CarTex Automotive

I have been using CarTex for years. This is by far the most honest auto shop I have ever worked with. I recommend them to family and friends constantly and without reservation. Many of my neighbors have been going to CarTex for years. Until I opened Unilocal to look up the number I have never heard a negative word about the shop. Pearland is lucky to have them. Both my wife and I tend to drive cars way past their expiration dates and we have always trusted CarTex for the maintenance of our vehicles.

I really wanted to give this place a chance and not give such a dismal review. However, time and several visits have shown that the single star review stands.
My first visit was two years ago, when I had an oil change and new brake pads done. It’s a family owned business and only two blocks away, so we walked home to wait for repairs. The brakes felt bumpy, and taking it back to the dealer revealed that the wrong size pad was crammed into the brake. The dealer fixed this, no more bumpy squeaky. We took the Jeep back for an oil change, then at one point the ball joint broke and stranded us a block from CarTex near closing, so we had it towed there not realizing that we could’ve taken it to the dealer instead. (The ball joint issue is common on this model.)
Here’s where the one star comes in: the ball joints were replaced with cheap plastic joints probably pulled off a junked Jeep, and we were charged more than the cost of brand new metal ball joints which will last longer. I know this because the ball joint immediately started creaking and acting up a few weeks after «repair» and my dealer sent me to his private mechanic who fixed the ball joints for the cost of labor, as we picked up the joints at AutoZone for about $ 150, and he only charged $ 50 labor.
CarTex charged me almost $ 1000 for this SAME repair. It’s over six months later and the $ 200 repair has held up, so you tell me whether I’m right in feeling I got hosed.
I’m also missing the 4×4 parts that my Jeep had when I purchased it, as I have used the gear to get out of mud prior to taking it to CarTex, which is the only place it has stayed overnight. Maybe they forgot to put the parts back on or they purposely didn’t out them back on… all I know is I’m missing the 4×4 parts on a vehicle that I bought for use as a 4×4. This was recently pointed out to me by Cornerstone Automotive, which is my trustworthy repair shop now.