AAMCO Ripoff! 1yr w/problems and Transmission still not working right, 15 mos since and new Transmission needed again! Walnut CreekWalnut Creek California
11/22/2002 1997 Chevy Tahoe to AAMCO in Walnut Creek to have the transmission rebuilt. Mike, the Manager, quoted $1400-$1800 for the repair and that he would have the vehicle towed to his shop at no cost. After the inspection of the vehicle, I was told the tranny needed to be replaced and additional costs might come up. When I told him I would check other auto repair shops, he told me that I would have to pay for the tow - $325.
12/05/2002 When I picked up my vehicle, I informed the owner-PAT that the vehicle was not performing properly and it felt sluggish after the work AAMCO had performed on the tranny. I was instructed to drive my vehicle for a couple of weeks and that maybe it felt different I was driving another vehicle while my vehicle was getting repaired at AAMCO. NOT!
01/15/2003 My car was still not performing properly so I called AAMCO again and took my vehicle into their shop again. I informed the owner Pat that the tranny had no power. He informed me to drop it off to them and they would check it out. He repeatedly said there was no problems with the work that AAMCO had done and couldn't duplicate what I said was going on.
He sent my vehicle to a Chevy dealer in the area to see if the tranny was within "spec". The Chevy dealer said that what they tested for (the work that AAMCO performed on the tranny) was within "spec". I called the Chevrolet dealer and asked what they performed and looked for and they stated that they checked the performance of the transmission and it was within spec. Whatever that means!
09/22/2003 Now I have no reverse! Back to AAMCO! 10 months later and the transmission is broken yet again. Thank God it was still under warranty. If it had broke 2 months later, it would have been tough luck on my part because my 12 month, 12,000 mile warranty would have ran out. Belive it or not, they supposedly repaired the tranny again, stating they removed, repaired and reinstalled the tranny under warranty and at no charge. They had to repair and reinstall toruqe converter and sesal pump along with the tranny.
09/30/2003 Now the vehicle is shuttering and shaking like crazy, there's no power and of course feels more like a 2 cylinder half car than a V8. AAMCO repaired it under warranty yet again. They replaced the torque converter for the 3rd time and told me as a courtesy also replaced one of the 4 02 censors, since it went out while they were repairing it. Oh and did I mention...Now they're stating that I have a Fan Clutch Problem and that will need to be replaced as well. You think they would have found that the first time around, not the 4th time!
11/04/2003 It's been a year of AAMCO Hell. My vehicle is back at AAMCO yet again. Now it revs out of gear at 30mph and revs while in gear with my foot on the brake. Now AAMCO replaced the control module, steels, frictioins, pressure plate, band and pump assembly. Did they just not replace it the last 5 times they had the vehicle? Shouldn't that have been included in the first visit when they repaired and replaced the entire transmission?
04/16/2005- I gave up on my car after numerous other calls and trips to AAMCO and them not helping me. I think they see me as a stupid female that they could just take advantage of and did.
I have had to just deal with a junky V8 vehicle that drives like crapola. I've lost so much time from work, have had nothing but problems with my vehicle since I took it to AAMCO, have spent over a year dealing with the jerk owner and now my vehicle is grinding metal big time while in drive and worse while in reverse. Needless to say...it needs a new tranny again!
The car started making this weired noise like I was dragging pieces of metal along side of me while traveling down the road. When I put it into reverse it took all the metal pieces and grinded them up some more and made an even louder noise. Called AAA and had them tow it home.
Of course I then called AAMCO to see what they could do...They told me that since my warranty is up, they would work with me, but they would now have to charge me. I DON'T THINK SO.
After only 36,000 miles I need another tranny??? What's wrong with this picture?
As of 04/20/2005 I am now suing these son of a guns and taking them to court! Any advice from any of you out there would be totally awesome.
Lavell
DISCOVERY BAY, California
U.S.A.
Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on Aamco Transmissions
6 Updates & Rebuttals
steve Phillips
walnut creek,California,
USA
Sorry
#7REBUTTAL Owner of company
Tue, October 18, 2011
We checked with AAMCO cooperation and determined that she did not get her money back. We did ask her to remove the review because is not about the current owners
Lavell
DISCOVERY BAY,California,
U.S.A.
Total Liar! NO money was EVER given back to me
#7Author of original report
Tue, October 18, 2011
Hey prove that you gave me back my money! Show me a copy of what money was given back to me? No refund was EVER given as of this date, 10/17/11. Don't lie to customers about shady business practices. This company was owned by a total jerk who ripped people off. Unfortunately the new owner never looked into the crap the previous owner pulled on customers nor did he review his books and make calls to disgruntled customers. Too bad! He took over a crappy business. I would never recommend an AAMCO transmission repair to anyone! The vehicle in question still wasn't running properly after several attempts of this company's bad service. I eventually had another company replace the crappy AAMCO transmission then I sold it! What a flippin joke this company is!
Andrew
United States of AmericaNew Owners
#7Consumer Comment
Fri, June 17, 2011
I want to write that this complaint does not reflect the current ownership of the Walnut Creek AAMCO. I believe they took over the business in 2006 and have greatly improved the business's reputation and standing in Walnut Creek.
steve Phillips
walnut creek,California,
USA
Checked around
#7REBUTTAL Owner of company
Sun, June 12, 2011
Checked around about this report. Friend of old owner said the customer got his money back.
steve Phillips
walnut creek,California,
United States of America
Out of Date
#7REBUTTAL Owner of company
Tue, May 17, 2011
Derek and I purchased the Walnut Creek AAMCO in 2006 and have worked very hard to take care of customers.
This customer has never contacted us in the last 4 years, and all the people names are no longer working for AAMCO.
Steve Phillips
925-945-1088
Tranzmn
Richmond,California,
U.S.A.
Incomplete repair A salesman is a guy who lives on how much he charges
#7Consumer Comment
Sat, May 21, 2005
Lavell~~~It seems like your repair was not as complete as the payment for the repair. These transmissions should last much longer than the 36000 miles you have on it. This trans a 4l60e is a good design from 1982 that has not changed except for the electronic controls and some shaft size updates from he first generation unit. Although the hydraulics are pretty much the same.
Although your rebuild? did not last long gives me the impression that unsuccesful shortcuts were taken. It seems the reason they changed the torque converter 3 times is it was seriously contaminated with friction/steel.
You should have been provided a work order saying what was changed and if requested at the time of request (the old parts) This is CALIFORNIA LAW.
Your warranty ends after a successful repair has gone the distance with no issues of a under warranty repair. In small claims court with the documentation of warranty returns a judgement should not be a problem. At the point of the loss of trust in the ability to perform a correct repair you are entitled to take the vehicle anywhere to perform the repair.
You have to pay someone else to do it~~But~~your position to have the repair paid for by the shop to release them from liability and have a fresh warranty from someone else, may be what the shop would prefer at this point.
Now at this point you are there anyway.The problem is just to find the shop with the right kind of experience to make it the way it should of been long ago.
Price should not be the factor for the decision of where to take it.Or the great advertizing you see on the tv or radio.It sure sounds good when your trying to solve a problem.
If you find a place who you speak to the boss/owner not a salesman your chances of a quality repair are higher.
A salesman is a guy who lives on how much he charges not how good the reputation and repair of the shop is.