Lithia Dodge of Corpus Christi Body Shop

I live in Austin, TX but if I ever have any auto body issues in the future here in corpus you can be sure this is where I will take my vehicle.

From my first phone call to them, it was evident that they listened to you and were more than competent - not just answering the phone because it rang or trying to rush you off the phone. It got better in person ... from the moment I arrived and was greeted by MR. Baumle whom just happened to be walking out while I was walking in. Mr. Baumle was viewing my insurance estimate and verifying our conversation over the phone. He immediately called for my rental car, and then called for my vehicle parts. In 15 minutes I was gone.

By noon, THAT DAY, my vehicle was completely ready (it was very minor damage) and I was promptly called. When I picked up my vehicle it was washed and vacuumed. Now I realize washing the vehicle may be standard, but these days you seem to find people cutting corners and here I found lovely little things in addition to the main event.

I naively, didn't read reviews on Lithia Dodge Body shop... My jeep was wrecked into, their insurance let me choose the shop I wanted, and I chose this place! :-( they took a month to install a new driver side door and couple minor things. When I finally got it back, the new door wasn't flush with the back door, and the wind coming through the gap of the new door and frame when I drove on the high way was so loud it drowned out the radio. On my part, I never called back about those things...but you would think professionals would catch that before giving their work back to their customer. 5 months later, the same door was backed into and their insurance covered it. I got a 3rd driver door installed at Allen Samuel's. From the moment I dropped my jeep off, they were far more personable AND professional than Lithia Dodge. They took a week compared to Lithia Dodge's MONTH to do practically the same job!! When I picked it up, they said if I find any problems, bring it back for them to take care of it....while Lithia Dodge never mentioned anything like that. I also had to go back to Lithia to pay an outstanding balance at about the same time. The two receptionists I dealt with were rude. Liz was one of them. If you're still thinking about taking you car to Lithia, please don't!!!!

Lithia Paint & Body is one of the WORST places in Corpus Christi for automotive repairs.



Back in 2009 my vehicle was backed into, leaving the bumper badly scratched and chipped. After hearing good things I decided to take the car to Lithia for paint work. If I remember correctly, it only took them around a week to complete the job, and the manager provided me with a paint warranty.



Two and 1/2 years later, the bumper cover began to chip away. I would have shrugged it off if it was a tiny chip here and there, but it began to peel in large sections! I brought the car back to Lithia to get everything re-painted. That also took only about a week to finish.



Now another two years later (2014), my vehicle was unfortunately the victim of paint over-spray from my apartment complex going under a full exterior paint job. Because of this, and the fact that my bumper had badly chipped AGAIN, I took my car back to Lithia.



I had dropped the car off on Wednesday, May 14, 2014, where one of the managers (I will not use names) claimed they would not be able to begin work on the car until that Friday. This is where the nightmare began.



I gave the shop time to work on the vehicle before calling to check in. However, every time I did try and call no one would answer the phone. I left plenty of voice-mails, and only one call was returned; and the person I had talked to had no idea about the status of my vehicle, and somehow couldn't check the status (no explanation why).



Apparently the person who did know was on vacation and he would give me a call when he returned. NO CALL. So I began to drive there around twice a week. Every time I spoke to a manager I was given a story and excuse of how their head manager was always on vacation, or that someone had just quit.



After about a month of my car sitting in their parking lot, I drove back to the shop to see if there was any progress made. One of the assistant managers told me the head manager believes that my bumper had chipped this time from a collision! I WAS FURIOUS! The manager was trying to back out of his warranty! And to no surprise, I wasn't able to speak with him because he was on vacation!! I had received no prior call about this, and had to wait ANOTHER WEEK before finally having the chance to speak with him face to face.



He still tried to stick with his accusation that my bumper had chipped from an impact. We agreed to have a third party from State Farm come to Lithia check the vehicle. Once again, I was never contacted by Lithia when the agent had stopped by, and I had to drive there just to find out the result.



Guess what?? The agent believed it was a paint defect. After over a month of waiting, the manager finally got some sense knocked into him!



Now on July 3, 2014 I finally have my car back. Why didn't I just take it somewhere else? Because they owed me the paint, and I was not going to back away from their accusations, and their cowardliness of trying to back out of a warranty.



If my bumper chips again (which I have a strong feeling it will) I will be using other matters to try and gain the funds to take my vehicle to another paint shop.



LITHIA IS A JOKE! THEIR MANAGER IS A JOKE AND A COWARD. They have terrible communication skills, and no contingency plans. I would be ashamed if I was the manager. No pride, no backbone, and always one with excuses.

SERVICE! Dropped off my jeep for repairs on rear brake line. Estimated time, 3-4 days to receive part and repair. The downward spiral of ineptitude began with my jeep disappearing in their system. Every time I tried to contact them on the status of my jeep, I was always transferred to voice mail and not given the courtesy of a call back. Upon multiple calls to reach a human being, I was told my jeep did not exist in their system. Apparently, only one service advisor has access. How can no one else can check the status! No matter what time of day, my service advisor was always "at lunch"! The 3-4 day estimate turned into a 2-3 week estimate. Highly DO NOT RECOMMEND Lithia Dodge Corpus Christi, unless you wish to suffer in your own limbo of rude customer service and incompetent service advisors.