The bumper on my 2001 V70 was sagging because the brackets had almost completely rusted through. I took my car to a mechanic I trusted (they have repaired my car many times, over a period of almost a decade, without issue: I have spent many thousands at their shop) and asked them to replace the brackets and reinstall the bumper. When I went to pick up the car everything looked to be in good shape so I didn't give it a second thought.

However, now, only two months later, the bumper has already started to sag again. Personally, I think this unacceptable given how recently I have had this problem repaired. I could simply cease my business relationship with the auto shop and write some negative reviews on the internet, however, I think, given my long relationship with this auto shop maybe I should give them the opportunity to make this right.

Is this a fools errand? Should I simply find a new auto shop and let people know to avoid the auto shop that did the bad repair?

 

Give them an opportunity to make things right. Then, if they don't, move on.

 

I just checked underneath my car to see how they could have messed up the repair so badly and what did I see? The same rusted-through brackets that I asked them to repair in the first place, still attached to my car.

Yeah I'm going to call them first thing in the morning. Hopefully I can work something out.

 

If you were charged for new brackets, it is time to see a lawyer. I do not believe in suing at the drop of a hat but fraud cannot be tolerated.

 

I was not charged for new brackets, which I would have noticed upon receipt of the car if I had checked more thoroughly (I did not because I have never gotten a questionable repair from this shop in the past and have done lots of business with them). I was charged labor for bracket inspection and the rusted-through brackets that are now sagging were apparently deemed to be roadworthy. Currently I'm working under the assumption that it was an honest mistake but if you consider this fraud please advise. I really don't have an understanding of auto repair law.

 

IANAL but since they didn't charge for anything there's no fraud. I do know that most mechanical shops wouldn't touch anything like replacing bumper brackets and would send you to a body shop. It sounds like they just didn't want to mess with it.

 

So I finally gave the mechanic a chance to make good on the initial repairs I requested but he continues to insist that the sagging bumper is not an issue, going so far as to say that he was "standing on it". There were also some serious errors in the way they chose to communicate this information to me.

I took the car in for some other repairs so I think I will give them the opportunity to explain those repairs so I can see if their quote is reasonable, but I think at this point I'm just going to have to find another automotive firm that works on Volvos. It's not just that I don't appreciate being treated like a fool but that these actions make me concerned about how they might be treating my car.

 

Time to move on!!!