Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:06/23/2024

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  On 4/8/24, our 2017 ****** Camry hit debris damaging front ********************* We were referred to Kovac Automotive of Davie ************************ ******* Farm paid Kovac $5,499.29 for repairs & body work. We retrieved our car on 5/16/24 & were told by **** at Kovac that car was test driven & had a 6-month warranty. **** never mentioned warranty did not cover labor.Within 48 hrs, on 5/18/24, we noticed transmission fluid on our driveway & called Kovac, which immediately sent a tow truck to retrieve car & bring it back to their shop. On 5/20/24, a new service ticket was written & we were told the transmission output seal needed replacing. We then picked up car on 6/5/24 & **** said car was test driven & was not leaking. Again, we noticed transmission fluid on our driveway & returned vehicle to Kovac within 24 hrs on 6/6/24. We were told by Kovac a 2nd replacement transmission was ordered & installed but State Farm would have to pay an additional $1,860.86 for labor charges. State Farm refused to pay the additional labor charge as repair was under warranty. We had to pay another $1,860.86 for labor before Kovac would release our vehicle.In sum, we were without our car for 68 days, from 4/8/24-6/14/24 & paid over $8,000 for a transmission that has no warranty for labor. The transmission output seal should have been replaced with the first replacement transmission. Further, if the transmission fails again, we will be expected to pay labor for a third replacement transmission. This is not just bad business practice, it is criminal. We were misled to believe Kovac was a certified ************** of *********************************** performed negligent services, which led us to incur costs. The ********** of *********** should investigate Kovacs business & revoke its license to operate as an ******************** mechanic shop in ********I respectfully request Kovac refund our payment of $1,860.86. If this is not resolved, my next step will be to initiate a lawsuit against Kovac.

  Business Response

  Date: 06/28/2024

  I am attempting to resolve this  but it is really a dispute between Mr. ******* ********* company  and him. Please see the attached letter

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/07/2024

   
  Complaint: 21890370
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  This is not a dispute between my insurance company and myself.  It is a complaint about management & service with Kovac Automotive of Davie.  Kovac accepted a payment of $5,499.29 to replace a transmission, and returned a vehicle that leaked transmission fluid from the time Kovac returned the car to us on 5/16/24, and each time we picked it up thereafter (on 6/5/2024 and 6/15/2024). 
  
  There should not be additional labor charges of $1,860.86 as Kovac failed to replace a Bent/Damaged Transmission Pan causing leaks, which was immediately noticed by a mechanic at **************** (see invoice from **************** *** dated 7/3/2024, Repair Order #*****). The fact that Tuned Autoworks was able to identify a damaged part within minutes of having the car on a lift raises serious doubts about the quality of service provided by Kovac in the first place. Once Tuned Autoworks replaced the transmission pan and seals, the leak was resolved. 
  
  With respect to Kovacs claim that the new transmission did not have a labor warranty, State Farms position is that they refused to pay for the additional labor because the transmission would have had a labor warranty, if not for the fact that Kovacs Employee, *********************, declined labor warranty (as shown invoice #********* from LKQ). It seems that Kovac chose to forego the labor warranty to improve their bottom line, despite the fact that they marked up the cost of the transmission by nearly 50% (as reflected by the ******* unit price for the transmission on Kovacs invoice dated 5/16/24 (contrast this with the $1,225.00 unit price actually paid by Kovac on LKQ invoice dated 4/22/2024). It comes as no surprise to me that State Farm is unwilling to pay for the additional labor charge when they already paid enough to acquire the transmission and the labor warranty, but Kovac chose to forego the warranty to prioritize profit margins. I am of the same opinion as State Farm. 
  
  Kovac had 3 attempts to repair a leaking transmission and failed each time. I incurred $598.31 in additional expenses taking the car to another mechanic who resolved the issue the same day. Kovac failed to replace an existing part on the vehicle that needed to be replaced in order for the transmission to seal properly (see Tuned Autoworks invoice). Had Kovac competently identified the parts that needed replacing to begin with, there may have never been any need to replace the first LKQ transmission installed. That is why I am demanding a refund of the $1,860.86 paid to Kovac for additional labor charges.
  Sincerely,
  
  *************************

  Business Response

  Date: 07/10/2024

  Mr. ************************;                                                                July, 10 2024
  *******************
  ************* 33193
  
  RE: Service issues on 2017 ****** Camry
  
  ****************,
  
  You seem to be an angry person who is h*** bent on spreading the anger. Two times in my first response I invited you to contact me so we could resolve this issue, instead you chose to write more angry letters?? I even provided you my personal cell phone number.
  
  You have failed to disclose that you and/or your family work for ********************* That explains why you refuse to blame the party that made the poor decisions on repairing your vehicle. It also explains how you were able to get copies of my invoices from a supplier you have no relationship with. If you look at that invoice that you shouldnt have you will see the engine ID number, this identifies which junk yard transmission State Farm directed us to purchase at the price they had arranged.
  
  I am not surprised that you are continuing to experience problems with the junk yard transmission installed in your vehicle, its JUNK! The first transmission had a cracked case and the second one had a damaged pan yet you still think State Farm did you a favor?
  
  If you would like to contact my office on Monday July 15th we will credit back the charges for installing your junk yard transmission. Please have the same credit card available as we will issue credit to that account
  
  *** **********************
  
  PS Please loose my cell number