Kenny Hill Autoworks

I have an air-​cooled Westfalia that Kenny and his team have been servicing for the past six months. They do great work and have kept my Westy on the road. I’ve been for in for new tie rods, drag link, front-​brakes, and a whole lot of other adjustments and good advice. Kenny has a nice, calm demeanor and takes the time to explain what’s happening with the vehicle. I now drive my family with confidence in the Westy. :-)

Kenny and his crew were so good to me. My car got broken into and they messed up my ignition. I got it towed and sent to Kenny he worked with me over the phone and was so kind and thorough. Being a woman and dealing car issues is never fun but Kenny did not make me feel like I was getting the run around with price/​labor. When I picked my car up one of the mechanics followed me to drop off friends car I was using and on the way back bought me a lemonade and cookie! So sweet! I will def be recommending Kenny to all my friends. Thanks Kenny!

My son went to him this last week for an oil change and diagnostic. They charged $ 250 and said there was $ 2,000 of work that was needed.
We paid the $ 250 to get the car back, went to another auto place and got the problems corrected for $ 300.
My son showed them the results and they refused to reimburse or explain themselves. So I guess the diagnostic was trash (just an attempt to extort money) and instead we got a $ 250 oil change.

I took my Audi here because the coolant level warning light was on most of the time, although the engine temperature gauge showed the car was never overheating and in fact operated at the correct temperature under all conditions. And the coolant level was not low! Really mysterious.
I left the car there in the morning, and returned home. 4:45 arrived, and I had heard nothing from them, so I phoned them. «Yes, the car is ready.» I asked if they could come pick me up? «No, and you’d best get here within 30 minutes, because that’s when we lock the gate.» I was quite fortunate to be able to get a ride on very short notice, so I actually made it in time. This was a Friday! They were apparently just going to leave my car in their lot all weekend and maybe notify me on Monday, or whenever they got around to it. The obvious next question was, did they determine why the coolant level warning light was coming on? «The sensor checks out okay; it’s probably a leak in the overflow tank, and we can install a new one for $xxx» No, it’s most definitely got nothing to do with the overflow tank. I think I got dinged for about 2 hours of labor, so I paid it and left. Obviously, I’ve never been back. My car now needs a new set of repairs, but Kenny Hill Autoworks earned its place on the list of repair shops to avoid like the plague.

My Audi broke down. I took it to the Audi car dealership. I paid $ 139 to get a diagnosis. Everything needed to be changed: the thermostat, the purge valve, the motor mounts, the brake pads, etc. total cost: $ 4,700. I didn’t have the money. I went shopping around to find a better deal. That’s how I met Kenny Hill Autoworks. Kenny was the first person I spoke with when I get in the door. He had that kindness and peaceful expression on his face that you can sometimes observe when you speak with yoga masters. I felt I could trust him. He gave me a $ 3,400 quotation based on the Audi diagnosis (my car was still at the Audi car dealership). I agreed despite the fact that it was $ 200 more expensive than another shop in town. After I brought him my car, Kenny came back to me with a new estimate: $ 2,700. The thermostat and the purge valve were fine and didn’t need to be changed. He added a state inspection ($ 30) to the mix, which had already expired. I got my car back in perfect condition two days later. Kenny communicated with me during the entire process. I got three emails and three phone calls with an update on my car. I highly recommend Kenny Hill Autoworks!!! Kenny is someone you can trust.

I had a somewhat complicated question with which I needed some help. Kenny Hill spent a good 5 or 10 minutes on the phone with me to walk through it and came up with some very useful advice. It’s rare nowadays to find someone who is willing to give free advice that’s also good advice.

My MKV recently got struck with cooling fan death, making it fail inspection. I called Kenny to see what it would cost, and he quoted me $ 350 for one of the fans, and $ 300 for labor to make the repair. $ 650 total. Yikes. Of course I had a pretty good case of sticker shock from that one, so I did some research. Thanks to the helpful guys at VWVortex, I did the job myself. $ 150 for OEM fans (plural) online, and 45 minutes of my time, and the job is done.
$ 300 labor for a job that takes an un-​trained DIYer 45 minutes? Maybe they would have only charged me for what it took them to get it done. Maybe not. I’m not about to risk an additional $ 500 to find out. I can’t help having the feeling that somebody was trying to take me for a ride.

Brought my Audi A4 in for issues with the coolant system. I was told I had an issue with the coolant valve on the engine. Had it repaired, but continued to have issues. Brought it back in and was told it was probably just an air bubble. They put water in my coolant system and told me to come back if it continued. Brought it back in 2 months after the initial repair with even worse coolant issues, and I was told an additional $ 2000 of repairs were needed. They even charged me another diagnostic fee even though I was complaining about the same problem. Later I was told they had issues with coolant valves they had been buying used, but they still refused to fix my car. Terrible customer service and price gouging.

