I had my transmission rebuilt (1992 Dodge Dakota 4x4) at the end of January, 2001 at the AAMCO franchise located at 2445 Pembina HWY, Winnipeg, Manitoba. After only 8000km, on December 14th, the transmission failed. I brought brought my truck in and the technician and the centre manager both assured me that the repair was fully covered by my AAMCO warranty and should be ready by the 19th. On December 19th the centre manager, Doug Gagnon, told me that the franchise owner, Don Klassen, was refusing to honour any warranties including my own.
The reason? It turns out that Mr. Klassen, the owner of both AAMCO franchises in Manitoba, had closed one outlet earlier in December and was planning to close the centre on Pembina HWY on December 31st.
The customer relations agent, responsible for Canadian franchises, at AAMCO head office in Pennsylvania was absolutely no help and continues to spout the line that AAMCO will honour the warranty - she just had to speak with Mr. Klassen. Needless to say, Mr. Klassen has no intentions to speak to AAMCO or anyone else. There are several customers from both franchise locations that Mr. Klassen has refused rightful warranty service. In fact, at least one of the customers was recently sold an extended AAMCO warranty on a vehicle that was ineligible for such a warranty and now has his car sitting at the above franchise location with a blown transmission. Mr. Klassen just suckered him out of $270 for something he never intended to provide just to line his own pocket for Christmas.
So, with the doors about to close, myself and other customers are out walking in the cold of a Winnipeg winter without our vehicles throughout the Christmas season.
I urge all who read this to avoid AAMCO at all costs - they'll just steal your Christmas.
Calvin Schalla
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