Stohlman Automotive

It's no secret the people who work at service departments of car stealerships are not the most honest people but the service people at Stohlman VW are jerks who will lie, intimidate, and tell you to "pay up of car stealerships are not the most honest people but the service people at Stohlman VW are jerks who will lie, intimidate, and tell you to "pay up and get the xxxx out of here!" I brought my car in because it was having transmission problems. While shifting the car would jerk. However, the 4yr/50k mark had just barely passed so I was only left with the powertrain warranty. I had always had my car serviced at Stohlman (and payed them lots of money in the process) so the check-in process was simple. Ten minutes after I left the dealership I got a call from the service advisor (Brent) telling me to come back so I would pay the $98.00 diagnostic fee. When I told him he should have told me this while I was in there signing the papers he told me I had no choice otherwise they would not look at the car. When I asked for the service manager he said "Why are you threatening me?" What a fool. This guy was just trying to cover up his mistake which later after talking with the service manager (Joe) we both confirmed it was his mistake. A couple of hours later I got a call back from another service advisor (Jack) telling me there was a problem with the transmission and that it needed two parts to be fixed. I had to pay for the first part ($260.00) and the powertrain would cover the second part. When I told him both parts should be covered under the warranty he said I was lucky not to pay the $98.00 diagnostic fee and should just accept the charge. According to him "I had no other choice otherwise I will have more problems if I left the dealership without accepting their offer." Without much choice and unable to get in touch with the service manager I agreed. After doing some research and calling other dealers in the area I found out the part they were charging me only cost $100 at most - installed. Just because they did not charge me the diagnostic fee they were charging me double what other dealers were charging to change a simple part which I could have changed myself. When I went in to pick up my vehicle I saw Jack and asked to speek with Joe who was in his cozy office. I told Joe "please help me out, times are rough, I have always had my car serviced with you guys so please cut me some slack this time. The powertrain warranty is very subjective and you could have this part covered under the warranty." He said "I could do that but we've already written the paperwork." With Jack standing next to me telling me to pay up Joe looked at me and said "Just pay up and get the xxxx out, I have had enough of your bickering." My jaw just dropped and I payed and left. Bottom line is, take your business somewhere else. The people are Stohlman are jerks who don't care about you. More

The car buying experience with Dieter was the easiest I've ever had, outside of using a buying service! I knew what I wanted, so when we talked on the phone, we had a price agreed to in about five minut I've ever had, outside of using a buying service! I knew what I wanted, so when we talked on the phone, we had a price agreed to in about five minutes. I had been shopping around, so I knew what I wanted to pay, and what other dealers were offering. Dieter took a few hundred dollars off the price to beat the other dealers. He had the car for me in a couple of days. Their service department has been fine. They forgot to reset the computer the first time I had it in, but I took it back in and they reset it in five minutes. They still owe me a car wash, but they are friendly and quick. More

Bought a new Tauareg from Stohlman in 2004 and have regretted it ever since. Car has been in the shop more times in the three years under warrented than all my previously owned cars combined. I've ta regretted it ever since. Car has been in the shop more times in the three years under warrented than all my previously owned cars combined. I've takend the car in 9 times to fix the tire pressure monitoring system - they can't turn it off and to this day it still does not work. Tried VW America to no avail. Car just came off warrenty and I took it in for 1) tire pressure monitor not working, 2) window shade not retracting, 3) headlight washer cover fell off while driving (second one at a cost of $120 per plastic cover), 4) dash lights stopped working, 5) airbag light on indicating problem, and 6) ticking noise under dash. Just got a call from service, total cost with 40k service is $3100 and they recommend changing my vbelt for another $240 and flushing coolant for $240. This is for a car with 38,000 miles that I have had serviced everytime at Stohlman and has been garage parked and never off road. Called Lindsay VW in Sterling, their cost is about $1000 less for the same work and they think the airbag light just needs to be reset. I would strongly recommend not buying a car from Stohlman and absolutely not having one serviced there, or at a minimum, get another quote before you have any work done there. I live one mile from Stohlman and will be driving out to Sterling after this experience. More

My wife went for an oil change and tail light. The service writer came back claiming there were oil leaks and hoses that had to be changed for a total bill approaching $1000. We've had no leaks or ev service writer came back claiming there were oil leaks and hoses that had to be changed for a total bill approaching $1000. We've had no leaks or even low fluid levels. We asked to see the issue, we were told we couldn't see it because it was internal. They were totally unable to explain the issues when I showed. The drain plug they returned as being damaged had clean threads. All this challenges the credibility of the service operation for the second time. About a year ago Stohlman claimed another problem, which we had another mechanic also check. He couldn't find anything, even after we showed him the write-up from Stohlman. Doubt we'll be back to this operation. More