I’ve taken my Jetta here a handful of times for various small issues that arose. Every time I took it in Kenny gave me the full spiel of every single item that needed repairs, even if I brought it in for a specific fix. Some of the repairs I would choose to make, other times I declined if it seemed non-​essential. I always felt like he was trying to milk me for everything he could get. My last visit I took it in because within one week my radio died and my driver door stopped unlocking when I used my key fob. I suspected the coincidence might be a computer glitch or electrical issue.
Turned out it was just a coincidence. The computer diagnostic came back with other errors but the radio was just dead and the door mechanism itself had worn out and according to Kenny needed replacing. He offered to order me a factory VW radio. I declined knowing that an audio specialist could fix me up for less than half the price he/​VW would offer. He said my door lock mechanism would cost $ 450-​$ 500. Once again I declined. I asked him to replace the batteries in my two key fobs. Before he did, I asked him how much that would cost me and he said $ 100. I said WHAT?! $ 100 for 2 batteries? He told me that was because the key fobs require programming. I said how about you just put the batteries in ($ 6 a piece) and we’ll see if that works without the $ 100 for the programming. Worked just fine. I paid $ 100 for the computer diagnostic and $ 12 for the batteries and left. Biggest waste of time and money I’ve ever experienced. Thank goodness I didn’t opt for any other servicing as I had in the past.
I know my car could use some repairs here and there but after the last visit he quoted me $ 1700 for repair work which was unrelated to the reason I brought it in, then after I declined he told me my Jetta is a good car and is running great. I don’t understand how it needs $ 1700 of work but is running great. I haven’t had any mechanical issues with it in the past year since declining those services. I will not go to a mechanic who is clearly trying to get whatever he can out of me. For that reason, I will not return to Kenny Hill’s Autowerks.

Our Jetta’s radio recently died so we bought an Alpine online and took it and the car to Kenny Hill where we’d been going for service several years. Bill said no problem but a hour later Kenny called to say he’d been out to lunch and we should know that since this wasn’t a «direct replacement» it was going to involve two hours of time and $ 100 worth of parts to install, a total of $ 200. The online reviews for the Alpine had reported how easy it was to put in so we suspected we were being taken to the cleaners. Sure enough, Vee Dub installed it in a half hour with a $ 5 harness as parts. We’d been through a series of expensive repairs on a faulty alarm at KH but kept going back due to its very convenient location and habit. No more.

I would give it less than one star if I could.
I will never take one of my cars to Kenny Hill again.
Every time we have taken a car in for repairs he always finds something else to double the quoted estimate. Something that has to be done immediately, according to him.
Last year my husband purchased a used car from him that he said was in excellent condition. He even had an inspection sticker put on it right before we bought it. We paid Blue Book value for an excellent condition car, plus tax. Over $ 8,000.
Over the year we had it in for repairs numerous times for a total of about $ 5,000. Once for an axle problem that was major. How did he not catch that?
One year later when it came time for inspection, our first with the car, it wouldn’t pass. Why? Because according to Kenny on our most recent visit, the car has an evap system small leak that will cost over $ 4,000 to fix.
My husband, who by the way was a personal friend of Kenny’s, said he felt he had been taken by him. Kenny said he didn’t feel that way, and charged us full price.
We paid the $ 995 he charged us for checking out the problem and said goodbye.
I will never recommend Kenny Hill Autowerks to anyone.

I read the good reviews about Kenny Hill Autowerks and thought this would be a much better idea than going to the dealership to have my Jetta serviced. BOY WAS I WRONG.
My car had an overheating problem here in the Austin sunshine, and what was wrong with that was a melted fuse block. Well, they did fix that.
He also used a scare tactic and deemed my car **UNSAFE TO DRIVE** unless I replaced the axles, a much more expensive operation.
I had all the work done, spending my last pennies having it repaired, and I spent a lot more money than I thought would be involved. As they were working on it, I received a call from Bill saying «your coolant is leaking, we need to charge you $ 200 more to fix it». Why would they not have noticed something like that when they did diagnostics on my car prior to this repair session? I wasn’t driving it due to the scare tactic, and there were not leak spots where my car had been parked for ages before I could save up the money to have it repaired. It seems likely they wrought the damage to my coolant, or the mechanic himself did it when he was «repairing» my car. Or that it was an imaginary leak.
When I arrived to pick it up, after payment, I hopped in to leave, I find then that one of his mechanics BROKE a piece of my Jetta (the inside door) and did not even have the guts to mention this damage to me. I pointed this out, and Kenny Hill and Bill and the mechanic who broke the door came out and looked at it. Kenny ever so graciously offered to only charge me for the parts to have it fixed, he said it would’ve broken soon anyway, so why should he have to pay for the piece his man broke on my vehicle? I looked this man dead in the eye and saw a crook staring back at me.
I have no reason to believe they’re not the kind of people to ascertain how much you know about cars and make all efforts to milk you for more than you’re worth. They wanted to charge me for damage they did to my car.

