ComplaintsforLone Star Engine Installation

• Initial Complaint

  06/25/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Paid them to rebuild a engine for me, completely rebuild it, supposed to come with a warranty, within 1400 miles it tried coming apart, brought it back, they claimed to fix it, within ***** miles it did it again, they fixed it once more, within 400 miles of receiving the truck, it fully blew up, but a hole in the block, they refused to fix it, tried getting a lawyer involved but civil suits in ******... I bought another engine they agreed ti put it in for free, my only option apparently, they purposely tampered with the new engine.. and they keyed mt windshield, busted my fenders and did other body damage to my truck while it was in their possession. Then they made me pay 600 for the installation of the new engine when we agreed it was going to be for free since they didn't build my first motor I paid for right. Then the new motor they purposely destroyed internal components causing it to fail within 100 miles of receiving the truck. Worst business I have ever seen and they honestly deserve to be shut down.

  Business response

  06/27/2024

  ************** contracted us to rebuild his engine on a 2001 ***** 3500 in September of 2020. He called us in March letting us know that it was making a noise. He brought it to us, and we checked it we saw the engine was damaged due to high rpm which overloaded the engine and caused it to get damaged, we repaired it under warranty, and he picked it up. He called again in May saying there were issues with the truck again, so he sent it to us to inspect it, after inspection we found damage to the block again due to high rpm and overloading the engine but this time it damaged the short block, so his engine was not rebuildable.  We let him know what we found with the truck, and he told us to put on the street it sat there for 10 months we called him twenty-three times for him to pick it up because we are not responsible for damage that occurs while on the street. He finally contacted us, and he brought us a used engine that he said he got from his friend,and we installed it for $600. He told us his engine was good. We took out the damaged engine and installed his engine in the condition he brought it to us. He picked up the truck in March of 2022. We are not responsible for damage to the truck since he told us to put it on the street and it sat there for 10 months.
  Sincerely,
  *************************
  Lone Star Engine

  Business response

  07/01/2024

  ************** contracted us to rebuild his engine on a 2001 ***** 3500 in September of 2020. He called us in March letting us know that it was making a noise. He brought it to us, and we checked it we saw the engine was damaged due to high rpm which overloaded the engine and caused it to get damaged, we repaired it under warranty, and he picked it up. He called again in May saying there were issues with the truck again, so he sent it to us to inspect it, after inspection we found damage to the block again due to high rpm and overloading the engine but this time it damaged the short block, so his engine was not rebuildable.  We let him know what we found with the truck, and he told us to put on the street it sat there for 10 months we called him twenty-three times for him to pick it up because we are not responsible for damage that occurs while on the street. He finally contacted us, and he brought us a used engine that he said he got from his friend, and we installed it for $600. He told us his engine was good. We took out the damaged engine and installed his engine in the condition he brought it to us. He picked up the truck in March of 2022. We are not responsible for damage to the truck since he told us to put it on the street and it sat there for 10 months.
  Sincerely,
  *************************
  Lone Star Engine

• Initial Complaint

  04/12/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I put my car in their shop to rebuild the engine on 1/16/23, paid $1000.00 down, picked the car up on 2/17/23,made final payment of $2096.00 that day.After putting 4k plus miles on the engine in 11 mths,the engine is leaking oil,I call the shop on 2/17/23 and spoke to a worker who wouldn't give his name,stating ***** was not there, the worker Supposedly wrote my name and number down to give to management stating that I had called on Saturday 2/17/23, to report the problem, l have not received a call from Anyone, so l have spent $3096 dollars for an oil leak. the order doesn't show Any parts or nothing. ************************* CELL ********** HM **********

  Business response

  04/30/2024

  Responding to ************************* complaint, 

  We are not open on Saturdays. We are open Monday thru Friday 8 - 5:30  warranty claims are handled during those hours.  We have not been contacted by ************* . If you need warranty work you can come in you dont have to go through the BBB to schedule. Call us direct at ************

