle towed back where the told me it was not the transmission, it was an engine oil leak. I replied that the fluid was coming from the differential and was a clear viscous fluid, not engine oil. They then stated that they had simply over filled the fluid and it was venting. I believed them and had the oil leak addressed at my regular mechanic (I already knew about the oil leak) and thought everything was good now. I was wrong, when I next had my regular mechanic do some more work he stated that the transmission fluid was leaking into the differential and forcing the differential fluid out, at exactly the spot I had first noticed the leak initially. I explained the above story and he told me that the "vent" would be the dip stick hole, which was on the other side, there was no way "vented" fluid would be where I showed them I had seen it. I took it back again, this time they claimed I was out of warranty. I believe the problem existed while I was still under warranty when I took the vehicle back the first time and that they either were incompetent or they lied.Desired Settlement: I payed for services, the services preformed were under par. A problem was created or neglected during the repair. I attempted to resolve the issue while under warranty and was either lied to or the staff was incompetent to understand and remedy the issue. Attempts were made to resolve the issue with the business, with unsatisfactory results. I would now like the business to either refund the cost of "repairs" they rendered or pay for the the repairs now required at the location of my choosing.

Business

Response:

Mr. [redacted] got his transmission built on his 2001 Subaru Legacy by Aamco Transmission Auburn on 12/17/12, we provided him 12000/12 month warranty which ever came in first. He came back on 03/17/14 stating there is some transmission Leak. We checked the leak we suspected the leak is from front seal in between the differential And Transmission. We recommended further inspection and told him it will cost him $550.00 to remove the transmission and fix the problem if parts required we will furnish them as well but Mr. [redacted] declined and said that he was going out of town and cannot get it fixed now, Further we wish to state that Mr. [redacted] is out of warranty even then we were willing to work with him but he still declined.

Review: when I wouldn't buy a not needed new transmission for my car the owner pulled wires out from under my dash and disabled my car.

I was moving from California to Montana and my car started smoking , I had it towed to auburn calif (60 miles) and the next day brought it to aamco to get it looked at. The owner (female) told me I needed a new transmission before the mechanic even looked at my car. My husband went outside and talked to the mechanic, he said he hadn't even diagnosed it. After he drove it inspected it he told my husband the car is fine and it does not need a transmission. He recommended we replace the fluid, have it flushed. The owner got very mad after my husband told me this and I told her I wanted the fluid flushed only and I didn't want to buy a new $3200 transmission. She started making comments about how I am making bad decisions and my car will break down within miles and I don't know what im doing and I am wasting my money and time. I had the mechanic drain the fluid and I noticed the owner was whispering in his ear and then they finished it and parked it outside. I paid $120 and went to leave and my car wouldn't start. It was turning over but wouldn't engage. The owner started laughing at me and pointing and told me that I waS stupid and calling me sweetheart and told me goodluck! not her problem!!! I was in shock. I pushed my car outside their gate and parking lot and locked it up. I left it overnight. The next day I had my car towed 1 mile down the road to the Honda dealership ($75.00 tow charge)on Hwy 49 in Auburn California. I told the service advisor the whole story and what happened the day before.After they looked at my car they told me someone had removed (ripped out) wires and a electrical box from under my dash and that's why my car wouldn't start. It disabled my car, it was from the security system. The wires were hanging down and the car will not run without that piece. I had them replace the wiring under the dash and then had then do a complete check on my transmission. They told me that old recycled fluid had been put back into my car, there was no new fluid and there was no washer above the drain plug and the transmission oil drain plug was lose. If the car was driven Honda said it would have drained all the fluid and the transmission would have seized up and could have possibly blown my motor. I have documentation from aamco and from Honda. I can send it in to you.

AAMCO was mad that I didn't drop $3200 to buy a new transmission and sabitoged my car. I have never dealt with dishonest people like them before. She was mean and spiteful.

I drove my car 1000 miles, from California to Montana with no problems at all. Thank god I took my car to Honda. I want a complaint filed. I hope they don't do this to anyone else.

The whole experience was awful, I actually lost out on a house since my arrival to Montana was two days later than anticipated.Desired Settlement: I paid $120.00 to AAMCO for the flush they didn't perform, I paid Honda $157.00 for the tranny flush and they did the wiring for free (they felt bad for me) AND I paid $75 for the tow

I want reimbursement of all that

I also missed out on my house $600/500=$1100

thank you!!!

Business

Response:

Initial Business Response

[redacted] came in at 2:30pm with her Acura along with [redacted] her Husband's cousin came at the same time with his GMC Yukon having transmission Problem, he checked in first so our builder started checking his truck first. Our visitors room was completely packed with her family members. [redacted] informed Us that the transmission on her Acura was smoking and it was not shifting in gear Since a day before, they requested to get their transmission checked. We have only One builder who does a transmission diagnostics as well as rebuilding.

