Complaint Review: Niello Audi - Sacramento California

I am not sure what exactly is going on in this situation, but it sounds rediculous! I think you need to contact the Bureau of Automotive Repair right away. I'm not sure how you plan on handling this situation, but they are the ones who can help straighten this out according to the law. If you haven't already contacted them you should do it today. The phone number is 1-800-952-5210 or you can go to autorepair.ca.gov and file a complaint.

I recently purchased a used 2002 Audi A4. I took the car to Niello Audi for an inspection to make sure the car is good to go (which runs me $80). Inspection shows that the vehicle is in great condition, (I have the check off sheet, no other problems mentioned) every thing is good all except for a transmission leak stated as a category 3 oil leak. So I ask what needs to be done to stop the leak. They say they need to do a diagnostic to find the source of the leak. I say, 'Ok how much?' they print me a quote for $450. I say ok because I need to know what the damage is and if it's worth keeping the car. So I bring my car back the next few days and droop off. The outcome from the service rep is 'it doesn't look good' and breaks down the problem. Basically its a few gaskets that need to be replaced but in order to be replaced they need to remove the transmission which when all said and done will be $2200 fixed out the door. I debate a few days then decide get it fixed. I schedule for it to get worked on a week later. A week so they have a good amount of time for planning so my car can be in and out. I am told it will be about 2 days 4 at the most depending on parts to get fixed. 1 week approaches and I drop off the car that Sunday night so they will have it first thing Monday. 3days go by I don't get any word, nothing. Day 4 I call asking what's up, service rep says 'man, good news and bad news. Good news is we didn't need as many gaskets as we thought, but the bad news is we just noticed that there is a leak from your radiator into your transmission fluid.' He then tells me the labor will be done in the same time amount but need to order a new radiator. The new price to fix is $2800, once again after much thought I give the go ahead. Well guess what happened next, the part was out of stock, so I paid to have it next day delivered. He says if they get it next day (Friday) it will most likely be ready to go Friday eve if not than early Monday. Friday eve starts to approach and no contact from my service rep, when I call he lets me know they just ran out of time so its looking to be Monday for the completion. We are 99% there rep says. The transmission is back in sealed up looking good. Monday comes I don't hear anything so finally I call at 3pm asking for 411. The receptionist informs me that my service rep no longer works there and transfers me to some new guy. New guy comes back telling me they found another leak in the transmission, apparently the battery is leaking acid onto the transmission, which caused a hole, and they recommend replacing the transmission for $9k+. That's there only resolution. Like most humans I blew up, they are clearly milking me for everything and anything I have. Before the other rep left he said the transmission was looking good and the radiator just needed to be finished up. The new guy tells me the radiator is in but the transmission needs to be finished up. I take a trip to the shop to see what is going on. When they take me over to look at my transmission I notice that no gaskets have been installed at all on the transmission. So they get the old Service Rep on the phone and he tries to tell me he didnt say what he said. So Im sitting in the shop looking at my still leaky transmission that has had no repairs, then I look at my Audi sitting there with a new radiator installed... What was the point of the inspection if they dont inspect the whole transmission? A transmission is damaged and you only check the part that is in view to determine what needs to be done, then come back later and say "looks like we need to replace it" after they have already got the bill up past $2700.00 From Niello Audi website: "One visit to our award winning Audi service department and you will be reminded why you chose to do business with Niello Audi." Would I be on this site if that were the case? Also, when you do feel taken by them, stay focused. They will start to get into the details of the irrelevant just to throw you off. I will update as situations change.