This was my first experience with Bob's Auto Repair, and it will absolutely be my last. I regret bringing my vehicle here and cannot recommend this shop.
I had my 2015 Dodge Dart towed to Bob's Auto Repair on a Friday because it was stuck in Park. During the diagnosis, Steve informed me that my vehicle had an open recall for the shift cable/bushing, but the OEM recall parts were currently unavailable. The plan was to install a repair that would safely and reliably hold me over until the OEM recall parts became available. Bob's completed the repair, and I picked the car up later that same day.
Bob's Auto Repair charged me approximately $173 ($150 labor plus $23 for a universal bushing kit) for the shifter repair. They also identified a coolant leak and repaired it for far less than originally estimated. In total, I paid nearly $300 and was so pleased with the service that I even tipped nearly $20 because I genuinely believed I had found an honest mechanic. I honestly thought I had found our new go-to mechanic and was convinced the next time we'd see Bob's Auto Repair would be for something routine, like an oil change and tire rotation.
The very next workday, on my way home from work in the Sterling Heights area, the exact same problem returned. My car became stuck in Park again in a Walgreens parking lot, leaving me stranded and requiring a second tow for the exact same issue.
Since I fully expected Bob's Auto Repair to stand behind their work, I specifically instructed the second mechanic to do only the bare minimum necessary to get the car back on the road so I could return it to Bob's. I never intended for him to perform a permanent repair because I never imagined Bob's Auto Repair would refuse to stand behind their work. The second mechanic found the retaining clip missing and temporarily secured the linkage with a zip tie.
I returned to Bob's Auto Repair expecting them to make things right. Instead, I was told I needed a new cable, was offered no refund, no labor credit, no warranty consideration, and no meaningful attempt to help. I was expected to pay labor all over again for the exact same issue. Even after a repair that failed almost immediately, there was no attempt to provide any temporary solution or goodwill gesture while I waited for the OEM recall parts to become available.
To make matters worse, Bob's Auto Repair refused to install an aftermarket shift cable because they didn't want to stand behind it, even though Chrysler Customer Care told me an aftermarket cable was a practical option if I couldn't wait for the OEM recall parts to become available. Bob's only recommendation was to get on the waiting list for the OEM parts, which could potentially take 6-12 months. They offered no other practical solution.
What makes this even more disappointing is that the temporary zip-tie repair has already lasted longer than the universal bushing repair I paid Bob's Auto Repair nearly $200 to perform. I later spoke with the service department at St. Clair Dodge, who confirmed that my recall is still open, the OEM recall parts are still unavailable, and that temporary zip-tie retention is a common solution customers are using while waiting for the OEM recall parts to become available. It's incredibly frustrating that a temporary fix has kept my car on the road after the expensive universal bushing repair from Bob's Auto Repair failed almost immediately.
During my conversation with Steve, he ultimately told me to "f*** off" and "never come back." I later learned he was recovering from an injury, so instead of immediately posting this review, I left my phone number with both Dante and Joe and asked that Steve contact me when he was feeling better. Steve even called the shop back afterward and had Dante take a picture of my invoice, so I genuinely believed he intended to review the situation. Unfortunately, I never received a call or any attempt to resolve the issue.
I'm now out nearly $300 for the work performed at Bob's Auto Repair, plus the cost of a second tow and another mechanic, because the repair I paid Bob's Auto Repair to perform failed almost immediately.
I understand that repairs don't always go as planned. I can accept that a repair doesn't always work the first time. What I cannot accept is how Bob's Auto Repair handled the situation after their repair failed. In my experience, they completely failed to stand behind their work, instead insisting I needed a new cable while refusing to take any responsibility for a repair that failed almost immediately.
This was a horrible first experience. I regret trusting Bob's Auto Repair with my vehicle. If this is how they handle a repair that fails almost immediately, I can't recommend trusting them with your vehicle. read more
