Complain about a product or service

Pep Boys

Save up to $379 on Your Auto Insurance. Compare Quotes from Top Providers Now! Find the Best Deal and Apply! - Adv.

Gail of Dale City, VA August 15, 2009

On July 1, 2009, I purchased two new tires from Pep Boys in Woodbridge, VA, at the recommendation of the shop's manager. He said that two of my tires had dryrotted and needed replaced. I never had problems with any of the tires before he made that observation. I have had blow outs before with dryrotted tires and didn't want to have any more, so I purchased two tires, had them mounted and balanced for 205. 02.

The next day (July2), I was supposed to go to my home in WV, but when I went outside to load my luggage in the car, the tire on the front passenger side had come completely off the rim. I had to have the car towed by Pep Boys to their shop. The other new tire needed air in it as well. A mechanic put the tire back on the rim and inflated the other one. My complaint is that I have had to go back to Pep Boys several other times because the tires needed to be inflated. I also had to have them inflated in WV during the weekend of July 4th.

Each time I take the car back to Pep Boys, they check the two tires and fill them with air, saying that nothing is wrong with the tires and that they don't know why they keep deflating. The last time I went on July 29, 2009, I asked for new tires because these had less than 25 lbs. of air in them. I know this because I checked them before I took the car there. I was told that they were not going to replace new tires with more new tires and that there was nothing wrong with their tires, implying that maybe there was something wrong with my rims. I told them that I had no problems with the previous tires when they were on the same rims. They still refused to replace the tires.

I was so disgusted and disappointed. Needless to say, the tires are still under inflated and I have to inflate them regularly. I plan to go to Pep Boys on Monday, August 17, to see if I can get this situation resolved before one of these tires blows out and I'm in an accident, serious or otherwise. I want to mention here that I have been a costomer of Pep Boys for more than ten years. In the past to my knowledge, I haven't had any defective parts. I have had good service.

Rose of El Monte, CA August 11, 2009

I told Pep boys my car shakes they said it was my my wheel bearing and Ball joints. After they fixed bearings and ball joints they "recommended" shocks. My car still shakes.

I took it back a second time and they said now I "need" shocks and they need to fix bearings that were fixed back 81 days prior.

Lydia of Bay Harbor Islands, FL August 10, 2009

I went in to get my 2000 Ford Expedition checked due to service engine soon light. The car was idling every so often. They checked my car of course thoroughly (lol).They told me to basically turn in my car at the dealer because it was worthless to fix. They diagnosed it that I had to remove and replace cylinder head gaskets and timing chain with a small total of 4944.00. No problem. They said dont drive it or the engine will blow. Well, I parked it until I was ready to either donate or trade it in. Well, I ended up renting a car until I either got a loan to pay for the repair or buy a new car which I cant afford. By the way, PepBoys told me my car was leaking oil and that the car was running on no oil. I also paid for a very expensive oil change. I couldn't believe that my car was leaking oil because I checked it after a week and the oil was still there. I started my car and the service engine light was still on, but the car wasnt leaking any oil. I decided to take it to Ford, guess what? They fixed my car, for 1026.00 and has been running perfect ever since. I told them what Pep Boys told me what I needed to repair my car and they said "NO". Shame on you Pep Boys! Big Time Scammers!

jen of tunkhannock, PA August 9, 2009

back in december i went to them to get an alignment they said i need lower ball joints to get it done so i did. well here i am 7 months later noticing my brand new tires are bald in the inside so i took it back to them they said my lower ball joints are gone again. theres no way in hell that should happen. i had some one else look at them and they said it looks like they didnt even change the ball joints that they are pretty bad for only being 7 months. now i have tons more problems with my vehicle thanks to them. i have two children that go in this car and it is not safe and top it all off my husband only makes 9 an hour where am i gonna get money to fix this . i can not believe how people dont give a damn about doing there damn job!!

Janice of Chicago , IL August 4, 2009

Momday July 29, 2009 I took my 2004 Kia Almata to Pep-Boys for maintance I was not having any problem with my vehicle but because I had 70,000 miles I just wanted to be sure what every maintanced need to be done was done on the vehicle I asked Pep-Boys to check my Belts, oil and air filter on my car or what every other maintance was need. The gentle look it up in the computer and stated there was nothing in the computer pertaining my KIA so I suggest my manual. He stated that yes my belts need to be checked and a couple of other things. I said OK. I few minute later he brought out my suspension belts to the alternator and the Power Steering Pump Drive Belt there was not one thing said about a pullin before they put the belts on my car.

