ComplaintsforAAMCO Transmissions

• Initial Complaint

  07/13/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Routine Differential and Oil Change led to 2 major issues. 1) Oil was not sealed and leaked all over my engine prompting a warning from my *** not to drive it or damage would occur. 2) Oil leaked all over my garage which has left 3x4 oil stain. 3) Noise began coming from the differential which prompted me to seek service at ******** motors who said the Differential was whining and needed to be replaced. Returned to AAMCO and they denied the sound and mixed up both the story line and events trying to get out of repairing their mistake. There is some debris inside of the differential fluid causing the left power side to whine. And I cannot drive the vehicle with this sound or with the fear that it may cause my rear wheels to stop turning as they should. I would like the differential to be removed and cleaned fully with seals replaced and checked for spider gear and pinion gear damage. Continued driving will ruin the entire part which costs about $4000 to replace with a an OEM part. The car has only 67K on it and *** said these parts if maintained should last almost 3x as long as that or 150,000.

  Business response

  08/10/2022

  She returned the vehicle to us with the oil leak and the cap seal had been torn on repair for the oil change. We repaired this and cleaned the car and returned it to her. Also offered cleaning her floor that she did not want us to do. As for the differential, her claim is that we did not use the correct oil in the differential. The front differential has the same fluid we used on the rear differential and there isn't an issue with that. ******** motor car changed her fluid at her request. ******** has saved the samples of the oil we used and had it checked and confirmed it was an acceptable fluid. They also confirmed that the vehicle had an issue with the differential when they diagnosed a bad wheel bearing prior. Her vehicle had an issue with the differential before she came to us for the fluid change. Servicing a differential will not cause a failure like she is claiming.

  Customer response

  08/12/2022

  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because: AAMCO left the oil cap off and told me so. That caused it to leak and forced the engine to alert me to STOP DRIVING IMMEDIATELY. I called and they poured oil into the car and then told me they'd clean it up. It continued to leak because the pan underneath was full of oil. So I used at their suggestion CAT LITTER to soak it up. 

  There was never an issue with my differential prior to them changing the fluid. This is a sealed system and they failed to fill it sufficiently. I have yet to question the tech at ******** motors but the ONLY reason these differentials go out is if you fail to fill it sufficiently. They used the viscosity required in a truck and my Open Differential does not require that weight. ******** motors told me this and said they NEVER use that weight in this car. So I asked to change it to the lighter weight.

  The problem with AAMCO is that they have 50+ cars a day rotating through engine bays. I was waiting 3 hours for a simple fluid change. I was quoted on the phone by Lance P****** the manager that there was 1 differential on this car and it cost $55 to change. He also quoted me $70 for an oil change. Instead, I was charged $99 for the oil and there were suddenly TWO differentials at $85 each. I argued and they compromised slightly but I still paid $59 more than I was quoted by the manager.

  AAMCO clearly rushed the job as evidenced by the oil cover not being screwed on properly -- which is what the technician told me -- and rushing means that they put a highly viscous fluid into a horizontal chamber and left an air pocket in the differential. They did not wait for the fluid to settle in and top it off. This is what caused the pinion or spider gears that need total fluid immersion to start grinding and making noise. I have done radiator flushes in my truck and you must burp the system to remove air bubbles for radiator fluid. The heavier oil they used (again for a TRUCK that hauls and tows not a luxury SUV without a tow package) was not filled sufficiently. I will reach out to the ******** motor's technician in person to ascertain his opinion but even a small air pocket or dirt (they used a filthy oil bucket to top off my *** whilst I was standing there watching) could cause an issue.

  Lance P******, the manager, then told me that they don't work on *** transmissions despite the fact that their technician who spoke to me said he was a 30 year EXPERT on ***s. The fact is that Mike said they will stop working on ***s and another customer who was there the same day I was also experienced the EXACT same issue with AAMCO. They failed to seal his oil and it spilled all over his garage. And he was there getting his engine rebuilt because they destroyed his car as well.

