Car-repair complaints always rank high in Iowa, even though most repair shops treat customers fairly. The most common complaints are that a repair shop charged more than the estimate, or that it did work the customer didn't authorize. Today's cars are computerized and complex machines, so doing our own diagnosis and repair is out of the question for most of us. Be skeptical of advertisements for low-price maintenance work.
Consumers sometimes pay for unnecessary repairs after shops do the advertised maintenance.
Exercise your rights under Iowa's Motor Vehicle Service Trade Practices Act. After you receive an estimate, the shop may not charge you a higher price, unless it contacts you with a higher estimate and you okay the additional cost. Disputes may come up even if consumers follow these tips. Try to resolve your problem directly with the repair facility. You will have a much better chance of success if you document your complaint.