Performance Automatic Transmission - AVOID!!!
BIG MISTAKE buying from Performance Automatic (PA)!! After nearly one year of research, I decided to purchase a 4R70W Transmission Blue Chip Package (PASS45204) for my Ford F150, which included a shift controller and extended warranty. Opted also, at their recommendation, for the direct drum upgrade. The total for the purchase was $6500, not including shipping. I received the new transmission mid-December of 2023. It took over a month to find someone local and reputable to install. Sent to the mechanic late February. The shop had the truck for a few months doing some troublesome suspension upgrades and installed the transmission late in May 2024. I picked up the truck on May 29. I drove the truck for only two days before the transmission started slipping, and eventually failed within the first week of driving - driving only back and forth to work. I limped the truck back to my mechanic and they determined quickly the transmission was “toast”. They contacted PA directly and were eventually told to ship the transmission to them. They received it and held it for nearly a month. After much correspondence, they finally analyzed, and stated quickly that the problem was their fault – incorrect settings on pressures – and had ordered replacement parts for the repair. The parts replaced were the “FWD CLUTCHES & OVERDRIVE BAND” which they said on a preliminary invoice were “burnt up”. Also, that the “FWD DRUM [was] BROKEN @ SNAP RING”. Major failure to say the least. Well, at minimum this was good news, I thought, because they had admitted their fault and had repaired. The lady (office manager, I suppose) told my mechanic the transmission should arrive back to them within a few days. Still going ok, so far. However, nearly a week later it had not arrived. After a few more calls, my mechanic was told the transmission would not be shipped until I paid a balance of nearly $1000, including shipping back to them. The office manager wrote my mechanic, the repairs "are not covered" and “the owner is aware of all this”. I was most certainly not. I made a call and was told immediately, first words out of her mouth “you know I told you to fill out the warranty card”. She had not. First I had ever heard of such a thing. In fact she had just started working there very recently and was the third person managing the office (she reported) since I had initially contacted them. (I was unaware as they haven’t changed the email address for any of the new employees, still writing as if from “Kylie” - Klinthicum@performanceautomatic - for months after he/she had left.) Anyway, after being yelled at for a while as I tried say I had been told nothing at all about warranty paperwork, I started asking to speak with the owner, Rich Krukowski. “Rich is the owner, and he doesn’t speak with customers. He will not speak to you.” Eventually, she said she would relay my information to him. It’s been all week and I’ve heard nothing. Many calls and my mechanic, too. At a loss. I really feel sorry for the office manager. She is so busy she can hardly ever answer calls, seems to have way too much manage, and knows very little (at her admission) about the business. So, in summary, I paid extra for a 3-yr warranty and it broke in 3 days of driving. I’ve had over 70 emails with PA. Not one email mentions anything about a necessary warranty form. For most reputable businesses, a receipt is proof of warranty. After much digging, I found the website does mention a warranty form, but it’s buried deep a few pages in and only after you find the right “clicks”. However, it also says “If an item meets initial requirements for warranty inspection- we will issue you instructions over the phone as to how it will be handled. Warranty items must then be sent back to Performance Automatic by the customer for inspection. Upon approval of a warranty by Performance Automatic, item will be repaired to as new condition, or replaced with a new same or equal item will be shipped to the customer.” Did that. So why was my transmission repaired if the work wasn’t “approved”? Why did they sell me an extended warranty “blue chip package” if they were planning to get me on a technicality? How is it that they have admitted it was their fault, already completed the repairs, but now saying it isn’t covered? How is this tied by any means to a silly piece of paper that – I suppose - would include my name, address, the date of purchase, the serial number??? They have all of this! Point: I paid for a warranty, I drove the truck for less than one week, had continual conversations with the company, they agreed to repair as was their fault, and then reneged stating I didn’t fill out a form. Ridiculous. This is a huge debacle and a purchase that at this point I completely regret. I hope to hear from them soon and get this settled. But for now, crickets.