Had them double the price of their "diagnostic" to 400 dollars then tried to bill 14,000 dollars for replacing a bad turbo. After they realized they couldnt squeeze me the tone over the phone became very abrasive and rude making it seem as if i was just " leaving the car there" Avoid at all costs.
if you need evidence of this scroll till you find a review where they are ACTIVELY freaking out on a customer here.
Update: apparently they're phenomenal liars too. "The estimate for the turbo parts ALONE were going to push the repairs to about 14,000 dollars" direct quote from the person over the phone. The diagnostic that they insisted on running went from mid 200s to a little over 400 dollars. Despite me showing them that the dealership already ran diagnostics and I just needed the repair. They said the dealership was cheaper and that lead to me finding another mechanic that does better work for the ACTUAL price.
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re sorry you left with a negative impression of your experience, but we do want to clarify several details because portions of this review do not accurately reflect what occurred.
When your vehicle arrived, you informed us that the Ford dealership had already identified a turbo leak. The condition of the vehicle was concerning—it was continuously smoking and had a significant amount of oil throughout the engine compartment and underneath the vehicle. Given its condition and the possibility of multiple underlying issues, our team explained that we needed to properly diagnose the vehicle before providing a repair estimate we could confidently stand behind.
The diagnostic procedure discussed with you was $325.94, not $400.
You ultimately declined our diagnostic and instead provided us with the repair recommendations you had received from Ford and asked us to price that work. Based on Ford’s recommendations, we estimated replacement of both turbochargers and both catalytic converters at approximately $9,700, compared with approximately $10,000 from the dealership. We did not provide you with a $14,000 repair estimate.
During our conversations, we may have explained that the total repairs could potentially reach or exceed $14,000 if additional problems were discovered. That was a discussion about the possible extent of repairs—not a $14,000 quote. Without completing the diagnostic process, neither our team nor the dealership had determined the full extent of what the vehicle needed. That is precisely why we recommended diagnosing it before moving forward with major repairs.
Your vehicle also remained on our property for approximately a week while we waited for authorization to proceed. When the diagnostic was ultimately declined, you were not charged for the diagnostic or for storing the vehicle during that time.
We also take your statement that our team became “abrasive and rude” seriously. We reviewed the available camera footage surrounding the interaction and did not observe conduct that we believe supports that characterization. We understand that conversations involving potentially expensive vehicle repairs can be frustrating, but our team’s responsibility is to communicate what we find and recommend the appropriate diagnostic process—not to pressure a customer into repairs.
At Smoky Hill Auto Service, we will not guess at a diagnosis or recommend thousands of dollars in repairs without doing the proper testing first. You were absolutely entitled to decline that process and take your vehicle elsewhere, just as we were responsible for being transparent about the vehicle’s condition and what would be required for us to accurately determine the repairs it needed.
We stand behind the process we followed, the pricing that was presented, and our team’s handling of the situation. While we’re sorry we were unable to earn your business, we believe it is equally important that the facts surrounding the experience are represented accurately. Good luck finding a repair facility that better fits your needs and mindset.
UPDATE to your edited review: Our records remain unchanged. The diagnostic discussed was $325.94, not $400. Based on the dealership's recommendations, we estimated approximately $9,700 to replace both turbochargers and both catalytic converters. We did not quote $14,000 for “turbo parts alone.” Any discussion of $14,000 referred to potential overall costs if additional problems were discovered.
We also stand behind requiring our own diagnostic before accepting responsibility for a major repair. We respect your decision to go elsewhere; however, we do not accept being called “liars” because our documented records contradict statements made in this review. We have provided the facts, stand behind our team, and will not continue a public back-and-forth. We consider this matter closed.
— Caitlyn Pridemore-Sjaardema
Co-Owner, Smoky Hill Auto Service
- Smoky Hill Auto Service
