In the summer of 2002 my son called me to tell me that he was having a problem starting our 2000 Ford Focus. He said that the key would fit in the ignition but it wouldn't turn. I drove to where he was and after about an hour we were able to get the key to work.
I called and talked to someone named Tony, the owner of Miller Brake & Muffler at 5200 E. Melton Road in Gary, Indiana 46403, and he advised me that there was a problem with the ignition switch. He estimated that it would cost about $220 for repairs.
I didn't have the money at the time so we dealt with the problem as best we could until November 22 when the ignition was stuck for good. On that next Monday, November 25 I had the car towed to Tyson Ford at 3333 Grant Street in Gary, Indiana.
Tyson Ford's mechanics examined it and said that in the remarks of the receipt "Customer states key will not turn in igniton cylinder lock cylinder. Removed panels and steering shrouds, found lock cylinder frozen. Needs to be drilled out. Can see visible damage to column. Customer declined repaors est. $360.00 plus tax."
After receiving the repair estimate from Tyson Ford, I called Tony at Miller Brake & Muffler and asked him if he could do the repairs at the price he had quoted me that summer. He said that he could, so I declined repairs at Tyson Ford and had my car towed from Tyson ford to Miller Brake & Muffler that same day, November 25.
Once there the estimate went from the previous $220 to $541.50.
After over a week of excuses why it was taking so long, with he himself telling me that he had to tow it back to a Ford dealer to have certain things done because he was unable to do them, he finally delivered my car on December 9. I paid him in full on that date, $541.50.
On Thursday, February 19 my wife was at a gas station and the lock froze on her again while sitting at one of the pumps. Arrangements were made by Miller Brake & Muffler to have it towed to their shop.
While at their shop, even though the repairs were still under warranty and he had been paid in full, Tony said he and his partner would decide whether or not they would correct the problem. He said he felt he should just give me the part and have me go somewhere else and have the work done.
On February 22 he finally says the work was done. He then takes me back in the shop to where the car is sitting and tells me that there is a special way the key needs to go in to get it started. He then gives me a receipt stating "no warranty on the parts-problem with system-need to see Ford".
While he had the car the second time I called Ford's parts department and they did admit that they had a problem with the ignition switch sticking in 2000 Focus. I also called Ford's main office to see if there had been a recall on that part and they noted that there wasn't. It was during this conversation that I found out that the changing of an ignition switch takes about an hour, not over a week or 3 days like it took Miller Brake & Muffler.
On March 27 I ended up having to take my car back to Tyson Ford where I had the same repairs done, costing me another $422.75. Another key to the faulty repairs done by Miller Brake & Muffler were these remarks in the notes by the mechanic from Tyson Ford, "Note: customer had lock cylinder replaced recently elsewhere, Had different key cut. Also bolts and screws are missing or loose throughout steering column, air bag, etc.
What I want done is to be refunded my money back plus interest. My intention in paying them $541.50 was to have my car fixed, not to give his mechanics on the job training how to fix a Ford Focus!
In addition to that, I would like to be compensated for the danger he left me, my family, and any passengers that rode in that car by excluding and not tightening nessary bolts and screws to of all things, the steering column and the air bag.
Lastly, I would like to report Miller Brake & Auto to whatever inspectors that need to be notified that there is a shop doing business regularly that is endangering its clients lives by its faulty repairs.
I have receipts to verify all the above which can be supplied to whoever needs them, upon request.
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