AAMCO Transmissions, Inc. Consumer Reviews - Page 4

LIBERTYVILLE, ILLINOIS -- Avoid, avoid, avoid!! Avoid this place at all cost. Here's my personal experience: Like everyone else, I brought my car in to fix the transmission thinking they're probably better than bringing the car to the dealer, since they're cheaper. Their online profile makes them look really big and reliable, but the truth is far from that! They're really out to suck as much money as they can.

My experience at the Libertyville center was horrible. ** the manager, is deceptive, dishonest and a total scammer. The first impression they give is: friendly, courteous. But all these are facades and lies to get you to agree to opening your car. Once they touch your car, it's almost impossible to stop the repair work. You just have to continue on after they touch your car once- that's how they con people's money. There's no return. Since you already spent that much on just opening your car (btw, no one charges $700 just to open the car for checks).

But ** did not get my permission to take apart my car but did so, claiming that my social security number is authorization to take apart my car. And demanded payment for disassembling my car before I can get my car back. On Friday evening I wanted to get my car back but upon threatening to call the police, ** fled immediately, locking the place up. So I had to drive all the way back on Saturday, wanting to settle the issue peacefully but just getting my car back without payment. He refused again.

Troubled, I called aamco headquarters and spoke to 2 of the corporate directors: ** and someone else. They sound exactly the same: fake, salesy, sleazy. I thought the directors would be more reasonable and help me in this case. But they weren't. In fact, they probably are the ones behind all the scamming. No way they'll ever help you to get money back ever! So I had no choice but to call the police. Thank god the police were so helpful and understanding. The 2 officers helped to finally get my car back after speaking to the boss over the phone.

Bottom-line: do not send your car to aamco, libertyville center. Do not give them your social security number. If you already sent your car to aamco, and regret doing that, don't be afraid to call up the police or threaten to sue them in court. You will probably win the case. I am pretty sure that other centers have many similar bad experiences to share. Just search on google, you'll find tons of negative reviews. It's just my luck that I sent my car there without prior research or investigation. I hope this doesn't happen to anyone else.

MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA -- If customer service and just plain being a decent business is what you expect, this is NOT your place. AAMCO Transmissions in Morgantown, WV. Our SUV was taken here for an unknown transmission issue (transmissions are what they specialize in?). They had our vehicle for a little over 4 weeks. We never once received a phone call with an update on our car. We had to call them and request information then wait for a return call from the mechanic. We were told the first step would be to drop the pan and check for shavings, there were none. Next the computer codes pointed to a solenoid so we were urged to change it.

This did not fix the issue so they requested we leave the vehicle with them so they could track down the issued and we would not be charged for their work because it was a training experience for the staff. Lol yea. Finally on one of my ever so pleasant calls for an update I was told, “Sir your vehicle is ready for pick-up. Our mechanic has exhausted all of his options and we were unable to fix your car." I went to pick up my vehicle and to my surprise the bill was $593. I was charged for the parts and services that did not produce any results.

When management was confronted about this I was told, "the parts and services were done per your request (even though I can barely change my oil). We helped you out with the labor. I can't eat the cost of those parts also." This to me was just outrageous. If they were honest from the beginning and said, "we are not sure this will fix the issue," I would have taken my Explorer to a Ford garage. I was so mad I just agreed to pay the bill just so I could leave. As if all of this wasn't bad enough when my wife got in her car to start it, it would not turn over. I had to jump start her car in the parking lot of the garage that was supposed to fix our vehicle. What the hell?

Once the battery charged a little (perfectly fine battery by the way) she started the car. Once we had gotten home she said her accent LEDs in the floorboards were left on, the stereo (which is a nice aftermarket one) was on and up, and the driver's seat was leaning back extremely far. My assumption is an employee decided it would be a good place to take their break or lunch. This is all extremely pathetic and really a quite embarrassing way for a business to be run. DO NOT TAKE YOUR VEHICLES HERE!! Any input especially from a garage owner would be appreciated.