• Initial Complaint

  03/13/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Hello is been speaking verbally by phone to this individual Mr. ***** , He told me to go ahead and bring my jeep to the office and that he would not charge me to tell me what was wrong. I ask what if I don't get it fixed after he tells me, he said they been in business over ***************************************************************************** So I take my care Monday 03-11-2024 and the place was packed with cars and tow trucks flying in and out the street as though they a repo company. So my jeep has to be parked right across the street from the shop as other cars where. So ***** walk over, looks at my jeep and says I need a motor, BUT I had just got of the phone explaining how another shop lied about putting it on a diagnostic machine, he said he would. But did not. Then he said he needed to move my car inside the gate of his shop. I ask him would it be a fee for that. He said no mam.I dident see any where he could put it , yet after he squeezed it in the gate he immediately ask me to go inside the office as though it was a emergency or something. He gave me the paperwork of an estimate. Then he went outside and we talked. He said they wanted to buy my car, I said if it needs a motor so bad why would he want to buy my car. He kept asking. Then he said well I could take the night and think if I wanted to sell or let them fix it or not. I ask will I be charged for him keeping my car as he wanted too. Because I told him my car was fine parked on the street by law for 24 hours or I could have it pulled back home. Yet he said just leave it with him and no fee would be charged if I did not want or sell them my jeep and I could just come get it Tuesday after I decide. But on my way Tuesday 03/12/2024 ***** kept calling and texting me to sell them my car. I had explained again how it took over a year to find all the parts and have my car painted like brand new. He kept asking to buy it with aggressive tone, and then he stopped answering the phone as I got closer there. Last time we talked a few minutes before I arrived he said he wanted me to pay ***** because I would not sell my car so now he charges a storage. I told him it wasn't right to lie and move my jeep inside his gate. Because id told him shops will lie. As he did. But I told him I'ma come pay and that he can just sit my Jeep right outside in front of his shop where I parked it and where other cars where also. Again he ask to buy my car for 1000 now. And hung up in my face when I said no or that we will talk more when I got there. He ask to see a picture of my title as though it's not my car? So I sent it to his phone as it seems they was trying to take my jeep which drives and runs, it would just cut off after it drove so far. But never ran hot or loud or anything. My car drove and ran like a new car it just would cut off at times. So I knew it wasn't the motor and AutoZone said it was a oxygen sensor and needed a tune up only. Yet when I went to pay this fee he said I wouldn't have to to get my car I didn't see my jeep anywhere near or inside the gates of lone Star engine shop. So I ask the lady who works in the office with ****** who was there when I brought my jeep and talked to me too in the office the day I he aerial has me bring it for the estimate amount and a machine diagnostic that he lied about doing and never did. So no one knew where my jeep was as I ask EVERYONE I saw worked there. Some say they didn't speak English. So finally ***** who I handed my keys to when I brought my jeep who told me to bring my jeep He says my car is at the end of the street by the highway with my keys in them ignition? But I go down there and NO keys inside and My BACK RIGHT BUMBER IS DENTED and Parked going the wrong way down the road from they shop. He says I don't have to pay him the fee he lied about. He said I owe him nothing? But he refuses to pay for the damaged to the body of my car. And again my car has a full body replacement and New paint job with no dents or anything. Looks like a new car on the outside. As I went back down the street to ask why my car was way away from the shop I left it with, they started closing the gate and ignoring me. So I called the police and they gave me a ticket against the shop . And even the police said the shop sounds like they ****** and did me dirty and told me to take them to court and take that case report to show I made a report. The guy Aerial came and said my car was in good condition when he pulled it way down a street from the shop I left it with them. Trust them with the care of my car and car. Keys. My car should have been the same as it was when I dropped it off. My keys should have been handed to me as I handed it to them in they hands. They treated me and my car like trash and NO ONE WOULD GIVE ME MY KEYS As I BEGGED EVERYONE. After the police left I stayed around the corner, all who Left the shop came back and opened the gates and continued to work. So I video taped them as the all fleed when the police came. . Later in the night Aerial tells me my keys are in the *** TANK....Crazy and evil shop. Who treats customers or consumers so poorly and care nothing about my property. And who tried to take my car. And gets mad because I want sell it. I did not take it to sell it?? Yes he just kept asking with a temper at times in his tone. I believe he has damaged my jeep trying to get it in the shop gates, that was over full with cars and tow trucks. Yet he feels that him and his shop is not responsible for the damages done to my jeep. All because I would not sell my jeep ..Why damage my car that has a new paint job and parts

