Bought 2 used cars from this place at the same time for me and my husband. Staff was super helpful and friendly. Both cars, we were told, they guaranteed with a 3 month warranty, so if anything happened, they'd take care of it. Seemed like a good deal and a good place. We were stoked to finally have "Our" car shop and "Our" mechanic we could trust in our neck of the woods.
Barely a month later, one of the cars broke down 176 miles away. Called Northern Automotive, where I was informed the 3 month warranty was more like not an actual warranty, and they'd look at the car if I wanted but wouldn't cover the tow or reimburse any other shop for repairs. After much discussion, had it towed nearby and looked at on our own dime- it was the timing belt, which we were specifically told had been put on new when we bought it. We increased our AAA membership so we could have it towed back for Northern Automotive for them to work on a couple days later.
After the first week my car sat in their lot, I was called and informed they would look at it the 2nd week. They had apparently all been on vacation the 1st week and the shop had been closed. The receptionist acted mildly surprised that we hadn't known and that nobody informed us when we arranged to have it dropped off. Unapologetic, but mildly surprised.
After the 2nd week my car sat in their lot, they still hadn't looked at it due to staff illnesses.
After the 3rd week they had my car, they just got around to confirming that it looked like a timing belt issue.
After 4 weeks of having my car, they decided the timing belt had damaged too much of the engine and it needed a whole new motor.
They offered us a used one they salvaged and would fix up for a reasonable price of $700something.
Feeling out of options and without my car for a month, we agreed.
Got the car back almost another week later.
Picked up the keys when we paid our bill and went back for it that night.
No dash lights. I flipped the dimmer several times, but with no way to see my speed, shut the car off and returned the keys in the slot. Husband called the next day where he was told the only issue was we had the dimmer switch all the way off. Picked the car up in the daylight and drove home.
Tried to drive the car that night, but the dash lights were STILL out. Their repair guy didn't even look at the problem, just assumed the issue was that we were too stupid to know what the dimmer switch was for.
I will never take a car here again, even to keep fixing their own mistakes. What a vast disappointment, a huge amount of inconvenience, and a waste of both money and time.