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Save up to $379 on Your Auto Insurance. Compare Quotes from Top Providers Now! Find the Best Deal and Apply! - Adv. Vikram of Hoffman estates , IL November 12, 2009 This happened yesterday, when i took my car to this Meineke store on Higgins Road and Golf in Schaumburg. The engine light was on and a diagnostic was conducted.I was told there are two errors coded coming on. EVAP purge Vent valve and EVAP Vapor Canaster are to be replaced. The parts were quoted to cost 204 for the former and 447.75 for the latter. I didnt have a choice and said yes. But soon after that i did a internet check for the parts quoted and found that the genuine parts were selling for 173 and 75. even considering all costs involved it should not be more than 40% increase to the cost above. I called him back within 10 mts and wanted to cancel the work order. They started stating that there will be 15% restocking fee, and other charges that were working out to be more expensive. So, I was totally taken for a ride by this service center. At the end i did realize that this center has robbed my of at least 300 dollars extra that what i should have paid. Feels very bad that service centers resort to arm twisting by threatening to bill unreasonably. Please stay clear of this service center. Maryann of Meridian, ID November 10, 2009 This franchisee put the wrong oil filter on my car, causing my engine to empty of oil while I was driving, ruining the engine. They then stonewalled me for 6 full days, not returning my calls after promising to do so. I finally showed up at the shop to get a response. Scott, the franchisee/owner, denied all responsibility, blamed me for driving the car, and essentially called my mechanic a liar by stating the filter my mechanic removed from my car was the wrong part (correct) and couldn't possibly have stayed on the car for 4 months before the day this happened (which it did). I allowed him to tow the car from my mechanic's shop to his shop on the day this happened. When I confronted him at his shop and he denied any responsibility, I said the least he should do is tow my car back to where he found it. He refused to even do that. I called corporate, and they haven't returned my call either. Now my car is being held hostage and I'll have to pay to have it towed back to my mechanic to have my engine replaced. Estimates of 1950 to 3700 to replace my blown engine. Janet of Allen, TX November 9, 2009 I am writing to register a complaint against Meineke Car Care Center #4180, as it does not honor its warranty despite the fact that the warranty is written on its own invoices. In August 2008 the check engine light of my 1999 Honda Accord came on. I took it to a Honda dealership for a diagnostic and was told that the catalytic converter had a hole in it and needed to be replaced. I then took my car to Meineke Car Care Center #4180 to do the replacement. I initially purchased a converter at a low price, with no warranty, but then changed my mind and then paid 292.58 for a heavy metal, catalytic converter with a 5 year warranty. When I paid for the job, I noticed that "No warranty checking light come on decline heavy metal one", was printed on the invoice. But instead of issuing a new invoice, the shop manager just crossed out that part by hand and said that it wouldn't be a problem to obtain warranty service because "5 year 50,000" was printed under the warranty column of the invoice. I have a copy of the service quote, indicating that I did request a heavy metal converter. The service quote was signed by the manager. However, only 8 months after the installation, the check engine light came back on again. So I took my car back to the Meineke Car Care Center. After checking the car, the manager called and told me that the catalytic converter itself had no problem but that there were many other things that could cause the catalytic converter failure. He asked me if a tune up had been performed on my car, as well as if the timing belt, water pump and spark plugs had been replaced. I told him that had all been performed a year earlier. When I went to pick up my car, the technician who had checked my car said that he suspected there was a problem with the spark plugs. He then reset the check engine light. Two weeks later, the check engine light turned back on. I took my car to another auto repair shop to get a second opinion. They then ran a computer diagnostic on the car. The result of the diagnostic was code P0420, which indicated a problem with the catalytic converter. When I took the car to Meineke Car Care Center again, the manager and the technician still tried to convince me that something else was causing the check engine light to turn on. I then told the manager about the result from the diagnostic. The manager examined the car again and then told me the catalytic converter was burnt out. He asked me to show him the invoices for all the