Midas Auto Experts

HelloI do not agree with Midas response to the issue of my car repairs When I spoke with Midas I informed them that I needed my Catalytic Converter installed, state inspection and my check engine light They informed me that they would be able to take care of all things We explained to Midas the check engine light had to be off in order to pass the state emissions test Midas explained to us that they has to reset all of the engine codes in the car and that we would need to drive the car for about a week or up to or miles and the coded would reset themselves There were a few things wrong in the response from Midas with some misinformed information Midas never informed me that a diagnostic charge would be charged to confirm the issue I never declined any diagnostic test the entire time they had my car After they installed the Catalytic Converter we had the technician to raise the car up for us to see and explain what work was done with the car He informed us the car was good to go and everything was repaired and the check engine light was off and Midas had reset off of the engine codes When we started the car up the check engine light was still on We had the manager Jeremy Bigger come out to see why the check engine light was still on and then he hooked up the (Scan Tool) to the car and that indicated that the read code was the oxygen sensor was bad He informed us that we should not drive the car and have the new oxygen sensor installed because with a bad oxygen sensor it would damage the new Catalytic Converter that was installed We took Midas advice and did not drive the car because that had to order the now oxygen sensor and they would install the new oxygen sensor on Monday That was on Saturday June 20th and we went back to pick the car up on Monday June 22, I called Midas to find out if the car was ready and they insured me that the car was ready Upon our drive to pick the car up on Monday after 5:p.mMidas called and said the car still had the check engine light on and they did not know that the problem was with the car That's when we decided to take the car to the dealership because they said we should take the car to the dealership and maybe they could let us know what was wrong with it When we arrived to pick up our vehicle no one could explain to us what the problem was and they did not charge us for repairing the oxygen sensor I explained to Midas that I was very disappointed with the service that I received and I inform Midas on what the dealership had diagnosed with the repairs with the car That is when we tried to explain to the Fredericksburg Virginia Midas store owner and he denied that Midas did anything wrong to the car I am attaching the email and the pictures form the dealership on the repairs for the car The concern that I have with Midas response to the initial complaint isI was never informed that Midas needed to do a diagnostic test to confirm the issue with my car?When I picked up my car the first time and the check engine light was still on and the car would not pass the emissions test with the light being on Why would the manager inform me that the car was repaired and the check engine was off and the car would pass the state emissions test? When Midas hooked up the (Scan Tool) the code read that the oxygen sensor was bad and they had to repair the oxygen sensor and I should not drive the car because the oxygen sensor would damage the the new converter Midas never insisted that the (Scan Tool) was not accurate and we should have Midas do a complete diagnostic testWhen we got to Midas on Monday June 22, Midas still could not tell us what was wrong with the car and that we had to take the car to the dealership because Midas didn't know what was wrong with the car We never paid for the oxygen sensor repairs If Midas had repaired the car properly we didn't they charge us for the repairs to the sensor Another incomplete Midas response read: When I spoke to the customer I related that the car could not be driven with the mass airflow sensor not functioning The problem is that the mass airflow sensor connector was broken I was still able to drive the car so the mass airflow sensor was not brokenIf you read in the notes and look at the pictures in the attachments from the dealership it read: Closer inspection reveled the Sensor was broken (third image)It also seemed as if the plastic was melted to get the connector to stay as a temporary fixThe dealership is willing to explain or answer any questions about the diagnostic that was done to repair the car[redacted] ** [redacted] | Senior Advisor | [redacted] *** | [redacted] *** | [redacted] | Office: [redacted] | Direct: [redacted] In closing I am holding Midas liable because they reassured me that their work was guaranteed and if it was not done right they would give me our money back and they stand behind their work I can not hold the dealership liable for any of the work that they did not do Midas did all of the incomplete repairs to the car I am very disappointed in the customer satisfaction of Midas Attachment from the dealership:Mrs***, Sorry for the delayIn the first image you will see a picture of the secondary (under vehicle) catalyst convertorThe second image you will see the port for the oxygen sensor is filled in with a threaded capAs far as we can tell the convertor that is Welded In The Exhaust (factory flanges have been cut off) was installed upside downWe found the down stream (S2) oxygen sensor installed in the up stream (S1) oxygen sensor position, and the wiring harness for the primary (upstream S1) was hidden in the engine bayDuring our diagnosis we came noticed the Mass Air Flow sensor (MAF) was not installed properlyCloser inspection reveled the Sensor was broken (third image)It also seemed as if the plastic was melted to get the connector to stay as a temporary fix Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to helpThank you, Dan [redacted] ** [redacted] | Senior Advisor | [redacted] *** | [redacted] *** | [redacted] | Office: [redacted] | Direct:| Fax: [redacted] Revdex.com: I have reviewed the offer and/or response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted] , and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below [Provide details of why you are not satisfied with this resolution.] Regards, [redacted] ***

