My recent experience at Aero Auto Repair left me feeling quite disappointed. I brought in my 2014 Buick Encore for an air conditioner repair, and while I appreciated the initial quote, I was shocked to be hit with an unexpected $550 charge due to a supposed "mistake." This put a significant strain on my limited budget, and had I known, I would have sought other repair options.
To make matters worse, the tire monitor warning was triggered after the service, but I hesitated to return for fear of additional charges. Despite the courtesy of Brandon, my overall experience has convinced me not to return to Aero Auto Repair. It's a regrettable situation that I hope they can address promptly for the sake of their reputation.
Absolute Horrible Excuse For a Repair Shop
PLEASE READ - NOT JUST ANOTHER MAD CUSTOMER
Aero Auto's repair services are a complete nightmare. I made the mistake of entrusting them with my vehicle's repairs on December 28, 2022, and it has been an absolute disaster ever since. They recommended a full engine replacement and cooling system overhaul, which I reluctantly agreed to and paid a down payment of $6,190.00. Aero Auto promised completion by January 6, 2023, but they failed to deliver on time and took an extra seven days to complete the repairs, citing overheating issues to the extent they claimed to have never encountered before.
To make matters worse, the engine they installed started overheating due to head gasket failure on March 1, 2023, only 49 days after it was installed. When I brought the vehicle back to Aero Auto, they attempted to fix the engine but found that the intake hoses and fittings were leaking - the same old hoses they were supposed to replace during the initial repairs. They wasted a total of 9 days on this before telling me that they could not fix it and that it would be covered under the Mopar Warranty, which they should have taken care of in the first place. I had to tow my vehicle to Kearny Mesa CDJR Dealership on March 13, 2023, where I was told that Aero Auto's improper installation had voided the warranty and that I would have to foot the bill for their mistake.
I brought the vehicle back to Aero Auto for the third time on March 17, 2023, where they got a second new engine from Mopar and installed it. However, the new engine is now overheating, and they have spent a total of 31 days attempting to diagnose the issue. On April 17, 2023, they finally admitted that they could not repair it and advised me to take it back to Kearny Mesa CDJR Dealership.
Throughout this entire ordeal, I have paid Aero Auto almost $15,000 for repairs, rental cars, and tow expenses, but the owner, Tony Kaju, has refused to cover any of these costs. I am now out over $17,000, and my vehicle has been in repair for a total of 113 days, leaving my family high and dry. This is not just another angry customer ranting online - I have proof of everything that has happened and I am more than willing to share it with anyone who wants to see it. I implore you not to make the same mistake I did and avoid Aero Auto at all costs.
I'm seeing a theme on these 1 star posts. I wish I had read these before recommending my stepfather to go in. I advised my stepfather (75 years of age) to go based on the past experience that I had with the former business (North County Import Specialist). This business sold to Aero approx. 2 years ago. He took the car in and just believed what they said and did not get another estimate before allowing work to be done. They are not..."continuing the great service that North County Import Specialist has provided their customers since 1984." I do not believe Glenn (former owner of North County Import Specialist) would not be happy about this statement as this tarnishes his legacy. Glenns reviews were very high - let that speak for itself. You can still view them. Do a good "compare and contrast" and save yourself the stress and heartache of being overcharged.
Check out the "F" BBB Rating for this company. You will notice same name and different location. I called the 858 # from BBB site and asked if they also owned the Vista location and they said yes - 1 owner. You can verify this by clicking "multi business location" link.
The pricing is very high - labor cost ranges from $184.00-$192.00 per hour. I had the estimate looked at by 2 other reputable mechanics and they both advised this was overpriced. Example of overpriced part - The $89.99 distributor cap is 2-300% above normal cost. I asked Tony about this part cost (advising this was way above normal) and if he could provide receipts for the "parts pricing" and I was advised that these are "confidential for the business". When I spoke to them yesterday, that gave me a line about using the best parts - ect. Their cost was way above "best parts" pricing.
Another mechanic asked - was a compression test first done? I asked the same question and received the following answer: NO – due to no cylinder issue – plugs failed out – cap was grounded off.
I'm just trying to be real with my experience. We will see how the car drivers next. here are some photos of the pricing I mentioned and the "F" BBB Rating.
Visit Website
Social:
Reliable
Claim the profile, write a
