1 /5 Robert Smith: Nightmare at Stonebriar - 2 days to 10 days, $2600 to $3600
I tried to save $300 on a $2600 repair by taking my car to Stonebriar Auto Center but it ended up costing me an additional $900 in repairs that had to be done somewhere else because they couldnt fix it and a car rental for $300 because they took 10 days when the original repair was for 2 days. This was the most horrible experience Ive had at any auto repair shop in over 30 years.
I had gotten an estimate on my wifes Acura MDX for repairs of a rear main seal and a CV boot for $2600. I tried to save some money and saw that Stonebriar Auto had decent ratings. They estimated $2300 and 2 days.
I dropped the car off at Stonebriar around 5pm on Monday night, December 16th. On Wednesday the 18th I hadnt heard anything from them so I called and they said it wouldnt be ready till Friday or the weekend. They called on Friday to say it was ready, and I went to pick it up on Saturday, the 21st.
I went to pick it up, and there were things spread on the passenger floorboard, seat, and console (see pictures), which I told them had me concerned because I always try to keep a clean car, which didnt look professional. One of the items was a fuse box cover. They apologized.
I started the car, and it showed a "Check VSA System" and a "Vehicle trailer stability" warning. They looked around for 20 minutes to try to fix it and then asked me to leave the car. I told them it was frustrating because after finishing their repair, they should have started it up and ensured everything looked good. In addition, the warning lights were not on when I dropped off the car. I told them I needed the car for an out-of-town trip on Friday the 27th.
As the days passed, the inconvenience of the situation became increasingly apparent. I called Stonebriar on Monday the 23rd, only to find that the issue had not been resolved. With a family visit looming, the need for our car was becoming more urgent.
I called them on Thursday the 26th, and it still wasnt fixed, so I picked up the car. There was another mess this time on the drivers side floorboard (see pics). I tried the dealer, but it was 3 business days before they could even look at it, so I took it to the other auto repair place.
I was told the issue was a rodent infestation (see pics). This was not something I had ever experienced before. It cost me $900 in repairs and a $300 car rental to visit family.
The auto repair place had looked at and had pictures of the auto on December 16th and confirmed there were no warning lights when they looked at it, which was the same day I dropped the car off at Stonebriar Auto.
Taking my auto to Stonebriar was the worst car service Ive experienced. I could not comprehend how bad an experience it would be.
