Chronology of AAMCO Claim

February 20, 2013

On July 24, 2012 I took my 2003 Ford F250 4X4, Crew Cab, Super Duty into AAMCO at Suncrest Town Center in Morgantown, WV for a new transmission. The transmission in my truck was slipping and I needed the transmission replaced rather than repaired. The cost of the new transmission was $3100.00+. They had my truck ready in 4 hours.

The end of November I took my truck to Chenoweth Ford in Clarksburg, WV because I was noticing a noise that was not normal. The Ford dealership told me I needed a new engine because something was causing strain but they could not identify what it was without tearing down the engine. This cost me $95.00.

I drove my truck until the 9th of December, which was about 2 weeks after the evaluation by Chenoweth Ford. I was coming down the hill from the Harr-Marion Airport in Bridgeport, WV at 12:30am when the truck came to a hard stop. This is a two lane road, very dark and it was raining. I got the truck moved to the parking lot at the Microtel Hotel, 201 Conference Center Way, in Bridgeport, WV. It stayed there until the 11th of December when I had it moved to the National Tire and Battery in Clarksburg, WV. There I had a new alternator and battery installed for $581.6l. A former Ford mechanic at National Tire and Battery actually pulled a piece of the broken fly wheel from my truck after learning how the truck had come to an abrupt halt on the 9th of December.

I had been noticing a ticking sound so I had a couple of certified mechanic friends listen to my truck. The engine was fine but they said the alternator needed to be replaced. This was before my truck broke down on the 9th of December.

I had my truck moved to AAMCO in Morgantown on December 20th, 2012. To the best of my knowledge, they removed and repaired the transmission and the result was the same thing, the fly wheel broke. They removed and repaired the transmission again and had the same result. On the 3rd time, they found a bent clip holding in the torque converter and that caused the fly wheel to break.

They, AAMCO, got that fixed but when they went to move the truck they couldn’t get it into gear and told me I needed a new engine. I had the truck hauled to Superior Ford on Earl L. Core RD in Morgantown. I bought a new engine for $2,479.00 and had it installed for $2,625.61. I paid for the work on Monday, February 18th. When I was talking with Frank Racut, Service Manager, he pointed out that he had had to remove and replace 4 mismatched torque converter nuts during the engine replacement. He also pointed out that the transmission fluid was over filled. Frank tried to move the truck out of the shop. It would not go into reverse and it had to be revved to 1500RPM to get it into forward gear.

I was told by John at AAMCO they were having my truck moved from the Ford dealership to AAMCO that day, February 18th. I heard nothing until I contacted AAMCO corporate customer service. Mike with customer service checked with John. John called on Tuesday and said the truck had just arrived and he would call me to let me know the status. I finally got Mike with corporate customer service to respond to my email. He said John told him they had a rebuilding specialist looking at the transmission.

Here is my understanding of the mechanics of the situation. The bent clip holding the torque converter in place allowed the torque converter to put pressure on the fly wheel. When the fly wheel broke and the truck came to an abrupt halt that sheared the cam in the engine causing the need for the engine replacement. When they installed the transmission with the incorrect nuts that also put pressure on the new fly wheel and caused additional problems.

I had to have my company, at the time since I was laid off on February 15, 2013, obtain a rental vehicle for me. I have been staying at a hotel since I am leaving for Nebraska to a new job as soon as this is resolved. I am supposed to be there on the 25th of February.

The inconvenience of not having my truck has made it necessary for me to stay in a hotel and pay for a rental vehicle and It has been most stressful. I was supposed to go to my home in Huntsville, Alabama this week and leave for Lincoln, NE for my new job. I don’t even know if I will make it there in time. The lack of concern and not communicating with me to let me know the status of things has been very stressful. If this causes me to lose my new job, I feel compensation will be in order.

· I left the Marriott Residence Inn in Charleston, West Virginia on February 22, 2013 at 2PM in a rented truck because my truck is still not fixed. I asked AAMCO to pay for the rental and a return airline ticket to pick up my truck when it is fixed. They refused. I asked if they could drive it to Lincoln, Nebraska and then they fly back to Morgantown, WV. John, the manager, refused.

· The expenses so far are in excess of $6,500.00 due to AAMCO’s faulty installation and repair of their product.

· I do not want to but if I am forced to sue for all expenses related to the transmission due to poor performance, faulty equipment and workmanship and the lack of consideration by AAMCO. In addition, I am asking for any legal fees and a lifetime warranty for the transmission. I had asked about the warranty the original transmission in July came with. I was told, by John, that the warranty does not start over because they repaired the transmission instead of replacing it. Please help avoid this action.

· The cost of the rental vehicle paid by T-Staff is $2,189.90. This is in addition to what I have had to pay.

· I asked why they did not order a new transmission that would have been delivered before the truck was returned to the shop. John said it was not economical to do that.

· AAMCO has refused to do anything to assist in making a problem they caused, get resolved satisfactorily.

· I am a 65 year old woman who is working to support my family and I feel that AAMCO has completely taken advantage of me.

Mary J. Cowan

253-905-2064