From my point of view, this dealership is a bunch of rip-off artists. I have dealt with them since 1982, and have purchased two new cars, several used, and have taken family members to purchase used and rip-off artists. I have dealt with them since 1982, and have purchased two new cars, several used, and have taken family members to purchase used and new cars. I took my sister there and she bought a new 2005 Eclipse. At 12,000 miles she had trouble with her lighter socket, and she took it in. They told her it was not covered, and since she had plugged a GPS into it, she was to blame for the damage. They told her it would take a whole new unit to repair at a cost of over $400. I told her to call the Mitusbishi Manufacturer, and they told her it "should be covered"...so, she called Stohlman back and they told her to bring it in. This time they told her it was only a "bent prong" and they could fix it very quickly. They did not, however, refund the $100 plus she had already spent towards repair of the socket. How did it go from needin a whole "unit" to just a "bent prong"? One more incident: My daughter's 2001 Eclipse (purchased there) was brought in for normal maintenance. They called and said it need many repairs, and the total was well over $1000.00! She refused and we took it to Dranesville Auto. They did the maintenance, and the total charge was a little over $200. They did not find evidence of the oil leak (told by Stohlman) or the "bad hoses" all needing replaced. Interesting. OH..did I mention they add a lot of "little" things, and when I finally had it and pitched a fit, the service manager came out and "waived" the other costs. I am convinced that this dealership has bilked millions of dollars through the years from customers (me, included before I quit trusting everything they said), and continue to do so. I would never, ever use them for sales or service, in spite of the many years and probably $100,000 dollars spent on new cars and used cars. To me, the are a bunch of dishonest people out to make a buck however they can. More

Stay away from this dealership...save your money...you will be treated like dirt...I would never recommend this dealership to any one...don't even drive past this dealership...they are horrible...I went t will be treated like dirt...I would never recommend this dealership to any one...don't even drive past this dealership...they are horrible...I went there to buy the Lancer GTS...The sales person was really nice..and got the car that I wanted..but they would not even drop a penny in price...I told them to give me an accesory if no reduction in price...they told that if I don't feel comfortable with the price..then I should not buy it...like they were doing me a favor by selling the car... I ended up buying the car because I feel sorry for the sales person..because he located the car for me from other dealers and brought it here...brand new with 7 miles 2009 GTS..fully loaded...so I did not want to leave...without buying... But remember one thing...once their deal is done...you are no one...so go somewhere they treat you like a customer...I would recommend Ourisman Mitsubishi in Maryland..because I bought my Eclipse from them..but now I was too busy and they did not have the color that I wanted...so I had no choice...AGAIN...STAY AWAY FROM THIS DEALERSHIP IF YOU CAN!!! More

5/29/07 I purchased my 2006 Passat via Inernet sales 5/29/07 I purchased my 2006 Passat via Inernet sales group. I have taken the car in for numerous small "fixes" and regular service, I am very satifi 5/29/07 I purchased my 2006 Passat via Inernet sales group. I have taken the car in for numerous small "fixes" and regular service, I am very satified with the service. Now the product and VW of America's customer service, well that is a different story. The workmanship is not stellar (evidenced by the need to perform "recall" repairs and/or updates) ; the corporate office's follow-up customer service training etc is lacking... but I like the looks of he car, the ride and the implied safety features. In summary. VW Stohlman has very good customer servie, VW of America could learn customer servie from Stohlman More

We really enjoyed dealing with Stohlman to purchase two cars ,one VW Passat last year and the other car just recently. In both purchases, they worked very hard to end up to give us very reasonable deals wi cars ,one VW Passat last year and the other car just recently. In both purchases, they worked very hard to end up to give us very reasonable deals within our budget. Dieter is very attentive and patient to listen to our requests. He strives to make us happy as much as possible. He is a great experienced salesman. Mike was our first salesman at Stohlman to deal with our first purchase and is now sales manager. He treated us as still being his direct customers. He gave us an assurance of Stohlman's commitment to address customer satisfaction thus we decided to stay with Stohlman. More

I would never recommend anyone buy any of VW's piece of crap cars. They are the worst made cars on the road. My 2001 Jetta was in for service a week after I bought it because of a faulty master cylinder. crap cars. They are the worst made cars on the road. My 2001 Jetta was in for service a week after I bought it because of a faulty master cylinder. From then on for the 2 years that I had the car, it was in about 20 other times. What a piece of junk. My advise to all in this country who has just elected for 4 more years of xxxx, is never to buy a VW. I would rather have a Ford. More

All those people with good experiences, well you got lucky! My wife bought her '02 Passat from this dealership. They ripped her off on the price (I was off-shore on duty), when I came back I was disappo lucky! My wife bought her '02 Passat from this dealership. They ripped her off on the price (I was off-shore on duty), when I came back I was disappointed but didn't express the feeling too much. Afterwards when we have had gone there for servicing, the crew has always been rude, they are not helpful and they treat you like an un-valued customer. Once we dropped off the car for repairs and it came back with a dent in the rear bumper. Took them more than 2 days to fix that and NO LOANER CAR ever. That was there big selling point to my wife, we will have a loaner car anytime you need repairs. Now my wife has to drop the car off for 3 days for them to fix a clucking noise and STILL THEY ARE NOT GIVING HER A LOANER CAR. THEY ARE A BAD BAD BAD dealership. More