ComplaintsforMidas Auto Services Everett

• Initial Complaint

  01/18/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I was told by an auto mechanic that some teeth of my starter were gone, therefore, my ****** Camry made a loud noise when I start it sometimes, but not all the time. I drove this car with this starter missing teeth for many decades already. On Nov 10, 2023, I went to Midas (716 Everett ******** SE, Everett, ** *****) to remove and replace my starter, Midas wanted more than $500 that I was not willing to pay, they came up with about $350 saying adjustments to the starter, I was suppressed lost starter teeth can be adjusted, I agreed to do it. Later, I still have same problem: hard start sometimes, but not as loud as before. I asked ************************ on 1/8/2024 to check my starter and found out starter would not start due to dead spot (Appendix 1), no missing teeth. Midas replaced my starter with a dead spot starter that *** requires towing if the car cannot jump start. Even my original starter has some teeth missing and some still remain, when spinning engaged with remaining teeth would start with no problem, I rather have my original starter, not a dead spot starter for towing. Midas replaced faulty starter to fool me with removed and replaced my alternator (Appendix 2 receipt). I asked Midas for starter, not alternator. I knew I had bad alternator would drain the battery, so I bought a new battery on Dec 16, 2023 from Auto Zone (Exhibit 1A), Auto Zone took old battery and used meter to check new battery and found failed diodes. The new battery also drained very low that indicated Midas did not remove and replace my alternator, they removed and replaced starter. Starter does not have any diode; alternator has 2-3 diodes.Midass receipt also noted (Appendix 2 receipt): This is not an invoice. Do not pay from this document is also a look alike cover up when they replaced my starter, not alternator. The alternator is brand new I also bought from Auto Zone (Appendix 3) and replaced it by my daughters boyfriend who was an auto mechanic.

  Business response

  01/18/2024

  On the date of 11/10/23 we diagnosed the cause of no start issue as a bad starter.  The alternator was showing signs of issues and we recommended a new alternator as well to eliminate any issues, did not find any issues with battery.  Customer declined alternator replacement.  The item showing alternator is a estimate not a invoice for repairs which was declined by customer.  We replaced starter only.  There was never any mention of starter or flywheel teeth issues.  Customer was still under a 90 day parts and labor warranty with Midas at time of alleged failure.  We had no further contact with customer after she left with her vehicle on 11/10/23.  When customer left after her repair vehicle was starting fine and no issues with starter were communicated back to us.

  Customer response

  01/18/2024

   
  Complaint: 21145929
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  Midas Auto Services noted: "On the date of 11/10/23 we diagnosed the cause of no start issue as a bad starter" and "We replaced starter only.". This replaced starter was checked by **************************** on Jan 8, ****, which recommended replacing start due to dead spot (see Appendix 1). As I said in my complaint, I rather have my original starter, not a dead spot starter for towing.  I do want my original starter back.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  Su-***************************

  Business response

  01/27/2024

  We do not have starter part was returned as a core for replacement starter.  Customer had a 90 day parts and labor warranty and that was explained to customer when car was picked up.  Vehicle was still under warranty when customer decided to take vehicle to another shop to have repair done.  Customer never contacted us in any form after vehicle was picked in any form until we received your notice.  All warranties are voided by tampering with our repair by another shop.  Customer elected to not have vehicle looked at or repaired under our warranty.  Customer is not *********** any returns or refunds. 

  Customer response

  01/30/2024

   
  Complaint: 21145929
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  See Appendix 1 M&N declined jobs, I did not repair anything at all, see #2 is one of declined jobs on dead spot starter Midas Auto Services put in my car. I lost trust in Midas, so I went to M&N to get evidence because Midas did not give me a receipt for replaced starter. Since Midas admitted to BBB the dead spot starter they put in, I deserve refund so I can ask my daughters boyfriend (an auto mechanic) to do the job.
  Sincerely,
  
  Su-***************************

• Initial Complaint

  09/14/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  My vehicle was delivered at the Midas auto shop in Everett, Washington, for a regular oil change. Approximately, about a month from after date of service from the auto shop, I began to notice an alarming and unusual volume of smoke coming out of the exhaust of my vehicle. This issue escalated to the point where it became entirely inoperable, making it impossible for me to start the engine. Due to this distressing situation, i decided to have my vehicle throughly examined by another auto shop. The result of this diagnostic was deeply troubling. I was informed that the engine oil has been entirely drained, and to compound matters, the engine drain plug was missing. There were signs of clean oil spillage and leakage around the engine (refer to attached report). I was advised by the second shop to immediately return to previous shop to fix this problem because the repair of the damaged engine is very costly. Upon contacting Midas auto shop, I was informed that the necessary repair could indeed be addressed. However, it was made clear to me that I would be responsible for covering the expenses associated with required engine repair. Moreover, during our discussion, I was told of an alternate issue that was identified as the root cause of the engine damage, distinct from the absence of the engine drain plug.

