Stohlman Automotive - Service Center

I bought my car used, a 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer from this dealer. A month later one of the keys stopped working. I scheduled an appointment with the dealer, and in the meantime installed an aftermarket sub-w dealer. A month later one of the keys stopped working. I scheduled an appointment with the dealer, and in the meantime installed an aftermarket sub-woofer and amplifier in the vehicle. When I brought the vehicle in to have the key reprogrammed I was told they couldn't get the car to go into reprogramming mode, and that they needed more time with it. I said OK, I'll have to schedule another time. A few months went by and I didn't think much of it as one key still worked. I got fed up with the stock stereo's reception, and installed a new aftermarket head-unit. A few weeks later my wife started driving my car more often, and the annoyance of having just one key became apparent. So I took the car in again, and arranged to leave it there all day. About half-way through the day I get a call saying "We cant get it to go into programming mode, we told you we needed you to remove the stereo last time you were here or else we cant work on it." This was the first time they had said the stereo was the cause (It makes no sense to me as to why a key won't program due to a stereo). I tried to explain to them that the scar was stock when the key stopped working, and that the head unit want there the last time I brought it in, but I was interrupted repeatedly. I asked to setup a meeting with the factory service rep thinking I would get some relief from the rude dealership service manager. Boy was I wrong. After 3 weeks of waiting, I finally met with the factory service rep, the dealership shop manager, and the technician who couldn't get the car to program the key. Once again he tried, and once again the car wouldn't program. He also tried to program a new key, and that didn't work either. The tech pointed at the head-unti, and said "It's the xxxx stereo causing the issue", to which I responded "Really? Because that wasn't there the first time it came in." The tech responded "I'm not going to argue with you." I of course pushed the issue, asking "Was the stereo installed the first time I brought it in for this issue?", again the tech refused to answer by simply ignoring me. So I turn to the factory rep and say "See, he won't answer because he knows it wasn't." At that, the dealership shop manager told me "After your done talking with the Mitsubishi Rep, I want you to take your car, get off my property, and not come back. We will not work on your car any more." I was completely taken aback, to be told to leave because they couldn't fix the car and we lying about the issue. When I asked why I was being told to leave I was told it was "because you called my tech a liar." The rep, of course being buddy buddy with the manager told me I would need to have the entire stereo removed, the original put back in, and then take it to a shop 30 miles away. He also felt the need to add "And if that shop thinks the stereo could have caused damage to any part of the car, your warranty will be void and you will have to pay for the repairs yourself." So here I am, unable to get my car serviced without removing the stereo first, and even then, having to go to a shop 30 miles away, all because Stohlman Mitsubishi, and Mitsubishi in general, refuses to honor the warranty on the vehicles they sell. And if you call them out on their shady practices, you will be banned from the dealership... but I bet if I go in there and tell them I want to buy a new car, all of a sudden I will be a "valued customer" again.... or at least until that car breaks. More

Over 300 hundred dollars just to tell me there is a problem in the transmission when AAMCO provides the same advice for free...do I need say more? Never returned a phone call until I requested they st problem in the transmission when AAMCO provides the same advice for free...do I need say more? Never returned a phone call until I requested they stop work then wonder of wonders the work was complete please pay up. These guys are a consumer night mare and really need to be investigated! More

I purchased a 2008 VW Jetta here in spring of 2008. I chose to purchase my vehicle here when the salespeople were much more helpful, friendly and sufficiently attentive (not too much pressure but ready t chose to purchase my vehicle here when the salespeople were much more helpful, friendly and sufficiently attentive (not too much pressure but ready to discuss options and pricing when asked) than other dealerships I looked at the DC area, particularly Congressional Mazda/VW in Rockville (disliked). The sales staff at the time of purchase were good, working as expediently as possible for a new car purchase. I take my car here for all my servicing needs. When I had a problem with the paint on my Jetta staining too easily from tiny drops of gas near the gas tank (it was the first year that specific shade white was mixed and used) the service director was extremely helpful in getting the small spots eliminated. The service staff typically remember me when I come in, including the service director, which is impressive. In my experience, the servicing has always run on time, and they typically finish earlier than the estimated time. The one time a small mistake was made (radio being put into the car hadn't been checked when mailed to Stohlman from the parts place), the VW service employee on duty (Bobby S.) kept me posted and was very apologetic about the delay and error, which actually wasn't even his dealership's fault. I would recommend this dealership to friends or family buying or servicing a Volkswagen. More

