DICKINSON — Kenneth Guzman says a transmission repair that began as a free diagnosis has turned into a seven-week ordeal, leaving him without his truck and relying on rideshare to get to work.

As of early March, Guzman says he has not yet received the vehicle back.

The problem began January 19, when Guzman’s Toyota truck stopped shifting properly while driving on Highway 3. He stopped at an AutoZone location, where staff confirmed the transmission was not shifting correctly.

Bringing in the Truck

Guzman says he searched online for a repair shop and found Texans Transmission Specialists, located in the 3400 block of Highway 3 in Dickinson. He brought the truck in for a free diagnosis.

According to Guzman, the shop later called and told him the problem appeared to be internal rather than electrical.

He says he was quoted $1,400 to open the transmission for inspection. After the unit was opened, he says he was told the transmission pump and internal gears were damaged and that the transmission would need to be rebuilt.

The total cost, he says, was $5,600. Guzman says he paid $3,800 in cash and financed the remaining $1,800. He says part of the cash payment came from money he withdrew from his 401(k).

The financing paperwork, he says, listed the business as “AllTech Transmission,” which he says he later learned was the company’s former name.

Recurring Problems and Diagnoses

Guzman says the truck was initially returned to him January 29 and appeared to function normally. However, by January 31 he says the same shifting issues returned.

He brought the vehicle back February 2 and was later told the problem might be electrical. Guzman says he picked up the truck again February 12, but the issue persisted and he returned it to the shop February 13.

On February 24, Guzman says he was told the issue involved a transmission solenoid.

Guzman says he has received several differing explanations during the repair process, which he says left him confused about the cause of the problem.

Guzman says he asked the shop about a refund if the truck could not be properly repaired. According to Guzman, he was told a refund could be issued but the shop would remove the transmission because work had already been performed.

Seven Weeks Without a Vehicle

Now more than seven weeks after the original repair began, Guzman says he is still waiting for his truck to be returned.

He says the prolonged repair has forced him to rely on rideshare services to get to work, adding additional expenses.

Guzman also provided audio recordings of phone calls with the shop discussing the status of the repairs.

In one recording, a shop representative says the transmission had been installed after internal components were replaced but that the vehicle still needed to be test driven.

“The transmission is installed after internal components,” the representative said in the recording. “Now we need to test drive it and put miles on it, but that won’t happen until Monday.”

During the call, Guzman expressed frustration with the continued delays and referenced what he said was damage that occurred during the repair process.

“You said when they put the pistons in they scraped something, so that’s on y’all,” Guzman said.

The representative responded that the issue would be addressed and described the work as being covered under warranty.

“We’re taking care of it. It’s under warranty,” the representative said. Guzman asked for clarification on how it could be covered under warranty if the vehicle had not yet been released. The shop then said the warranty would begin upon vehicle pick-up.

Guzman also asked whether the shop would reimburse him for rideshare costs while he has been without his vehicle. According to the recording, the representative said the company does not reimburse those expenses.

Shop Response

Carlos, an assistant at the shop confirmed that Guzman’s truck underwent a full transmission rebuild, including replacement of the pump and internal gears.

The shop said the details of the repairs are “in the paperwork” and added that the vehicle is currently being driven as part of post-rebuild testing to ensure it is functioning correctly.

Carlos noted that additional issues sometimes appear after a rebuild, which he described as common in complex transmission work, and said the truck is covered under a one-year warranty.

According to the shop, any repeat issues would be addressed at no additional cost. They also said repair timeframes can vary depending on the complexity of the work and emphasized that the shop’s priority is to ensure the vehicle operates properly before returning it to the customer.

Customer Verification

Guzman confirmed he spoke with the shop’s assistant and acknowledged that the transmission had been rebuilt and is under warranty.

However, he says he is still waiting for a full itemized receipt documenting the work, which he says he has requested.

Update – March 9th

Kenneth Guzman told KGTX on Monday that he picked up his truck from the shop and has not experienced any issues since retrieving the vehicle. Guzman said he will continue monitoring the vehicle’s performance following the transmission rebuild.

Consumer Takeaways

• Complex transmission work often involves multiple components and can take longer than typical repairs.

• Customers should request a clear scope of work, detailed cost breakdown, and warranty terms in writing before authorizing major repairs.

• Post-repair testing, including road tests, is standard procedure for high-value transmission work.

• If a repair fails, customers should ask the shop for documentation and clarification of warranty coverage and refund policies.