I brought my car in to be repaired for stalling issues through insurance. The shop completed their thorough assessment and performed the authorized repairs during the first visit, but then tried to get me to pay for additional work, claiming there was an outside issue not covered by insurance. I declined and picked up my vehicle after a week, only to find the work was still incomplete.

I had to return the following week. At that second visit, the shop informed me they had discovered yet another issue requiring $300 in cash-only payment—no credit card accepted. When I asked why this problem wasn’t identified during their thorough inspection, they had no clear explanation. Needing my car back, I took the bus to withdraw cash and paid them on the spot.

A week after picking up my vehicle, I took it for an emissions test in Chicago. It failed despite no warning lights ever appearing on the dashboard.

The way this repair was handled left me deeply disappointed. The repeated attempts to charge me for additional work, incomplete repairs, and the sudden cash-only demand for a “new” issue raise serious questions about the quality and integrity of their service.

Sam H. from Maxcare Auto Centers responded on 07/09/2026 06:57 AM

Hi Simba,

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We always want our customers to feel completely informed and comfortable with our services, and we appreciate the opportunity to clarify the details of your recent visit.

First, please accept our sincere apologies for the initial delay. The holdup was caused by an unexpected parts shipment delay. This is why we reached out to give you the option of either taking your vehicle or leaving it safely with us while we waited for the delivery.

Regarding the emissions test, it is highly likely that your vehicle was "rejected" rather than failing due to a mechanical issue. During your repair, we cleared the vehicle's diagnostic codes. Whenever these codes are reset, the car's computer must complete a standard "drive cycle"—typically requiring a few days of normal highway driving or about 100+ miles—before the emissions testing equipment can properly read the system. Since your dashboard warning lights are completely clear, driving it a bit more should allow the vehicle to pass without any issues.

We also apologize for the confusion and any discomfort regarding the payment process. Our team was attempting to help minimize your out-of-pocket expenses by avoiding credit card processing fees, but we completely understand how this approach came across. We take your feedback seriously and will use it to improve how we communicate our payment options moving forward.

We stand firmly behind the quality of our work and want to ensure you are fully satisfied. Please feel free to reach out directly to our management team so we can address any remaining concerns.

Best regards,

Maxcare Auto Centers

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