I got up to drive my car on July 28,2009 there was a loud ticking sound and my car was wabling, so I took it back they took it back in the back and came back and tould me OK we fix the ticking and you need some tires. So on July 29, 2009 I purchased my 4 new tires. My you the belts were put on the car on July 27, 2009. August 3, 2009 my car have never stop it stopped in the middle of a very busy street 71st and Stony Island that connects to Lake Shore Drive. I have to get it pulled out of the street by streets of sanitation. Two guys came from the gas station once the look and the battery to jump the car they ask was the last people working on your car I said Pep-Boys. He stated that your covering on your battery is loose and it should never be loose like that it could cause a lot of promblems to your car.

I drove my car home once I turned it off it would not come back on without a jump. my Husband jumped it I barely made to Pep-Boys everything in my car started braking down. Once I got it to Pep-Boys the gentlemen that looked at it stated how did your cable on your battery get so loose I tould him my car was maintance here I don't know what they did my car has never stopped on me I work to far to be having car promblems. After taking it in to check they said battery was low, and the alternator was getting no power. But they had to get a second person to look at it.

After about a hours they came back and tould me it was the pullin that split the alternator belt he said something must have fell off your car. I tould him the pullin did not split the belts that was on my car so how did something just fall off my car and if it was a pullin how could you put new belts on a damaged pullin. He stated they did not check it before changing the belts so I said if thats the case you don't know if it was damaged or not. Because the belts that you removed off my car was just cracking because of ware and tare they never split so why would the split now.

I had to try to get my car down to Kia just to get it fix correctly. PEP-BOYS guarantee does not mean nothing to customer they have damaged my car I pay them 218.00 to check my battery. alternator and gas pump was all suppose to have been check and protected. They could never touch another vehicle and will ever have because they don't take reponsible for what they do to your car, all there trying to do is damaged your vehicle to get more money. I want my money back for service that was not done right and I will see Pep-Boys in court.

Gary of San Jacinto, CA August 1, 2009

I have 96 Dodge truck with 178,000 miles was towed into the Oceanside shop for dying on the freeway crank no start. After a few hours go by they found the fuel pump was bad replaced that then I got a call back and was told the truck is running really rough which is funny when it died on me it was like it was starving for fuel no other problems. They changed the wires, cap,plugs,and rotor which I had replaced a couple months prior to that a couple days go by and they still couldn't figure it out so they sent it to an electrical speacilist for 4 days and to find out that guy wanted to charge me hourly for those 4 days after it was down there I told them no way I'm paying for that so they towed the truck back to Pep Boys put it back on the machine changed the timing chain thinking the slack was causing the problem due to high mileage then the start positioning sensor that didn't fix it.

Then was told the computer was bad after that didn't work my catalytic converter was plugged he showed me the broken honeycom, after I got the truck home I looked around the catalytic converter to see if they pulled it apart the bolts were till rusted so I have no idea where they got the honeycom.

After sitting there for more than 30 days I told them enough is enough I'm taking my truck else where put it back together. When I showed up the exhaust from the header was still disassembled and found they put a coil on and was going to charge me for it with out even asking after disputing that I took the truck home.

One good thing out of this is that I did get my money back for all the parts except the fuel pump. The truck still runs rough like the timing is off I took it to a Pep Boys closer to my home and it sat there for another 2wks and could not figure out why it's running rough I told them the Oceanside shop messed with the timing but wouldn't pull it apart to double check the work unless I paid for the labor if that wasn't the problem. This whole evolution was about a month and a half with no vehicle and is still sitting in my drive way right now running the same way until I get back from Iraq. I will never use another pep boys period.

Shipherd of Tucson, AZ July 31, 2009

I went to Pep Boys on June 17th for tires based on their advertised "buy three, get the fourth tire free" deal. Once I arrived, I learned it was a rebate deal. I purchased the four tires, then with help from the store staff, filled out the rebate paperwork. I double-checked all the paperwork and sent it in. Two days ago I received a small card in the mail that said "The receipt(s) submitted did not show the purchase of any qualifying item." In other words, my rebate was denied.

I called the number on the card and they immediately said my paperwork was in order and that they were sending my rebate check. Based on similar experiences narrated on ConsumerAffairs.com, it seems this is Pep Boys's standard business practice - they deny the rebate claim in the hope that people will give up. This practice is deceptive, dishonorable, and should be illegal.

Brian of Kings Park, NY July 18, 2009

I went to Pep Boys to purchase a Master Flow Cyclone Air Compressor MR-1040. When I got home to put air in my tire, the machine clanked and then went dead. Upon further inspection, I noticed that the machine looked very used. The rubber stoppers on the bottom were worn off. When I went back to Pep Boys, I explained this to them. I asked if it was their policy to sell used items. They said it may have been a return that mistakenly made it on the shelf.

