I am writing to formally complain about the poor service, overcharging, and mishandling of my vehicle during recent repairs at Price Ford of Simi Valley. I brought my 2005 Ford F-450 truck to your dealership for maintenance due to intermittent power loss issues, and the experience has been frustrating, costly, and unprofessional. Below is a detailed account of the events, which have led me to feel taken advantage of and disrespected as a customer. I am seeking a full refund of the amounts paid, compensation for my time and inconvenience, and an assurance that this matter will be investigated internally to prevent similar issues for other customers. I delivered my truck to your service department. The vehicle was operational but experiencing occasional power loss. After your diagnostic check, I was informed that the Fuel Injection Control Module (FICM) and injectors needed replacement. I expressed doubt that this was the root cause, suspecting a less extensive issue, but proceeded based on your recommendation as I needed the truck back in working condition. You quoted approximately $4,500 for the full repair, but I opted to start with just the FICM repair at $1,200 to manage costs. This repair was completed, but upon retrieval, the truck's symptoms remained unchanged--it did not resolve the power loss problem.
Additionally, when I picked up the truck after this first repair, I discovered that my T-Mobile vehicle tracker was missing. After inquiring, a service employee and I searched the parking lot, where I found the device scratched and lying on the ground. This was unacceptable handling of my personal property, but I chose not to escalate it at the time in hopes of resolving the main issue.
After saving additional funds, I returned the truck on for the injector repair. At this point, I was informed that the cost for the injectors had increased beyond the original quote, which was disappointing given my efforts to budget. I requested a discount and was offered approximately $500 off. However, shortly after agreeing, I received a call stating that additional parts--such as gaskets and other minor components--were required, further increasing the bill. These items should have been anticipated and included in the initial estimate, especially since the repair involved opening valve covers and similar work where reusing old parts would be impractical. The fluctuating prices felt like an attempt to maximize charges, with the estimate changing multiple times in a short period.
Despite the escalating costs, I agreed to proceed to get my truck operational. The final amount I paid was just under $7,000 for the combined repairs, an exorbitant sum that could have purchased a replacement vehicle. Upon arriving to pick up the truck after the injector repair, the quoted price had increased yet again beyond what was last discussed. After paying, I waited over an hour only to be informed that my vehicle keys had been misplaced, and new keys would need to be made. This delay meant I could not take possession of my truck as expected. Shocked by this additional incompetence, I requested a refund, but received conflicting responses: initially, I was told a refund could not be processed without my card or physical presence, only for the answer to change moments later.
The pattern of lost items (first the tracker, then the keys) raises serious concerns about how my vehicle and engine were handled during the repairs. If personal belongings were treated so carelessly, it calls into question the quality of the mechanical work performed. The entire experience resembled a high-pressure sales tactic rather than reliable service, with inconsistent pricing, poor communication, and substandard customer care. I feel exploited, especially as the initial FICM repair proved ineffective, and the overall process has left me without a functional resolution proportional to the cost. I request the following resolutions:
1. A full refund of the $7,000 paid for these repairs.
2. Reimbursement for any additional expenses incurred. read more