On June 20th *** *** brought a *** *** *** into have a catalytic converter installed We offered to confirm that a catalytic converter was indeed the problem and the solution to the check engine light being on We informed the customer that a diagnostic charge would be
charged to confirm the issue All diagnostics were declined by the customer because they said another shop had already performed diagnostics and they said only a converter was needed We estimated the parts and labor and the work was performed We informed the customer that this may not take care of the issue The customer seemed confident this would resolve the issue After the converter was installed the check engine light did not go out and the customer became quite upset They still declined any diagnostic work and/or charges My manager Jeremy B*** hooked up his scan tool and read the code which was for a oxygen sensor He related that this was NOT a diagnosis but that this may solve the problem but without full diagnostics we could not be sure The customer authorized us to replace the oxygen sensor which still did not solve the problem We related that without doing diagnostics we can not determine the problem. The customer then drove the car back to the dealership for diagnostic work The customer called and said we had "damaged her car" She said the mass air flow sensor wires were melted and we had caused this problem When I spoke to the customer I related that the car could not be driven with the mass air flow sensor not functioning and replacing the catalytic converter is under the car and not near the mass air flow sensor so I did not see how we could of damaged it In addition I told her that catalytic converters very seldom fail of their on accord and are almost always damaged because of an improperly performing engine issue A quick google search of why catalytic converts fail can confirm the common reasons I told her that I believed the dealership had initially miss diagnosed the car and was trying to deflect blame for their miss diagnosis.As to the other concerns in this complaint as to the converter being installed upside down, this is a universal converter that a dealership may not be familiar with The orientation of the converter as to up and down only relates to the position of the heat shield not the performance of the converter I believe the converter was installed correctly and could confirm this with a quick inspection Even if installed upside down this would not effect the performance on the converter I would be more than happy to reinspect the car.The customer is also asking about the Virginia state inspection In Virginia a car with a check engine light on is not a fail for the Virginia state safety inspection The car would fail an emissions inspection if it was subject to that inspection which is not what we performed.In short I believe the customer is trying to hold us liable for diagnostic work that we did not perform and I think this complaint should be redirected to the dealership who told her all she needed was a catalytic converter Replacing a catalytic converter that has failed is almost never the complete solution because they almost always fail because of an engine related performance problem The dealership should have known this and recommended the converter be replaced as well as solve the engine performance issues.Thank You*** *** Owner Fredericksburg Midas***

