Lithia Volkswagen of Reno

“Please don't fall for this scam. I have an electric car that provides roadside assistance, but they couldn't send a tow truck for four days. Now my car is damaged, I have a ticket, and VW just says they can't do anything and that I should call my insurance company because it's not their problem. I feel like an idiot for believing I would receive assistance and support from VW.”

“Buyers Beware – My Experience with Lithia Volkswagen of Reno Service Department I brought my vehicle to Lithia Volkswagen of Reno on 02/02/2026 for a routine oil change. I was told there was a small oil leak and agreed to pay a $200 diagnostic fee to determine the issue. After waiting 5 hours, I was told it was a valve cover gasket and quoted $919 for repairs. When I asked about my warranty, the service advisor (Craig) initially said I had never mentioned one. It took him about 20 seconds to confirm that I did, in fact, have an active warranty. I was then told using the warranty would be a “pain” and that they couldn’t proceed because the vehicle had to be in their possession despite me being there with the car. I was also told it would take an additional 1–3 hours, after already waiting 5 hours. Because I had to pick up my children, I returned the next day to proceed with the warranty claim. The next day, after waiting another 3 hours, I was told it would actually take 24–48 hours (which was not previously communicated). I was left without a vehicle in Reno. It is now 02/18/2026, and I still do not have my car. During this process, the diagnosis changed dramatically. What was originally a valve cover gasket repair has now become: Rocker arm out of place Camshaft grinding Metal contamination Full engine replacement The estimate has increased to approximately $18,000, with the dealership claiming I owe $5,945 not covered by warranty. There was: No check engine light No knocking No visible oil leak No prior engine issues I have requested a detailed parts and labor breakdown for the second warranty and they refused. When I asked them to either: Complete the originally approved valve cover gasket repair under warranty, or Reassemble my vehicle so I could remove it from the lot I instead received a call asking if I wanted to them to put in a used engine. I do not feel comfortable installing a used engine in a vehicle that had no prior symptoms of catastrophic failure. Based on my experience, I strongly encourage others to proceed with caution when using the service department at Lithia Volkswagen of Reno. I understand management will step in to say they are doing the best they can but that is simply not the truth.”

“Absolutely the WORST service repair shop I have ever dealt with. Craig, his tone, attitude, and understanding was not there. He made false claims, told me things were said that never were agreed on, he completely disregarded me and communication and understanding. My insurance company said he was hell to deal with and shocked he has a position there, as am I. After the insurance work was done he was beyond rude and my car was covered in paint and dirt. Never ever will I be back to this shop. I will absolutely never recommend this again.”

“Disappointing Service Experience Despite a Great Sales Team I want to start by saying that we had a wonderful experience purchasing our Volkswagen Atlas here a few years ago, and the sales staff was fantastic. However, our experience with the service department has been incredibly frustrating. We had an extended warranty on the car, but every time we brought it in, we felt like we had to fight just to have a conversation about warranty coverage. They charged us a $150 diagnosis fee each time and often kept the car all day without even getting to it, despite having an appointment. In one case, we had a squeak coming from the front right suspension. They told us we needed a $1,500 to $2,000 repair because the strut assembly supposedly needed replacing. Then they refused to cover it under warranty, claiming a minor fender bender that only affected the front bumper voided the warranty, even though that had nothing to do with the suspension. We ended up taking the car to an independent shop, who fixed the squeak for free by simply greasing a bushing. The strut was never the issue. Overall, the service advisor was rude, and we never even got a call back from the service manager. I’m writing this review in hopes that others are aware and that maybe the dealership will reconsider how they treat long-time customers. We’d at least appreciate that $150 diagnosis fee refunded for the misdiagnosis.”

“Drove away in my new Subaru today and I can’t believe I’m saying this, but my car buying experience was incredible! No high pressure sales. No bait and switch options. My salesman BJ gave me information straight and he and the sales manager worked with me and my budget until we were able to find something that worked. And they gave me a very fair price on my trade-in. Thank you BJ! I love my new car and will definitely be recommending you and Lithia of Reno to anyone I know who is looking for a car.”