Serious Concerns About Workmanship and After-Service at Car Care Centurion

Date of Service: 24 July – 15 October 2025 Vehicle: Nissan NP200 1.5 dCi

On 24 July 2025, my vehicle was towed to this workshop for a suspected oil pump failure. Despite the assessment being completed the same day, I only received a quotation on the fifth business day (29 July).

On 9 August, I was informed that the vehicle was ready for collection. Upon starting it with a technician present, a distinct knocking noise was audible at idle. The technician claimed it was due to a “cold start,” but I explained that this was not normal. The workshop manager then stated it was diesel knock from injector #2 but confirmed they had not checked the bearings. I requested that they do so before releasing the vehicle.

On 12 August, I was told the vehicle was repaired. The manager said the bearings were fine and the issue was with injector #2, which had been “tuned.” During the test drive, the vehicle was underpowered, which was traced to a disconnected turbo vacuum pipe. After this was corrected, the power returned, but the knocking noise persisted. The manager again dismissed bearing failure.

Later that day, while driving home, the engine failed completely. The workshop towed the vehicle back and later confirmed that the big-end bearings had seized and the crankshaft was damaged. They accepted responsibility and replaced the crankshaft at their own cost.

On 18 September, I collected the car and noted several new issues:

Stiff steering (previously fine)

Excessive smoke

Missing/misfitted parts (battery bracket, engine cover bolt, positive terminal cover)

Dented fender, which the workshop admitted occurred in their care

Oil stains on the interior and load bin

Used injector fitted but not coded to the ECU

The owner appeared concerned and requested that I return the vehicle for correction, which I did on 2 October.

Despite repeated follow-ups between 9 and 15 October, communication was inconsistent. The workshop later stated that while the steering was stiff, they could not identify the cause, and ultimately refused responsibility for both the steering and injector issues. The agreed fender repair also remained incomplete.

Summary

While the crankshaft was eventually replaced, the experience was marked by:

Misdiagnosis leading to complete engine failure

Delayed and poor communication

Quality-control issues

New faults introduced after repair

Unresolved commitments

My vehicle is now in a worse condition than when it was first delivered. I have detailed documentation of all correspondence, photographs, and repair records, and have notified the workshop that this report will be submitted to MIOSA, RMI, and the AA for review.

Additionally, I have observed that several 5-star reviews on the company’s Google profile appear to be from individuals whose names match those listed as employees on the company’s own website.