Ability Center

MTN COM

Ability center has addressed all my wheelchair accessible vehicle needs.

Shaun 196t4

My van was purchased brand new through the Ability Center, Stanton in 2008. It's a 2008 Ford full size van with a rear entry wheelchair lift. I've had a litany of problems since it was brand new. Intermittenty the lift would not deploy or stow properly, you can hear wind coming through the doors when on the freeway or when very windy, wiring for the transfer seat shorted causing the van to be filled with smoke from the wiring and plastic. They patched the wires. After repeatedly taking it to them for adjustments I continued to have multiple issues. I found somewhere closer that was an authorized VMI dealer/mechanic (Mac's Lift), whom I chose because they were not owned by Ability Center at the time(they were eventually bought out or joined forces). The mechanics there also tried multiple times to make adjustments, but within a short period of time I would start having problems again. Several years ago they talked my insurance company into installing a completely new lift, wiring harness and transfer seat. Over $10,000.00 worth of work, to only start having problems immediately. My lift needed to be adjusted as well as the rear doors, the new transfer seat was about 2" further back(my wife is 5'8")and my wife can barely reach the pedals, the lift system would not go into "sleep mode" while the emergency brake was set, which I must set in order for the wheelchair lift to operate. If I left the van parked for more than 2 days the battery would be dead and I would have to call AAA. The Ability Center mechanic told me to start the van every couple of days or have someone release the E-brake as there wasn't anything abnormal with it. After several years of messing around with different things, countless jump starts and a few batteries I was able to talk my insurance company into allowing me to take it to a different company. They had it half of a day and fixed the drain on my battery. My system now goes into sleep mode properly, with the E-brake set. The new mechanic said that the lift was wired wrong causing a parasitic draw. There's so much more to the story, but it would take me a very long time to put it all down. I still have other problems with my van and hopefully between the new mechanic and my insurance company they can get everything fixed. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Kat E E

This is primarily a place to go if you want to either purchase a van or modify your current van so that you can use it to pick up a passenger with an wheelchair. They don't seem to have much stock on medical scooters Etc. Although apparently they can order anything you want. The gentleman was very nice and took time with us even though it was a Friday before a long weekend and I'm sure he wanted to get away and get going on his time off. He actually ended up referring us to another facility that had more scooters in stock. They do sell other things here but I get the feeling that their primary business is in the wheelchair modifying of vans.

Martini Manic Mayhem

No posted fees or policies. Non-refundable $150 fee to tell me what I already knew was broken on my lift to spend another $800+ on an non-itemized quote. Waited till after I paid to say they couldn't just order part for me they have to do all repairs & part install so I lose my "deposit" .