Canadian Tire Sucks at Auto Repairs - Unnecessary, over-priced, incompetent, incorrect and incomplete!

Dan D.: I just had the worst experience with customer service in the auto service dept. Dropped the fleet vehicle off at 7:30 am to have a light bulb and the thermostat changed along with a winter check up. Went by at 2:30 to see if the vehicle was ready to be picked up. The person I spoke to went to see if it was ready she returned and said that they where waiting on a part could be 5 minutes or 5 hours

Dan D.: There was 3 people working on the work order to close out the invoice. At the end of the day they had the vehicle for 10 hours no work done on the vehicle. The people that they have working there are poorly trained and lack of profession dealing with the public.

Dan D.: She then said that they would update me at home. The call never came. I had to phone them. The service rep that processed my work order answered and said that he had lost my fleet card and that the vehicle would not be ready tonight to be picked up. There was 2000 dollars work required on the vehicle. He had not called for approval to proceed with the work.

File under Overpriced:


Linda H.: Just because I'm a senior (66) doesn't necessarily mean I'm slow or unfamiliar with costs of items... I needed to replace a LIGHT BULB on my passenger break light... The fellow at the service desk said it would cost around $30.00 plus installations...i asked him if this was the regular price for the bulb and installation ( I needed to make sure I had heard correctly) again he said $30.00 plus installation...My answer to him was. I made be old, but not stupid...and walked out of the store. I then drove over to the Toyota Dealer and asked him the same question.. His reply was $7.45 for the bulb and installation.. I will never take my car to Canadian Tire for any kind of service... The store I am referring to is in London Ontario on Dundas street East.

Chelsi M.: Just wanted to share a story about Canadian tire... I took my car to Canadian tire in Calgary. The one just off 64 ave in the NE. I recently got a diagnostic on my car and found that I was gonna have to get a new starter soon. Shortly after my diagnostic my starter went. So I brought it to Canadian tire to fix. When I picked my car up and the first time I started it I noticed a grinding noise. I thought it was weird and it was a noise I have never heard before. After a day the sound got worse and I could barley start my car. I called CT and they said to bring it in. The next day i trued driving it to bring it in and the car wouldn't even start! i had to tow it in. After they did a diagnostic on it they said that they noticed that they did install a faulty starter. They then installed a "new one" but said they they could still not get my car to start...(just to clarify, i did drive my car into canadian tire to begin with when i brought it in initially to fix the starter) they did a further diagnostic and found that the teeth on my flywheel had been grinded down (obviously cause they didn't instal the starter properly to begin with and it messed up my fly wheel). Canadian tire would not own up to anything! They wouldn't do a thing for me. So I went there and got my car. It had been there for over a week already. I couldn't even start it when I went there. I had to jump start it. I brought my car to a real mechanic. He took my car apart. The mechanic found that the second starter Canadian tire installed was dropped and wasn't any good at all. So on top of having to get a new flywheel I need a new starter... Then my brake lights where sticking... So now that needs to be fixed... Then the mechanic found that my clutch disk was messed up and I needed a new clutch! But my clutch is brand new! The mechanic at Canadian tire said that he was tinkering with my car to try and see why it wouldn't start... I am so mad and sad that this is all happening rite now. I am a single mother who works my butt off to support my son, and I bring my car into Canadian tire with nothing but a starter problem which should have only costed $300, and am leaving with a hefty car bill of $2000... An rite before Xmas. And canadian tire wont do a thing for me Thanks!

Owen W.: You guys are a joke. I went there at noon today, was told my simple coolant flush would take an hour, hour and a half at the most. SEVEN hours later and I just got my keys back. But to make matters even better, I brought in specialty coolant for my Passat and asked the staff numerous times to only use that, and nothing else. Low and behold your quality mechanic mixed in some other junk with it. I will be getting it redone at the dealership and you can be sure I'll be coming back to your store to pay for the repair receipt for the damage your store caused mine. Nice professional staff you have working here in Saskatoon Confederation.