DOUGLASVILLE, GEORGIA -- I went to AAMCO on Fairburn Road in Douglasville, Georgia to have my check engine light checked. They proceeded to tell me that I needed a catalytic converter because one of mine was bad. They gave me an estimate on parts and labor which at first I believed was pretty reasonable. Went back to them to order part after having difficulty ordering the part via internet. To make matters worse, they went up $200.00 on the estimate that they had first given me. Mind you, this is a mater of days. Anyway, I was desperate so I had them order my part.

On receipt of the part, they neglected to call me so I called them. Only to find out that if I wanted the job done, I needed to hurry up and get there. OK cool! I went by with the knowledge that it wouldn't take more than 45 minutes to an hour to replace. 2 Hours later, the manager decides to come and check on me and tell me that my bolts have been breaking off and they may run into overtime. OK, red flag number one! Then, he comes back to tell me that it's Friday and maybe I could leave my car and come and get it on Monday! Not! Anyway, they proceeded to continue the job on my car.

I step out there to take a look and it seemed as though the technician didn't have a clue what he was doing. Then they kept telling me that my car is "overkill"! Excuse me! Anyway, I told them I need my car so I'm not leaving without it. Anyway, they. finally 2 hours later come rushing into the office to tell me that they don't like the sound that the converter is making.

My point is, please stick to what you know. If you didn't know how to replace the part in the first place, then say so. Don't tell me some crap about ordering a flange that didn't arrive with the part. The moment you opened the box to the part you would have known that. Worst job ever! Never again! They are fake and they are liars! They don't know what they are doing!

TEXAS -- The guy at AAMCO will say anything to get your business offer a free towing, offer payments plans and keep your car until you can pay all the money, and will even give a semi estimate after they do the "FREE" diagnostic. But he omits many details like Towing is 150.00 dollars if and over 500.00 for just looking inside your transmission if you decide not to do the repair with them. They also do not tell you they will not only charge you for labor, opening the transmission but only have two options of payments. One is over 2,500.00 for a 12,000 mile warranty regardless the problem in the transmission and the other over 3,000.00 for 36,000 miles.

They excuse this prices because no matter what is wrong with your transmission they have to take it apart and replace parts even if they do not know which ones. In my case they said it was the torque. After THE GUY gave me the estimate I was angry but I choose to allow them repair the car instead of just giving them 600.00. Do not make the same mistake as me. First they do not have payment plans, they will refer your information to loan companies to make a car repair loan and they will charge you storage if you refused to make a loan or cannot make a payment after a month.

I paid my car repair before that but the transmission sounds awful and the speedometer and odometer are not working. I took it 15 days later because I knew after my experience I could not expect anything better from them. So, The GUY had bad attitude, treated me like I was crazy and ask me to leave the place after I refused to pay 95.00 dollars for the replacement of a VSS sensor that connects the speedometer and odometer. The VSS sensor is connected to the transmission by the way was working fine before they repair the car.

Of course I got all kind of excuses from HIM like it was an external problem, denied that could be a connection problem when they install the transmission after repair, also HE said that may malfunction after I took the car out of the place but has same mileage as the one recorded on the receipt. DO NOT TAKE YOUR CAR TO AAMCO.

AMES -- Okay, I own a 1997 Camry LE. In like June-ish of last year my transmission went out (my fault). So, I took it to AAMCO and got it all fixed up. The parts took about a week. I was lucky that my parents let me borrow their 06' Corolla. It took about 1 1/2 weeks for me to get my car back. The guy asked me if my dad wanted to purchase the extended warranty (after debating he decided to) so that added about $300 on to the bill.

One year and a few months later my transmission went out again but this time it wasn't my fault. I was driving through a green light and I just felt a large thud and no more acceleration. So we called AAMCO and they towed it for free to the garage. This time it took about 2-3 weeks which was forever. The guys had to put a new axle on the car since the tranny had apparently "welded" itself to the axle so they had to break it to get it out. That was a free fix :D which is always good. This time the tranny was PERFECT all until today.

