Firestone Complete Auto Care

I cannot recommend this location enough. I took my car here yesterday for an oil change for the first time. I had called twice– once to make the appt and another to ask if I could change to a later time due to a schedule change on my end. Both times, the person on the phone was articulate and very respectful. When I got there, I was treated very respectfully. I felt like the staff was very presentable, knowledgable, and prompt. They must’ve taken my car in the second I sat down because a few minutes later I went outside for a phone call and didn’t see my car where I left it. The man came over to me before it was done and suggested a few things to fix but made clear that it wasn’t urgent but just something to be aware of for the future. I was in and out in probably 30 – 45 minutes max.
As a woman, I usually don’t like to get my oil changed and I beg my dad to go take it for me (I’m 26 years old) because everywhere else I’ve gone, they are usually very demeaning. I usually wait 2 – 3 hours for an oil change even when I have an appt. I see the men just standing around and taking their time. They don’t rotate my tires when I ask them to and they try to sell me things and act like its so urgent to get fixed (until I tell them I’ll ask my dad what he thinks and their disposition changes.).
Firestone in comparison to the other places I’ve gone is 1000% better. I will definitely be taking my car here in the future.

I’ve been going to this shop since 2011. Everyone has always been helpful and they take the time to go into details about what service needs to be done. They also have been accurate with their estimates. They are professional and do a great job!

I brought my car in on a Wednesday to get my battery changed and the found that my belt tensioner needed to be changed. Got them to order the part and brought the car back in on Friday night to complete the work on Saturday. They not only did the work on the belt tensioner but they found a bolt that was missing to my air conditioning and replaced it. Thank you Sergio, James and Daniel for making my car quiet again. I will be back and recommend you to my friends.

Don’t bother taking your care here! They can only do minor things, and will forget to do other things you ask for, becasue they NEVER have the part. I brought my car here becasue the engine light was on, was charged $ 100 and told they can’t do anything about it. The brakes I bought a couple of months ago squeak, they say it is fine, but I don’t trust the. I have brought my car here for oil changes on many occasion because it is within walking disctance of my house. Each time I bring it, I ask them to replace the wiper blades. NEVER have they done this simple thing becasue they have either forgotten — their words, or don’t have the part. I will sacrific convienece for trustworthiness and competence.

Caveat emptor. This place does not even deserve one star. I brought my car in for a Maryland inspection. My car failed and I was told I needed over $ 1300 worth of work done to pass. I said thanks but no thanks and went for a second opinion. Thank goodness I did because I brought my car to another garage, where the repairs cost me a whopping $ 75… $ 150, including the inspection. I wouldn’t go back there if you paid me. I even paid for another inspection to avoid going back. Cheat me once, shame on you… cheat me twice, shame on me.

Worthless and overpriced. Do not go there. Wasn’t bad until the manager there left around 2005 or so. New manager is worthless. Poor staff and apparent high turnaround. Can’t get the easy stuff right. Don’t go there for anything complex; go to a dealer

I purchased 2 new front tires and the lifetime alignment package all total $ 450.47. I even confirmed a 2^nd time that the tires were to be put on the front. After pickup, the vehicle pulled and I noticed the tires were put on the back of my vehicle. I returned the next day to find out that the alignment hadn’t bed done and had to wait again and was told there was another $ 150 charge. I will NOT EVER return to this Firestone dealership and will NOT recommend it either. Horrible experience especially given the Firestone quote in all the shops that says «I believe fundamental honesty is the keystone of business.» Maybe THIS shop needs to revisit its mission statement and that of their founder.
*Update: The manager of the dealership contacted me promptly to help resolve the situation. I will update my review once this has been done. I appreciate Firestone management’s prompt response and offer to resolve the situation satisfactorily. Feedback really does help. Hopefully this situation can help with future quality improvement.

This is a tough review to write. First, I have to say that customer service rep and manager were great. If I was just rating them, I would give them five stars. However, I am not just rating them. On April 3, 2015, I brought my 2007 Toyota Camry in for new tires. I also purchased a lifetime of front end alignments for the car. The other thing I asked for was a check of all my brakes. When they finished, I was told my brakes were all very good…80% and no problems. When I left, the first thing that happened, three blocks from Firestone was that one of my hubcaps fell off. That doesn’t speak well for whoever put my tires on. The major problem is that one month later (and less than 700 miles driven) I heard a metal on metal sound when applying my brakes. I took my car back to Firestone and they said my rear brakes were shot… needed new calipers, rotors and shoes… close to $ 900. How could my brakes have been «diagnosed» correctly a month earlier when I was told they were fine and now they were totally shot??? If I could give zero stars to whoever did the diagnosis, I would. The manager reduced my bill by $ 200 and I thank him for that. Now I have a lifetime warranty on my brakes from Firestone and a lifetime purchase of front end alignments. I will have to go back for any warranty work… but now have zero faith in this location’s ability to diagnose problems correctly.

