Reason for Visit: Service
I recommend this dealer: No
My Review of Stevens Creek Mitsubishi:
On October 18, we took our 1990 Montero to Steven's Creek Mitsubishi, located in San Jose, California, for a very rough running and high idling engine. We agreed to a major service, as well as a fuel injection service & new spark plugs. At the end of the second visit for the same problems, the service manager informed us that we needed a new throttle body unit (quoted at $910), plus installation ($270), in addition to four hours of diagnostics labor ($436). We were also given an estimate of approximately $900 to service the rear brake shoes, replace the engine belts, and fix a valve cover gasket. The total from all recommended services was $3,200. For reference, Kelly Blue Book lists the value of this vehicle as $2,155.
Unsatisfied with their price quote, combined with the fact that they bent the air filter housing by miss-installing the air filter (twice), we declined their suggested services and opted to have another shop look at the vehicle. The results of this follow-on service with a local service station resulted in the installation of a new distributor cap, rotor, spark plug wires, and condensor. The total for parts & labor charged by the service station, including the installation of new rear brake shoes and engine belts, was slightly over $600. The vehicle now idles at the recommended rpm, and the engine functions perfectly.
In short, had we agreed to all of the services recommended by the service manager at Steven's Creek Mitsubishi, we would have spent in excess of $3,200. Adding the cost to do the required tune-up, the total bill would have exceeded $4,000.
Other facts to consider: We were charged $3 for windshield washer solvent, even though our front windshield washer pump does not work. A major service (as stated by the service manager) includes checking the transmission, transfer case, and differentials for fluid. Neither the transfer case, nor the differentials were checked, yet we were charged for 4 quarts of gear oil. The total fluid capacity of the Montero manual transmission is 2.6 quarts. The dealer's list price for a 1990 Montero fuel filter is $29. The price charged on our service invoice was $40. The Montero service manual specifically states (page 00-31) that no fuel additives should be used on this vehicle. Steven’s Creek Mitsubishi charged us $8 for fuel additive.
When the general manager was later asked about the amount charged for the fuel filter, he stated, quote "we can charge you whatever we want, just as long as we don't exceed our original service estimate." When asked about the perceived need for a new throttle body unit and additional engine tests totaling $1,600, the response was simply that "our service technician believes you need them anyway. You're going to have to replace them eventually." The general manager added that since I didn't specifically ask for a tune up on my first visit, it was not offered. He also indicated that no tests on the engine were performed on either visit (again, because we did not specifically request them). How the service technicians at Steven’s Creek Mitsubishi determined that we needed these very expensive (and unnecessary) repairs without conducting any diagnostics is still a mystery.
I strongly recommend to anyone who resides in or near Silicon Valley, California, and requires service for their Mitsubishi (or any make of vehicle for that matter), to seek the services of ANY dealership other than Steven's Creek Mitsubishi. It is probably safe to assume that we have not been the sole victims of their complete lack of quality and poor business ethic. Please also note that the above highly documented and totally factual experience with Steven’s Creek Mitsubishi was only OUR experience. It is entirely within the realm of possibility that other customers may have received satisfactory service.
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