Flagship One Buyer Beware

EDIT: FlashMasters on ebay is where I got a functional PCM. It was an awesome experience. Just the finish on the PCM looks like they cared to make it look as functional as it was, not just an ugly rattle can job. Price was similar to flagship one. 10/10 I will give FlashMasters my money for any future PCM needs. I did get refunded the entire amount after a little back and fourth and waiting for them to get paid out for the PCM that was lost in transit. So they ended up getting paid in the end from UPS, and they gave me my money back after waiting a month for UPS to process the claim... Back to the original description:
I posted a video a couple days ago. I was in bed sick all day yesterday (my throat is still killing me) and with a little bit of alone time with my thoughts opted to make a slightly safer video, choosing my words better. As mentioned in my video, I would like to protect myself from any litigation, frivolous or otherwise so I will leave more to your imagination and not paint the whole picture for you. I still stand firmly by my previous video and any statements I made, but the first amendment wont protect me from frivolous litigation IF it were to happen and will still cost me money I don't want to pay.
I will also clarify, as stated in the video. There have been no demands, requests, legal letter heads sent to me (as of now 7/20). I have no reason to believe they intend to, but I also am surprised at the little bit of traction my video got on a tiny channel and fear as people express concerns in the comments there will be more of an argument made that claims I made are costing them money and I cannot prove some of the statements...
FYI, I am currently a high school automotive instructor. I am also currently ASE certified A1-A9, L1, X1, G1. I was a certified Chrysler technician when I worked for Chrysler more than a decade ago. I know enough to know there is a LOT I don't know. I am not gods gift to the auto industry, I'm just a guy with some credentials and some professional experience.

[@autolong68]

I want to add... I mentioned some of this information in a comment previously. I am clearly not a KZbin pro so I will try to pin this comment. I got my money back. I got a reman PCM from ebay that looks remanufactured. It looked like they cared to make it look new and it showed. It wasn't a rustoleum reman. There was no "warranty void" sticker on the new-to-me PCM trying to discourage the consumer from seeing if any work was actually done. I installed it and everything worked great after setting the pinion factor. 100% I would give the company on ebay business again. The Ebay company was FlashMasters. They were everything I expected with a reman. I received it in a reasonable amount of time, product was as described and best of all... it worked! A+. The bar wasn't high, I just wanted a tested and functional PCM. But after my flagship experience, I feel like they over delivered by delivering exactly what their page described hahaha. I DID pull the screws out of the cover on this flagship PCM. I did the whole thing in one shot on camera and you can mostly clearly see that there is a solid layer of dust on the sealant inside the PCM. It was completely untouched. Spray painted, and a couple stickers slapped on it and updated. My biggest argument is that they say it is 100% tested and it was clearly not 100% tested. I paid for a 100% tested PCM and didn't get anything remanufactured, or physically updated fixing common faults, I got a junkyard PCM with some paint on it. I do have some video of the install of the new PCM, as well as the aforementioned video opening up the flagship one PCM. I have tried a couple times to sit down and edit it together and I have just been too busy with other more important things.

[@bigbusiness6903]

Dam I just called them

[@jheissjr]

Do you know when you will upload the opening of the FS1 PCM and the install of the FashMasters PCM.

[@SterlingSimmons22]

Everyone needs to report them to the Better Business Bureau

[@myronashmore6238]

Same problem with 2006 Ford escape. Original ecm everything works but over charged 19.5 volt, refurbished ecm with programmed keys will not start, will fire occasionally but no start. Ford dealer tried, I was told that refurbished ecm is not working.

[@zekeholloway4413]

same thing happened to me with my car! now they won't give me my money back because you have to send it back within 30 days of purchase" 😒

[@silverhunters]

I guess I got lucky 2009 Pontiac G6. I received ECM in the mail from Flagship 1 and went through the cycling for 30 minutes. Then, I just had to get a scan tool that could reprogram my camshaft sensor. No problems to report. Received and installed the new computer in August 2023. I'm sorry to hear about your struggle. Thanks for sharing.