  Business response

  09/15/2023

  To start customers own statement that vehicle started burning oil out exhaust until vehicle became inoperable, Customer put a documented **** miles on vehicle from oil change till he brought vehicle back for inspection.  There is no physical way engine could have run ********************************** oil leaking at drain plug without vehicle warning lights coming on and customer did not state such.  This does not conform with customers statement oil drain plug just fell out.  we took numerous pictures of vehicle, there was oil residue from valve cover and on top of engine from customer overfilling engine with oil  there was no sign of oil on undercarraige except on muffler from drainage hole and right rear wheel. According to my sources at *** these engines have a high failure rate both with burning oil and bottom ends seizing.  These engines will burn oil until there is no oil left in engine and engine seizes. There is no photographic evidence that supports his claim that oil drain plug fell out and engine drained of oil. we here at our shop double check drain plugs and oil filters for leaking to make every attempt to prevent these type of issues. Time of mileage at service was ******, mileage when customer brought vehicle back was 50,141.   When our customer relations attempted to contact customer with info from the field and that investigation and lack of supporting evidence that store was not responsible for incident, customer started behaving inappropriately over phone with customer service representative he was given three warnings, customer ignored him so representative ended call. this is documented in our copy of internal incident report.
  

• Initial Complaint

  04/25/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On April 20th, 2023, I visited the nearest Midas shop for a harmonic balancer replacement and ignition switch investigation. The assistant general manager, *****, informed me of an issue with the anti-theft system due to wiring problems. They offered a temporary bypass until I could consult a specialist, which I agreed to. However, upon picking up my car, I noticed abnormal behavior including keypad malfunction, difficulty in locking, and radio/dashboard not turning off. After attempting to fix it and leaving my car at work for 9 hours, it eventually died after battery charging, and my key would no longer start it. I had to tow it back to Midas, where ***** acknowledged a potentially blown fuse resulting from their wiring adjustment (attached picture). A locksmith confirmed their unprofessional work and advised seeking further repairs from a specialist, with the cost to be sent to Midas. Despite contacting corporate on April 23rd, I have yet to receive resolution or compensation for repairs, a spare car, and inconvenience. Attached are pictures of the ignition harness, *********'s diagnostic scan, and the locksmith's communication with the Midas manager.

  Business response

  04/27/2023

  customer stated when brought car in was having issue with his ignition not starting car, it was suggested to do a ignition bypass so car would start, customer agreed and was told this was temporary till car could be taken to **** for proper diagnosis, all we did was add a power point to solenoid so when key was turned it would bypass security and activate starter motor. wiring was bared at contact points on connector not disconnected so wiring was still intact. we just removed the bypass at customer request.  the codes present on scanner are possible can **** failures, are are in no way related to our bypass.

  Customer response

  04/27/2023

   
  Complaint: 19982643
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  

  1) When I called on Monday requesting this information, I was told I would receive a call back with more info. I would like to know why this information is being to me for the first time in this manner

   

  2) Though the locksmith contracted with this shop mentioned the codes arent an accurate representation for what happened, he did conclude that Midas, the experts, should have never done this or presented this as an option, and that the negligent work on my car led to it being in the condition its in. He also mentioned that when ***, the manager, called him to provide information regarding the situation, it wasnt representing what he discovered.

   

  3) *****, the **** admitted infront of ***, myself, and my significant others father that a fuse in the ignition harness likely blew due to either the bypass or the reversal of the bypass. This led to the sensors in the ignition not recognizing my key.

   

  Overall, my car did not have these issues in this severity until they performed this service that they werent qualified to perform or present as an option. Regardless of the state of the ignition console system before my car was brought in, it was worsened due to their service.

  Sincerely,
  
  ***************************************

  Business response

  05/02/2023

  RESPONSE.  CUSTOMER CAME IN AND WHEN DROPPED OFF CAR STATED HE WAS HAVING ISSUES WITH HIS IGNITION KEY NOT STARTING CAR, HE WAS TOLD AT THAT TIME THAT IT WAS A POSSIBLE ISSUE WITH HIS ANTITHEFT SYSTEM AND WOULD NEED  TO BE TAKEN CARE OF BY ****, WE TOLD HIM WE COULD DO A SIMPLE BYPASS TO GET CAR TO START AND WOULD ONLY BE TEMPORARY UNTIL HE TOOK IT TO **** FOR ************** CAR WAS FUNCTIONAL IN ALL ASPECTS WHEN CUSTOMER PICKED UP CAR AFTER INITIAL REPAIR,  HE TOOK CAR THEN SAID HIS BATTERY WAS DRAINING, WHICH ISN'T POSSIBLE WITH OUR BYPASS, HE BROUGHT CAR BACK TO **, WE REMOVED THE BYPASS AT NO COST, AGAIN WAS TOLD TO TAKE TO ****, CUSTOMER FILED A COMPLAINT WITH OUR COMPANY AND STATED IN IT WHILE HE HAD CAR AFTER WE HAD IT HE ATTEMPTED TO FIX CAR HIMSELF AND COULD NOT. SO HE BROUGHT IT BACK TO ** CUSTOMER WOULD NOT DIVULGE WHAT HIS ATTEMPTED REPAIR WAS.,  OUR COMPANY HAS CLOSED THE COMPLAINT. 

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