  Customer response

  06/04/2024

  The shop man told me bring my car in after we'd talked several times by phone. He said it won't be a charge. But when they got my car they said they wanted to keep it. I wnted it to stay parked on the street as shops lie when they take your car on they property. They shop later would call asking to buy my jeep that I have spend way over $4.000 on parts and body work and paint job. They didn't want to pay my price. So the next day I want for my car it wasn't at the shop. And no one would tell me where my car was. I found my car wreaked, ****** on a dead end street without my keys and parked on the WRONG way direction on wrong side of street on dead end street. *** worked at the shop ask to buy my wreaked car as I had to call the police department to come out. Yet the shop didn't know where my car keys were and was very mean to me. I was afraid of the man who I left my car with a MR ***** who said he was the owner. I had several anxiety attacks and had spent way too much on my car and they wreaked it refused to pay all because I wouldn't sell my car to them. My car was left unlocked and vandalized. I had no keys and was afraid of these people who Bullies lady customers so I sold my wreaked car to a man that said he worked there. But the shop still not wanting to take responsibility for the neglence, mental angwish, vandalism and wreaking of my 2006 jeep commander. Also the man work there has still not gotten the car out my name. And the company refuses to pay the thousands owed for their part. The shop is trying to say that me selling my jeep to a man world at the shop all because they kept my jeep keys, and wreaked my car that has a new paint job and I spend thousands for part's that had to be replaced. This shop cared nothing about me or my property I left in they care. Even took my keys and left my jeep wreaked and abandoned,unlocked parked on a dark dead end street on the wrong side of the street. And yet no one will pay me for the actions this shop did. The man work at the shop paid ***** for my wreaked jeep , yet the shop refused to pay another $1000 for parts , vandalism, mental angwish, neglence, misconduct. As a disabled women I was supposed to be treated like ant other customers. Yet I was bullied and treated so unkind and unprofessional. All because they wanted to take my jeep from me. And got mad because I wouldn't sell my jeep. When all they promised me was they would look at my car for free to tell me if it needs a motor or not. Yet my car ended up wrecked and abandoned and no one would give me my car keys or tell the police. This is a very dangerous shop who will bully ladies and wreak your car if you won't sell to them. Now the man that works at the shop still has not taken the car out my name and it's been over 30 days. Now the shop has stopped communicating and still will not pay the 1000 to ***** more as I told them for their part of damages to my jeep left in their care. A man buying my jeep they WREAKED has nothing to do with the unprofessional vandalism, wreaking and neglence this shop has done to me and my jeep. All because I refuse to sell my car. So they wreaked my car and left it on a dead end street

  Pay ***** for the parts and paint job which i paid way more for and took a year to find parts them spent $***** just for a new paint job. All to be wreaked while I'm the custody of lone Star engine who was only supposed to check my car out and tell me what was wrong with it. Yet they kidnapped my jeep and wanted to buy it. After I kept refusing they refused to give my keys and even wrecked my jeep and left it abandoned with doors unlocked with things missing

  
  

  Business response

  06/04/2024

  *********************** Called and asked for the price for an engine rebuilt. She pulled it in because it wouldnt start, and we confirmed it did need an engine rebuilt. She said she could not afford it and didnt think she needed the engine rebuilt. She refused to pay the $65 diagnostic fee and she demanded that we put her car out of the shop and put it on the street. We told her we are not responsible for her car out on the street and to pick it up asap. She came later that evening when the shop was closed and said that someone had damaged the car while it was on the street. She talked to an employee who offered to buy the car and she sold the vehicle to him for $1500 total.  She told him shell take $1000 but to give her $1500 for her mental anguish. So, they made the deal. Agreement enclosed. 
  

• Initial Complaint

  01/11/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I had this company rebuild the engine in my truck. I was told that they would take care of it and basically have no issues. Ive had nothing but problems since I hired them. Now Ive got more engine problems that they caused and they wont warranty them. They are blaming me for them and I have multiple engine rebuilders that are saying I didnt do anything wrong. And they will stand up for me too! I havent even had the chance to drive my truck 200 miles yet. Plus the parts that they lost and the stuff stolen out of my truck. But the stolen stuff is minor compared to the engine issues. They lied to me about being able to fix my engine correctly. And they would only take cash or cashiers check. Now I know why.

  Customer response

  05/19/2024

  I just paid to have my engine rebuilt again. The machine shop said that the shop that worked on it previously did a bad job. I paid lone star about $14,000 not counting all of the new parts that he required me! To buy. He told me that the crankshaft wouldnt balance and I would have to buy a replacement. Since then Ive checked with multiple engine builders and everyone says that the crankshaft couldnt have been bad. The machine shop said that 1 piston was different than the others. And that the cylinder had been honed. The head wasnt properly tightened down and a multitude of other things were found not properly done. The supervisor with lone star engine builders required cash or cashiers check to do the work. And he had me write a different name on the cashiers check. He also said that it would have a warranty. When I called him he said that I should take it to a diesel shop. I did and when I called him back he started telling me that I should have replaced this and that. Ive been told by the machine shop that hes trying every way to get out of taking care of his s**** up. 