maintenances he had listed before because he could not install a new catalytic converter on the car until the maintenances had been made. After I collected the invoices and took them to the Meineke Car Care Center, he added some additional requirements: top end cleaning and fuel injector cleaning, which he offered to do for 79.99. I took the car back to the other auto repair shop and the technician there said the new requirements were unrelated to the way the catalytic converter functions and it wouldn't make any difference to the converter. I told him to do the cleaning anyway. After obtaining an invoice showing the completion of the top end cleaning and the fuel injector cleaning, I called the manager at Meineke Car Care Center and told him all the additional work he wanted done had been completed. However, he then stated no warranty would be applicable because the maintenances had not been performed before the converter was installed and the converter was purchased under no warranty. At the time the converter was purchased, none of these conditions were made clear to me. In any case, I have talked to several technicians, including one at a Honda dealership, and they all say the requirements imposed by Meineke Car Care Center have nothing to do with the catalytic converter. It seems that the manager at Meineke Car Care Center is trying his best to make it impossible to get the converter replaced under warranty. I filed complaint to BBB but they are unable to give me any help. Justin of Newarket, NH November 5, 2009 I brought my Honda accord lx sedan to this Meineke auto mechanic shop for an inspection. My mechanic lives in Maine so i needed a NH inspection sticker so i went to this Meineke. I went in the Man behind the counter wasn't the friendliest but i didn't hold that against him and i had them check my car anyway. About an hour later they called me and said it failed its inspection on the account of bad rear breaks. So i told the gentlemen not to put new ones on cause i wanted to see them for myself. When i walked back to the shop My car had been pulled off the lift and the gentlmen behind the counter told me it was 30 dollars for the inspection which i didn't get but i thought i had to pay for them to look at least that was until i gave him 40 and he whips change outta his own pocket and give me my 10 back. Why didn't he just use the register he was standing in front of. Never gave me a receipt and proceeded to tell me it was going to 159.99 to fix my rear brakes for them to do it. Well i said i'd rather my own mechanic take a look at it instead. Well I went out and bought rear brake springs and pads. When we got the wheel off it was very evident that they never took the rear rotor covers off to even see the brakes. It was like holding a new part to a new part. Which makes me feel i was ripped off from them even failing my inspection. So i do not know what to do either. I have gone through gas and 30 dollars and rude arrogant meineke associates that feel that if i do not look like a mechanic they feel they can get away with whatever they want and that hardship makes me not want to trust any mechanics out there janet of saugus, MA October 29, 2009 I brought my 05 nissan maxima in for front break pads and oil change and to check on a noise it was making. They changed the pads and oil and said they could not hear the noise.
5days later my oil light comes on I drove it to the closest gas station and had 2 quarts put in. the next morning it was making a horrible noise so i brought it back. They said the oil level was fine but thats because I put the oil in it.
Randy of Thornton, CO October 8, 2009 The Meineke Econolube at 651 East 120th ave mails out coupons for 19.95 oil changes but it really costs 33 and they change your air filter without permission for 12 more. The employee that removed the air filter from my vehicle told me the manager makes them do this all the time. When the charges are disputed, the manager comes out from behind the counter and assaults the customer. I had it happen to me on 10-3-09 at 12:10pm and had to fight for my life after being placed in a choke hold. When I broke free, two more employees joined in the fray. The police (Officer Thomas Conner, Badge 08-7)said he issued a citation to the manager but refused to cite the other employees that took part in my assault. I had to get a tetanus shot due to all of the cuts from the assault. The corporate office at 1-800-275-5200 said the employees have a different view (spoke with Dave at corporate). My wife got to see me being choked on the ground by the store manager. I am nearing 50 years old, with arthritis and the employees are all in their twenties. I do not wish to be identified as I am trying to cope with the aftermath of such an assault. DO NOT GO TO MEINEKE...EVER. Paul of Las Vegas, NV October 5, 2009 Meineke told me my truck was repaired and took 250 from me. They replaced parts that I since tested