Tim's Auto Group Tim's Toyota of Prescott Bait and Switch Prescott Arizona

I had a bad experience with Tim's Toyota in Prescott eight years ago when I had them install a topper on my Tundra.  It took multiple visits to finally get everything resolved and it ended up costing me more money.  I swore I would never use them again, and haven't until the recent recall for malfuntioning airbags. 

Since Tim's was the closest dealer to me, and since it was a recall repair, I reasoned that they couldn't screw me on anything.  

I stopped by the repair office one morning on my way to work to see about getting an appointment.  First I was told that they didn't have the parts in for the repair.  I assumed this would be the case as the news reports had indicated that it was taking time to get parts to all of the dealers.  I asked that my name be put on a list and that I be called when they did get the parts.  I was told they didn't have a list.  I jokingly told them that I would be the first name on it then.

One of the clerks told me she would run back and speak to the service department manager to see when they might be getting the parts.  While she was away from her work station, the other lady sitting there told me, "You can't believe the reports you hear on the news about stuff like this.  It's all designed to get people to panic, then they come running in here like you did and expect us to get their vehicle fixed."

I informed this lady that I had checked the Toyota website and when I put my VIN number in, was assured my vehicle qualified for the airbag parts replacement thing.

The first lady then came back and told me that they indeed, had the parts for my repair.  We set up an appointment for the folllowing week.

On the day of my appointment, I dropped my truck off at the shop on the way to work.  I was told to speak to one of the service managers.  When I did, he informed that they didn't have the parts for the repair.  I pointed to the girl who told me they did and told him she assured me they had the parts.  The manager asked me to wait while he checked with the parts manager.  He came back a few minutes later and told me that yes, they in fact DID have the parts for my repair.  I left the truck with him and told him I'd be back at the end of the day to pick it up.

Around 11:00 that morning, I received a call from yet another service manager who informed me that, "We just about have your truck put back together and it should be ready within the hour."  He then informed me that while they were doing their normal courtesy "Multiple Point Inspection," they found a few things that needed to be repaired (front brakes, rotors turned and a leaky thermostat seal).  It would have amounted to a little over $400 if I had them do it while the truck was there.  I told him no, and that I would have my regular mechanic look at things.

When I went to the shop at the end of the day and picked up my truck, I was giving some forms that outlined what had been done regarding the recall and a printout of things they noticed or "suggested" should be repaired.  Their suggested repairs amounted to $1,955 worth of work!

When I got home, I looked at the paperwork more closely and discovered that they in fact had NOT done the airbag repair.  I called the service manager the next day and after some checking, he told me that they didn't have the parts for the repair.  I told him it had been confirmed by two different people that they DID have the parts and told him I was pretty upset at the service. 

He apologized and said there must have been a miscommunication between the parts manager and the other people.

I think Tim's knew all along they didn't have the parts and were only looking to get my vehicle in there so they could "find" these broken things that needed repair.

Tim's service shop is a rip-off joint.  Their main purpose is to get you in the door, then they use scare tactics to try and milk as much money out of you for repairs as they can.

I will never use them or do business with them again and intend to tell everyone I come across of my experience.

Thanks for nothing, Tim's!