My wife recently had a flat tire at the Columbia Mall on a recent late Saturday afternoon, with few options of assistance due to typical store closing hours of 5:00 pm. I was able to get in contact with this Firestone location, who agreed to remain available after their normal store closing time of 6:00 pm to either repair or change her tire (after the replacement «donut» was put on at the Columbia mall). She was able to get to the Firestone location just at their closing time and Jeff was able to assist her with a tire replacement (due to the severe damage to the existing tire) and get her on the road back to our home 70 mile away. Much appreciation to Jeff and the staff at Firestone for their willingness to remain late and assist her with the urgent problem of a flat tire. Excellent service. Chris S. 03/​19/​2015

REALLY IMPRESSED!
My car started making weird noises, and I knew I needed to get it repaired. After speaking with a few friends, the Firestone in Columbia was recommended to me.
I called into the store, and Audrey answered the phone. She was really pleasant and set up an appointment time for me the following day. Upon arrival, I was greeted promptly by Audrey, and she was quick to get the process started and discussed all my options. She was very knowledgable about what was going to happen, what could be fixed, what needed to be fixed, and the various specials going on. I do not feel like she was trying to scam me or overcharge me, which was a new experience for me.
In general, all the entire staff was extremely helpful and were quick to help each other out. Brandon and Daryl (sp?) also answered a few questions when Audrey was not available and they were able to explain things in simple terms soI could understand what was going on with my car. The staff is definitely a strong functioning team.
During my wait, the store had coffee and water available, and a TV showing the news. The staff also told me about the different food options and things to do around the area in case I wanted to kill sometime outside of the shop.
When I got my car back (in a timely manner i might add) everything was fixed, and all the noises were gone. I would recommend this place to anyone. I feel like they were really out to help me.

I’ve taken 3 cars and a truck here for oil changes. Service is usually very quick, but can be lengthy on Fridays and weekends — plan ahead! I have never been oversold, and if you keep an eye open, you’ll find special deals for oil changes — be it the coupon on the back of Giant Food receipts, or rarely «off the street» deals. No matter what you pay, the service is top notch. Staff is professional and polite. I won’t take my cars anywhere else for an oil change — $ 23.40 (taxes and fees included). Where else can you get that price? Where else can you find staff like this? I will continue to use them. Period.

I have never had anything but quick and friendly service. Prices are similar or better than other shops and the location is very close.

I went in for a simple replacement of battery terminals left it for a day. The next day I picked it up when I called them they did not call me. I checked the finished work but they did nothing except hammer pins in between the clamps of the battery to tighten them. After I showed the manager nothing was done, he alas he did not know who out the pins in assuming it was me! He refunded my money and did the work for free which took only 15 minutes and not a day! Never going back !

This will be long but PLEASE read before you consider going to this place.
I don’t know why I keep going here. I must be a sucker for punishment. I have spent thousands of dollars here over the last 5 years.
Sometime last year, I went in to have my oil changed and my tires checked (one of them looked low). I wanted to have everything ok’d b/​c I was driving to Connecticut to visit my daughter at school.
I picked up my car and paid for the services (plus $ 100 to diagnose my check engine light — rip off). The next morning, I noticed that my tire was still looking low. I got in my car and noticed my oil change sticker had NOT BEEN CHANGED.
I went back, and the guy told me «well it says in the computer that we changed your oil.» To which I replied «I don’t care what it says!» One of the mechanics overheard and said «I didn’t change the oil in that car yesterday, I just diagnosed the check engine light.»
I was livid. I could have died on my long trip! I could not believe they could be so incompetent and careless. And to charge me for services not rendered!
It doesn’t end there:
In January 2013, they replaced my spark plugs.
In Summer 2013, they told me I needed my rear brakes done soon.
In January 2014, I hadn’t had the brakes done yet and I was very concerned about it.
While driving down 29 in RUSH HOUR, my engine misfired! I had my car towed to my friend’s shop in Gaithersburg (Hillmuth, good place, and there’s one in Columbia too.). He told me that I had faulty spark plugs! That the plugs Firestone gave me were generally known throughout the industry as sub-​par plugs (I forget the brand name).
He also told me there was oil all over my engine! (I always got my oil changes at Firestone).
Guess what else he told me? That I didn’t need my rear brakes done! This place loves to tell you things you don’t need. Every single time I go there, they find some new thing. Last time, they found a nail in my tire. They called me to tell me about it. I paid over $ 100 for a new tire. To this day I’m not sure if they was ever a nail there.
I started going to this person who was referred to me by my co-​workers. He only works on Hondas but he comes to me to change my oil and other stuff like brakes. He’s really great. He told me I don’t need my rear brakes done until 200k (I was at around 160k at the time). Can you believe it?
Today I went back to Firestone to have a headlight replaced. How could they possibly screw that up? Why did I go back? Because their price was lowest, they’re close to work, and I’m a masochist.
I made the appointment this morning, so they knew who I was and what kind of car I have. I even said «do you need my info» and he said «no, this is Ms. Clark, correct?»
I went on my lunch break, and after waiting 20 mins or so, they tell me they don’t have the bulb in stock. They tell me that the computer says my car takes one bulb, when in fact it takes a different bulb. WTF? I just can’t with these people.
PLEASE DON’T GO THERE, SAVE YOURSELF SOME TIME, AGGRAVATION, MONEY, AND AN UNPLANNED FUNERAL CASKET!
(If you have a Honda, go to HondaMans in Pasadena. 30 minutes away, but SO worth it – trust me – check out their Unilocal reviews, including mine! Firestone quoted me $ 1,600 to have my A/​C fixed and Hondamans did it for $ 980!)

