Autonation, Toyota, Austin Misrepresentation, harmful and dishonest.  Austin Texas

Monday, March 17, 2014

 My 2007 Toyota Camry XLE, with 73,000 miles had a right drive axle that was manufactured improperly. The spline that attaches to the wheel hub was not machined out sufficiently and the press fit during assembly required excessive pressure. As a result it weakened the inner bearing housing. Eventually, it broke and leaked grease. This happened out of warrantee. During replacement of the drive axel it took extreme force to separate the axle from the wheel hub.

 With the axle removed, about 1 cup of transmission fluid was lost. Being particular about my car I wanted it replaced. There is no conventional place to add fluid. There is no dip stick to measure transmission fluid level. Auto Nation told me they could not measure fluid level. (Untruth #1) They said a transmission fluid flush was required. (Untruth #2) 

 The normal cost to add 1 cup of transmission fluid would have been $4 in most cars.  Instead it cost me $360.

 Trusting a Toyota dealer, I let them do a transmission flush. Afterwards, the transmission made a whinny noise at all times. I complained about it and they told me I needed new tires. (Untruth #3)  Trusting a Toyota dealer, I let them put 4 tires on the car for $911.26. They told me they would price match but then they added $72.49 additional charges on separate rows of the invoice that would not exist on the competitor’s invoice. (Untruth #4)  Also added was reprogramming of my car computer which they claimed would solve the transmission problem. The charge was for $89.95. They said this was essential. (Untruth #5)

 On one of my many invoices it says, yes, there is a noise but it is not coming from the transmission. (Untruth #6)

 After the alignment on a car that already handled perfectly, the car pulled hard to the right and was squirrely in handling. I took the car back again and they did the alignment again. Afterwards the car still handled squirrely. It was all over the road and hard to drive. The car was not fit for highway driving.

 I took the car back to complain about the transmission and the wheel alignment and they said both were OK. (Untruth #7 & 8)

 I took the car to Maund Toyota and had the service manager drive the car. He said the transmission noise was normal and the car handled OK. (Untruth #9 & 10)

 I took the car back to Auto Nation and insisted my 2 problems still existed. They kept the car overnight and told me the transmission was OK. (Untruth #11). I had a service manager drive the car and he said it handled properly. (Untruth #12).

 The transmission problem noise persisted. On a cold day, the car would not go into drive easily. I complained to Auto Nation. They said nothing was wrong. (Untruth # 13)  I continued to drive the car and it would start in 1^st gear and stay in that gear for a long time. Then it would pass 2^nd gear with a thud and go directly to 3^rd gear. I complained to Toyota again and they said nothing was wrong. (Untruth #14).

 Keep in mind I’m leaving the car with them overnight so the transmission is at outside temperature. I returned the car again and insisted the transmission has a problem. They called me the next day and said it was OK.  (Untruth #15)  At that point in time I insisted they check the transmission fluid level. With reluctance they did. They told me the car was 1 quart low on transmission fluid. (Untruth #16) The car was actually 1.5 quarts low on transmission fluid. The level is critical on a 6 speed automatic transmission.

 I take the car to Quick Align in San Marcus and they put the car on their alignment machine. All 4 wheels are out of alignment. Two wheels are in the red zone. The owner of Quick Align shows me the error and explains what he would have his mechanic do. It was a very cold morning and the mechanic made some adjustments but did not do all of them. The car handled much better but still pulled to the right a little and did not handle as well as it did before Auto Nation messed it up.

 While at Quick Align I told the owner about my transmission and how the fluid level could not be checked. He told me it could. He gave me a copy of the official fluid check instructions. With extremely accurate temperature monitoring equipment I followed the instructions to discover ½ quart more transmission fluid was needed. If the level is monitored before the proper temperature is reached the results will be insufficient fluid level. This explains why Toyota didn’t fill it up properly. They did not let the transmission come up to the proper temperature when adding fluid.

 Using the Internet reviews I take my car to Speedy Align in South Austin. This is where you go for professional alignment. Three wheels were slightly out of alignment and the left rear wheel needed much correction. Afterwards, I complained it still pulled a little to the right. Speedy Align told me this was due to the previous bad alignment and tires worn unevenly. Speedy Align was right. I rotated the tires and that fixed the problem. I’ve now put many miles on the car and it still handles perfectly. The car now handles exactly like it did before Auto Nation took all 4 wheels out of alignment.

 Most of my correspondence with Auto Nation has been in writing. Each time I deal with them, they manipulate me and tell me everything is OK.  They are the most professional con artists I have ever dealt with.  If you have a brand new car and just go in for an oil change while drinking their free coffee and watching their TV you will give them a 5 star rating. They know how to change oil. If they work on your car and you don’t really know what is going on you might give them 5 stars but you will question why your car does not hold to the Toyota longevity standards.  If you have them work on your car and you know what you are doing then you will write them up as I am doing.

 Toyota Auto Nation did damage to my car and if not discovered in time the transmission drive axel bearings would be damaged plus other problems which would never be under any warrantee. Due to their bad alignment I lost a lot of good rubber from my tires.

 Toyota Auto Nation not only misrepresented me, they hurt me. There are individuals in Auto Nation whom I like. The corporate structure and business model stink. Unfortunately, the success in business is location, location and location. Well guess what? They have the location and the reputation developed my many other Toyota dealers.  If you live in Central Texas you should deal with another Toyota dealer.  While other Toyota dealers are better, they are still subject to the same corporate structure so I would advise using YELP on the Internet to find your car service and repair locations.