Firestone Auto Service Center (vehicle, fuel, brakes, tires)

[Know Nonsense]

Anyone have any experiences with Firestone auto repair they would care to share. I broke down on the interstate a few years ago in the Sandusky Ohio area and triple A recommended them so I had it towed there. They charged me over $900. for a off brand fuel pump replacement for a pickup truck which is at least $200. more than the going rate for most shops and the pump only lasted a couple of years and has been replaced again. I believe they obviously overcharged me knowing what my situation was and being from out of the area but I just wanted to get home and didn't have time or energy to argue or dispute the charges and the warranty was only one year on the part. So many unscrupulous shops and mechanics out there taking advantage of people. There are lots of good mechanics but it usually takes a little time to get to know and trust them and been you are travelling it is obviously not viable to have it towed that far.

Any similar stories or suggestions when faced with this kind of problem being on the road and needing repairs?

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Never go to a chain(Firestone/Pep Boys/Sears/Goodyear/etc.) for repair work. They may be able to handle routine stuff though. It depends.

[GarageLogic]

If you're away from home, you're basically at the mercy of whomever will fix your vehicle. There's just no way for you to know.

But don't EVER willingly take your vehicle to Firestone, or any other Chain Store. EVER.

[motormaker]

Originally Posted by Stratford, Ct. Resident

Never go to a chain(Firestone/Pep Boys/Sears/Goodyear/etc.) for repair work. They may be able to handle routine stuff though. It depends.

Amen, enuf said……………………………..

[Electrician4you]

I broke down in Reno once. Ended up fixing it myself in the parking lot 20* cold snow winter time. If I had to do a repair out of town I would go to the dealer. At least the warranty would be through the manufacturer
I absolutely refuse to use any chain auto repair.

[JohnnyMack]

Years ago we had a breakdown in West Virgina the waterpump went bad, limped it to the closest small city then had it towed to the Chevy Dealer(NO Wally's Garage), figured I was going to get reamed, but the Tow was going rate and the bill at the Dealer was close to what I expected.

[Hemlock140]

When you break down on the road you have to take what you can get. Our local Firestone is not bad, a step up from the lube places for oil changes/brakes/balancing and a lot less expensive than the dealer. It varies by shop, but this one has a couple of techs that used to work at Toyota before they got laid off 4-5 years ago. I have a non-chain shop farther away that I have been using for everything else for many years. When you find a good mechanic, stick with him.

[WFW&P]

I take the company vehicle to Firestone because they are across the street from my building. Basically mediocre mechanics doing mediocre work and because of that they would NEVER service my personal vehicles.

[ukrkoz]

Very bad experience. Only reason I took them to F-Stone was they were opened on Sunday, for front end alignment. 5 hrs later, and I was present there all the time, and had appointment scheduled, car left with camber worse than when I drove her in and camber bolts NOT set right to correct it, though alignment mech and shop manager both ensured me that they were set right.
I basically reset them myself, took my regular guy at L-Schwab next Saturday, that was it.
I called F-Stone, and by F I do not mean fire, and filed formal complaint. I had my refund in 2 days from area manager.

[SoCalCpl2]

Have used Pep Boys for normal things, brakes, alignment, oil, etc... Have used Big O Tires for the same usual...

If need more in depth things fixed I either try to do it myself if I can or take to legit Mechanic or dealer depending...

I used to love JC Penney auto and had numerous things done to my cars and no problem at all.....