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Last year I took my car to Aamco in Naples, FL for transmission work.  I knew it was a mistake because I've never heard good things about Aamco, but I was on vacation and felt I needed a nationwide warranty just in case it needed to be fixed after I went home.  NAPLES AAMCO was TERRIBLE.  They took a lot longer than they promised and were extremely rude.  

Last month, the car was taken to the Aamco in Montgomery, AL to be reserviced according to the warranty because the transmission was acting funny.  MONTGOMERY AAMCO is just as TERRIBLE!  They been keeping my vehicle hostage for a month now.  I'm not exaggerating...it's been a full month with NO RENTAL CAR.  I called the Aamco headquarters and requested that the least they could do for the extreme inconvenience is restart my little 12-month warranty.  They refused.  I'm getting another rebuilt transmission, my old warranty is about to expire (and may expire while they hold my car hostage) and I have no guaruntee the transmission is now fixed.  I've filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and am still trying to settle-up with Aamco.

If you are having transmission problems, DON'T EVER TAKE YOUR CAR TO AAMCO!!!!

If you have advice, please let me know.  

I'm going through something at this very moment with Aamco.I had my transmission rebuilt less than a month ago which cost me $2000+.Well less than 3wks later my jeep is doing the same thing it did before I sent my transmission in.YES.......IT'S SLIPPING AGAIN!!!....I'm pissed and I really wish I read your post before I went.They didn't offer to supply me with a tow to bring my car to their shop or anything,instead they told me to bring it in and it is not safe for me to drive that distance in a car that is reving as bad as mine is and may stall out......the guy was really nice to me when he got my money but now that I'm having these problems he's being a real JERK!!!!!I called them at 8pm and left a message on Easter Sunday telling him I refuse to drive my car in this condition and that I would like for him to call me 1st thing in the morning for HIM to arrange for a tow in which I was not paying for.Well morning came and by 10am I didnt recieve a call...so I called him and he did finally arrange for a tow that hasnt even shown up yet and it's now 3:58pm 4/09/07.....he said BTW..if it's not your transmission(which I know it is because it was slipping before I bought it to his shop)he said he wasn't going to pay and I would have to for the tow.....I don't trust the guy at all just from his attitude alone and now I'm scared he'll deliberatly do something to my car and lie and say it's something else.I believe I'm being treated this way because I'm a young female and he thinks I know no better......I'm so stressed out and don't know what to do because I'm so busy at the moment ...with work school and I'm in the process of moving ....THIS REALLY SUCKS........AND PEOPLE AAMCO IS REALLY REALLY REALLY HORRIBLE!!!!!!BTW I live in philadelphia so I guess they must be disgusting to their customers WORLDWIDE!!!!!!!!!  

Call the Main office (on the back of your receipt)
"They" will work with you  !
I,ve advised many people in the past about this  Main office  Theill help you !!!  
Hog Rider

When my transmission when out in my truck i chose to take it to aamco in naples innitialy because of the warranty.  My father owns a mechanic shop back home in arkansas so I know what quality service is and approxament cost on things.  The new manager of Aamco here in naples was very friendly and helpful and quite frankly the first person i felt i could trust my truck to.  The tow was free, the service and communication was excellent.  They even went above and beyond for me by changing my oil, rotating my tires and even had my truck detailed for free.  I could not have asked for better service and i encourage anyone who has transmission trouble to take their car to the professionals at Aamco in Naples Florida.  

AAMCO of Naples is UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT.  As the new owner of the Naples franchise, I have had 3 or 4 customers in the past month mention this site to me.  It is extremely disheartening to think of all of the potential customers that saw these posts and decided not to come visit our center.  In response to the warranty customer in Montgomery, AL...  You are not the 1st person to complain about the lack of professionalism displayed by the previous owner and his managers.  Every week I deal with HIS irate customers and fix HIS problems under warranty.... Most of the complaints substantial. I have turned many of HIS previously upset customers into life customers.  Those who were once warranty customers, now bring their cars to my center for all general repair...not just transmission, because they trust my management and my technicians.  

We are working extremely hard to repair the AAMCO name in Naples.  For example, our upset customer in Montgomery, AL.  She was afraid that her 12 month/12,000 mile warranty was going to run out b/c the center in Montgomery had her car for so long.  I can understand her frustration, but unfortunately I can not control the workflow of a shop in Alabama from Naples.  However, after talking to the manager in Montgomery and AAMCO Home Office, I faxed up a copy of her original paperwork stating that she actually paid for a 3 year/36,000 mile warranty...of which she was unaware of.  Also, for the inconvenience she went through in Montgomery, I also extended her warranty an additional 3 months and 3000 miles.  Unfortunately this customer did not mention that in her post on this site, or in the letter to the Better Business Bureau.

There are several other cases in which we have done everything in our power and within reason to take care of a former or current customer.  I hope that others will read these posts, but decide to give our center a chance to earn your business.  

tranz1  
Hog Rider

tranz1
Condraulations, on your  trying to turn the Aamco name  to better the Customer ...Big trans. Rebuliders and small Mom and Pop  Garage  Buliders all need to get together to help the  Customer THEY NEED US  .  aND  WE *** SURE NEED THEM  ... tHEY NEED TO TRUST US  ....  
Hog Rider

