While turning sharply to the right into a tight parking - bruce
While turning sharply to the right into a tight parking space in my lifted Ram 1500, I heard a clunk. From that point on, my truck made a squealing noise on turns with occasional clunking. Recognizing there must be damage to the front end, I immediately ceased driving it and scheduled a Tuesday morning appointment with Coastline. I had to wait a week before they could take it in because they were booked up. I dropped the truck and fob off Monday evening and awaited their inspection results. I’m a patient guy and waited until just after 5pm Friday to inquire about the vehicle. I was told it would be reviewed on Monday. I was xxxxxx. Had they told me they intended to ignore my Ram 4X4 all week, I would have taken it elsewhere. I made that point very clear upon learning my truck wasn’t being repaired. Days later I receive a quote for over $3K to replace the driveshaft and left axle which blew my mind because this kinda damage doesn’t occur during an idle speed turn. More importantly, the left front axle had been replaced a year earlier when a dopey tow truck driver attempted to winch the truck onto a flatbed while in gear, snapping the axle. In general, axles last more than a year causing me to instruct Coastline to DO NOTHING, I was coming to pick up my truck.
They invoiced me $269.67 for diagnostic work, I took possession of my truck, and had it towed to the shop that had previously replaced the left axle. I doubted it actually needed replacement but figured if it did, it would still be under warranty. Frankly, I wanted a second opinion. My gut was telling me Coastline’s recommendations were made of the stuff Matador’s stand in. Their quote is shown in the attached photos along with the invoice from the other shop showing the left axle replacement in 2021.
Fast forward to auto shop #2 who charges me $40 to check the front end and it turns out NOTHING COASTLINE RECOMMENDED WAS REQUIRED. The faulty part requiring replacement was not in Coastlines estimate. The left axle and driveshaft were fine…the right front upper control arm was worn out and needed replacement…which shop #2 did. They also charged me for a wheel alignment (a necessary task to protect my high end 35” Toyo tires and stop the squealing noise) and my truck was back to normal early the following day. Total cost, $641.69 which was roughly 1/5th the cost the dealership wanted. But more disturbing is the fact that, had I authorized Coastline’s recommended repairs, my truck would still be unrepaired! I’d be out 3 grand and the truck would be having the same exact problem!!! OMG!
Now was this incompetence? An attempted fraud? A bit of both?? I’ll never know and it doesn’t matter. I do know that this experience cost Coastline my trust and all future business. In the photos you will see the control arm (held by mechanic #2) that was replaced, their estimate and final invoice. Notice that the final invoice matches the estimate exactly.
When this Dodge dealership was operating under the name Courtesy, I wrote them a 5 star review but Coastline is not anywhere near the same ballpark. It’s back to the dismal and disappointing tragedy it was before Courtesy took over. It’s sad. I am giving Coastline 10 days to refund me the diagnostic fee because it was proven to be pure xxxxxx xxxxxxxxx. If they do not issue a refund, I will provide my charge card issuer the docs shown in the photos along with a chargeback request as Coastline’s estimate was completely wrong and failed to identify the actual problem…rendering it worthless. I’ll be watching my account Sarah! 10 days. There is no way the bank won’t side with me on a chargeback under these well documented circumstances.
I have now driven my truck enough to confirm it is completely back to normal. Thank God I got a second opinion and didn’t trust Coastline’s faulty repair estimate.
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