I bought a Used car from this delaership, guess What?? the car went wrong after 4 days, the transmission failed, the brakes needed to be replaced, fron rotors needed to be replaced as well, engine mount n the car went wrong after 4 days, the transmission failed, the brakes needed to be replaced, fron rotors needed to be replaced as well, engine mount needs replacement, coolant hoses, Idle control valve failure, After having the problem, i got it checked bya honda dealer, and they estimated $ 8,500 of work to be done. Thank god they put me on a 90 day warranty, but the warranty denied the claim because they said they were pre-existing condition, so they would not cover it, since this was a delaer warranty i had to step on ther toes to get this repairs done.I called them , brought the car in, they said they didn't know what was gonna happen, finally, they probably lied to the warranty company saying that the vehicle was fine at time of sale. Finally after the warranty company approved the claim, they "said" they repaired the transmission, but guess what, no receipt at all for the work, this is incredible, the warranty company paid them and they don't give me any receipt for what they were supposed to do. So Stay away from this dealership, if a knew before they were a ripoff, i would promised myself not to come to this dealer. And I already did promise myself not to come back to this dealership, they have lack of service, they don't care about anything once you've come out of their lot. STAY AWAY FOR REAL YOU ARE GONNA BELIEVE ME IF YOU COME TO THIS DEALER AND BUY CARS OR GET SERVICE FROM THEM. More

My 2003 Passat is definitely of very bad quality. I was told the famously problematic coils has been changed before I purchased it as a new car (from another vw dealer), still had coil problems after I bou told the famously problematic coils has been changed before I purchased it as a new car (from another vw dealer), still had coil problems after I bought it, which brought me back to the dealer's so many times, even the shuttle driver at the dealer's knows me and wish me do not have to go back again. Now warranty expired, I was in the dealer's for a factory recall on the coils again. On top of that, they said I have two light bulbs went out that'll cost $35, and another $800 worth of other repair, which I decide to do at other cheaper place. When I pick up my car, I was told $35 is for each bulb, including one in the back that I could have just change myself if I had known that it'll cost so much. Let's say it was my mistake to believe they'll change two bulbs for $35, what made me really upset is their attitude, just like the previous reviewer said, basically "pay up and get the xxxx out of here!". Since the warranty expired, they can always find something seriously wrong with my car. Last time they gave me an estimate of something cost more than $1000, I end up fixed it for $200 at another place. I used to like this car so much that, 3 years into having it, after many trips to dealer's for repair, I still tell my friends I don't regret getting it. But by this point, I totally understand why some people buy a boring but very reliable car. Not only there's a time/money cost every time you go back to the dealer's to fix something, they also make you feel bad, almost as if intentional. This is definitely my last vw car. More

This place is a rip off. I had a very bad experience with their service department. They recommeneded and charged me for transmission flush, coolant flush etc, etc. about 6 months later, I took my car to an their service department. They recommeneded and charged me for transmission flush, coolant flush etc, etc. about 6 months later, I took my car to another service station and found that they never did any of the work that they charged me for. Complete Rip Off. Also the guy who dropped me off at work when I left my car was very rude and asked for a big tip in a very unprofessional way. I would rather get my car serviced at a gas station rather than these guys! More

It's no secret the people who work at service departments of car stealerships are not the most honest people but the service people at Stohlman VW are jerks who will lie, intimidate, and tell you to "pay up of car stealerships are not the most honest people but the service people at Stohlman VW are jerks who will lie, intimidate, and tell you to "pay up and get the xxxx out of here!" I brought my car in because it was having transmission problems. While shifting the car would jerk. However, the 4yr/50k mark had just barely passed so I was only left with the powertrain warranty. I had always had my car serviced at Stohlman (and payed them lots of money in the process) so the check-in process was simple. Ten minutes after I left the dealership I got a call from the service advisor (Brent) telling me to come back so I would pay the $98.00 diagnostic fee. When I told him he should have told me this while I was in there signing the papers he told me I had no choice otherwise they would not look at the car. When I asked for the service manager he said "Why are you threatening me?" What a fool. This guy was just trying to cover up his mistake which later after talking with the service manager (Joe) we both confirmed it was his mistake. A couple of hours later I got a call back from another service advisor (Jack) telling me there was a problem with the transmission and that it needed two parts to be fixed. I had to pay for the first part ($260.00) and the powertrain would cover the second part. When I told him both parts should be covered under the warranty he said I was lucky not to pay the $98.00 diagnostic fee and should just accept the charge. According to him "I had no other choice otherwise I will have more problems if I left the dealership without accepting their offer." Without much choice and unable to get in touch with the service manager I agreed. After doing some research and calling other dealers in the area I found out the part they were charging me only cost $100 at most - installed. Just because they did not charge me the diagnostic fee they were charging me double what other dealers were charging to change a simple part which I could have changed myself. When I went in to pick up my vehicle I saw Jack and asked to speek with Joe who was in his cozy office. I told Joe "please help me out, times are rough, I have always had my car serviced with you guys so please cut me some slack this time. The powertrain warranty is very subjective and you could have this part covered under the warranty." He said "I could do that but we've already written the paperwork." With Jack standing next to me telling me to pay up Joe looked at me and said "Just pay up and get the xxxx out, I have had enough of your bickering." My jaw just dropped and I payed and left. Bottom line is, take your business somewhere else. The people are Stohlman are jerks who don't care about you. More

