Complaint Review: King Car Care - Austin Texas

The following review is for a repair shop at 6324 N. Lamar in Austin. They have done business with 3 different names that I know of. They are: "Tokyo Auto Repair", "Transmission King", and the latest, "King Car Care"

I took my car to Tokyo Auto Repair (now called King Car Care) in March of 2010 for transmission issues. Their website did, and still does advertise an $849 transmission rebuild, with a warranty. When I took the car, I was told it would be about 5 days to repair.Dropped my car off with them, and they seemed nice...

I called on day 5. (They never call you. You have to be chasing after them to get any updates.) I was told it would be a few more days because of an unexpected part that needed to be ordered. I was a little irritated, but I understand that these things happen... (I live and work in the Austin area. I use my car for work. I'm a multi-unit manager for a restaurant franchisee. I drive a lot, my job requires me to. I nearly lost my job because of the amount of time they had my car.) ...well, after 3 weeks of calling and calling and calling and calling..... And haggling with them trying to get the car ready, they finally had it finished. I picked up my car on March 29th, and their $849 advertised price was actually $2,149.68! I paid it with no complaints, and vowed never to return.

On 04/15/10 my transmission started jerking. So I called them, and they asked me to bring it back...They had the car for another few days trying to get it to repeat the problem, and couldn't get it to make the same jerking. They said that there were no problems. So I picked it up again.

THEN, in November, (5 days before Thanksgiving) the transmission went out. Totally broken. I had to take it back to THEM because of the warranty. They said they would get it back to me before Thanksgiving (which was on the 25th) Today is 12/17/10 and they finally have it finished. They had my car for a total of almost 2 months between all 3 trips, in which time I haven't been able to work! I asked for a rental, or even a loaner car, and every time I mentioned it, they said they would call me back, and I wouldn'thear back from them. I had to call them every day for an update, and it was always the same story: "We are waiting on a part that should be here tomorrow, and we will call you to keep you updated." They told me EVERY DAY that it would be "tomorrow" and they "would notify me of their progress"... They did not call me ONCE. Never! I always had to be calling them. They seemed to have NO intention to make this right for me. They were too cheap to even put me into a rental. And the icing on the cake: they charged me another $118.01 when I picked up the car for a "valve body" ...a valve body that I already paid $636 to replace on the first trip!

These people are scammers! Do not take your car here! I am not the only person who has had issues with them! Keep researching them! There are SEVERAL reviews like mine (and worse) ...I only wish I had read them before making the mistake of ever doing business with them. "Tokyo Auto Repair" now does business as "King Car Care" or "Transmission King" Their address is 6324 N Lamar. Austin, TX 78752 Their Phone number is 512-243-1082. The ownership and management has not changed. They may be called something different, but they are still the same scammers they were when they were called Tokyo Auto Repair. My guess is they just changed their name because of the bad reputation they earned among the community for giving such bad service. With the amount of money these guys have cost me, I could have bought a whole new car!

Save yourself the money, time, and anger. Take your car anywhere but here! These guys do BAD BUSINESS!