Hello
I do not agree with Midas response to the issue of my car repairs.  When I spoke with Midas I informed them that I needed my Catalytic Converter installed, state inspection and my check engine light.  They informed me that they would be able to take care of all 3 things.  We explained to Midas the check engine light had to be off in order to pass the state emissions test.  Midas explained to us that they has to reset all of the engine codes in the car and that we would need to drive the car for about a week or up to 300 or 400 miles and the coded would reset themselves.  There were a few things wrong in the response from Midas with some misinformed information.  Midas never informed me that a diagnostic charge would be charged to confirm the issue.  I never declined  any diagnostic test the entire time they had my car.  After they installed the Catalytic Converter we had the technician to raise the car up for us to see and explain what work was done with the car.  He informed us the car was good to go and everything was repaired and the check engine light was off and Midas had reset off of the engine codes.  When we started the car up the check engine light was still on.  We had the manager Jeremy Bigger come out to see why the check engine light was still on and then he hooked up the (Scan Tool) to the car and that indicated that the read code was the oxygen sensor was bad.  He informed us that we should not drive the car and have the new oxygen sensor installed because with a bad oxygen sensor it would damage the new Catalytic Converter that was installed.  We took Midas advice and did not drive the car because that had to order the now oxygen sensor and they would install the new oxygen sensor on Monday.  That was on Saturday June 20th and 2015 we went back to pick the car up on Monday June 22, 2015.  I called Midas to find out if the car was ready and they insured me that the car was ready.  Upon our drive to pick the car up on Monday after 5:00 p.m. Midas called and said the car still had the check engine light on and they did not know that the problem was with the car.  That's when we decided to take the car to the dealership because they said we should take the car to the dealership and maybe they could let us know what was wrong with it.  When we arrived to pick up our vehicle no one could explain to us what the problem was and they did not charge us for repairing the oxygen sensor.  I explained to Midas that I was very disappointed with the service that I received and I inform Midas on what the dealership had diagnosed with the repairs with the car.  That is when we tried to explain to the Fredericksburg Virginia Midas store owner and he denied that Midas did anything wrong to the car.  I am attaching the email and the pictures form the dealership on the repairs for the car.  
The concern that I have with Midas response to the initial complaint is. 
1. I was never informed that Midas needed to do a diagnostic test to confirm the issue with my car?
2. When I picked up my car the first time and the check engine light was still on and the car would not pass the emissions test with the light being on.  Why would the manager inform me that the car was repaired and the check engine was off and the car would pass the state emissions test?    
3. When Midas hooked up the (Scan Tool) the code read that the oxygen sensor was bad and they had to repair the oxygen sensor and I should not drive the car because the oxygen sensor would damage the the new converter.  Midas never insisted that the (Scan Tool) was not accurate and we should have Midas do a complete diagnostic test.
4. When we got to Midas on Monday June 22, 2015.  Midas still could not tell us what was wrong with the car and that we had to take the car to the dealership because Midas didn't know what was wrong with the car.  We never paid for the oxygen sensor repairs.  If Midas had repaired the car properly we didn't they charge us for the repairs to the sensor.
5.  Another incomplete Midas response read:  When I spoke to the customer I related that the car could not be driven with the mass airflow sensor not functioning.  The problem is that the mass airflow sensor connector was broken.  I was still able to drive the car so the mass airflow sensor was not broken. If you read in the notes and look at the pictures in the attachments from the dealership it read: Closer inspection reveled the Sensor was broken (third image). It also seemed as if the plastic was melted to get the connector to stay as a temporary fix... 
6. The dealership is willing to explain or answer any questions about the diagnostic that was done to repair the car.
[redacted] | Senior Advisor | [redacted] | [redacted] | [redacted] | Office: [redacted] | Direct:[redacted]
In closing I am holding Midas liable because they reassured me that their work was guaranteed and if it was not done right they would give me our money back and they stand behind their work.  I can not hold the dealership liable for any of the work that they did not do.  Midas did all of the incomplete repairs to the car.  I am very disappointed in the customer satisfaction of Midas.  
Attachment from the dealership:
Mrs. [redacted],
 
Sorry for the delay. In the first image you will see a picture of the secondary (under vehicle) catalyst convertor. The second image you will see the port for the oxygen sensor is filled in with a threaded cap. As far as we can tell the convertor that is Welded In The Exhaust (factory flanges have been cut off) was installed upside down. We found the down stream (S2) oxygen sensor installed in the up stream (S1) oxygen sensor position, and the wiring harness for the primary (upstream S1) was hidden in the engine bay.
 