While Our Rebuilder was checking cousins vehicles transmission, all the family members Flooded around our builder to find out as to what had happened to their transmission, they all started going all over the shop disturbing the complete workflow. [redacted] informed '[redacted]', that it is typical of Hondas and Acuras for the torque converter to go Out, and the transmissions in these cars are sealed units so the Fluid boils over and Comes/vents out of the Dipstick. Our other technician checked the fluid and said that

The fluid looks really burnt and it smells really bad. [redacted] enquired as to how much? Does the transmission cost. [redacted] told [redacted] it can cost anywhere from $2600.00 to $3200.00 depending on the damage. After this our Builder took the car for a test drive and he informed that the transmission has all the shifts and at this time I cannot condemn the transmission but once it is driven for a long distance it could act up with Problems or it could go for a few thousand miles and the you see it act up. We suggested that they put this car on a Tow dolly as they already had U-haul truck so that they can have peace of mind and reach their destination in time safely. As she had said that she had all the bookings done and she and the cousin have lost two days in car problems. They requested to flush the transmission. At AAmco when we see fluid is so burnt, as Acura's have a internal filter and can cause the filter to plug up badly so we do not recommend flushing the fluid but we recommend drain and fill it, With no warranty, [redacted] was OK with it.

While the car was getting serviced both [redacted] and her husband were both under the car Enquiring from my technician why this is? and what this is? they wasted about twenty Minutes of my technician., [redacted] showed them how burnt the fluid was and informed them that the fluid may get contaminated as we are not flushing the entire fluid. The estimate was $ 112.05. My technician changed the fluid while they were watching him do. And they claim that we used recycled oil.

[redacted] had to ask them to please come to waiting room as it is not safe for the customers to be under the cars. My technician pulled the car in front of the shop as it was ready.

When [redacted] went to start the car, it would not start, she said what have you done to it, We told her that we just drove from bay to front of the office and the only thing we have done is do a service the transmission, but we will check your car and see what's happening. In the meantime the husband and his cousin started reading the manual and Move the fuses and relays. We made our technician to stay overtime and asked him to check this car as to why it was not starting, My technician checked the car with a Scanner and informed that the car had a immobilizer code for alarm and we told her That can happen if the key they have or if they have another spare key they should try starting with it, or else will have to take it to the dealer, [redacted] printed a TSB for same problem.

[redacted] was very frustrated and started saying that [redacted] should not open her mouth All [redacted] wants is $ 3200.00 she has heard bad reviews about AAmco and she is going to report us to everybody, I do not need your help.

Their cousin/friend got the service done and was very happy and said that they do not understand why she is so mad at [redacted] and said to [redacted] not to worry about her, she is very judgemental and does the same to everybody. Her husband asked us if he could Leave the car overnight as they have to arrange for towing, [redacted] screamed NO, we will Take our car out of here and we will dispute the charge and write bad reviews and complain every where, then she said I am not moving to Montana, I do not have a dollar To my name, kept giving bad looks.

We at Aamco run a honest Business, for last Eight years never wish anybody any harm. By pulling wires you cannot get any business, we have been voted best of the best for last Three consecutive years from Auburn Journal, zero complaint centre for last eight years From Aamco transmissions corporate, A+ rating from Revdex.com as we do not believe in monkey business.

Final Consumer Response

(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)

I did go into AAMCO to have my transmission looked at. When I got there I advised the lady that my car drove to her shop fine the smoking issue was from the previous day and the car sat all night.

The technician pulled my husband aside and said that there was nothing wrong with my transmission to just have the fluid flushed and swapped.

The response is very far from the truth.

We did not watch anyone service my vehicle.

We waited in the waiting room. We were never asked to wait in the waiting room, we were already waiting in the waiting room.

Yes, we had many family members there since I had two children with me and my husbands cousin has 4 kids.

The owner got very mad when I wouldn't purchase a transmission. She was whispering in the techs ears and making snide comments the entire time I was there.

I never heard anyone say anything about my finances and when we asked our cousin he said he never talked about us to any AAMCO employees.

I never yelled at the owner or even used foul language. One of the technician mentioned working for her was a nighmare. I am not sure at what point the wires were pulled out but the technician was sitting in my car alone with a scanner.

I have paperwork from Honda dealership saying the fluid was not drained and I have the wires and pictures of the wires that were ripped out of my car. The Honda dealership flushed the fluid and replaced it and replaced my under dash wiring harness. They said it would not run without the piece that was ripped out.

The owners perception of that day is far from the truth. I hate to play the victim role but I was completely taken advantage of and I hope this never happen to anyone else.

I made it to Montana, my new home but I do feel a formal complain should be published and I feel I deserve a refund for the flush they completed and the tow I needed from their business at least, they should pay for the Honda dealership trip to correct the damage they intentionally caused.