  I would like my car repaired. AAMCO misquoted me, failed to service my car appropriately and now I would like them to honor their mistake and fix it.

  Sincerely, 
  ****** ******

  I have recorded audio from *** less than 200 miles earlier that does have this same sound. In fact, ******** motors heard the NEW NOISE after my differential was changed as I was confusing it with a rear bearing b/c I did not know 

  Business response

  08/12/2022

  Complaint: ********
  We admit making a mistake with the engine oil cap seal and corrected this issue at no charge to the customer. We did offer to clean her floor, and if she did not want us to she could put down some kitty litter. The mention of a customer that had his engine fail because of the same exact issue is not true. We were rebuilding his transmission unrelated to any kind of engine oil leak, so the statement that we don't do *** transmissions is also not accurate. I told her we would not work on her differential not that we don't work on *** transmissions. As for the filling of coolant in an engine, that is not the same as filling a differential. They are completely different, a cooling system does need the air bled out as there are many cooling passages in the engine that fill with air when its drained. This is her first mention of it not being filled correctly, and ******** verified the differential was full. It really seems that we are reaching here. I have spoken to ******** and we used an approved oil in the differential. The same oil is in the front differential and it has no issues. Servicing a differential will not cause failure like she is saying. It would cause issue if it had no fluid in it but it is not the case. It was full and had the correct fluid in it. ******** has the samples of fluid and had it tested when she was there. We are in no way responsible for the failure.

  Customer response

  08/16/2022

  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because: There are two chief complaints that I am seeking restitution for and many things that were said which I am only now piecing together from this business which has clearly no idea how to treat its patronage nor service luxury ***s. 

  Number one: The service I requested was done improperly and damage has been done to my vehicle. The evidence I have presented demonstrates that care was not taken and oil continues to leak on my garage floor despite this vehicle having been parked in this location exclusively. From AAMCO's last exhange, I now know that the cover is broken thanks to them. They FAILED to even tell me this. It is a slow drip but I noticed fresh oil there. That OEM gasket cover should be replaced. And yes, I would like my garage floor dealt with but for now, I'm still trying to get my differential fixed which is a far greater problem as it is too noisy to drive or sell for that matter. 

  The service from the time I first called and got an inaccurate quote to the time I waited for 3 hours for what was promised to take 90 minutes tops only adds to my frustration. I have been called a liar and been lied to directly. I would like the name of the individual who had his X5 there because I know that you damaged his car too. He told me so. The degree to which it can be proven and how much complementary repair work you offered remains an unknown. But the lies I have been told will require us to go before a judge to discern if I have a case and if there is probable cause that you in fact do need to: Replace the OEM oil cover (it has NEVER leaked) and replace the differential gear part in whole as repair and reassembly is too $$labor$$ intensive.

  Number two: The technician at ******** motors witnessed a completely soaked undercarriage front and back end and DID NOT MEASURE THE VOLUME. In fact, the differential is removed from an opening at the bottom. What the tech told me is that I have a massive front oil leak (cover was improperly replaced and now I know that AAMCO broke it) and that the fluid looked dark and was too heavy for this vehicle. I paid $240 for a lighter weight fluid from an actual OEM *** or BG bottle. AAMCO used the WRONG fluid and it destroyed my differential. The volume was never measured. So that argument from AAMCO is yet another lie in this entire scheme for them to avoid taking responsibility.

  1) please purchase a *** OEM Oil Cover for me.

  2) please pay for a new differential to be replaced.

  3) please provide me with the technician at your location who did and what their credentials are ASE, etc.

  4) please provide me with the other gentleman owner of the X5 that was there that day with damage you caused.

  The leak and the noise has destroyed my car and it is no longer able to be driven without further damage. I can bring my car to a reputable station that DOES service a differential that is part of the overall TRANSMISSION required to drive the car safely.

  Sincerely, 
  ****** ****** 

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