Ripped off... again. Acton Ford is BAD NEWS - at least the service department. Take it from me - I'm ASE certified and I've done business with and worked with quite a few shops.
First time, I needed to get a hatch hinge replaced on my truck. They didn't hold the hinge in place when they put an impact gun to it (it shouldn't be installed with an impact gun anyway) it spun and scratched the paint down to bare metal - they "fixed" it with a touch up pen and an apology but I've since had to use bodyfiller to make it right. There's no real long-term replacement for factory paint; this is going to be a problem area for the life of the vehicle.
The second time, I had them replace the rack and pinion, and the power steering pump on my truck - it was the dead of winter and I simply couldn't do it myself in my snowy driveway. They did a good job, but when I picked it up they told me I absolutely needed steering column pins "as soon as possible" based on a "clicking noise" - and quoted me an absurd price. I said "thanks but no thanks", planning to do it myself, but on the way home I found the clicking noise was actually a loose trim panel under the steering wheel, which rattled a little bit. It wasn't loose when I brought them the truck... I replaced the clip and have been fine since.
The third time, I had a rewards credit from the previous work. I asked for "the newest, nicest tires" from a high end brand, and they sold me a set for $1000+, just a little under MSRP. Within a week, one developed a huge bubble. I took it back and they said I "must have hit something" - I didn't, and three other tire places told me it was clearly a manufacturer defect based on the type of damage. Come to find out, the tire was discontinued (and had been for several months before my purchase) so I was FORCED to buy a replacement from them because my vehicle is all-wheel-drive (you have to use the same tires tread pattern and wear level on all 4 wheels) and nobody else had any left in stock...
I mentioned all this to a few friends and the horror stories came out. One bought a new truck from them with multiple mechanical failures, and they repeatedly lied to him about the problem and charged him for diagnostics until the recalls and TSBs came out. Another bought a truck from them and the tire blew up catastrophically, apparently part of a known flaw, and they tried to TAKE IT from him without replacing it - he's now involved in a class action suit. Another brought his showroom quality, cherry anniversary edition Mustang in, and these clowns scratched the hell out of his hood then claimed it was pre-existing damage. Another bought a "new" truck and it needed rotors with just 500 miles on the odometer - they recommended having them turned down (really... really? they're about $50/ea new) or replacing them for hundreds of dollars.
I vowed never to go back... until I was forced to.
I needed a service that required a Ford-specific machine to be done right... I called around, and it was either Acton Ford or a place closer to Boston who would be able to do it. I got a quote and set an appointment for the very specific service. I got a call from them to tell my my truck was "done" but that they had to do something VERY different than the service I requested - something I could have done myself in the driveway for $50 (and they charged me 5 times as much). According to them, old rusty parts prevented them from doing what I asked. They didn't call me to tell me that they wouldn't be able to do what I requested and ask how I wanted to proceed; they just did it... I paid and took my truck; there's no point in trying to argue with these people - it's never their fault.
The kicker, when I saw my receipt they listed the service requested (not the service performed) and gave me a "checkup sheet" which was full of lies. I replaced my tires and brake pads/rotors a day before I brought my truck in... they had less than 50 miles on them. I also flushed and filled my power steering fluid, front and rear differentials, and changed my oil. The "checkup sheet" said my pads had 1/2 life left in them, my tires were "about 2 years old" and that I needed some fluids. Sure, guys.
The service staff here seem like nice enough people, right up until you have a problem... I've had my ass saved by the parts department more than once (I do a lot of my own work) and they've always been courteous and helpful so that's something. I can't say I'm surprised by the many negative reviews, based on both my experiences and those of my friends and family. The loads of suspicious positive reviews which have been "filtered" by Yelp (which you can view at the bottom of the page) say a lot about their ethics. read more