  Business response

  06/03/2024

  Please provide us with a signed invoice from our business, we have searched our records and dont see an invoice for that amount or name. We have been in business for 34 years and have  never. Charged anyone ****** dollars. 
  

   

  Lone Star engine

  ************

• Initial Complaint

  08/27/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Rebuilt engine left nuts bolts off engine cracked intake manifold and frank cadillac still diagnosting engine repairing and replacing damaged parts charged me for parts cadillac had recently replaced don't send your cadillac to this place they overcharge and treat consumers poorly after you pay them shady mechanics keep you coming back for problems they created

  Business response

  10/11/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/09/01) */ Rafael ******** <****************@gmail.com> Mr. ****** brought the car to us on march 23, 2022 to rebuild his engine. He told us he was in a hurry so we got it ready quickly for him, once it was ready he gave many different excuses for not being able to pick up the car. In May he asked us to drive the car to title max so he could get a title loan to pay for his engine repair. He made us wait at title max telling us that he was on the way, we waited 3 hours, after that the tech decided to take the car back to the shop, half way back Mr. ****** called and said he was there. We drove the car together at title max and he said it ran great. We drove the car back to title max where they did not approve him for the total bill just for half of what he owed. We got half of the payment on May 24th and did not hear from him until june 21st when he came to pay the balance. When he was picking up the car we made him aware that he needed emissions work done and that he should get the manifold checked. Mr. ****** did come back one time because he thought there was an issue with the car, he drove from Fort Worth on a Friday. When he got here he said the car didn't do it anymore and that he would bring it at another time. We did not hear from Mr. ****** until July when he sent us a repair estimate from Cadillac Of Arlington for $8152.79 the list of repairs are 1) Perform Transmission Flush - $332.94 2) engine tune up - $697.44 3)flat tire repair - $35.95 4) tire patch - $24.95 5) power steering flush - $149.95 6) steering Rack - $1934.45 7) A/C compressor replacement - $1440.42 8) starter Replacement - $1570.36 9) break flush - $149.95 10) battery - $420.00 11) break job front - $341.08 12) break job rear - $725.50 13) transmission flush from kent Cadillac - $1169.09 These parts have nothing to do with the work we did. All we did was Rebuild the engine. and the work was completed to his satisfaction. He has a year warranty if he has any engine issues bring it back and we will address them. We have tried to contact Mr. ****** several times; he will not return our calls or answer.

• Initial Complaint

  08/05/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On 10/21/2021 paid $1065.00 to have my car towed to Lone Star engine and installation for repairs. The repairs were to be completed in 4 weeks. After several months of delays and phone calls not returned, they said they were done, but there was still a problem they could not fine and blamed the transmission, which they do not fix. I had the car towed to a transmission and it was fixed in 10 days or so and towed back to Lone Star to have the repairs completed under warranty sine i had pair the repair costs in full. To this day the car is still not fixed and the business will not return phone calls.

  Business response

  11/07/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 10, 2022/09/29) */ Mr ********** picked up his car and is satisfied Thanks you Consumer Response /* (3000, 12, 2022/09/30) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) My car was left uncovered with the window down and the interior was damaged by the elements. The business lost an original throttle body that belongs on the car that should have been returned.

• Initial Complaint

  06/07/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Continuation of an already logged complaint. We was told not to turn on the A/C because they took the belt due to a leak, I said why did no one call, he said we're telling you now, I said we never had a problem with the A/C or heat, the nephew said they noticed it and didn't want us to burn up the motor . We complained to Rafael the owner, he said it was bad and the nephew said they paid someone 800 $ each time they took the motor out , I said that's not our problem, we asked for our money back because the vehicle now have more issues than we started out with, the owner replied he was not going to give no money back he was rude and hung up on us. We tried to seek legal aid due being on disability and they said we're about 100 $ over so we're left with a leaking car also damaged scrape marks on the side of it