Shawn C.: My older parent's took their 2003 Alero to Canadian Tire Kanata to address a noise in the wheel. After replacing the struts and bearings, and some other things ($1300) the issue was still present. My parent's returned the car a few weeks later and the service centre told them front caliper was sticking and pads and rotors needed to be replaced. AN ADDITIONAL $650.00. The tech also said if car sat for a couple of weeks while on vacation, brake issues could start. (Ya right) Now, the rotors and pads had only been replaced the prior year so I was very suspicious. Fearful of brake failure, my parent's got a 2nd opinion at Kanata Myers (A reputable dealer). Myers wrote on the invoice "Brakes are ok at this time. 5-6MM Front, 6-7MM Rear". The brake inspection at Myers cost my parent's $73 and I called Randy (Service Mgr) at Canadian Tire and asked as a gesture of good will if he could give my parent's a store credit for the amount. I told him my parent's were not interested in receiving any credit from the service centre and he merely offered a free oil change. I feel my parent's should have been compensated for the brake inspection and that didn't even include their time. I am very disappointed in the outcome. We have lost all faith in the CT service centre. It does not seem right to tell a customer that they have bad brake issues and scare them into paying $650 when it appears there is no issue and subsequently not offer any compensation to the customer. We will not shop at Canadian Tire again.

Shawn C.: I might add it also seems odd that Canadian Tire Service Centre didn't detect the brake issue the 1st time my parent's took the car in for the $1300 strut and bearing work. I might also add that I told Randy (Service Mgr) that I would be escalating this and he didn't seem to care and would not reverse his decision to offer my parent's a store credit. I did say I would return the car for them to check out but not as a condition of getting a store credit since their decision was a bit partial. I have emailed my complaint. I might also add that your contact us link does not work @ Contact Us

Winnie C.M.: I am writing to also express my extreme dissatisfaction with the auto repair department in Burlington. I brought my car in for a service, the technician told me he will change my transmission fluid because it is black and causing issues on my car. I agreed and he proceed, after 2 hours of waiting and almost $400 later, I found the fluid is still black. Please don't tell me you lied to me and charged me $400. Shame on me for bring my car to Canadian tire, you guys are known to do horrible jobs, but this has gone too far.

Joe D.C.: ..and God help you should you need a car repair. While visiting Fredericton NB this fall we had car problems and long story short we were used and abused, with lies, false promises, delays, terible service and overcharged. They take your car in and then they have a mechanic jump from car to car trying to repair more than one car at a time..result the said delays and overcharged repairs. NEVER AGAIN!!!

Don M.: I will never take my vehicle there again. I asked to have a tire replaced, and once they finally finished they said I needed a lot more stuff fixed. Much of it had been repaired/replaced only a few weeks previosly. That was at least 10 years ago and have never gone back for any auto repair . I also will not recommend them for auto repair. I won't give them a chance to shaft me again.

Maybe Husband is lucky, that CT didn't mess with his vehicle, yet. He could still dodge that bullet! Still, not very nice - they could have just said, 'bring it in tomorrow' instead of jerking him around:


Christine C.P.: Wow husband drop off his car for a new battery today and was told it would talk a couple of hours and they would call him. They are now closed and he has no car to get home.

Oh, another unfortunate family! At least they got out in time!


Rob A.: My wife takes our van in for regular maintenance(oil change) and now told the drain plug is wrecked and could cost $150 to fix. Well we've only taken our van to one Canadian tire store for the last 10 oil changes with no problem, Nice time to gouge someone this close to Christmas. Leave the wife walking around the store without calling her to let her know. Jerks, never again will you amateur parts changers touch any of my vehicles. CAA is the way to go now for auto club Napa is my new store for parts.

Michael G.S.: Canadian tire in brooks Alberta got to be the worst

I took my car there to change tires an ended up with 12 striped out lug nuts.
Then the store manager argued with me saying I did it.

Thanks Canadian tire you stink

Also Lon the Boycott list:

Karla M.: i vowed never to step foot in a trashy tire store again ever after trying to charge me over 600 for a job i got done and fixed properly for 80.00

Lisa S.O.: We've cancelled and cut up all Canadian tire cards as I've had nothing but crap service from Canadian tire. Even my loyal parents are fed up after paying for 2 safeties failed both cars and went to another garage ( reputable) And they passed. I've had nothing but issues w my brakes since taking it to Canadian tire 3 weeks ago. Even went through a stop sign w my kids in my car because of whatever they did to it ( they did brakes and rotors ) and they haven't been the same. That's only a few of the issues. Not to mention they didn't install my calipur correctly and broke while driving nearly wrecking my front end tires and rim. Leaving cap open after oil change. Shall I go on?

