Hartnell Chevrolet, Inc.

My husband and I took our cars to a local auto dealer for service for many years. After my husband died I continued to have them service my car. I knew as a female with limited knowledge about car mechanics that I was susceptible to fraud from car repair shops. That is why I stuck with Hartnell Chevrolet of Salem, WI, even though their prices were higher than other repair shops. Over the last year the amount of work that "needed' to be done on my car increased, which could be explained by the increasing age of the car. That doesn't explain the recent attempt to perform unnecessary work on my car. In December 2014 the rear brake pads and rotors were replaced. I took the car in this July (2015) because there was a grinding noise when I braked. The diagnosis was the car needed both front and back brake pads and rotors in addition to a left front hub bearing assembly, which alone cost $498. Given that I had just had the rear brakes done in December 2014 and had driven only 6000 miles on them, this seemed suspect. I took my car to another repair shop that my daughter recommended. The mechanic concurred that new front brake pads and rotors were needed. He was categorical in his denial that the car needed rear brake pads and rotors and a new left front hub bearing assembly. All that was needed was to have the front wheel bearings repacked. It is clear that Hartnell Chevy was attempting to defraud me by performing unneeded work on my car. I now wonder how much of the work they did on my car over the years was really necessary.
Patrons of this business should beware.