I have never left a negative review, but this experience was so terrible that I felt compelled to share it.
A week ago, my car overheated and had to be towed to this Chevron station. I explained that the engine was overheating and that there were visible coolant stains in the engine compartment.
The next day, I was told they had identified a coolant leak, replaced the coolant reservoir and associated hoses, pressure-tested the system, test-drove the vehicle, and confirmed that the problem was fixed. I paid approximately $750 and picked up the car.
One week later, while driving to Marin, the same engine overheating warning returned. We had to pull over immediately and have the car towed again. Fortunately, this happened before we got onto the Golden Gate Bridge. I had not driven the vehicle at all between the first repair and this incident.
The vehicle was towed back to the same shop for the overheating issue.
The next day, I got a text from the mechanic, in essence, admitting that "It does look like the thermostat was on the way out when it was last in here. To do that thermostat replacement will run $752.21."
I called the owner and explained that I had brought the car in for an overheating engine the previous week, paid for the repair, was told the issue was fixed, and now had to tow the vehicle a second time because the overheating problem returned. I asked why a more comprehensive diagnosis had not been performed when the vehicle was originally brought in.
The owner's response was that they only tested what I specifically mentioned and that the thermostat issue was not part of the original diagnosis.
So, in essence, the owner suggested that it was my responsibility to identify the cause of the overheating problem. If you bring a car in because the engine is overheating, it's reasonable to expect a thorough diagnosis the first time.
Rather than acknowledging the frustration of having the vehicle towed twice for the same problem, the owner became defensive and, get this, suggested that I take the car somewhere else even if that meant I would need to have it towed. Fortunately, I was at least able to drive it home a few blocks away.
Being charged for a repair, experiencing the same problem a week later, and then being told the responsibility was somehow mine and that I should go elsewhere made this the worst customer service experience I have ever had. read more