During our diagnosis we came noticed the Mass Air Flow sensor (MAF) was not installed properly. Closer inspection reveled the Sensor was broken (third image). It also seemed as if the plastic was melted to get the connector to stay as a temporary fix...   
Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to help.
 
Thank you,
 
Dan
[redacted] | Senior Advisor | [redacted] | [redacted] | [redacted] | Office: [redacted] | Direct:703.738.3296 | Fax: [redacted]
Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the offer and/or response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
[Provide details of why you are not satisfied with this resolution.]
Regards,
[redacted]

HelloI do not agree with Midas response to the issue of my car repairs.  When I spoke with Midas I informed them that I needed my Catalytic Converter installed, state inspection and my check engine light.  They informed me that they would be able to take care of all 3 things.  We explained to Midas the check engine light had to be off in order to pass the state emissions test.  Midas explained to us that they has to reset all of the engine codes in the car and that we would need to drive the car for about a week or up to 300 or 400 miles and the coded would reset themselves.  There were a few things wrong in the response from Midas with some misinformed information.  Midas never informed me that a diagnostic charge would be charged to confirm the issue.  I never declined  any diagnostic test the entire time they had my car.  After they installed the Catalytic Converter we had the technician to raise the car up for us to see and explain what work was done with the car.  He informed us the car was good to go and everything was repaired and the check engine light was off and Midas had reset off of the engine codes.  When we started the car up the check engine light was still on.  We had the manager Jeremy Bigger come out to see why the check engine light was still on and then he hooked up the (Scan Tool) to the car and that indicated that the read code was the oxygen sensor was bad.  He informed us that we should not drive the car and have the new oxygen sensor installed because with a bad oxygen sensor it would damage the new Catalytic Converter that was installed.  We took Midas advice and did not drive the car because that had to order the now oxygen sensor and they would install the new oxygen sensor on Monday.  That was on Saturday June 20th and 2015 we went back to pick the car up on Monday June 22, 2015.  I called Midas to find out if the car was ready and they insured me that the car was ready.  Upon our drive to pick the car up on Monday after 5:00 p.m. Midas called and said the car still had the check engine light on and they did not know that the problem was with the car.  That's when we decided to take the car to the dealership because they said we should take the car to the dealership and maybe they could let us know what was wrong with it.  When we arrived to pick up our vehicle no one could explain to us what the problem was and they did not charge us for repairing the oxygen sensor.  I explained to Midas that I was very disappointed with the service that I received and I inform Midas on what the dealership had diagnosed with the repairs with the car.  That is when we tried to explain to the Fredericksburg Virginia Midas store owner and he denied that Midas did anything wrong to the car.  I am attaching the email and the pictures form the dealership on the repairs for the car.  The concern that I have with Midas response to the initial complaint is. 1. I was never informed that Midas needed to do a diagnostic test to confirm the issue with my car?2. When I picked up my car the first time and the check engine light was still on and the car would not pass the emissions test with the light being on.  Why would the manager inform me that the car was repaired and the check engine was off and the car would pass the state emissions test?    3. When Midas hooked up the (Scan Tool) the code read that the oxygen sensor was bad and they had to repair the oxygen sensor and I should not drive the car because the oxygen sensor would damage the the new converter.  Midas never insisted that the (Scan Tool) was not accurate and we should have Midas do a complete diagnostic test.4. When we got to Midas on Monday June 22, 2015.  Midas still could not tell us what was wrong with the car and that we had to take the car to the dealership because Midas didn't know what was wrong with the car.  We never paid for the oxygen sensor repairs.  If Midas had repaired the car properly we didn't they charge us for the repairs to the sensor.5.  Another incomplete Midas response read:  When I spoke to the customer I related that the car could not be driven with the mass airflow sensor not functioning.  The problem is that the mass airflow sensor connector was broken.  I was still able to drive the car so the mass airflow sensor was not broken. If you read in the notes and look at the pictures in the attachments from the dealership it read: Closer inspection reveled the Sensor was broken (third image). It also seemed as if the plastic was melted to get the connector to stay as a temporary fix... 6. The dealership is willing to explain or answer any questions about the diagnostic that was done to repair the car.[redacted] [redacted] | Senior Advisor | [redacted] | [redacted] | [redacted] | Office: [redacted] | Direct:[redacted]In closing I am holding Midas liable because they reassured me that their work was guaranteed and if it was not done right they would give me our money back and they stand behind their work.  I can not hold the dealership liable for any of the work that they did not do.  Midas did all of the incomplete repairs to the car.  I am very disappointed in the customer satisfaction of Midas.  Attachment from the dealership:Mrs. [redacted], Sorry for the delay. In the first image you will see a picture of the secondary (under vehicle) catalyst convertor. The second image you will see the port for the oxygen sensor is filled in with a threaded cap. As far as we can tell the convertor that is Welded In The Exhaust (factory flanges have been cut off) was installed upside down. We found the down stream (S2) oxygen sensor installed in the up stream (S1) oxygen sensor position, and the wiring harness for the primary (upstream S1) was hidden in the engine bay. During our diagnosis we came noticed the Mass Air Flow sensor (MAF) was not installed properly. Closer inspection reveled the Sensor was broken (third image). It also seemed as if the plastic was melted to get the connector to stay as a temporary fix...   Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to help. Thank you, Dan[redacted] [redacted] | Senior Advisor | [redacted] | [redacted] | [redacted] | Office: [redacted] | Direct:703.738.3296 | Fax: [redacted]Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the offer and/or response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
[Provide details of why you are not satisfied with this resolution.]
Regards,
[redacted]