and there was NOTHING wrong with them. After paying them and before I left the parking lot I saw that the problem persisted. They refused to refund my money and say they cannot fix the problem. I spoke with Joe, the manager and Stanley the owner of the 7652 West Lake Mead Las Vegas NV 89128 car center. They were rude, used profanity and refuse to assist. If I don't receive my refund I plan to go to Consumer Affairs, the Better Business Bureau and if necessary, Small Claims Court. Linda of Katy, TX September 18, 2009 On July 27, 2009, we took our new 2010 Toyota Tundra to Meineke to have them install a dual exhaust system, cowboy cut, black chrome tips for my daughter. On September 13, 2009, we were on a freeway exit ramp pulling our horse trailer and we lost our brakes. We had the truck towed to Toyota. Toyota dealership service department showed me where the exhaust pipe had burned through BOTH brake lines. We also noted that the pipes installed were not stainless steel as they should have been. Also we thought we bought a system, not a jerri-rigged "mess". I talked with the Meineke shop owner "general manager" who for one whole day would not take my calls. The next day I caught him unawares and he had to talk with me. He agreed that morally he needed to pay our Toyota bill to replace the brake lines and towing bill (555.90). I settled with him for 500. Took the truck back to the shop so they could re-configure the installation at no charge. They then called me and said we must have overloaded the truck so they were not responsible. I then took it to a fabulous shop and they cut the pipe out and put a new one in using the correct installation techniques and supports and charged me 65. Meineke corporate does not answer its complaint line. Meineke corporate's website comment form does not work. I was ripped off and almost killed by Meineke! Now need new exhaust system as this is not the system that we had asked for. Kyle of Westfield, MA August 28, 2009 We were in West Hartford doing some shopping. The battery discharge light came on in our car and we knew the battery would lose power shortly. We were 30 miles from home and it was a Saturday and we were fairly unfamiliar with the area. We looked up repair shops in the area and Meineke was the only one open close to us.
The serpentine belt was visibly loose and we told the mechanic what the car had been doing. He told us we needed a new alternator and the cost would be around 600. I was skeptical we needed a new alternator since we have a Toyota Camry with low mileage and is typically a very reliable car. He told us the chances of us making it back home without repair would be "slim to none". He replaced the alternator.
On our way home the battery discharge light came on *again* and we began losing power. We started losing interior lights, turn signals, the horn and the car barely had enough power to get us home. When we pulled into the driveway, the serpentine belt was visibly loose. I tried to start the car the next morning and it was dead.
The car then need to be towed to my local mechanic. He said the problem was the harmonic balancer, which he replaced at an additional cost of nearly 400. After his repair the car ran fine again. My mechanic said it was *highly* unlikely that I even needed a new alternator, especially given the reliability of Toyotas.
In sum, not only did Meineke charge an outrageous price for an unnecessary repair, we barely were able to arrive home safely after their "repair". We then had to have our local mechanic do the proper repair at additional cost to us. My research into the cost of new alternators shows that Meineke charged an outrageous mark-up- the average alternator price I found was between 160-220, and I was charged 422 for the alternator alone. Mary of Vancouver , WA August 25, 2009 I took 2002 Kia Rio to Meineke Car Center in Vancouver WA on Mill Plain for a brake job,pads and rotors. They also were suppose Flush and bleed the brakes.
When I picked my car up on 8-17-09 and drove it out of the Meinekes the brakes started to smoke and they FAILED!! Brakes went down to the floor! I only live 6 blocks from Meineke and barely made it home. I called Meinke and talked to Tom Coates, manager, he said to bring it back. I said I was afraid to drive it--too bad for me. Meineke wouldn't come and get the car. My son drove it back using the hand brakes. On 8-20-09 I called Meineke to see if my car had been repaired and was informed that the master cylinder had went out. It would be a week before they could repair it. What choice did I have but to say OK, repair it.
I called around and was told to get a second opinion; using the hand brakes my son then took the car to another garage near our house . They had the Kia Rio repaired in an hour. All they had to do was bleed the brakes--which I had already paid Meineke to do. It didn't need a master cylinder.
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