Firestone Complete Auto Care centers in Riverside, San Bernardino and Upland are among 22 locations accused of fraud by the California Department of Consumer Affairs Bureau of Automotive Repair after an undercover sting operation.
Undercover Consumer Affairs investigators who went into the three Inland auto care centers to purchase new tires on May 12, 2015, were billed for parts that were not replaced and services that were not rendered, according to a 64-page complaint against Bridgestone Americas, Firestone’s parent company.
Bridgestone executives said via email an “extensive internal investigation” was launched after the Department of Consumer Affairs brought its investigation to light, and “appropriate corrective actions and refined operational processes” were implemented, including additional training for employees.
“We appreciate the guidance provided by the Bureau of Automotive Repair and the opportunity to take corrective action on the matters the agency brought to our attention,” Bridgestone executives said in a written statement. “FCAC is pleased to report that all of the locations in question are operating in full compliance with BAR requirements and guidelines.”
Similar sting operations were conducted at Firestone Complete Auto Care facilities across the state between 2013 and 2015, resulting in 22 facilities being found in violation, according to the complaint.
An investigator took a 2007 Nissan to the Firestone Complete Auto Care at 4199 Market St. in Riverside after inspecting the car’s tire-pressure monitoring system sensors, nuts, Schrader valves and service caps and putting new seals on the tire-pressure monitoring system sensors, according to the complaint.
A tire-pressure monitoring system, or TPMS, sensor gauges a tire’s pressure and sends a warning that shows up on the vehicle dashboard if it is underinflated.
The investigator paid $235.10 for the car’s two front tires to be replaced, $10.55 of which accounted for the installation and purchase of a new TPMS kit. However, the kit was neither replaced nor installed.
Investigators who purchased new tires at the Firestone Complete Auto Care facilities at 271 E. Highland Ave. in San Bernardino and 1434 E. Foothill Blvd. in Upland also were billed for new TPMS kits that were not actually replaced, according to the complaint.
The Department of Consumer Affairs alleges fraud in all three instances, since the investigators were given invoices that stated the TPMS kits were replaced when they were not.
The complaint calls for a hearing to be held to suspend or revoke automotive repair dealer registration numbers for the facilities that were found in violation. The Department of Consumer Affairs also is requesting that the company reimburse it for “reasonable costs of the investigation and enforcement of this case.”