Independent Transmissions

We now have a fraud claim against Independent Transmission of Lakewood, CO. We took our 2003 Audi Allroad in to have the reverse gear fixed. Randy at Independent Transmission said that it would be $ 495 to evaluate it. That the $ 495 was non-​refundable for estimating the repair but that it could be applied to the cost of the repair if we had them fix the repair. He said that based upon the symptoms of the car (reverse would work when the car was cold, but not work when the car was warm) that he thought that the repair would be on the low end. We said to evaluate the car and give us an estimate. Randy called back three days later and said that the estimated repair would be $ 4,000 which would include rebuilding the transmission and would include a 2 year warranty. We said no, thanks, we weren’t interested because that was way over what we had budgeted for the repair and that blue book on the car was far less than that. Then came the first red flag. «Well, I am going to have to charge you another $ 100 to put the car back together.» I said: «First, if it was going to actually be $ 600 to estimate the car, why weren’t we told that up front? You guys said $ 495. Not $ 600. I’m sure that people don’t always get the repairs done. And secondly, no, don’t put it back then. We will have a tow truck just pick up the car and I will pay you the $ 495 estimation charge. Since the transmission doesn’t work, we will just trade in or part out the car. Randy said: «Oh, well it is on our lift. We can’t even roll it out of our bay and no tow truck will be able to pick it up. I’ll tell you what. Let me talk with my guy and I will see if we can just put it back together to back it out of here and not charge you the extra $ 100.» He went on to talk about the two year warranty on the transmission and how he thought it was worth it with the car, etc., etc. He said that he would call me on Monday. Randy called Monday and said, «Listen, I talk to my guy and we feel like it would be such a waste for you to spend $ 500 and not have the car fixed. So if you like, you said that you had budgeted $ 2,000 for this, so for that we can just replace and fix the reverse on the transmission. Now we won’t rebuild the entire transmission so you won’t have a two-​year warranty on it. But your reverse will be fixed. That will buy you some time, six months or so or whatever, to allow you to not have to scramble to find another car. I said: «OK, so let me just be clear, just so I understand. You will fix the reverse… but you won’t completely rebuild the transmission. We won’t have a two year warranty on the transmission. But we will be able to trade it in operational condition with a working transmission?» Randy said yes. We told him to go ahead with the repair. A few days later Randy called and said that the car was ready, and that he personally test drove the car to make sure everything was running well. We paid the $ 2,000 and picked up the car. On the way home, we realized that our radar detector was missing (this was a built in model that could only be mechanically removed.) We immediately called Independent Transmission and they said that they «would look around the shop.» We stopped at the store for dog food. When we came out and tried to back out of the space. No reverse. We called Randy again and he said that it was probably just a cable adjustment and to bring the car back tomorrow and he would fix it. We said that due to the snow storm, that it wouldn’t be until Tuesday. We also found that a camera, and a leatherman tool were missing from the car. When we took the car back on Tuesday, Randy said that it was probably a «computer» issue.» Then he said «Well, you know, you «made an agreement to not fix it, just put it back together.» We said, «No, It was $ 500 to «not fix it». It doesn’t even make logical sense that we would pay $ 2,000 to «not fix» the car.» In fact, the receipt itself says «repair» on it. When we asked about the stolen items, Randy said: «Yea, that must have been the employee that we just fired. You will need to file a police report.» But if he was employed by you, aren’t you responsible? Randy said: «No, we have signs all around the shop about that.» So basically, Randy and crew just swindled us out of $ 2,000 and stole $ 700 of stuff out of the car. This is why we have a fraud suit against this place. Buyers beware!!!

This is the worst service I have had from anyone in my life. This review will be long but I have had a lot of issues with this company.
I purchased my car used however it came with a warranty. My car started stalling when I would come to fast stops. It was consistently doing this so I took my car to my general mechanic who also happened to be my dad. (ASE certified). He told me it was a transmission issue so I called the warranty company who sent me to a transmission shop. They diagnosed it as a torque converter however they only did rebuilds so they moved it to independent transmission. After three days they told me that there was nothing wrong with the car and they couldn’t duplicate the problem. Odd since it was doing it constantly for me and the last two mechanics had no problems duplicating it. So I drove down there and had Randy drive it with me there. Low and behold it died twice with me there. So much for not being able to duplicate it. Then Randy proceeds to tell me that the previous two mechanics were «idiots» and this is in no way a transmission problem. Went on to tell me that he had been fired from a different shop and the guy who owed Independent Transmission had died and it’s actually in probate because the guys son is a druggie and he is trying to get ownership. Really gave me no confidence and I was glad he wasn’t going to fix it. My car was then sent to an engine specialist who also diagnosed it as torque converter and pointed out that Subaru has a tsb showing my exact problem and how to fix it. All you have to do is check the Internet and there it was. So it got sent back to Independent yet again. Randy then calls me and says he was wrong and will replace the torque converter. He told me it would take 2 – 3 days to get the part. I waited an entire week as it was a holiday and called to see when it would be ready. The guy who answered the phone didn’t even know they had a Subaru. He recognized me by «the green car». Very professional. He told me that Randy was running late and would be in at 11. So I called back after 1. The same guy told me that Randy decided not to come in because he spent the weekend in Vegas and got in late and no one else knows anything about my car.
So I called the next day and Randy tells me that the part is still not there and should be done the next day.
So I called the next day to see when it would be ready and Randy told me it would be done that night and I could come get it the next day.
I called first thing the next morning before I drove down there and Randy says it’s still not done. I am frustrated as they have had my car 22 days. 14 of those being working days and I am tired of being put off. He tells me how they have never done this kind of work before and didn’t know how long it would take. He welcomed me to come get my car in pieces but I would have to pay him for taking it apart even though they were unable to put it together. He then started yelling at me and hung up on me.
I got a call about 3 pm that it was done and my friend gave me a ride to pick it up. Randy then told me how there is no way this would fix my problem and that the guys who said to fix it would were idiots that don’t know what they are doing and he is not responsible if the car keeps messing up.
Drive my car hime and it didn’t stall once.

