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AAMCO

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AAMCO calls itself "The Transmission Experts." This means they're experts at finding a reason to work on your transmission. Our advice: Find a trusted local mechanic to take care of your car and consult him regularly. You're more likely to get good advice and economical repairs.

Greg of Odenville, AL July 25, 2009

AAMCO Transmission located on Montgomery Hwy in Birmingham, AL repaired the transmission on my 2006 Chevrolet HHR. I was told the repair would cost no more than 1500. There was no way to get an exact repair cost until the transmission was taken apart. After my transmission was taken apart I was told the cost of labor and parts would be 2300. If I had decided I would like a second opinion, I would have to pay almost 1000 to have the transmission put back together. So I was forced to pay the extra 700.

While the mechanic was repairing my transmission, the mechanic damaged my exhaust system. I took my car back to AMMCO transmission to explain to the manager that my exhaust system was damaged while my car was being serviced. My car was re-examined and the manager said that my exhaust pipe just separated all by itself. It was just a coincidence that it broke at exactly the same time that their mechanic was working on my vehicle. The mechanic who drove my car to the rack and back to the parking lot, smeared grease on my headliner, when I took my vehicle back to AMMCO Transmission.

The manager me that since I was a loyal customer, he would repair the exhaust system his mechanic damaged for 200. I guess that means if I actually let them fix the exhaust system they damaged that I would get a bill for 900 based on my experience with the transmission estimate.

carol of westerville, OH July 24, 2009

Transmission replaced Nov2008-2100. Within 3 months, trans slipping, shifting poorly and unable to pick up speed. Returned twice-I was told I needed a tune-up(Had one 30,000 miles prior)told I needed a mass air flow sensor, told my truck was "old" I payed a different company for diagnostic services. They said, I need MAF sensor...but also that my trans shifts poorly and the trans fluid is burnt. They did put this in writing as I paid 100 for diagnostics.I allowed them to replace the MAF sensor. My warranty is for 1200 miles or one year with AAMCO.

I took my truck to a different AAmco, and they said, nothing wrong. They say, other places just want to sell me repairs I do not need. Many have driven my truck and many are mechanics. They state, my trans is bad, and the fluid is burnt. AAMCO will not acknowledge the problem and I do not know what to do. I am still under warranty as the problem began after less than 5000 miles of drive time on the new(rebuilt) trans. HELP!

Steve of Orlando, FL July 24, 2009

2002 Acura MDX- slipping in 3rd gear. Found this to be common problem with this year and model.

Went to AAMCO 080108. They verified internal problem and needed rebuild. They repaired third gear and replaced torque converter, said no other issues.

1 week later there is loud grinding sound comming from transmissino. Took it back 081308 they found no problem, took it back again in 2 days and they found no issue, then took it back 3rd time on 082608. They then said linear solanoids are bad, I argued that they could not go bad in a week and not all 3 at the same time. They insisted this is the problem and charged me 700+more, now the total is 3700+. Problem showed up within a few hours of this visit so clearly not the problem and they refused refund. Took it back in sept 08 and they rebuilt a second time, problem came back within a day or 2 .

Took to another AAMCO and they confirmed torque converter shutter, slipping in lock up. They recommended going to ACCURA for diagnosis. The original AAMCO shop agreed to pay the ACCURA Dealer charge. ACCURA said either damaged valve body or bad torque converter. AAMCO rebuilt 3rd time. They claim they found sticking valve in valve body that controlls torque converter. Got the vehicle back and problem showed up again in a day or 2. I demanded refund and they refused. I disputed through credit card comapany but lost since I didnt have expert saying AAMCO fault. Turns out you need to pay someone else to fix the transmission and testify that other shop was at fault.

12/08 took to independent trans shop and he agreed torque converter shutter in lock up mode. He said Honda fluid is very specific and stated that if they did not use honda fluid this can be the problem, he added Honda smart lube which is honda's additive and it seemed to work. Lasted about 2 months then it came back. I took the car to the independent shop and paid for a rebuild another 2000.00. He immediately found the proble which was 2 damaged "O"rings in the torque converter valve body. Said this can only be done by improper installation. They did standard rebuild with all soft parts and replaced the torque converter with a quality one.

Got the car back from him and it better than it was new. I now have 1600 miles on this rebuild and it is perfect. Fact it is so smooth that if you are stopped at traffic light with vehicle in gear and air off, you can not feel the engine running nor hear it. (the aamco torque converter was junk, it was not well balanced turns out this was another issue that I did not even realize due to the other problem.)

The independent shop agreed to be my expert in small claims court. I plan on filing suit by the end of 08/09. I will try to post the results.

kris of fall city, TX July 24, 2009

I had transmission rebuilt in March for 4100.00 with a 24,000 mile-24 mo warranty. The truck has been back 4 times, which is 60 miles 1 way from my house. twice they have had the truck for 5 or 6 days, twice for 24.hrs. The last time frank said there was nothing wrong. Then, we took it to another location in san antonio where they said that there was definitely a problem, but wanted 180.00 to diagnose if it was trans. problem or electrical. However, aamco offers free estimates, and the problem did not preexsist before aamco started work in march. it is now july and the warranty is half over due to so many back and forth trips to each Aamco.

We have called the corporate office and have had zero results with any action. I will do everything possible to keep anybody from using such a unscrupulous place. Furthermore, my truck is STILL running badly and corporate has done NOTHING. How can I get my truck fixed?

