St. Helens Auto Center

This review is in regards to the service department.
We bought a 2012 Ford Focus in January of 2015 from a dealer in Northern California. Last week, the transmission died. Had it checked out by our local Ford dealer, they traced the problem to o-​rings that were installed incorrectly (one had a cut in it, the other was pinched), causing the transmission fluid to leak out which lead to it dying (because of the dipstick-​less design of the car and the covering of the transmission, the fluid pooled internally, so we didn’t see a leak on the ground, nor could we check the fluid levels). Our mechanic said without a doubt that the problem had been caused by the last person who worked on the car royally messing up. Checking the service records, it was a tech at St. Helens Auto Center.
Tried for days to get a hold of a manager and kept getting the runaround. When we were finally able to contact him, he swore it wasn’t their fault and basically said we were shit out of luck on getting them to take responsibility for it. Our mechanic even called and spoke to him about it. Still nothing. Fast forward to this week, the manager now says that the tech that must have done the work isn’t there anymore, they don’t want to track him down and they’re not going to do anything to rectify their fuck-​up.
Needless to say, we’re pissed. We’re looking at a $ 5,500+ repair on a car we’ve had less than a year because St. Helens Auto Center allows techs to do faulty work on cars and then won’t attempt to solve the problem.

Purchased a 2003 Dodge Ran 3500 pick up from St Helens Auto Center. Caleb Doll was my salesperson. After negotiating a price, we sat down to do paperwork. I was clear that I had cash and didn’t need financing, the first paperwork I was handed was a credit check form. I declined filing it out; this resulted in a call to a manager. When handed a form that Caleb indicated showed that my name and information would not be sold, I showed him that the form *did* indicate my information would be sold. He said no, it wasn’t, but I showed him where it did indicate that. Evidently, no one had ever read it or questioned it. It was put in writing they would fix the A/​C which was blowing hot and that I would get a free oil change. The rest of the transaction went well.
A few hours later, I was back. The truck was not shifting properly. I’ll skip the boring details, but the sales manager drove it, noticed the issue, spoke with the mechanic and both felt the bands needed adjusting. Deano, the sales manager indicated he would take care of this work. The work was done (at no charge), and 19 miles later, the problem persisted. I attempted to make an appointment with the service department but they would not unless I talked to Deano. I came by and left word with Caleb that I wanted Deano to call me as the truck wasn’t fixed. Several hours later, Caleb called and said Deano was busy and that the truck «should be fine» and asked «Have you ever driven a diesel before?» I reiterated my conversation with Deano and the mechanic before the band adjustment and that the truck was doing the exact same thing but Caleb just repeated that the truck should be fine. I was so shocked that he implied I didn’t know how to drive properly that I haven’t returned. It was clear that the service department wasn’t interested in my business since they would not even look at the truck. I did not expect the dealership to necessarily fix the truck at no cost; it’s quite clear the paperwork says «as is» and I knew I was likely going to be paying to get it working properly.
Took the truck to a Dodge dealer in Hillsboro, who indicated the transmission fluid was a quart and a half low. They found the issue with the transmission. (Unfortunately, part of the transmission needs rebuilt because the part isn’t available. So I’m on shop #3.)
St Helens neither wants nor will receive my business. I don’t need to be insulted by a sales person who thinks I’m unable to drive my vehicle and a service department that won’t let me make an appointment. And if they are unable to properly fill the transmission fluid to the proper level, I’m going to pass on the oil change, thanks.

No Dodge certified tech… and won’t for awhile. I find it unacceptable that they call themselves a Dodge dealer but then have no one that can repair the vehicles they sell.

Let me begin with, when I went to buy my wife’s new car I tried to buy it from Saint Helens Auto Center and they could not get me the one I wanted and the salesman was kind of pushy. So I went down to Landmark Ford in Tigard and couldn’t have been happier with the experience. However I live in Scappoose and strongly advocate the support of local business so wanted to give these guys another chance when I went to buy a replacement for my farm truck.
I bought a 2000 Ford F350 from them last month and during the test drive there were several problems identified; AC, Cruise Control (and since I was trading in a truck which had a brand new $ 700 brake controller and 7 pin harness) and I wanted the functionality of the brake controller and wiring harness verified in this truck. Greg, my sales guy, seemed earnest enough and agreed to have them checked out and fixed.
What next ensued was a battle between their service department trying to do the right thing and the sales manager trying to save his profit margin. Long story short, as a result a lot of my time was wasted, my AC was fixed but my cruise control still does not function or does my brake controller and although I was TOLD it was, the wiring harness were clearly never checked because is was completely incorrect.
Love Ford, won’t buy another one from them.
Update: After getting the business owner and the BBB involved, the cruise control was finally fixed as agreed. I fixed the trailer harness myself and at my own expense. I will probably use their service department, as they seemed to want to do the right thing from the beginning.
Will I trust the sales side again? Doubtful.
But, if you choose to… read everything, get any agreement in writing. Period.

I bought a 2010 Dodge Journey from St Helens Auto, AFTER I had purchased a Nissan Armada in which they misrepresented the MPG… I should have known better, the Journey has had problems since just past the first month I had it. First set of problems was the car was swaying A LOT when driving it and I was having intermittent starting issues. The car has been in for service no less than 3 times the starting problem still exists and the sway on the vehicle ended up being a rear end issue that went undiagnosed by them but Les Schwab found and fixed UNFORTUNATELY the delay in fixing it caused my tires to go bad $ 1200 for tires and $ 395 for the rear end issue. I STILL am having starter issues! Just yesterday I called them after not being able to get my car to start and I was told they would call me back… never did hear back from them. The other times I have taken the car in they have taken up to 2 days to diagnose the issue and even though my warranty covers a rental car, it can’t be done without a diagnosis. I am EXTREMELY unhappy with the vehicle they sold me and the way they aren’t standing behind it. At this point if it were an option I would have them buy the vehicle back from me and I would walk away. I will never buy from them again!!!