A week before Christmas was quoted $1500 for a thermostat replacement and $200 for a coolant flush for my Mazda CX5 engine code PO126. I took it to the Mazda dealership instead and they laughed at what I was quoted and told me they would have charged me around $700 tops but the thermostat is a known issue with my model and is covered under a warranty extension for the issue. My car was fixed and running better than ever in less than half a day. I will never return to NW Houston Auto Repair because of their extremely high prices and scare tactics.
Christian, thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback and I’m glad to hear your CX-5 is now repaired and driving well. I do want to clarify a few important points for anyone reading: When your Mazda came in with code P0126, our technician performed a visual inspection and confirmed a concern in the thermostat area. Based on what we saw, we built an estimate not just for the thermostat itself, but also for the water outlet assembly, fresh coolant, proper system bleed, and our standard parts-and-labor warranty. That more complete repair (thermostat and outlet) is what led to a higher estimate than simply replacing the thermostat alone, and this was explained at the time. As an independent repair facility, we do not have access to Mazda’s internal warranty extensions or goodwill programs. We don’t work for the dealership, so unless there is a published recall or a customer tells us they have coverage, we have to assume the repair is customer-pay and quote accordingly. In your case, it sounds like Mazda was able to cover the issue under a warranty extension, which is a great outcome for you — but it’s not something we can see or verify from our side when we’re writing an estimate. Regarding the idea that we use “scare tactics”: Our process is the opposite. We show customers exactly what we’re seeing — with photos and videos, and often by bringing them out to the vehicle in the bay when possible — and then provide a written estimate at no charge. There is never any obligation to buy from us. Many customers actually thank us for this level of transparency, especially when they discover an issue they didn’t know existed, even on vehicles recently serviced at a dealership. All that said, our customer reviews reflect the level of care and attention to detail that we strive to deliver for our customers, and we take that trust very seriously. Our goal is not to “laugh at” other shops’ pricing or to undercut anyone, but to recommend what we believe is a thorough, long-term repair and to stand behind it with a strong warranty. We’re genuinely glad your repair was ultimately covered and handled quickly. If you’d ever like to discuss your visit or our estimate in more detail, I’d be happy to go over it with you directly so you can see exactly what was included and why. In any case, we wish you safe, trouble-free driving going forward.
- N West Houston Auto Repair