Complaint Review: Lehman's Garage - Minneapolis Minnesota

Brace yourselves. I'm going to be as thorough as I can.

About two years ago, we had our first experience at Lehman's. We crashed our '07 Civic, causing significant front end damage to the tune of $6k. Our insurance sent us to Lehman's for the repairs. Since then, the following has happened.

First of all, our transmission has never sounded right since then. I understand that a significant wreck can cause noise problems; however, just this week (11/26/13) I learned (from Lehman's) the noise allegedly comes from the right side motor mount, which is loose, and will cost approx. $165 to fix. We'll come back to this in a moment. When they originally fixed the car, the entire front end was utterly smashed in, requiring re-mounting of all major parts in front, a new radiator and air conditioning system/fan/unit, etc., along with a new hood, side parts, paint job, etc.

Since before the original repairs, I've consistently taken our car to a trusted mechanic in our neighborhood (DJ Foreign Auto Care, for anyone who's interested). They've been reliable and thorough in their work. The only reason we repaired at Lehman's was because our insurance sent us there. Anyway. Last Summer (June '13), our car began overheating BADLY. I took it to DJFAC and learned there was a significant crack in the radiator, which they subsequently replaced. Two weeks later, there was ANOTHER crack in the radiator. I brought the car back to them, at which point they disassembled the front end and realized that the AC casing was knocking against the radiator; when Lehman's had installed the new radiator after the wreck, it was off-center. The longer we drove it, the more "off" it became, and the more it knocked the radiator. DJFAC replaced the radiator and re-positioned the AC correctly, to stop the knocking. Point being: We've had THREE radiators in our Civic in the last two years; two in the last six months, likely caused by the simple fact that the new AC casing was never properly centered. I've been advised multiple times by DJFAC that the entire engine sits ever-so-slightly off-center in the car, which can - and does - cause significant ongoing issues.

Fast forward to this past Tuesday (two days before Thanksgiving, 11/26/13). I had a coupon, so I took the car to Lehman's for a $20 oil change, and for them to check what was going on with our windshield wiper fluid not spraying, and the transmission noise. When they'd completed the oil change, they also told me the wiper fluid motor was bad ($128 parts/labor to replace); the right side motor mount was loose (previously mentioned, $165 parts/labor); AND....there was a significant crack in the radiator, causing major coolant leaking (for which they attached a $700 estimate to replace it).

I immediately called DJFAC to report that our practically brand-new, not even 6-month-old radiator was cracked and leaking. I took the car to them immediately and they replaced the radiator again. Upon inspection, they found that there was a tiny crack on the top of the radiator which looked to the naked eye as if someone had taken a flat-head screwdriver to it. When they showed it to me, it was gurgling and pouring coolant all over the garage floor. When it was removed from the car, it looked like it'd been stabbed with a screwdriver. Other than one tiny crack - which was touched by NOTHING inside the car - it was perfect.

This prompted them to ask me: Have you noticed any leaking on the ground in your garage? Has the car been overheating or acting strangely? Have you had to refill the transmission fluid at all? In short, have you noticed ANY issues with the radiator, prior to Lehman's mechanic telling you this morning it was cracked and needing replaced?

The answer to all is a resounding NO.

DJFAC still graciously - and willingly - replaced the radiator free of charge to me. But let me be abundantly clear here: EVERYTHING about this situation, from the off-center parts post-wreck, to suddenly finding a crack in a brand-new, no-issue radiator until Lehman's inspected it, REEKS of foul play.

Still, since I'd asked Lehman's to order the wiper fluid motor, I took the car back the next morning (11/27/13) to have it installed, with the understanding that it would cost the quoted $128 for parts/labor. When they finished, I was given a bill of $146. I thought it might be taxes or something, so I asked about it, and the woman who printed the bill said she pulled the price "directly from the quote I gave you yesterday." I told her, "I'm almost certain the quote you gave me was $128." And she replied, "I don't know what to tell you - I pulled this straight from your file." I paid, and went to my car to find the previous bill with the quote. Sure enough, it was $128. So I went back inside with both bills and said, "See - $128." She took it, and in mock confusion said, "I wonder how that happened? I pulled it right up from your file.... Hmmmm..." and three seconds later had a new bill for me in the amount promised: $128. When the front desk receptionist/check-out person voided the first bill and re-charged the second, she sighed deeply as if I was ruining her day by asking them to charge me ONLY what was promised.

In short, folks, the wreck-fix done by Lehman's has, I think (and our trusted mechanic agrees), caused ongoing engine and transmission issues with our car; I suspect that their mechanic either accidentally or purposely damaged our radiator and then tried to get me to pay $700 for a replacement; and when they were proven to have overcharged me for work, they acted confused and annoyed at the fact that I expected to pay a lower quoted price.

Everything about them is shady.

Buyer beware.