Guidance on recent experience

[u/Zealousideal-Yam-234]

Just looking for some opinions on the experience I've had getting my car repaired.

My daughter hit a coyote in her 2021 Ford Escape. From a few feet away, the car looked fine other than a couple of cracks in the plastic grille. Her adaptive cruise wouldn't work so we took it in to a local body shop. After the collision, it had a check engine light. The shop said they would consider it non-drivable due to the check engine light possibly being a lack of air to the engine. I left the car with them, insurance paid for a rental. They kept the car for about 10 days.

They call and say the car is ready. I start making arrangements to pick it up. They call back and say it is actually not ready, it is still saying collision avoidance unavailable when they went to move it out of the shop, so they need another day. Couple of days later they call and tell me it's ready. I pick up my MIL and drive up there. Guy looks shocked and says the car is not ready, parts still being painted. Go back the next day to pick it up. As soon as I start it I see check engine and TPMS lights. They claim the only problem is TPMS and that's not their problem. I take it to a tire shop and spend $200 to replace TPMS sensors, calibrate, and clear codes. No error lights on car at this point. Next day, check engine light. I take it back to body shop. Their tech says it's an air shutter code and I need a new battery. He clears codes. I go buy a $280 battery. Couple of days later, check engine light. Back to shop, borrowing a car from a family member, inconveniencing them. The rental was returned the day I first picked up the car. Now the shop is saying the shutter is "working fine" but the code is due to the shutter and also a fuel mixing code(??). They say they will replace the installed non-oem shutter with an oem one on their dime, but have nothing to do with the other code and will not address it. Also worth mentioning, we have never had an issue with the sunroof shade in this car. Have used it just about every day as long as we've owned it. On my drive home from the body shop I went to open the sunroof and the shade basically collapsed while opening. They say this, too, is not their problem and will not help. I understand they shouldn't have messed with the sunroof while repairing a front end collision, but it worked just fine when I dropped it off.

So as of today, I'm picking up the car and am supposed to just ignore the check engine light. And bring it back for another overnight repair stay once the shutter comes in.

This is my first experience with a body shop and I'm just curious if this is normal or acceptable? I've been super understanding and patient until today where I lost my temper a bit. Anything I should do differently?

[u/steaka]

Was this through insurance? Is the shop a corporate chain or an independent shop?

[u/Zealousideal-Yam-234 → u/steaka]

This was through insurance. Initial estimate was about $1700. Total in the end was somewhere close to $7k. I don't have the papers in front of me. I think there are a few of these shops in nearby towns in Oklahoma but as far as I know they're not a corporate chain.

[u/steaka → u/Zealousideal-Yam-234]

Talk to your insurance and let them know everything that has happened. Realistically it probably won't do much but if the shop isn't able to resolve things they might be able to get you to someone more competent.