So I brought the "new one" home and this one did not work at all. Again it looked used and worn. They are obviously selling used parts, probably bought off of ebay. I asked the manager, Ari, to give me a refund over the phone because I did not want to travel back there again. He would not. It is a very unprofessional practice to sell used and defective products. It makes me question what else they are selling that is used such as car parts that actually may injure someone. BUYER BEWARE!! Do not leave Pep Boys without making sure the product is new and works.

Craig of York, PA July 17, 2009

On 6-20-2009. I took my 2001 Chrysler to Pep Boys for State inspection. I was informed I could not get the car inspected due to the fact the “Check Engine” light was on and the car would not pass inspection with the defective “Check Engine” light on. I explained I had the car into them back in August of 2008 for the same issue: On 8-1-2008 I left the car at Pep Boys and the following was performed. A platinum tune up package 94.99. A 3 step pro Fuel Package 98.99. A Engine Diagnostics 79.99 with shop labor of 20.72 for the engine diagnostics and additional labor 222.27 for a total of 297.55. Under general comments section of this bill it stated: PO340 Cam Sensor Signal code was found. This will come up when car stalls. Sensor tested fine could not duplicate state or shaking above 25 mph.

I drove the car with the check engine light on for about 30 miles and the light went off. I assumed the tune up and all the work that had done to the car resolved the issue. As the weeks went by I had no issues with the car then in May 2009 the car’s “Check Engine” light came on again but this time when I slowed down the car shut off and died causing a traffic issue this never happened before. The time between August 2008 and May 2009 is a mute point as I only drive from home to the park and ride lot and back eight miles per day forty miles per week one hundred- twenty miles per month the rest of the time we use my wife’s van.

I had to set for about 10 minutes at which time I could re start the car and drive and within a few miles the “Check Engine” light went off again. I called Pep Boys and I was asked if the “Check Engine” light on to which I replied no. I was told they could not pull the codes unless the “Check Engine” light on and to bring the car in when the “Check Engine” light on came on again. The issue with the “Check Engine” light being on was on and off at various intervals. On 6-19-2009 on my way home in heavy traffic the car again died and caused a traffic issue. The next day I took the car to Pep Boys for inspection as stated above.

I received a phone call stating the “Check Engine” light issue needed resolved before the inspection could take place. Several day went by and I was told they had found the issue of the “Check Engine” light being on issue being caused by a sensor giving a false reading and my car would be ready to pick up.

Thursday June 25th I picked up the car and was told the issue was resolved but I could not get the car inspected until the sensor was set which required me to drive 250 miles to prevent the sensor from issuing a false error code during the inspection process. Friday the 26th I drove the car from my home to the park and ride lot I use. The total mileage from Pep Boys to my home and to the park and ride lot and home at the end of the day was 18 miles. Saturday June 27 I drove from my home to the four way stop at Susquehanna trail and Canal Road about 8 miles from my home and again the “Check Engine” light came on and the car shut down in the middle of the intersection. After waiting 10 minutes I was able to re start the car the “Check Engine” light went off and I drove to Harrisburg and back total mileage at this point was about 60 miles on the repair I paid for.

Monday June 29th on my way to the park and ride lot as I was going around a curve in the road the “Check Engine” light came on and the car shut down another car the opposite direction changed lanes to miss from hitting my car. With no ability to control the car I slid off the road and just missed a tree. Waiting about 10 minutes I re started the car and park it and went to work. I called Pep Boys from work and stated the repair was defective. 170.74 for the repair and less the 100 miles on the repair that almost caused an accident. I was told to bring the car back in. this would have been the third time for the same issue. Spending over 450.00 for some thing that was not fixed correctly to start with. I started up the car and backed out of my drive way heading back to Pep Boys and “Check Engine” light came on and again the car died. I waited re started the car and drove it to a dealership to trade the car for another car. The car was not repaired correctly several times and was a definite traffic hazard and unsafe to drive.

We have been a loyal customer of pep Boys for over ten years and I have no issues paying for service that is complete and correct. As a matter of fact I had my wife’s van in for service which I picked up on June 20th for a cost of 1004.66 and there has been no issues with those repairs however I felt I was a victim of Pep Boys inability to correct the issue with my car. I just thank the man above nobody was hurt or killed by their inability to correct the issue. I placed a stop payment on the check that night. I am requesting you dismiss this claim by Pep Boys as I wish not to pursue the issue to the next level.

Gerald of Hixson, TN July 10, 2009

After having my break fixed for 7 hrs and 117.00 I walk around my truck which I alwyas do after any service to my vehicle. My Truck bumber was damaged and I told Rhodney the my truck bumber was damaged we walk back to my truck and showed him the damaged and I even showed him after running my finger to the bumber that ther are paint that are chipped off. He called the technician who work on it and not to my surprise he denied that he caused the damage. Rhodney denied that the damage didn't caused by any of their employees.

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Share		Follow us on Twitter.

Back to the top |