Complaint Review: Boerne Automotive

In late June of 2012, I noticed that there was some water leaking from the air conditional which caused the floorboard on the driver's side to become damp.  I also noticed that my SUV appeared to be leaking a small amount of oil.  While it is an older model, it has less than 88,000 miles on it and has been taken good care of.  In order to make sure there were not any "major" problems, I took my SUV into Boerne Automotive ("BA") based on the recommendation of a friend from my Church.  I explained the 2 concerns I had when I dropped the SUV off.  After several days, "Lionel" (who manages the repair shop and is apparently the son of the owner), told me that I needed to have all of the seals on the engine replaced which would cost close to $2,800.00.  I questioned the need for this repair as there was only a small leakage.  I was repeatedly assured my engine would "burn up" if I did not repair it immediately.  Lionel said they had also fixed the issue with my AC.  After paying, I drove my SUV home.  On the way, I noticed that the AC would not cool at all (not a problem before) and that there appeared to be some sort of electrical problem.  I left my SUV sitting in my driveway until my work schedule allowed me to take it back.  The 2nd time BA had it, Lionel called and told me that I needed a new AC system entirely and that it would cost me close to $1,300.00.  I told him to stop working on it and I went that day and picked it up.  Early the next morning, Lionel called and said that they would "fix" the AC and the electrical issue.  I dropped the SUV off on Tuesday, 9.25.12.  Lionel asked me for "2 weeks" to repair it.  I expressed my concerns and he assured me he would have it fully repaired in that time.  Over the next 50 days (but only after the 2 week period promised), I repeatedly called BA to find out the status only to have Lionel make excuses and promise me that he would have it done "in just a few more days".  Lionel never called me during that time--I had to hound him.  Finally, on Monday, 11.12.12, I called Lionel and he said that he had not sent my SUV to the dealership (as he had told me he was doing on the prior Wednesday!) and asked me if I would pay even more money to offset the repairs.  I reminded him (as I did during most of our calls) that all of the problems had occurred while he had been in possession of my SUV.  The next day, Lionel told me that he would do no "more" work and that I should take it to the dealership.  He said that "they don't like me at the dealership so I don't really want to mess with it anymore".  He refused to even have it towed there.  I went in to pick up a copy of my file to have the details for the dealership.  Lionel could not produce any records of any work done after the 1st time I had it in there.  On my way out the door, Lionel told me to "just don't complain and get it repaired".  As shocked as I was, I had the presence to remind him that I had brought my SUV to him for that very purpose 4 and 1/2 months ago!

Boerne Automotive (BA) had my vehicle on 3 separate occasions.  After demanding that I pay even more money, which I told them I could not, they informed me that they would not do anything more to repair my SUV.  This was after they had had my SUV for 50 days!  The vehicle is still being fixed (it is at the dealership now), and they are investigating to determine if the repairs BA made previously were, in fact, even necessary.

I recommend that you do not let anyone you care about take their vehicle to this auto "repair" facility.  I have recently found out about several other people who have experienced similar issues with this company.