To whom it may concern:
I asked Sterling Automotive to diagnose my engine (the engine light was on), and was told that my fuel injectors needed to be cleaned, that my oxygen sensors needed to be changed, and that my timing belt needed to be replaced immediately. I was told by Mr. Robert Youngblood II, owner of Sterling Automotive, that "If I were you, I would not drive that Toyota on the freeway because the timing belt is about to break..."
At the same time, I asked Mr. Youngblood to diagnose my Anti-Lock Brake System (the ABS light was on), and he told me that the problem was my "right front wheel speed sensor". I paid Sterling Automotive $128 for a fuel injection cleaning / diagnostic service. I declined the other repairs. They also turned off my engine light. The engine light came back on the same day.
I then took my vehicle to a second automotive repair shop. The documented repair for both the engine light and the anti-lock brake system was a loose "ECM ground wire" (minor repair). The oxygen sensors, the front ABS wheel speed sensor, and the timing belt were determined not defective.
Sterling Automotive misdiagnosed my engine and charged me for an unneeded fuel injector cleaning. If I had not accepted their claim that my fuel injectors needed cleaning, I would have had to pay the same amount for a fabricated diagnosis. If I would have accepted all of their strongly recommended repairs, I would have been charged for many unneeded costly repairs.
Consequently, I went back to Sterling Automotive and asked Mr. Youngblood why he suggested so many costly major repairs on my vehicle when the repairs were not indicated by a certified Toyota specialist / inspection. I also asked for a warranty refund on the work they suggested and actually carried out. His answer was no... When asked if Sterling Automotive employed certified machanics, Mr. Youngblood informed me of his "mechanical engineering degree" and also that his father was a "surgeon" in what I felt was an impertinent attempt at intimidation.
If I were an individual who knew nothing about automotive repair, Mr. Youngblood would have charged me for replacement of my oxygen sensors, my timing belt, my right front wheel speed sensor, and the cleaning of my fuel injection system. These are all costly repairs. The actual problem was a bad ground for the ECM wiring along with an air flow sensor cleaning (minor repairs).
I have learned that Sterling Automotive has had previous complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau of Utah... It is unfortunate that as a consumer I would have to pay for Mr. Robert Youngblood's obvious attempt at consumer fraud. As a result, I officially documented my complaint against Sterling Automotive and Mr. Robert Youngblood via the Better Business Bureau and the Consumer Protection Agency of Utah.
I have talked to a number of people about this situation, and I have learned that the same type of thing has happened to them with other service centers. You take your car in for a diagnostic service and are told that the problem is X. You pay to have X repaired. You then drive away only to discover that X was not the problem. You take the vehicle back and are told the problem in now Y... There seems to be no accountability, and the customer ends up picking up the tab. What makes my situation even worse is that Mr. Youngblood II strongly insisted that my vehicle needed major costly repairs that turned out to be completely unnecessary.
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