Alaskan Auto Center Llc — Car Repair in Anchorage

ALL reviews about Alaskan Auto Center Llc

• Julian

  Added 2014.10.12

  Got harmonic balancer replaced, belts replaced, and a seal fixed. Upon picking up my vehicle they said it would run, I specifically asked about the oil and they said it was "fine." Car was smoking a lot on road, took to Jiffy Lube and they drained nearly four quarts of excess oil. Investigated and found it was impossible to miss my oil being this overfull, confronted head mechanic about this and they refused to accept that they missed such a grievous error in the oil capacity. Dipstick functioning correctly so it was a human error. Head mechanic was extremely rude about situation. Better Business Bureau was contacted. If left so overfull my car would have blown many seals among other issues. *CONSUMER BEWARE* I'm the type of person where if I get bad service, my order gets messed up or what have you I just take the high road and don't complain or write bad reviews. This place is the exception and people deserve to know what's going on here. We've all heard horror stories about crooked mechanics who cause problems to make more money off honest people who just need help fixing their cars, and Alaskan Auto Center LLC is absolutely a little shop of horrors. I brought my car here to get a oil change, as it was within walking distance to my work. When I picked it up and got it home, that next morning there was a big oil leak under my car, which never had that problem before I took it there. I checked the oil and they had vastly overfilled it which caused some sort of leak in a gasket or seal. I had a friend help me drain the excess oil and just chalked it up to a inexperienced employee or honest mistake. That car leaked oil from that day forward, though I just kept tabs on it and wasn't super concerned as it was a older car. I ended up getting a different car, and unfortunately took it here again to get a oil change and tire change over. A co-worker dropped me off on our break to pick it up, and while there a customer was arguing with the owner because he paid good money for a repair, and his problem had not been fixed like he was told it was. The owner was apathetic and eventually offered to take another look at it (I'm sure for more $$). I had meant to check my oil before I left, however, the scene in the office caused a big delay and by the time I got checked out I had to race back to work before my break was over. When work ended I was shocked and stunned to see my car had leaked a huge puddle of oil onto the pavement beneath it. I checked my oil and again it had been tremendously overfilled. To top it off, some worker there went out of their way to pour anti freeze into all my winter tires they had taken off. I knew there wasn't any point in taking my car back there for more trouble, and a friend recommended Sand Lake Auto behind the Old Seward Hwy on 74th. I took it there and they quickly diagnosed and replaced some gasket or seal and got my ride running great again. I considered taking Alaskan Auto Center LLC to court to pay for the cost as a matter of principle, instead I decided to write this (albeit some months late) so I could spread the news. I would like to warn anyone who is considering taking their automotive here, and let the price I paid be your cautionary tale. I had a great experience at Sand Lake Auto and now refer all my friends there and they all love their fast, honest service and good prices. They stand behind their work and are fantastic, trustworthy and completely reliable. Their 5 star review rating says it all. Do yourself a huge favor, learn from my mistakes and stay as far away from this crooked shop as you can, trust me you and your ride will be so glad you did. This review is with regards to the customer service and communication that I experienced at Alaskan Auto Center. The gentlemen that I spoke with during my engine swap seemed nice enough, and, from others' reviews on Google and word-of-mouth, are capable mechanics. My job took two weeks longer than expected, and during these two weeks I was the only party to initiate communication. Once completed, my bill was exactly twice what I was quoted. This bill came with an itemized receipt for the work done, however, I was never consulted during the process. When I raised my concerns, I was told, "Welp, Mr. X should have called you about that." Yeah, of course he should have. I will not be using this shop again, and can't even speak on how small I was made to feel as a customer. Instead of gaining a customer for life, Alaskan Auto Center has firmly placed itself in my Hall of Shame. Held my vehicle for months without telling me I had to pay them before they would work on it. Why not tell me that when I gave you the car keys? Only called me to tell me that they would charge me 5 a day for parking. I was so mad. I went there and gave them 1k to start and another to finish. When I went back because my new engine kept dying off, they remembered me but lost all of my paperwork so they would have to charge me again to look at it. Of course I didn't go back. It's the worst place I've ever been to. I hope they don't do that to anyone else. Pads his profit by sticking it to on you on parts price. Unbelievable what he justifies!! Beware