I was driving home from a church event in town and I smelt a bad smell... When I got home I parked in the driveway for less than 30 seconds and my dad came out and saw the car was smoking. When I backed out there was a huge pile of car blood aka transmission fluid. I only noticed the smoke and noise when I got to my house since I had been driving with the heater on and radio.

I probably drove at least 50 miles before stopping so chances are with it leaking that bad it might have done some damage. All said and done I am going to have to take it in to AAMCO and see what they will do with it. I'll report later when I get my report on it.

AINESVILLEG, FLORIDA -- I was misled by the representative. He was dishonest about he had started on my SUV and when I told him my daughter had ridden by several times and it was in the same place and when he did quote a price I told him I couldn't afford it and I was sending someone to get it. That was when it was touched.

He told my nephew it would be $500.00 to get it back, told my friend I would be $1900.00 to fix told my nephew $1600.00 told me $800.00 and when I went back down there to try to talk to him and even told him I would call the police and let them know he was holding my vehicle hostage that's when he dropped the bomb on me and said call and he would show them where signed and I reminded him what I signed was the free estimate.

And on the way out the business after giving him my keys he asked what was the last 4 digits of my social and he's using that as leverage of my consent. And I went on to tell him he didn't tell why he wanted my social and I didn't ask since I had never been there before and thought that was normal. So I told him since it was a misunderstanding on my and his part I was willing to meet him halfway just to get my car back and all he could tell me was to get FINANCING.

To me if this is how Aamco make their money by flim-flamming innocent customers to make as much money as they can I think it's poor business. I don't have a job and I told him that as well as I couldn't afford/nor qualify for financing so he still gave me an application after I was down there trying to reason. And for him to trick me by asking me my social going out the door as a way to say that was giving permission to work on the car is very poor business.

I've contacted the Better Business Bureau so I'm sure they'll be contacting you all as well so if you can help me rectify this situation as soon as possible I'll certainly appreciate it. Also there's a sign in there that says you all charge for storage and I definitely don't want that to add to this misery!!!

MIAMI, FLORIDA -- Upon realizing my car has a slight issue with taking off in first gear, I sought professional help because I wanted an accurate diagnosis. One company told me it was a transmission problem, but I didn't want to pay to swap in another transmission, so I called up an AAMCO Transmissions near my location. I did this in hope that being they are a transmission specialist, they'd be able to give me an accurate diagnosis and hopefully it would be a small repair that wouldn't involve paying for a new transmission that would also cost labor to put in. I was reeled in by the "FREE diagnosis testing".

So I received a call two days later. I should have known they were up to something when it took them that long to tell me what was wrong with my car. I was told that I didn't have a transmission problem and that it was my brake calipers that were locked up and causing my sluggish take off in first gear. So I paid the price estimated to take care of all that. 3 days later the problem returns. I take the car back a week later, only to hear that it is now a different component causing the same problem. I was told that I now have an electrical problem causing my car to take off in the wrong gear.

So now my question is, if it is an electrical problem causing this, why wasn't I told that in the first place when "FREE diagnosis testing" was done? If it is an electrical problem, the diagnosis testing would have pointed it out. So that means they decided to cheat me and tell me lies, knowing the problem would return and they could make even more money off me. My warranty only covered all the braking components that were replaced and nothing concerning my transmission. So basically, if I gave them the go ahead to fix it, I would be charged for something else.

I have decided to count it a loss for now, and not to ever do business with them or any other AAMCO in this country or even if they have locations worldwide ever again. I will be seeing what sort of actions I may be able to take against them.

BRANDON, FLORIDA -- My dad and I took our 1997 GMC K3500 4x4 to AAMCO Transmission of Brandon, FL on Adamo Drive otherwise know as Hwy 60. They told us that it would be about 2 weeks. They got started on it early and they called us and informed us they ran into a problem and they didn't want us to come down there, to see it. OF COURSE if you tell someone not to do something, they will!