DO NOT BRING YOUR CAR HERE. After reading not so great reviews I figured I would try it, BIG MISTAKE. Even if you make an appointment it will still take an unacceptable amount of time. They also do not look to see what kind of car you bring in to make sure they have the right parts to fix it. I sat for 30 minutes just for them to tell me they didn’t have the right filter for my car’s oil change and to bring it back next week. Once I got in my car, they had put a hole in my leather seats. They said they would call me back the next morning to tell me exactly what they are going to do once they talk to their supervisor, but surprise… they did not call me.

I brought my 2005 Impala here on 6÷6÷14 due to a leaking fuel pressure regulator at 8:30 AM. Sergey did an excellent job communicating with me as to the status of my vehicle, and he always asked me before installing additional parts or providing other services. They did not try to upsell or perform any services I did not ask for or did not need. My car was fixed by the end of the day on the 6^th. While the price I paid was a little high: about $ 700 (including labor) for a new pressure regulator, new spark plugs, new plug wires and a complete fuel system cleaning, the work was done properly and in a timely manner. The old adage is true: you get what you pay for.

I had a simple oil change and tire rotation done here years ago. The facility charged me and I went on my way. I quickly realized that I never gave them my wheel lock key. How do you rotate tires without that key? YOU DON’T. That’s right, folks. This place charged me for a service they didn’t complete. And with a smile. Come get your car worked on here if you like being scammed.

What kind of mechanics would leave the undercarriage unfastened after an oil change? What kind of store manager would not feel responsible enough to remedy the problem properly? The combination works at this store.
My undercarriage cover fell off again after a month and a half. I am not taking it back there. Unlike the people who work there, I care about my safety.

The only thing this place has going for it is location. Near the mall in Columbia, so you don’t have to wait 4 hours in their waiting room.
Way overpriced, service takes too long, and just generally terrible overall. My most recent experience happened the other day when my car started making a noise. I assumed it was a belt needing to be replaced, since that was mentioned the last time I got my oil changed. So since I’m in the area all day and I have an important event the following day what the hey, I’ll take it to Firestone. I mean it can’t possibly be as bad as I remembered. WRONG.
I get my car back and instead of diagnosing it and getting back to us they just replace the belt because ‘that’s what you wanted’. No, what I wanted was for my car not to sound like a Ricer. However I agreed to a pre-​authorization since my husband was picking it up, so no refund for me. Not worth the hassle of a charge back since the belt would have needed to be replaced eventually, but silly me to assume they would call me back say ‘this was not the issue, do you want us to fix the belt or the noise or both.‘
This is certainly not the only issue (and certainly not the most expensive) I’ve had there but it’s the most recent. Would recommend finding a decent independent garage over going to this place.

This is place is terrible. Here’s why. I went here to have my oil changed to and to get my transmission fluid changed. It took them 1 ½ hours! There was no one else in line! Not to mention that they never have me an ETA to begin with. That may have calmed me down a bit. But then they wanted to hit me with some BS saying that I needed to get my battery changed. I immediately said «no» because of the already long wait time. Plus they tried to quote me for $ 200 for just the battery alone and an extra $ 20 to clean my old battery. Something didn’t seem right. So, I called AAA the next day and had them come out to take a look at it. They cleaned off my battery, tested it, and it was perfectly fine. I knew this because I had not had any start up issues, just some corrosion on the battery. This truly leads me to believe that they have a SHIT battery sitting in the back that they test to try to get you to get a new battery. Scam shit.
The point of this anecdote: DO NOT BRING YOUR BUSINESS TO THIS PLACE. THEY SUCK ASS!