Testimony before a Congressional Committee in 1977 asserted that auto repair complaints constitute the largest single group of consumer complaints in our country. A recent undercover auto repair fraud investigation conducted by the Pinellas County Department of Consumer Affairs and the State Attorney's Consumer Fraud Division revealed that most of Pinellas County's repair shops are honest. However, several dishonest auto mechanics were caught and charged with fraud. The average consumer is not a mechanic, and it is often a very easy task for an unethical auto mechanic to convince the owner of a malfunctioning motor vehicle that unneeded repairs are necessary to correct a problem. Unfortunately, this is also an area where consumer protection agencies have a very difficult time proving fraud after repairs have already been made.
Some repair shops advertise check-ups or preventive maintenance service for very reasonable rates.
Unethical shops use these maintenance specials to deceive consumers into authorizing expensive, and often unneeded, repairs. They often spray oil on the wheels of the car and then claim that the wheel bearings or other parts are leaking. They sometimes puncture tires or cut water hoses and then show the unfortunate motorists the damages. These bandits emphasize the danger of driving away without having repairs made or tires replaced, and they charge highly inflated prices. The complexity of the modern automobile is such that expert mechanics may disagree as to what repairs are necessary to correct a problem.