Bought a new Tauareg from Stohlman in 2004 and have regretted it ever since. Car has been in the shop more times in the three years under warrented than all my previously owned cars combined. I've ta regretted it ever since. Car has been in the shop more times in the three years under warrented than all my previously owned cars combined. I've takend the car in 9 times to fix the tire pressure monitoring system - they can't turn it off and to this day it still does not work. Tried VW America to no avail. Car just came off warrenty and I took it in for 1) tire pressure monitor not working, 2) window shade not retracting, 3) headlight washer cover fell off while driving (second one at a cost of $120 per plastic cover), 4) dash lights stopped working, 5) airbag light on indicating problem, and 6) ticking noise under dash. Just got a call from service, total cost with 40k service is $3100 and they recommend changing my vbelt for another $240 and flushing coolant for $240. This is for a car with 38,000 miles that I have had serviced everytime at Stohlman and has been garage parked and never off road. Called Lindsay VW in Sterling, their cost is about $1000 less for the same work and they think the airbag light just needs to be reset. I would strongly recommend not buying a car from Stohlman and absolutely not having one serviced there, or at a minimum, get another quote before you have any work done there. I live one mile from Stohlman and will be driving out to Sterling after this experience. More

My wife went for an oil change and tail light. The service writer came back claiming there were oil leaks and hoses that had to be changed for a total bill approaching $1000. We've had no leaks or ev service writer came back claiming there were oil leaks and hoses that had to be changed for a total bill approaching $1000. We've had no leaks or even low fluid levels. We asked to see the issue, we were told we couldn't see it because it was internal. They were totally unable to explain the issues when I showed. The drain plug they returned as being damaged had clean threads. All this challenges the credibility of the service operation for the second time. About a year ago Stohlman claimed another problem, which we had another mechanic also check. He couldn't find anything, even after we showed him the write-up from Stohlman. Doubt we'll be back to this operation. More

From my point of view, this dealership is a bunch of rip-off artists. I have dealt with them since 1982, and have purchased two new cars, several used, and have taken family members to purchase used and rip-off artists. I have dealt with them since 1982, and have purchased two new cars, several used, and have taken family members to purchase used and new cars. I took my sister there and she bought a new 2005 Eclipse. At 12,000 miles she had trouble with her lighter socket, and she took it in. They told her it was not covered, and since she had plugged a GPS into it, she was to blame for the damage. They told her it would take a whole new unit to repair at a cost of over $400. I told her to call the Mitusbishi Manufacturer, and they told her it "should be covered"...so, she called Stohlman back and they told her to bring it in. This time they told her it was only a "bent prong" and they could fix it very quickly. They did not, however, refund the $100 plus she had already spent towards repair of the socket. How did it go from needin a whole "unit" to just a "bent prong"? One more incident: My daughter's 2001 Eclipse (purchased there) was brought in for normal maintenance. They called and said it need many repairs, and the total was well over $1000.00! She refused and we took it to Dranesville Auto. They did the maintenance, and the total charge was a little over $200. They did not find evidence of the oil leak (told by Stohlman) or the "bad hoses" all needing replaced. Interesting. OH..did I mention they add a lot of "little" things, and when I finally had it and pitched a fit, the service manager came out and "waived" the other costs. I am convinced that this dealership has bilked millions of dollars through the years from customers (me, included before I quit trusting everything they said), and continue to do so. I would never, ever use them for sales or service, in spite of the many years and probably $100,000 dollars spent on new cars and used cars. To me, the are a bunch of dishonest people out to make a buck however they can. More