So I drove down there to see what the problem was and they had the bay door shut where my truck was. Well I walked into the bay and 3 people came at me telling me to get the ** out of the shop and I looked at them and told them that, that was my truck and if I wanted to be in the shop, I would be! Then the owner came out and asked me what I was doing with my camera and why was I taking pictures of my truck! Well I walked around him and seen my truck they dropped it from the lift.

I explained it was my truck and that I was getting the evidence for my file. He then asked me when I was done if I could sign some papers and I said no. He then informed me it would be 2-3 days before his insurance adjuster would be there, and I told him OK. He then said I had to sign the papers to get him to come out, I told him no.

Well I got a call from the adjuster asking me if I could meet him to review the damage with him, I did. He then told me his estimated value of the truck bring that it had 300,000 miles on the chassis, and 80,000 on the NEW engine. They gave me a check for 8,000 dollars the engine cost me 10,000 to get rebuilt, so I took the money and my truck and the title. They told me I had to sign it over to take it but I didn't. I drove it right out of the parking lot right after they handed me the check.

The truck went down the road like a lobster but it still drove. And for the transmission rebuild, it sucked - right after I got his truck home my engine blew up. So I drove the TOTALED out truck to school while I was working on mine. The truck drove OK for being dropped off of the lift, plus they were using a four-point lift instead of a drive-on, I was pissed about that to.

MONROEVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA -- I took my car to AAMCO on Friday in the Greater Pittsburgh area (Monroeville, PA) when it was not driving properly. It was not shifting and had no power. I dropped it off telling them that I needed it back by Monday to drive back to Wilmington, DE where I live.

AAMCO was able to fit me in and called a couple of hours later saying that it needed a basic transmission overhaul saying that the pump was not receiving enough fluid pressure and that the transmission fluid looked "varnished." The cost for the transmission overhaul would have been ca. $1500.

Over the phone with the description I provided, they diagnosed the problem as an issue with the powertrain as opposed to the drive train. I took the car to Transmissions by Lucille in Penn Hills, PA. After checking at a few simple things (air filter and mass air sensor) and a couple of road tests they ruled out a transmission problem at Transmissions by Lucille and his technician suggested that I look at the spark plugs, fuel filter, and the catalytic converter ("cat") in particular. After picking the low-hanging fruit (e.g the plugs, wires, air and fuel filters), the problem was not resolved. I then dropped the catalytic converter from the exhaust system.

As soon as I did that and took the car for a road test, the problem was gone. After a few calls on Saturday morning, Monro Muffler (Plum Boro, Rt. 286, Plum Boro, PA) was able to fit us in for ca. $500. With the cost of the maintenance items that were required or overdue and the Cat (installed), the total was ca. $625.

For the ca. $1500 that AAMCO was charging, none of these things would have been fixed (by Monday when I needed to be back in Wilmington, DE) or diagnosed. I have never dealt with AAMCO before, but the 10% off coupons that they gave me were good scratch paper for the quotes we got for the new Cat. Transmissions by Lucille saved me a significant amount of wasted time and money!

Transmissions by Lucille
47 Verona Rd
Penn Hills, PA 15235
Phone: (412) 731-5860

AUBURN, WASHINGTON -- I dropped my car off to rebuild my transmission and they kept it for 4 days. When I drop transmission was the only problem. So, I go after 4 days and I paid my bill and took it home. I notice my car was making weird noises in the transmission. I took it back the next day and they refused to help me and wanted me to come back on Monday. So, I took my car back on Monday and now they are telling me that I need a new convertible converter and will cost about $1000.

Well, when I dropped my car off, it had no problems with the converter. Now, I have to pay because they left it loose or screwed my converter. The transmission doesn't work right, making grinding noise I hardly go up the hill. Anyone please help me, I already paid over $3200 in rebuilt Tran.