Traveling to Tulsa, Oklahoma, I began hearing a concerning whine from my transmission and decided to seek professional help at Aamco. They diagnosed a planetary gear issue but quoted a lengthy repair timeframe of several months. Fortunately, Aamco referred me to Discount Transmission in Tulsa. After discussing the problem with Anthony at Discount Transmission, I felt reassured enough to put down a $1500 deposit for a new transmission, hoping for a quick resolution to my vehicle troubles.
My wait for the new transmission stretched to a week and a half, spent at a local Camping World, amidst uncertain updates about its arrival. Then came the news that the new transmission was lost in transit. Discount Transmission then proposed rebuilding my existing transmission within a day, a solution I reluctantly agreed to given my travel plans. I picked up my vehicle after the rebuild, but to my dismay, the original transmission whine was still present. Anthony dismissed my concerns, assuring me it was normal.
Trusting their expertise, I left Discount Transmission, but the problems quickly escalated. My vehicle started double shifting, and both the ABS and engine lights illuminated. I contacted Anthony immediately, and he instructed me to bring the vehicle back on Monday. Adding to my concerns, I noticed the coolant was overfilled and the color was different from what I was used to. When I mentioned this, Discount Transmission stated it was “universal” coolant and “fine.” Unconvinced, I drained some of the excess coolant myself at Camping World. Initially, the vehicle seemed to run adequately, but the transmission issues progressively worsened.
Despite the ongoing transmission noise, I continued my journey. Eventually, the vehicle began to overheat severely, forcing me to run the heater in the summer to manage the engine temperature and prevent further overheating. Upon reaching Utah, I took my vehicle to a trusted local mechanic for a proper diagnosis. They identified that the wrong type of coolant had been used during the transmission work, causing sludge buildup and a completely blocked radiator. This explained the overheating. It was clear this coolant issue originated from Discount Transmission, as I had only ever used the correct Dexron coolant in my vehicle. The incorrect coolant led to the necessity of replacing both my radiator and water pump.
Unfortunately, my vehicle remained in Utah for two and a half months due to a bout of West Nile virus that left me severely ill. Once recovered, I traveled to Quartzsite for the winter. Shortly after arriving, I discovered another critical failure: my reverse gear was completely non-functional. Another mechanic confirmed this was a transmission problem and advised me to utilize my warranty. However, upon contacting Anthony at Discount Transmission, I was informed the warranty had expired.
Despite the warranty denial, I decided to review my invoice. I dropped my vehicle off at Discount Transmission on March 29, 2024, with 72,182 miles on the odometer. By November 22, 2024, when the reverse gear failed, my mileage was 90,090. This means I had driven only 17,908 miles since the transmission repair, well within a reasonable warranty period for a transmission rebuild. However, the invoice shockingly listed my vehicle’s mileage upon arrival as 102,000 miles, a blatant discrepancy used to falsely claim the repair was outside the warranty terms.
Discount Transmission initially presented a friendly and trustworthy facade, making me feel like a valued customer. However, when faced with legitimate issues and warranty claims, their unprofessionalism and lack of accountability became apparent. Based on my experience, I strongly advise against entrusting your vehicle’s transmission and auto repair needs to Discount Transmission in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Their service resulted in significant further damage to my vehicle, financial loss, and considerable inconvenience. This experience serves as a cautionary tale for anyone seeking reliable transmission and auto repair services: choose your mechanic wisely and be wary of misleading practices.