[@churlchristal]

They almost got me. I saw one bad review and requested a refund. On their website they try to make it seem like they have all good reviews but I typed them in on Google and saw the bad review. This is the second video , thank God I dodged a bullet! Thanks for sharing your experience

[@candia79]

I just received my PCM from flagship and installed it and now my grand caravan won't even start and its throwing 15 different codes 🤨

[@JoeMama-ms8yx]

Kind of in the same scenario with an 03 Navigator, how’d you end up fixing yours?

[@meatwagon7908]

Well they told me I gotta get a perimeter rest an call a locksmith ​@@JoeMama-ms8yx

[@bruceallen6016]

Recap, I received and installed my reman ECM from Flagship1. The 4.7 V8 fired right up with the idle settling on 700 rpm. The first thing I noticed was the check engine light stayed on. I scanned it and it shows bank one position one O2 sensor? Fair enough, I will change that out. Second issue, transmission is not communicating properly? I have to pull the transmission shifter into 1st to start off properly. I'm still trying to work the bugs out. i note that lights on the overhead monitor are working? Example, Drivers door open etc. Have I mentioned I hate car computers? 🤨

[@bruceallen6016]

OMG! Just purchased an ecm from them. I hope I have better luck with them than you did? I'll report back here how it goes.

[@TireSlayer55]

Yikes. Thanks for sharing, makes me glad I didn't send them my ECM for repair...

[@jared2934]

I have the same issue with my 2011 equinox. Ordered an Vin verified one from flagship one and it don't work. Did the 3 cycle with 10 sec intervals still nothing. Flag ship one sucks sign us up for a class action lawsuit!!!

[@ceciliabermudez1529]

Oh no I just ordered mine today 🥲 Should just cancel my order?

[@jakegarzo7836]

Getting mine from them this saturday. Heard mixed reviews, mostly bad. I got my fingers crossed I've waited 3 weeks.

[@albertofrausto6334]

did it work ?

[@tkong35]

How did u make out with them

[@SterlingSimmons22]

What’s the update

[@brianmooney7009]

???

[@Pipefitter666]

Any recommendations for a place to get a pcm? Glad I saw this

[@lpsalsaman]

Sorry to hear that, and I should have done a bit of research myself, since right now I have the same issue as you with my 2011 Chrysler T/C van. So, I got their PCM installed and it cranks but will not turn over, I got in contact with Flagship, and they gave me some instructions which basically I already did when first installing their PCM. But the same thing, crank but will not come completely on. The van would come on with the old PCM, but it would cut off after starting to drive and reset itself, which is why I got the Flagship one. I'm about to send it back to them because they want to check it, so I'm guessing I will be in the same boat as you. Today, when I get the Flagship PCM out, I will re-install the original, and if the van comes on, it confirms that Flagship probably did not completely configure the PCM correctly. Anyway, I see you got your money back and finally got a good replacement in your comment 2 months ago. Hopefully, I will not have to go through the same thing you did, but I guess we'll see. Anyway, thank you for posting the vid, as it is informative for anyone else having the same issue.

[@chillbill9335]

I just bought a ecm from them for my 97 dodge dakota. On Sunday and they still haven't shipped it so I told them to cancel my order and refund me.

[@james-im1sj]

Did you get a refund..? Did they play games sending you your money..?

[@chillbill9335]

Yeah I got a refund and no they didn't give me much trouble, they just asked why I canceled my order, and I said I don't need it anymore.@@james-im1sj

[@Jeff605-rw8fi]

I just got my ECU from them and the car would not start, turn over but no fire. I'm not happy I put the old ECU back in and she fired right up. they want me to send it back and I'm out two weeks on their 30 day return policy so I'm not Playing this game. I better get my money back in full or I'll be making Waves. Reprogramming Fees for Nothing, Not Ok.

[@DarylAnderson-we4kd]

I bought a pcm for my 03 montecarlo, now it starts when it feels like it. Don't know what to do , afraid to drive it .