Very good guys. very reasonable!.. quick turn around. I would recommend Independent Transmissions To anyone who what’s things done right an reasonable

When you are fixing something big like your transmission, it’s good to have these guys on your side.
I gave them a ⁴⁄₅ and not a ⁵⁄₅ because their pricing was higher than what they initially led on. They were reasonable, though, and did a good job of explaining the charges to me. After I got my car back there was a rattle noise and they fixed it when I brought it in no charge. Good to know I can go back to them if I have any other issues in the future!

These guys go out of their ways to help you make sure your car is back to new. Also, they’re super affordable! I’ll go back here for sure

I bought a new (to me) ’81 Volkswagen Rabbit recently, and i’m admittedly not familiar w the repairs needed for its diesel engine and goofy European tranny. Happened to lose all power driving home from dinner and coasted safely into their lot. Went home bewildered and worried about what could’ve been wrong w it, decided to call Independent in the morning and let them know I’d be by later that day and hoped they would take a look. Now if this doesn’t speak for their ethics, I don’t know what will. The $ 250 for tow fees, and a trip to 51^st and Brighton was initiated at 10am (I called the guys @ 730am, the first person in picked up the phone). Oddly enough there was ample parking space where freshly painted war wagon used to be. Not only will they lose my business but I strongly urge all future patrons to take heed and avoid the shady practices I’ve heard (and experienced) from this shop.

Mark & Phill took great care of me and the transmission problems on my ’03 Subaru Impreza Outback Sport, and were a pleasure to work with. Pricing was pretty fair, and they seem to have done a great job. Actually my transmission functions smoother now than when I originally bought the car back in 2007 (100K miles ago). They turned the job around very quickly, and were in good communication with me during the entire course of a pretty major job (Mon AM to Weds PM). Mark even came back to the shop a few minutes after close so I could pick up my vehicle at the end of a day (THANK YOU!). Excellent customer service.
My primary problem was a failed transmission bearing in the rear case. The clutch was also fried (word of advice — don’t try to pull your friends truck out of the snow in your AWD Subaru!). I also had them replace a broken viscous coupler that I had known about for years. They quoted me $ 840 for labor plus parts at the time of the diagnosis to replace the bearing and clutch. I then asked them to do the viscous coupler, while they were «there» so-​to-​say, and they kindly agreed to replace to do so at no additional labor cost. The numbers were exactly as quoted at the end of the job, which I appreciated. All-​in-​all I paid:
$ 610 bearing
$ 388 clutch
$ 585 viscous coupler
$ 841 labor
+ tax
= ~ $ 2600
That’s very fair from what I’ve been quoted and read elsewhere.
I would have posted 5-​stars, but they originally quoted me $ 825 for the viscous coupler, and then came down to $ 585 after I told them I called Flat-​Irons Subaru and was quoted $ 585 (part cost only). They said they were going on a previous rate from a different supplier, and would work with Flat-​Irons and give me the $ 585 price. Maybe that’s true, maybe not. I don’t really mind because they price matched for me in the end, but it was one thing that made me doubt their stated parts costs. The fact that they price matched, however, speaks to their customer service.
I would highly recommend this shop for Subaru transmission work.
Thanks Mark & Phill.

Honest service at a good price.
A friend had the 4wd go out on his Suzuki. They immediately found a loose wire… cost $ 0.
I sent in a car with some problems. He charged me half what I expected. Good mechanics…

These guys are crooks. I brought my Jeep there they charged me thousands for a new transmission. It had nothing but problems with it. Over the next 12 months I probably had my jeep back there 4 – 5 times. They refused to put a new transmission in even thought they could never get the first one to work properly.
Finally, it went out totally and I was around 150 miles past the warranty period and they told me they would have to charge me for a new one. Guess it did not matter that I took it to them over and over to fix or replace. And it was even there 3 weeks before it went out. I went round and round with them and finally just cut my losses.
These guys advertise that they are a Christian company and even had a Bible on the desk. They should be ashamed!
DO NOT TAKE YOUR VEHICLE HERE!!! YOU MAY REGRET IT LIKE I DID!!!

Mark did a great job on our 2003 Acura transmission. A+ service, and a fair price. Highly recommended!