2 /5 James Pitts: First and foremost, BUCKYS AUTO REPAIR is an awesome company and has always been my go-to for car mechanic needs. However, this review pertains specifically to the Renton auto repair location and their challenges with brake installations.
Our 2019 KIA Sportage needed new brakes. When I arrived, their manager, Blake, was on top of it and went above and beyond my expectations. His customer service is exceptional in my opinion—he’s the highlight of this location. 5 stars for Blakes customer service!! I dropped off my car and waited for the call to pick it up.
When I picked it up, I noticed a noise while driving home. I turned around and went back (strike 1). I told them something wasn’t right. A mechanic took the car for a test drive with me inside and tried to claim that my suspension was the issue. I told him he was wrong and insisted he put the car back on the rack. Upon inspection, we discovered he had failed to adjust the dust shields (strike 2). He fixed this, but the car still didn’t sound right.
When I got home and parked my car, I noticed the emergency brake didn’t engage. It went all the way to the floor, and the car began to roll. To confirm, I put the car in neutral with the emergency brake engaged, and I was able to push the vehicle (strike 3). When I called them about it, they said the issue was because it’s an electrical e-brake and that it just needed time to adjust. I informed them it’s a manual brake. They then admitted, “When we do brakes, we don’t check or adjust the emergency brake.” What in the actual... I paid $1,690.93 for a complete brake job (calipers, pads, and rotors). They “fixed” the issue by adding grease and claimed the emergency brake just needed lubrication, but they only adjusted one side. The brakes still didn’t sound right, and once again, they failed to take ownership (strike 4).
About five days later, while driving, my car smelled like it was on fire. Instead of returning to Bucky’s Auto Repair, I went to Les Schwab Tire Center in the Renton Highlands. When they inspected the brakes, they found that they were essentially melted (see photos). I had them replace the brakes entirely.
Afterward, I went back to BUCKYS AUTO REPAIR to request a refund. Corporate reached out and offered me $300 and a FREE OIL CHANGE for the hassle. (To be fair, I initially asked for more money, but they said no, so I accepted the oil change offer. However, I never received the oil change certificate.) They also said that since the brakes were under warranty, I should have returned the car to them for repairs at no cost. They added that the brakes they use are superior, which justifies the higher cost. Honestly, I don’t care how great your products are or what your warranty covers—if the installation is poor and you refuse to take accountability for your work, the brakes are not good. Proper performance requires proper installation.
YES, I would recommend BUCKYS AUTO REPAIR for oil changes, air filter replacements, and other simple services that most people can do themselves at home, but nothing more. My family and I will continue to use other BUCKYS AUTO REPAIR locations, but until the Renton location hires better-qualified mechanics, I recommend checking out other locations before coming here.
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