Nick H: Canadian tire is awful. The worst business I've ever encountered...I emailed corporate and the branch in my city after horrendous customer service and theft of items in my vehicle..they did nothing. Don't take your vehicle to the service department. You will regret it

Aman U Here is my horrible experience at Canadian Tire this Morning!!! I was in a bit of a hurry this morning and forgot to unplug the b-heater cord and ripped the plug. I went to Canadian tire and bought another plug. This morning was really cold here in Prince Albert, SK -40. Since I don't have a garage and it’s freezing which makes it impossible to work outside in the cold. I decide to see if I could use the shop (garage) at Canadian Tire and just replace the plug there myself I had my own tools with me. One of the mechanics was nice and said sure no problem it’s impossible to work outside in this weather. I pulled in to the bay and popped opened my hood and started to pry off the wire insulation meanwhile, the Manager Ray (got his name from his name tag) walks in and said you can’t do this here you have to leave. I told him I just bought the part here and it -40 can I just do it quickly and I will be on way. He tells me to make an appointment because I can’t do this here and it will cost me $40 and they can do it for me or leave. Very disappointed I left the store. I couldn’t believe someone could be so heartless knowing that it’s freezing outside and its going to stay that way for the next few days and if I don’t get that plug installed my car wont start the next day. This is the same store where about 8months ago I replaced my front lower control arms, which cost me $1200. I will never shop here again!! And will let everyone I know about the awful experience I just had! Bravo Ray!!

Robert M.: Well I've been a CTC customer for several decades and find that "it shure ain't what it used to be".When they had mechanics ,like for instance Paul MacIsaac, New Glasgow,all you had to do was drop your vehicle off,describe the problem and forget it..Never failed to fully satisfy.Sadly that ain't always the case anymore...

The user named blues posted here:
https://www.canadiantiresucks.net/personal-stories/975-5-weeks-perform-7-hrs-work.html

It took their automotive service centre 5 weeks to fix my timing belt and replace my cylinders. The invoice said they only performed 7 man hours of work on my car. Throughout the entire process I was calling their automotive service centre twice a week for every week that I didn't have my car. They blamed the delays on having to send my engine to a machine shop in order to replace the cylinders. However apparently the machine shop didn't have a working lift. I really don't understand why they didn't send my part to another machine shop, or demand that the machine shop fix the lift earlier (i.e. the machine shop would not want to lose business from a major partner like canadian tire). I sent my complaint to corporate, and they wrote it off as if 7 hrs of work in 5 weeks is normal. Personally, I think producing 7 hours of work in 5 weeks is an embarrassment.

I smell Spam!

CT posted a picture of a partly assembled vehicle, as ask Canadians to guess what it is.


Daniel L.: an overprice oil leak inspection just to let you know that your vehicle is leaking oil right after you just asked them about the fact that you are losing oil, then they proceed to disassemble the rest?

Blue N.: We had to look under the hood, to further inspect...

Peter B.: if it is being built by Canadian Tire mechanics then it will be something that will not run right

Marcel D.: I realy don't care because Canadian tire don't have themechanic to do such a job sorry put true

Crappy Tire paid Facebook to yet again Spam Canadians ... on Christmas Morning!

Here's how one ripped-off customer responded:


Bonnajai S.: And thanks for ripping us off for more than $200 at your garage. Customer Service said that it is okay that they have ripped us off.

Yow!!!


Sandy S.: I took my car in for repairs on Aug 20 , 2013. I was charged $900 to fix an ignition system issue, well Dec 23 I had the same issue. Got my car back from Fountain tire today and had to pay $1300 to fix the issue that Canadian Tire did not fix but had charged me for! Everything they said they had replaced, including the 4 sparks plugs, had to be replaced. The four sparks plugs that were removed today were the original plugs and had not been replaced !! No wonder when I asked for the old parts they were not able to provide them, they were still in my car! How can they get away with ripping people off like this. BE WARY OF GETTING ANY WORK DONE ON YOUR VEHICLE AT CANADIAN TIRE !!!!!!