PAUL of RENSSELAER, NY July 22, 2009

I have a 1995 chrysler cirrus which had a hard time starting at times and also had a gas smell in the car when you drove it,so i took it to aamco. oh boy. the price started at 470.00 for a tune up, new plugs and wires, clean fuel injectors (power steering flush which never happened) at an additional cost of approx 250.00. then the phone calls. you need valve cover gasket and a fuel injector kit so we're around 1100.00. this is going to fix that gas smell in the car.THEN they found a new problem. the reason the car wouldn't start was a scorched distributor cap.so everything in respect to the car starting i guess was a waste of money. by the way the final bill was just under 1500.00 and i still have the gas smell!! after all this they now tell me its the exhaust system and for 500.00 more they can fix it.they may be willing to split the cost. i checked out the price with monro muffler. they looked at the car and said 370.00. they (AAMCO) were to order the muffler and get back to me when it came in. its been 2 weeks and they never called.

LEONARD of EUSTIS, FL July 16, 2009

I had my transmisson completely over hauled and purchased life time warranty. This was on 04/08. I took the vechicle in at 10 day checkup and took in for vechicle checkup on 03/12/09 and complained of vibration in transmission. I was told there was not anything wrong with it. On 05/28/09 for transmission service and complained once again about vibration and over drive not working properly and was told no problem found. On 7/14/09 the converter bolts fell out and damaged the fly wheel. Between the transmission and complaints filed less then 4000 miles were put on the truck.

Linda of Portsmouth, VA July 10, 2009

In August of 2008, we experienced transmission problems with our 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix and took it to the Portsmouth AAMCO who said it needed to have the transmission rebuilt. At 124,000 miles this seemed reasonable. We paid 2432 for the work. In mid June of 2009, while driving from Washington DC, smoke started billowing from the rear of the car and the "Hot Transmission" light came on. We got off the highway and took the car to the Alexandria AAMCO the next morning. The transmission had totally failed and had to be rebuilt. Again. I called the Portsmouth AAMCO to discuss, and they tried to blame us for "not noticing that the seals were leaking"...and as we were over the miles for the warranty...tough luck. I have called the Customer Service Department for AAMCO several times over the past month and have never been able to speak to a live person. I think that is more by design than accident. In a nutshell, we will never do business with AAMCO again.

cindy of san antonio, TX July 9, 2009

I saw an advertisement for free towing and a free estimate. I called the business to verify the information. I called and spoke to Jeremiah. Jeremiah confirmed that they could tow the vehicle for free and provide a free estimate. About an hour after he towed my vehicle to the shop he called and stated that in order to provide an estimate I would have to pay 489 dollars. I told him that the only reason I agreed to have it towed there was because he had offered a free estimate. When I refused to pay he stated that I would have to pay him 125 dollars for towing the car to the shop.

I asked to speak to the manager and the corporate office number. Jeremiah stated that he was the manager and gave me a 1800 number. About one minute later I received a call from Steve stating that he was the manager and stated that he was a master technician and would look at the vehicle and give me an estimate. He promised to call back but never did. I called him back the second day and he stated that he was going to review the telephone conversation that I had with Jeremiah to see if he had done anything wrong and would call back, but never did.

I called him back and he told me that the tape recording was gone and that it had probably been recorded over. I told him that there was never any agreement to pay any fees and wanted to talk to the owner. Steve then began threatening that if I called the owner that the owner would put a lien on my vehicle, he also stated that if I did not pay him the 125 that he would put a lien on the vehicle. Steve still refuses to give me any information to contact the owner.

Dan of Toledo, OH July 8, 2009

I have a car that is 3 years old. I do a lot of driving so I thought I would get the transmission oil changed and a new filter. Had a 1/4 tank of gas when I took it in. So, they take it out for a test drive, 30 minutes later he comes back, get a hand held computer and drivers off again. 25 minutes later he cames back to the shop, lifts the hood,check the oil and says " I would change the fuild now, it looks good". No chager.

OK, so I get back in my car, the radio is turned up as high as it would go. Thought not bigger, he might have hit a botton or something, Then the low fuel light came on. That couldn't be I thought, checked the miles and he had driven 58 miles, and he played with everything in the car ( radio, HUD, etc. Unreal!!! I wrenched it years ago, yes you do have to drive peoples cars to see what is wrong, but you NEVER play around, and get into peoples stuff when fixing someone's car!!! When I got home, I hooked up the computer to my car to see what the history had in the computer, It show they had a hand held computer hooked up, with a max rpm reading of 5300!!, and a top speed of 112 mph!!!!! So they beat the crap out of my car on there test drive. No damage was done to the car, but I will NEVER trust or go back to any of there shops. Buyer Beware!!!!!

Blanche of Greenbelt, MD July 7, 2009

on march 10 2006 my truck needed tobe repaired so I went to aamco transmission. they did the service on it needed a new rebuit transmission for a total of 2397.16 the warrently that i was paying for it was a extend coverage so my truck can be fix ..so two years later my truck needed repairs again o i took it back to aamco again because i was still paying for a coverage on my suv through a company on my own . So they took my car again for the second time and they told me again it was the transmission again needed to be rebuilt again so they did the work again for the cost of 2701.77.

So now i lost my job took a training class to get anoter job . now i got the trainnig done so on june 27.2009 my truck failed again i called a tow truck to get it off the street and towed it back to the aamco transmission to be checked out again on june 29,2009 they checked it for the third time nd told me that the transmission needed tobe rebuilt again. i have no warrently on my truck at this time because i have no job..... my current bill is 1481.00 THEY REBUILT MY TRANSMISSION FOR THE THIRD TIME something is wrong with this picture.

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