I went to Oxnard Mazda after receiving a promotional email offering a free oil change. I scheduled…read morethe appointment for a Saturday expecting to have a simple oil change completed.
After waiting for over two hours, Adrian came out and told me there was a problem. He explained that while they were attempting to perform the oil change, the oil panel had broken. He told me that the cap was metal and the panel was plastic, and that this was something that could happen with newer Nissan Rogues. However, I was also told that Mazda was not responsible because whoever performed the previous oil change before I owned the vehicle allegedly did it incorrectly, which caused the panel to break while Mazda was servicing my vehicle.
Since it was the weekend and there was no manager available, I was told they would provide me with a loaner vehicle at no charge and that someone would contact me Monday to figure out how to move forward.
On Monday, Adrian contacted me and told me the repair would cost almost $1,000. I was given two options: either use my extended warranty and pay a $400 deductible, or have CarMax cover the repair, but I would have to pay the entire amount upfront and wait for CarMax to send me a reimbursement check.
I explained to Adrian that I could not afford that. I came in for a free oil change and was not expecting an unexpected repair bill of nearly $1,000. I told him clearly that I did not have the money to pay for this repair, especially with rent and other expenses coming up as a single mom.
Adrian then suggested that I apply for an app called Sunbit and told me that I would not have to pay anything upfront. I followed his instructions and applied. I was approved, but Sunbit still required me to put down almost $300. I called Adrian back and again explained that I did not have any money available to put toward the repair.
Despite me repeatedly explaining that I could not afford this repair, the work continued. I never authorized paying nearly $1,000 for this repair. The only service I originally approved was the oil change.
When I returned Tuesday to discuss my options and try to get my vehicle back, I spoke with a manager named Chase. Unfortunately, I felt that he was dismissive and unwilling to work with me or hear my concerns. I explained that CarMax had confirmed I was still covered under warranty and that if the vehicle had gone through CarMax's process, they would have covered the repair and I would not have had to pay anything upfront.
Another thing that was extremely concerning was the change in the repair price. On Monday, I was told the repair would cost almost $1,000. However, when I came in on Tuesday, the total had somehow changed to $715. No one clearly explained why the price changed so drastically for what I understood to be the same repair. Being quoted one amount and then seeing a significantly different amount the next day left me questioning how the original estimate was calculated.
I was told that Mazda would not release my vehicle until payment was made and that I needed to return the loaner vehicle. I was also told that keeping the loaner could result in a $75 per day charge.
This entire experience was extremely stressful and frustrating. I came in for a promotional free oil change and ended up dealing with a situation where I felt pressured to find a way to pay for a repair I was not expecting and repeatedly explained I could not afford.
Thankfully, I was able to borrow money from someone so I could get my vehicle back, but no customer should have to go through this after coming in for routine maintenance.
Between the lack of communication, the changing repair estimates, and the way this situation was handled, this was one of the most disappointing dealership experiences I have ever had. I will not be returning to Oxnard Mazda, and based on my experience, I would not recommend this location to others.