Midas Consumer Reviews - Page 4

LAKELAND, FLORIDA -- 04/18/06. My mom took her car in to a local Midas center to have an alternator replaced. After installing the alternator, the car was still not performing right when she went to pick it up. Midas insisted there was something wrong with her car's battery, which we had just replaced with a brand new one the day before after the old alternator killed it. They convinced her to go to Advance Auto Parts and exchange the battery. The person at Advance told her there was nothing wrong with the battery, and he was not sure why Midas would tell her such a thing.

He said he would exchange it if she'd take the car back to Midas and have them test this 2nd brand-new battery to see what they would find. Midas then told her there was a problem with this 2nd battery, too, to which my mother (who is 70 years old) told them that was simply not possible. After she balked at their "findings", the shop owner inspected the car and found they failed to connect the main electrical cable to the alternator when they installed it. She said he hooked up and told her the problem was solved.

The total bill came out to $328.69, of which $277 was charged for a "reman (remanufactured) alternator" as well as $62.40 in labor and $17.39 in "shop supply" fees. When she told me about this, I looked over the bill and immediately called Advance Auto Parts to find out the price of a new alternator for her car, and they informed me a Brand New Alternator for her exact make and model is only $128.00. I immediately called Midas corporate and told them about the problem. The initial gentleman who took the call was very friendly and acted very upset with what I told him.

He promised me the District Manager for this region would contact me in 72 hours and if they did not to please call them back and report it. One week later I called them back again because I had not heard anything at all, not even a voicemail. I was promised by another person I would receive a call from the District Manager. Two and a half weeks later, I call a 3rd time, now very upset and I am told by the person who answers that they will call the District Manager's cell phone immediately.

Twenty minutes later, I get a call from the owner of the local franchise my mother took the car to, telling me he received a call from corporate about a customer complaint and would like to work it out. He says his district manager has been on vacation for the last three days and therefore can't call me. I question him about everything on the invoice. He says that not only remembers my mother, but was the one who corrected the problem on the car. I tell him I have called an auto parts store and they sell the part for $100 less than he charged her.

He asks me who I called, and then says that they paid $180 for the part, and that Advance's price is so low because "they sell lower quality parts". I ask him where he got the part and he says Autozone. He also tells me that even though my invoice says "remanufactured", that it was a brand-new part, and that must be a typo on the invoice. I point out to him that I am very upset because my mother had not made mention of someone even apologizing to her or offering to correct the cost of labor. He says that he did indeed cut the cost of labor from $120 down to $60, but that he didn't tell her he did so because he's "not out for a reward".

I tell him this is the 3rd time she has been to her location, and we had suspicions in the past they had been price gouging her, but this was the first thing that was just black and white concrete proof. He looks back over her repair invoices from the previous times and says that back in December, they did double-charge her for labor on two procedures that took place four days apart. That time was for brake work, and two days later her brake pads developed cracks in them, making her return the car to Midas, who swore it was nothing they'd done.

He then offered to refund the double-charged labor, which came out to $60, but offered no solution to the complaint at hand other than that he hoped they didn't lose a customer. For the refund, he said the normal time was 3-5 weeks, but that he would put it through quickly and try to expedite it. That was 2 1/2 weeks ago, and she has yet to see any check come from Midas. She also has no resolution to the current problem regarding the alternator.

I am also upset that I was promised that the district manager would call me, but failed to do so, and then was informed he'd went on vacation just a few days before, and could not be bothered. Though I have not informed Midas directly, I will presently be contacting various media outlets about this, specifically their Consumer Lawyer departments.

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA -- After checking front breaks for squealing I was told that rotors went bad after 8,000 miles. Rotors only covered for 90 days. Big rip-off by Midas. If you need brakes and rotors go somewhere else. Advertising is a lie.

TORRINGTON, CONNECTICUT -- Craig was very helpful in helping me with the bill. I"m giving him a 5 star service++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

NORTH BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY -- Never again!!! Brought my car in to have rear brake pads replaced because I thought Midas specialized in brakes. Apparently not on foreign cars. Caliper and control module shorted out and they refuse to take responsibility. Imagine the expense to have the dealership correct their mistakes. If they weren't equipped to handle foreign vehicles, they should have told me that upfront. I would have been better off finding a street mechanic. Never again, lesson learned!

GROVE CITY, OHIO -- I make a appointment for oil change 5.00 pm 9-19-2017. I go for oil change, I am late .07 min and manager reject me because he have another wheel alignment job. I advise everyone to don't take any kind repair service because they don't have any business value for brand name and customer trust.

CONNECTICUT -- Juan told me to come in and he would check. He did - and then educated me to the computer system and what it told me. No need to worry - and he was as pleasant and helpful as could be! He didn't charge me either! This is why I keep going to Midas in Farmington. Please communicate this to Juan. Thank you!

DES PLAINES, ILLINOIS -- I had a problem with my GMC it would stop driving suddenly. First they charge me 200 and they said battery was bad!!! A week later I still have a problem with my car. They said was the alternator and they change it and the problem was still there!!! So that tells you they're bunch of stupid idiots. They're charging people money and they don't know how to do oil change. I advise all people to not go there. Because they don't know what the hell they're doing.

GURNEE, ILLINOIS -- My American car died while I was on the tollway. I had it towed to the next exit where I knew there was a Midas. Midas tested the alternator and told me it was bad. I asked them to replace it, which they did in less than 2 hours. American car alternators are known to be inexpensive. Midas charged me $350 FOR A REFURBISHED alternator and $100 for labor for a total of $450! I'll never go to a Midas again.

SPRINGFIELD, OHIO -- Midas Springfield, Ohio owned by Ian ** was contracted to do a tune-up on our pickup. When we received the bill we found that Midas overcharged for part by 400% compared to Auto Zone and NAPA. They also broke a spark plug and charged us $300 to fix the damage they caused. Thanks Midas for giving a disabled Vet the shaft...

ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO -- Took my pregnant wife's car in for a catalytic converter. Manager said car had oil leak and needed to be fixed and would cost $1,300 total. I said "Yes" but needed to make sure car was safe since wife was pregnant. Well a week after work was done car leaked out oil. So I took it back and manager said maybe they didn't tighten up bolts enough and said it would be fine now and assured it was safe. Well a week later car leaked out oil and blew engine. Now Midas refuses to take responsibility.