In February of 2016, I discovered that the front right disc brake caliper on my car had seized up, and so I attempted to go to the garage who had initially replaced the brakes and rotors in October of 2015, only to discover that they had gone out of business. After driving around, I decided to give Midas in Fredericksburg a try, having had a good relationship with another Midas in northern Virginia when I used to live there.
As a full time college student, my budget was pretty limited, and with both of my parents having retired, it meant I would be hurting to get the repairs made. Mistakes on my part a couple of years ago also meant that I was not eligible for applying for credit.
The manager of the store had not even been told of my financial woes, and took it upon himself to offer a 30% Manager discount off of the repairs right off the bat, bringing the total bill down to $875 (replacing both front calipers, rotors, brakes, bleeding the brake lines, State Inspection, and Oil Change) after taxes and hazmat disposal fees.
I would highly recommend the staff at the Fredericksburg Midas to anyone. I've been to some good Midas franchises, and I'm been to some not so good franchises in the past. But I can say that from my personal experience, this franchise takes the crown.

Review: On June 20 2015. I I took my car to the Midas repair shop in Fredericksburg VA to replace an catalytic converter and receive an inspection sticker because of my check engine light that was on my vehicle. The shop Replaced the catalytic converter and I received my inspection sticker. My check engine light was still on and my car still passed inspection. I was not going to drive my car with the check engine light still on and Midas place my car on the diagnostic machine and there was an addition sensor that needed to be replaced. I had to keep my car at Midas over the weekend and pick my car up Monday. Upon my arrival Midas had replaced the sensor and the check engine light was still on. Midas informed me that they didn't know why the check engine light was still on and I declined to pay for the additional repairs. I had to take my car back to the manufacturer and they informed me that Midas had installed the catalytic converter upside down and the sensor was installed in the wrong position and the wiring harness for the primary sensor was hidden in the engine bay and the Mass Air Flow sensor was not installed properly. I have an email from the manufacture explaining everything to me. I sent the email from the manufacture to the Midas corporate office and they informed me that the owner of the Fredericksburg location refused to take responsibility for any of the work they had done and there was nothing we could do about it. My car had begun to drive worse after the work that Midas had done. So I ended up having to trade in my car on another car and I lost money in my trade in value because of the additional work that needed to be done. I called Midas corporate office and they informed me that since I had gotten rid of my car there was nothing they were going to do because they would need me to take my car to another Midas location for a second opinion. I feel so devalued as a consumer and lost money because of Midas. Thank you for reading my complaint.Desired Settlement: I would like some answers on how my car passed a Virginia state inspection with my check engine still on my car? I would like a refund on the Catalytic converter that was installed improperly. The manufacture has the diagnostic sheet to prove the Catalytic converter was installed improperly. I really would like for Midas to care about their shop not doing complete work for their customers. I would like for Midas to not only take the word of their shop owner over the word of the consumer and the Manufacture on the incorrect work that their franchise repair shop has done. I just want to be treated fairly. I want Midas to stand by their customer satisfaction guarantee. Thank you for listening.

