Altoona Honda - Service Center

Good people to work with My experience with Bill Hoover at Altoona Honda was excellent and he was very helpful in my new car purchase. Highly recommend Bill and the team at A My experience with Bill Hoover at Altoona Honda was excellent and he was very helpful in my new car purchase. Highly recommend Bill and the team at Altoona Honda. Purchase a new Pilot. More

Terrible service I just had my 2007 Civic Si serviced at Altoona Honda, and it was the worst experience I have ever had with a automotive service center. I had to have I just had my 2007 Civic Si serviced at Altoona Honda, and it was the worst experience I have ever had with a automotive service center. I had to have my car towed in because it would not stay running. It turned over, ran for a second, and then sputtered out. Today is Jan 20th 2016, I dropped my dropped my car off on Dec 31st 2015. So yeah, it took awhile. I had not been there for service since it was Blair Honda under different ownership, and at a different location. But back to the story, when I first went in, it was confusing as to exactly where I needed to go as there where no signs for the service department on the interior. When I got to service the man at the podium, whose name is Jeremy Brown, their service manager, he asked me if it was running. I told him no, and he rolled his eyes at me and turned around to look at something behind him. As I had not been there in awhile, like 5 years or so. I gave Jeremy my updated phone number when he asked me how I wanted them to get a hold of me. My mother, the tow truck guy, and I all watched him write down my new phone number, this is important later. I also explained the problem, and told him that I had purchased new spark plugs to put in, but did not yet because of the weather, and asked him to install them in my car while diagnosing and fixing the problem. He said he would. The whole time I was talking to Jeremy I got the feeling that I was not important. I was not the focus of his attention, or he just did not want to deal with me. So I waited almost a week, and had not heard from Altoona Honda at all, so I call them to get an update on my car. The service manager, Jeremy, answered and told me that they had been trying to get in touch with me, but had a bad contact number. I asked him what number he had been calling, and he gave me my old phone number from over 4 years ago. I said to him that I gave my new number to the guy when I dropped off the car, and that I watched him write it down. He told me it was him there when I dropped it off, and that I did not give that new info. I have witnesses. So anyway I ask him what is wrong with the car, and he gives the phone to the mechanic working on my car. His name is Robert Tarachko, and they told me he is there senior mechanic. Robert tells me that he thought it was the timing chain at first, but said that was fine, so he moved on to the fuel system, and believed that it was either the fuel pump relay, or the fuel pump itself. And he was following their 37 step diagnostic procedure. I authorized him to continue to diagnose the issue, and I asked him to write down my current phone number on my paperwork, AND I asked him about the spark plugs that I had left on the passenger seat, and if he would make sure that those got installed too. He said that he would do that. At this point I was pissed, that they wasted about 5 days calling a number that I don't have anymore, and at the way I was treated when I dropped off the car. So I had a cigarette, and calmed down. I called back to complain about my service and asked for the manager of the dealership, was told he was not in but I could talk to the sales manager and he would pass on the message the next day. I told him what had been going on, and he said he would go look into my car personally and call me back. About 15 to 20 minutes later I get a call from Jeremy apologizing for how I felt I was treated and wanted to reassure me that Robert was the senior and best mechanic, and that they would do their best to have it done right and quickly. He was very careful I noticed not to take any blame for how I felt I was treated, or the delay. Just the way he worded his apology to me, it did not seem authentic. 3 to 4 days later I get a call from Robert, not Jeremy, explaining that it was not the fuel relay and was likely the fuel pump, and was given an estimate on time and price, around $1,100.00. I told him to go ahead and order the parts and get it done. So I wait a few more days and I call for an update, and talk to Brad. Now Brad was very nice and professional, and I have no issue with Brad. He tells me that Robert had some doubts about the diagnosis and went back to the first issue he thought it was, the timing chain. So he puts me on with Robert and he explains what it will take and that it will be a little more expensive. But that I was lucky It did not do any damage to the valves, witch is common when a timing chain slips or breaks a tooth. So I authorize him again to order the proper parts, and and do the repairs. And I reminded him again about putting in the spark plugs that I had left on the passenger seat. This was a monday, and Robert told me the parts should be in by wednesday, and it was an 8 to 9 hour job. So I wait until the following tuesday and called back because I have not heard anything. Again I talk to Brad, because I believe that Jeremy at this point was avoiding all contact with me. I don't know that for sure, just a feeling I got. Brad tells me that it should be done the next day Jan 20th, 2016, and he would call me when it was done. He did, but I missed the call, so I called back to confirm that the car was finished, and Brad said that it was. I got a ride down and this time there was a woman at the podium and she gave me my key so I could put something in the car, and what do I find still sitting on the passenger seat... the new spark plugs I had asked them 3 times to put in. So after waiting almost 3 weeks, a service manger, Jeremy Brown, whom doesn't attentively listen to his customers, and their best and most senior mechanic, Robert Tarachko, misdiagnosing the issue, I was more than a little pissed off. Now I admit that I flew off the handle a bit, but I wanted my point to get across, and wanted to make sure that I had their attention, because I obviously didn't have up till now. I may have used some colorfully descriptive language, which, in my opinion is not bad language, it is the English language. So the woman, whom I yelled at, and apologized to, gets Jeremy, and I think Brad, I never confirmed I was too pissed, to come out. I go back thru all that had gone on, and Brad said that he would have the spark plugs put in that day, and would not charge me for it, and asked if I would like to wait, I said I would come back, tossed my key back on the podium, and walked out. My mother, who had driven me down to pick up the car, stayed inside to apologize for my getting so angry, and Jeremy had the stones to tell her that he wanted an apology from me. Since when is the customer not the most important part of a business? So Jeremy arranges it so the car won't be done until end of business and he is gone, but he asked for an apology? Seriously, xxx...? So I go back a little early, and he tells me that it is still not done, and that he does not want me to come back there again, that the car will be outside, unlocked, and the key under the floor mat. So mom and I go get food, and come back to get the car, and it smells funny. They had put all the old dirty oily parts in box, including the old spark plugs they just replaced, and placed it on my passenger seat. I have NEVER had an auto repair place do this. xxxx, I've never even heard of an auto repair place doing this. I don't know if this was spite, or them just being xxxxxxxx, but now I'm really pissed, and is why I am writing this review of Altoona Honda's service department. The total cost for repair was $1,509.24. And the final paperwork that I got still has the wrong phone number listed on it. Seriously? Do not go to Altoona Honda for any vehicle repairs, it seems to me that their customers are not very important to them, they don't listen to you when you give them information, and it takes a long time to get done. And remember this was their "best and most senior mechanic". I am also trying to figure out how this issue occurred in the first place, as the car only has 57,000 miles on it. I used to be a huge fan of Honda in general, but not lately More