You need to double check the work that…
You need to double check the work that they do, unless you have a mechanic in the family like I do, you are going to want to read this review and think long and hard about bringing your vehicle to this shop.
It’s been months and I wasn't able to get my car in proper working order after taking it to Mountain View Automotive for steering issues. In this review I will show how Mountain View Automotive is dishonest, incompetent, mismanaged, and not respectful of their customers time, money, or, most importantly, safety.
In January, I was having steering issues with my car so after looking around at some and reading some reviews on Google, I decided to go with Mountain View Automotive. According to Google reviews, they seemed like a decent place. Pay attention to the negative reviews and the substance of both the negative and positive reviews.
Store Manager: Arturo
Technician: Joshua
1/10/24: I dropped my car off.
1/11/24: I received inspection results
Arturo immediately tried to sell me replacement struts and shocks. I had to press him about what was causing my steering issues. Red flag. Long story short, I was told that I needed both Suspension Lower Control Arms and Steering Tie Rods replaced, costing over $2100. I agreed and they began the work. According to them my battery died, another $300.
1/15/24: car was ready to pick up
After picking up my car, I immediately noticed it was not driving as it should. I contacted Arturo and explained this, and he told me it was because of the shocks and struts, which I later found to be untrue.
1/24/24: I brought the car to my brother in law, who is a retired mechanic with a backyard shop and lift.
-They put two left side control arms instead of a left and right. They flipped a left side control arm and modified it to make it fit on the right side.
- They didn’t install the washers or nuts on the ends of either control arm that holds on the bushings.
- They let me drive away like this, putting my life, the lives of my family, and the lives of other drivers on the road in danger.
I confronted Arturo about this with pictures I took. He blamed the mechanic and agreed to fix the issues.
1/24/24: I dropped my car off a second time for them to fix the issues.
1/26/24: Arturo called and told me that he couldn’t source the right side control arm, he told me the part was “extinct” and not available. I did a 10 second Google search and found it at an auto parts store. I bought my own part and delivered it and Arturo agreed to install it.
2/1/24: dropped my car off a third time with the correct part. Picked my car up the next day.
My car still wasn’t handling properly. An unsettling rattling and clunking was coming from the front driver’s side.
4/3/24: I anxiously drove my car like this for two months until I had an opportunity to have a mechanic take another look.
- still missing washers on ends of both control arms where bushings are connected
- incorrect nut on end of left control arm where bushings are connected causing the threads of brand new control arm to be cross threaded.
- missing nut on sway bar link on left front
- ball joint on left control arm loose and installed upside down, causing rattling
After months of anxiety inducing driving, I never got my car driving and handling properly, instead i decided to get a new car. Taking my car to this shop was a huge waste of time and money, the anxiety of driving and not knowing what they messed up on my car for months was horrible.
The fact that I was given my car to drive like this is a sign of mis-management, incompetence, lack of respect for my time, money and the safety of me, my family and other drivers on the road.
Check out other review sites. Mountain View Automotive claims Better Business Bureau A+ rating on their website. Click on that link and it takes you to the website, where there is only 1 Star reviews and unresolved complaints. They are not accredited. Dishonest.