Business

Response:

On June 20th 2015 [redacted] brought a [redacted] into have a catalytic converter installed. We offered to confirm that a catalytic converter was indeed the problem and the solution to the check engine light being on. We informed the customer that a diagnostic charge would be charged to confirm the issue. All diagnostics were declined by the customer because they said another shop had already performed diagnostics and they said only a converter was needed. We estimated the parts and labor and the work was performed. We informed the customer that this may not take care of the issue. The customer seemed confident this would resolve the issue. After the converter was installed the check engine light did not go out and the customer became quite upset. They still declined any diagnostic work and/or charges. My manager Jeremy B[redacted] hooked up his scan tool and read the code which was for a oxygen sensor. He related that this was NOT a diagnosis but that this may solve the problem but without full diagnostics we could not be sure. The customer authorized us to replace the oxygen sensor which still did not solve the problem. We related that without doing diagnostics we can not determine the problem. The customer then drove the car back to the dealership for diagnostic work. The customer called and said we had "damaged her car". She said the mass air flow sensor wires were melted and we had caused this problem. When I spoke to the customer I related that the car could not be driven with the mass air flow sensor not functioning and replacing the catalytic converter is under the car and not near the mass air flow sensor so I did not see how we could of damaged it. In addition I told her that catalytic converters very seldom fail of their on accord and are almost always damaged because of an improperly performing engine issue. A quick google search of why catalytic converts fail can confirm the common reasons. I told her that I believed the dealership had initially miss diagnosed the car and was trying to deflect blame for their miss diagnosis.As to the other concerns in this complaint as to the converter being installed upside down, this is a universal converter that a dealership may not be familiar with. The orientation of the converter as to up and down only relates to the position of the heat shield not the performance of the converter. I believe the converter was installed correctly and could confirm this with a quick inspection. Even if installed upside down this would not effect the performance on the converter. I would be more than happy to reinspect the car.The customer is also asking about the Virginia state inspection. In Virginia a car with a check engine light on is not a fail for the Virginia state safety inspection. The car would fail an emissions inspection if it was subject to that inspection which is not what we performed.In short I believe the customer is trying to hold us liable for diagnostic work that we did not perform and I think this complaint should be redirected to the dealership who told her all she needed was a catalytic converter. Replacing a catalytic converter that has failed is almost never the complete solution because they almost always fail because of an engine related performance problem. The dealership should have known this and recommended the converter be replaced as well as solve the engine performance issues.Thank You[redacted] Owner Fredericksburg Midas[redacted]

Consumer

Response:

Hello

They guys at this Midas Arden Arcade Area are the best. The new owner, Chris, is great. He has even given me a price cut knowing my financial situation. Their work is always done well and in good time

I call this business woman friendly because they are honest and do good work and do follow up with you after the work is done.