Optimo Car Wash
64 Pershing Drive, Ansonia, CT 06401
I am extremely disappointed with both the service I received and the way my concerns were handled by the owner.
I brought my 2024 Toyota Camry to Optimo Car Wash at 64 Pershing Drive in Ansonia for an interior cleaning. When I drove away, the dashboard and instrument panel appeared somewhat foggy, but it was an extremely hot day and I assumed it was simply glare or heat-related haze. Because I only drive this vehicle one or two times per week, several days passed before I drove it again.
The next time I drove the vehicle, I parked in the parking garage at my workplace. Under the lower-light conditions of the garage, I noticed a cloudy, smeared appearance on the clear plastic covering the gauges, climate control panel, and other interior plastic surfaces. The condition is most noticeable in lower-light environments and from certain viewing angles, which explains why it was not immediately obvious when I left the car wash.
As soon as I realized there was a problem, I contacted the owner and brought the vehicle back for inspection. I showed him my receipt and explained that I had not driven the car for several days after the wash and that the issue only became apparent once I saw the interior under different lighting conditions.
To be fair, the owner did attempt to clean the affected areas while I was there, and some of the haze was reduced. However, the condition was not completely corrected, and the cloudy, smeared appearance remains noticeable today.
Despite attempting to clean it, the owner maintained that his business was not responsible and insisted that I must have used a product on the dashboard myself. He also claimed that the level of service I purchased did not include cleaning the gauge cluster or those interior surfaces.
I explained that I intended to take the vehicle to Toyota for an independent assessment and obtain an estimate for repair or replacement if necessary. I further advised him that if Toyota determined the condition could not be corrected and replacement was required, I would consider pursuing reimbursement through Connecticut Small Claims Court. His response was simply, "Go ahead."
At that point, realizing he had no intention of accepting responsibility or offering a meaningful resolution, I asked for a refund of the service. That request was denied. The owner stated that because the work had been performed, I was not entitled to a refund.
After this experience, I reviewed other customer feedback and found at least two Google reviews describing issues that appeared similar to mine involving interior plastic surfaces and dashboard materials. While I cannot speak to the circumstances of those individual cases, I found it concerning that other customers appear to have reported similar problems.
I take exceptional care of my vehicles, and this Camry was in excellent condition before this visit. What concerns me most is not only the condition in which my vehicle was returned, but the immediate assumption that the customer was at fault rather than a willingness to investigate whether a product or procedure used during the service may have contributed to the problem.
Given the owner's refusal to provide a refund or accept responsibility, I am obtaining an independent assessment from Toyota and will determine my next steps based on those findings. I also intend to file complaints with the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, the Better Business Bureau, and, if applicable, the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles. Depending on the outcome of Toyota's assessment, I will also consider pursuing the matter in Connecticut Small Claims Court.
Mistakes can happen in any business. What matters is how a business responds when a customer raises a legitimate concern. In this case, the issue was only partially improved, responsibility was denied, a refund was refused, and no satisfactory resolution was offered.
Based on both the condition of my vehicle and the way this matter was handled, I cannot recommend this business. read more
