Last month, a Volkswagen Tiguan came in from Colton after its owner had been hearing a faint squealing during braking for about six weeks on her daily commute on the 215. She had read that brake squeal is sometimes normal and kept driving her regular route through the I-10 and I-215 interchange and along Hospitality…
Last month, a Tiguan came in from Fontana after its owner had been dismissing a tire pressure warning light for six weeks, assuming it was a sensor glitch left over from winter. He had been driving his daily commute on the 210 and through the Ontario Mills corridor with two tires running eight PSI below…
Last month, a Tiguan came in from Redlands with a rough idle and a hesitation on the 215 that its owner had been living with for almost two years. He had assumed it was a fuel quality issue and had been running premium gas hoping it would resolve on its own. After 34,000 miles without…
Last summer, a 2021 VW Atlas owner from Redlands experienced a no-start condition in a Target parking lot during 108-degree afternoon heat. They’d noticed slightly slower cranking over the previous weeks but assumed it was normal. The battery tested at only 45% capacity, severely weakened by three summers of Inland Empire heat without replacement. The…
Last year, a 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport arrived at our Camino Real service center with severe engine damage after the owner ignored all recommended maintenance for 28,000 miles. They’d assumed modern vehicles could go “much longer” between services than manufacturer recommendations. The neglect resulted in oil sludge buildup from extended oil change intervals, a…
Last March, a 2022 Volkswagen Jetta arrived at our Camino Real service center with severe uneven tire wear after the owner ignored alignment problems following winter storm damage. They’d hit multiple potholes during February’s heavy rains but assumed no damage occurred since the car drove normally. Four months later, both front tires were worn dangerously…
Last month, a 2021 Jetta arrived at our Camino Real service center averaging 28 MPG when it should have been getting 36 MPG. The owner had been ignoring the check engine light for months, unaware that a failed oxygen sensor was causing the engine to run rich and waste fuel. Combined with a dirty air…
Three weeks ago, a brand-new 2025 Tiguan arrived at our Camino Real service center at just 5,000 miles with severe engine overheating. The owner had been commuting daily through the Cajon Pass in 105-degree heat with the air conditioning on maximum, never checking coolant levels. The engine had overheated multiple times, warping the cylinder head….
Last July, an ID.4 arrived at our Camino Real service center with a battery capacity warning showing 12% degradation after just 18,000 miles. The owner had been fast-charging to 100% daily in 110-degree heat, then parking outside at their workplace in Redlands. After two summer seasons of this routine, the battery showed wear equivalent to…
Last week, a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas came in after sliding into a guardrail on Highway 18 during an unexpected mountain snow squall. The owner had driven up to Lake Arrowhead on worn all-season tires with 4/32nds tread remaining, thinking they’d be fine for a quick trip. After losing traction on a downhill curve near Rim…