I took my car to Aamco on Sept 24th,2007. I was told that it needed over 2500 dollars worth of work and that included a tranny. They did the work, they promissed that the work would be complete by that friday and it wasn't finished until almost two weeks. So anyways get the car, driving it for about a week and all of a sudden my hold light starts flashing, it's a sign of a tranny problem. I call them, I do alot of travelling, can't bring the car back till friday. Friday morning I notice that I am leaking tranny fluid. When I bring the car in they tell me that my tranny cooling lines are leaking and have to be replaced before it blows this tranny. And that they are looking into the warranty on that tranny, when they do they'll be putting that one in since the one thats in there is going! Fine do the work. So I pay $250.00 for the job which at that time includes a serpentine belt since it snapped when the mechanic took it out for a spin, but they said I wouldn't be paying for labour on the belt. Get the car back and not even a week I am leaking tranny fluid again. Take it back in, come to find out that the 2.5 hours labour to change the tranny line was only for a partial fix. They now needed to replaced the whole line. I tell them I am completely broke, I was under the impression that they fixed the whole line not part of it. They tell me that they will only charge me for the part itself and no labour. I got the car back today and my hold is still flashing really  hard and the tranny is squelling before it shifts. They also put a quart too much fluid in the tranny. I put cardboard underneath the tranny and lines to see if it's still leaking since there was a puddle of tranny fluid under my car when I picked it up, they had already closed, paid them earlier. Am I getting takin advantage of since I am a chick???  

I have to say that not every AAMCO is going to give you bad service and swindle you out of your money.  I am a convert to the AAMCO in Naples FL run by Dan V b/c of his customer service and honesty. It has been exceptionally refreshing especially when money can be tight.  My car had transmission problems and he made sure run a full diagnostic and explain all my options in a truthful manner. He did all this work without charging me a cent.  I felt bad that his shop did all this work to my car w/out receiving any compensation so I paid him for some of the work.  The point I am getting at is if you are looking for a repair shop to take your car to and not be ripped off (Such as a car dealer, another story all together) you need to visit this guy.  You wont be sorry.

Aubrey W.  

I did call the Corporate AAMCO office and they did talk to the local store owner. But he did nothing to fix the problem and the corporate guy did nothing more.

• I was offered a FREE ESTIMATE for transmission repair but was told the cost would be $395 (NOT FREE) AFTER the truck was taken apart. After my truck was torn apart, I was held hostage by AAMCO & could get no further estimates. I was then told the repair would cost $650 in total labor. Electing NOT to repair the truck would still mean I have to pay $400 just to get it back with NO REPAIR!

• I asked "Rob" if I could just get a rebuilt transmission for less money, but he said it would cost a lot more than $1300 which was a lie. The same day I found a rebuilt transmission for $550 WITH a 12 month warranty (AMMCO warranty is only 90 days) and they will not install a rebuilt transmission.

• My valid discount coupon from AAMCO was refused.  My 3 day right of rescission request was ignored. I was willing to pay the amount based on what I would have paid had my vehicle been intact so I could exercise other options. This was also ignored.

• The interior was left greasy and stunk & now the first two gears stick and whine.

• I spoke to the store owner and he condoned every their actions however unethical.

The preceding facts detail MY recent experience while dealing with AAMCO Transmissions on Cave Creek Road in Phoenix.  

first of all a transmission shop is only as good as the people who work there.AAMCO is just a name.you were sold whats known as an inspection.$400 to take your trans out take it apart and put it back together should you decide not to fix it.once the trans is apart then a detailed price consisting of parts and labor can be given.they know their going to charge you $2000 plus before they even take it apart.but if they tell you that then you will go to another shop who will lead you on with a low up front inspection fee.a trans shop needs to get 2 to 3 thousand dollars for an overhaul or they wont make any money.the overhead will do them in.parts are way up rent is way up
utilities are way up.the work is extremely difficult and transmissions are lasting longer than they used to.so by the time your trans goes the car isnt worth anything.this is not the great business it used to be.the stress involved running a trans shop today is off the charts.so if you need a transmission on a later model car you should expect to pay 2 to 3 thousand dollars. but the work should be done right and you should be treated well.  

440t4:
first of all a transmission shop is only as good as the people who work there.AAMCO is just a name.you were sold whats known as an inspection.$400 to take your trans out take it apart and put it back together should you decide not to fix it.once the trans is apart then a detailed price consisting of parts and labor can be given.they know their going to charge you $2000 plus before they even take it apart.but if they tell you that then you will go to another shop who will lead you on with a low up front inspection fee.a trans shop needs to get 2 to 3 thousand dollars for an overhaul or they wont make any money.the overhead will do them in.parts are way up rent is way up
utilities are way up.the work is extremely difficult and transmissions are lasting longer than they used to.so by the time your trans goes the car isnt worth anything.this is not the great business it used to be.the stress involved running a trans shop today is off the charts.so if you need a transmission on a later model car you should expect to pay 2 to 3 thousand dollars. but the work should be done right and you should be treated well.

do you own a trans shop? how old are the cars coming in to the trans shops now? i'm trying to decide whether my 8 yr old car transmission is worth repairing. I don't have a car note and it is still in great shape.  

whats the year make and model? How many miles on it? What is it doing?  

Today I got my car back from a shop in minneapolis, mn . I have been taking my car to bigger more corporate companys for work for the last 5 years, and I usually end up walking into my car with a sick feeling in my stomache about the shotty and expensive work that I just got raped on. There is a shop down on Lyndale, south of lake street called "top quality auto body" . I was a little shakey at the site of the building they work out of, although I have never had better service at an auto shop. They replaced a transmission seal, painted my bumper, and when they gave me my car back it was clean! They even washed my car! They are a very good shop, and I am gonna stay away from big companys from now on. The little guys are always better if you can find the right ones.  

Dont be afraid of the little dingy shop. The lower his overhead the less he has to charge you to be profitable. Plus a small shop handles fewer vehicles and that means that there is a greater chance that the owner is working on your car rather than an employee who is watching the clock instead of what he is doing.Remember ....when you walk into a 10 bay shop with a air conditioned office with a cute secretary and flat screen tv who do you think is paying for all that?   You are. Of coarse you still have to check their reputation and experience.