Complaint Review: K-Mart Automotives

Driving from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles, my car radiator became hot. I pulled into K-Mart Automotive for assistance. I discussed problem with shop personnel and was told the work would take 1.5 hours.

I went into K-Mart to wait for work to be done.

Leaving the store, approaching my car, I saw one of the mechanics sitting in the drivers' seat of my car, going thru the cash left behind in my car. I quietly approached him, then asked pointedly "Are you looking for something?" He dropped the money all over the car, answering, "no, no, I'm just going to start the engine when they tell me to."

Mechanics told me radiator cap was defective and they replaced it. They UTTERLY FAILED to notice a hose was broken which was the problem. Then with the engine still red-hot, the automotive staff poured cold water into the radiator and turned the ignition on. There was a horrible "explosion sound". The engine block cracked, destroying the car. K-Mart mechanics are ill-trained, so lacking in work ethics and basic knowledge they don't even know you cannot put cold water into a hot engine unless the engine is running!!!! I contacted an attorney who intervened, writing several letters to K-Mart but K-Mart stated they were not responsible.

MORAL: NEVER, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, USE K-MART AUTOMOTIVES. They don't know what they're doing - they steal anything they can - and then they wreck your car.

I took them to Small Claims Court and in the lobby stated to all within earshot that "K-mart DESTROYED my car", and a young woman in the lobby smiled a little, saying, "I used to work for K-Mart. They do that ALL THE TIME."

Jacqueline
Las Vegas, Nevada
U.S.A.