  Business response

  08/15/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 10, 2022/07/06) */ ****** ******** <****************@gmail.com> ***** ******** came to Lonestar to get a price for a noise he was hearing, we said it might be the actuator, but we could not be sure until we opened the engine. When we did open it up, we told them it was not just the actuator it was also a worn-out crank, belt tensioner, bearings, oil pump and motor mounts. They agreed on the price and told us to do the work, when it was time to pay, they had a lot of excuses and issues and problems. They thought that if they sweet talked enough, they would get it free or discounted so they tried that, when that didn't work, they got nasty and they were still told they would have to pay. They finally came to pay some of the balance after that they felt entitled to bring in the car for every squeak and sound their heard and demanded us to fix it. they kept that up for weeks and weeks. They still owe a balance and the issues they have are not part of the work we did. We never made a different copy of the paperwork and when they brought it for warranty issues, we address what was covered under the work we did. To make it we did not agree on a complete engine overhaul they could not pay for it so the asked to repair only what was necessary.

• Initial Complaint

  05/19/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On 4/22/22 I finished paying for an engine rebuild on my wife's 2010 Toyota Camry total of $4028. Before agreeing to hire Lone star engine installation, Ariel (the manager) agreed my engine would be like new, with no check engine light or issues once they completed the job. On 4/22/22 when I picked up my vehicle, immediately there was an issue in the performance of the engine and a check engine light. The manager told me to drive it and see if it fixes itself, so I did as asked and returned the vehicle on 4/23/22 as the problem (misfire on cylinder 2) persisted after 75 miles. At this point the only engine fault code was a P0302. So the next week he informs me the heads need to be taken back off because a mistake was made previously. About 2 weeks later, on May 6, he calls and says the car is ready. As soon as the car is driven away from the shop the check engine light comes back on. This time it is code P0335. This code relates to the crank shaft sensor, being pro-active and capable I replaced the sensor hoping it was an unrelated issue. My heart sank once i realized that replacing the sensor was not going to fix it. (It must be a new issues related to either the wiring or the computer) an issue I never had before they started working on the vehicle, an issue that didn't occur until they had to perform additional repairs after doing the initial repairs incorrectly. I also discovered a missing hose clamp on the air tube connecting to the throttle body after the car left my wife stranded with a code relation to throttle position stuck open I removed the air box and noticed the missing hose clamp, as well as some missing bolts and lose wires. I returned the vehicle to the shop on Tuesday 5/10/22 for the me to address the code/missing clamp/ and missing bolts. Now the manager tells me they aren't capable of fixing the issues that his mechanics caused while doing the job. I would like the business to refund my money so I can pay for the additional repairs now needed.

  Business response

  10/11/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 18, 2022/07/27) */ Mr. ***** brought us the car to get an engine rebuild. He asked if the check engine light will be gone after the rebuild, we told him that the engine rebuild does not include any of the sensors that cause the light to be in. When he came to pick up the car the engine was running and he stated that the light was still on, we told him he must drive it and go through a drive cycle to give the computer a chance to clear it but if it did not to bring it back and we could read the codes. When he came back, he told us that he read the code and it had something to do with the crank sensor, so he went on and replaced it himself and that the light did not go away and that the hose clamps were lose and the bracket was also. So, we checked that out and rectified it. we also noticed that it had a misfire ion cylinder 2 due to a defective part and we had to take the head off to correct it and it was not going to cost him anything because it was under warranty, he then told us that the crank sensor was still causing the light to come on and when we looked into the issue we noticed that it was problem was the wiring and we informed him that needed to take to an electrical shop because we did not work on any electrical system. He was upset and told us that his goal every day will be to figure out different ways to ruin our business. If he has any engine issues, he could bring the car back because it is still under warranty. Consumer Response /* (3000, 20, 2022/07/28) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) Lonestar Engine caused the damage to my wiring harness when they did the "warranty work, due to defective parts" before they did the warranty work there were not any codes present referring to crank shaft sensor wiring, nor knock sensor code which was present and also damaged after they addressed the issues I brought to there attention regarding the missing hose clamp and loose wiring bracket (knock sensor wire). There was never an issue with the knock sensor until the last time I had my vehicle in their shop to address the loose bracket that was attached to the knock sensor wire, the put a bolt in the bracket and broke the wire at the same time! They are not accepting responsibility for causing these damages due to there carelessness. The attached photos show the missing hose clamp, loose wire bracket, and the broken knock sensor wire after it was replaced. Business Response /* (4000, 24, 2022/09/23) */ The customer has a 1 year warranty if there is a problem with the engine bring it in within the period the engine is covered by the warranty. We look forward to serving you Sincerely Rafael *******

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