[@thierryexinord5511]

I just had a bad experience with them… they wasted my time… i called twice and was told the PCM already went through programming… and after words the reached out and said they we’re out sourced.

[@blindflips4951]

I have a 2016 Silverado has an intermittent ECM problem I purchased one from these people as well and the key relearn will not work and all they keep doing is sending me another copy of the key relearn I told them there is no security light and they will not listen to me Monday morning I will be trying to get a refund and go with someone else they will not contact you back

[@highrpm9290]

My fiancé's 2016 tahoe pcm went haywire, I ordered one from flagship everything seems back to normal except the key relearn isn't happening, I'm going to see if someone with a high-end scanner can program the keys in. I didn't get any keys with it and no mention that I would need them

[@markphaneuf3485]

Wishing you the best and hope you get satisfaction

[@meatwagon7908]

They very rude . And did u get your money bk

[@johnever3226]

I recently bought a PCM for my 2009 explorer and the mecanic that was istalling it just told me that the PCM was faulty ,, it did not worked ,,

[@rmacmcc2457]

Ordered a tcm. Dosen't work. They just keep giving me the run around. I just want to return it and get my money back. Stay away.

[@ronmoore3987]

Wow! ,,, and I was about to use Flagship 1,,,,,,, uh A BIG NO THANKS NOW !!

[@gearldadamson4648]

It’s been over 12 months since I ordered my first one the company ain’t no good

[@robertsalzano817]

How are they still in business?

[@MidwestJunkyardRacing]

Have you gotten any threats from them? I have some info on them and was thinking of making a video.

[@autolong68]

To their credit... not a whiff. No emails, phone calls or messages anywhere.

[@paradise18908]

They are terrible. Send pcms back twice still not programmed properly

[@gearldadamson4648]

They got me I got $1400 in labor and a bad computer they said they wouldn’t send me another one so I don’t know what to do

[@jared2934]

Like I said we should all get together and get them in a class action. They need to hold to they're word and quit sending out faulty computers

[@rolandb8979]

It's a ripoff at least for GM cars. Locked can't program them definitely not plug and play

[@wskybnt72]

I feel you, I’m about to send one back to them a fourth time.

[@chrislogston6072]

I ordered a ECM for 2016 Ford focus from flagship one was supposed to be plug and go but now I'm getting a starting system fault

[@EmmanuelM.Garcia]

Even tho they claim plug and play, always research about your anti theft system and how it functions to truly know if you do indeed need a quick reflash with key and shift knob movements.

[@james-im1sj]

Yep going through the same thing in ohio. About to ask for my money back.

[@autolong68]

Good luck!

[@james-im1sj]

@@autolong68 they did it put it back on our card

[@SaraYassem]

They want us to send the original pcm so they can clone it. Has anyone else done this? They one they sent us doesn't work

[@Camille-d8b]

Do you recommend anyone else ? I’m looking for one for a ford

[@autolong68]

I purchased a PCM from Flash Masters. The PCM LOOKED nice, and performed how it looked. I teach automotive at a high school and had a student that needed a PCM for his charger this year. I suggested Flash Masters. It came in quick. Car started now (didn't before), but there were injector driver issues with the new PCM. They reached out to me after talking with my student and in about 5 minutes on the phone after a quick rundown of what was going on and what we tested, he had another PCM programmed and sent out right away, only asking for the first one to be returned. YES! 2nd one worked great, no issues. And we didn't have to wait a month of shipping and waiting for flagship one to "test" it and tell me nothing was wrong. The customer service has been stellar from Flash Masters, and at this point, I will only give them my money for PCM needs.

[@Arizona_rider]

Some of these people have to reprogram their key too!!!

[@kleenmaint]

thanks AutoLONG. If you had a paypal link I'd send you a few bucks for the SAVE me wasting money!!! You've done a great service. OH, and GUESS WHAT? They are advertising on this Youtub video. lol (not really funny!)

[@autolong68]

I am glad I was able to save you from my headache! No money necessary but I appreciate the offer. Cracks me up about the FS1 advertising on this hahaha!