My favorite thing about Kenny Hill Autowerks is Kenny Hill. I love that his name is on the sign and he is the person you talk to when you walk in. He is really friendly and patient and a generally decent person. I’ve had my Jetta in his shop twice and both times got a really good vibe from him and his staff. They are honest and open and explain everything clearly, and they have never acted snobby or annoyed when I couldn’t afford to fix everything they recommended.
Example: I brought my car to Kenny last week to replace the radiator fans, but I wanted to buy the parts elsewhere because I could get them cheaper than they quoted. So I order the fans, UPS leaves them in the office of my apartment, but I couldn’t get them out because I work 7:00 to 7:00 and they work 10:00 to 3:00, so Kenny himself goes to my apartment while I was at work, picks up the packages for me (the parts that I was too cheap to buy from him) and replaces them. Wow. What a guy!
Second favorite thing about this shop is that they really know what they are doing and they do it right the first time. I know that when I take my VW to Kenny Hill, the work will be done right, and they’re quick! Their labor cost is totally appropriate and normal.

I brought my wife’s Subaru WRX over to get the transmission rebuilt and it was $ 1000 UNDER the quoted amount. NICE! I’ve read all the reviews here. Some of them are old, so please take into considerations that Kenny and his staff have seemed to make some positive changes to their business (probably part in due to feedback).
Also, they do great work on all makes and models. Just give them a call and see if they are the right place to fix your car issue. They are for both our Subaru and Mazda.

There are few places to go in town if you are servicing an Audi A8. Kenny Hill Autowerks is on the tOp of my list. This car is as complicated and sophisticated as they come. My last monster service was 3 weeks ago.
As I am a mortal and out of original warranty, I can not afford the dealer. (As much as the dealer has left me with a VERY sour taste, time and time again — I wouldn’t go on principle)
I now have a 4 year history with Kenny and his crew and I trust him, completely. A big deal in this industry… To be clear that this is not a love fest — there are certainly times when I do not like what I hear or wish I wasn’t dealing with the given issue. Pricing & Parts: I blame the car 90% than KHA, which is far cheaper than the dealer but more than some other shops). Waiting for specialty parts makes me antsy — but when the news of unpalatable realities of the car industry comes from Kenny, i know that he is not BS’ing me — trust. We strategies, assign priority, and then I pay for solid work.
Once I figured out my extended warranty issues, Kenny was the knowledgable guide on how to navigate that shark infested water. For the first time in my life, I actually got back more than paid on those programs — thanks Kenny!
I always get the car back cleaner than when I gave it to them. Any extended «stays» with them is due to those pesky parts being a pain to get (yes, the car sits while waiting) … I always get a ride home, and they pass on a discounted rates at Enterprise. Kenny has gone above and beyond on some occasions.
I submit that nothing is perfect, the question is — how does the company handle things when issues do go sideways? I recommend these guys — with out hesitation. I’d even say that this is an IQ test.

Mr. Hill has been looking after my VW’s since 1988 when I bought my ’73 convertible.
He has saved my rear on numerous occasions, sometimes actually diagnosing a problem over the phone so I could get back on the road. Many times over the years he has gone out of his way to help with my vehicular challenges.
Case in point, I had my bug trapped in my girlfriend’s garage last week. The key would no longer turn in the ignition so the car wouldn’t start. (It’s a 38 year old vehicle, things sometimes stop working.) Her house is about 7 miles from his shop. He and his wife drove to my car, he jumped in with some tools in his pocket, got the key to turn, then he drove my car to his shop to fix the problem.
As a father, I’ll always be grateful for the time he rescued my daughter when her Jetta wouldn’t start in the middle of a busy Austin intersection. She called me, I called Kenny, Kenny sent out the cavalry.
In addition, he’s loaned me cars, given me rides, diagnosed problems that others couldn’t figure out. He helped me maintain a Passat wagon, the aformentioned Jetta, a new Bug, and for the past 23 years he’s kept my old bug running like a top.
He pays his mechanics living wages. He’s a part of the Austin running and biking community. He’s a 78 704 fixture. There are many reasons to support his business. If you own a VW in Austin, in my opinion this is the only place to go.

Used to love this place when I lived in Zilker area. When Kenny worked there he ran a tight ship.
Last Jetta I had that needed service sat there for weeks. When I got it back there was cat fur all over the black cloth seats in the back. They told me they must have left the window down and the shop cat must have been camping in the back.
Thanks but no thanks on return business.

We have been using Kenny’s for about 3 years now. We knew they were more expensive than other places, but we felt like we could really trust them. Well, our luck has changed. We brought it in for a leak that was making the engine smoke. They replaced the «cam chain tensioner seals, cam bore plugs & valve cover gaskets» for a pretty penney ($ 908.71) and had the car for 4 days!
Well, when we got it back, the original problem was fixed, but we now had a new problem. There is now a noise that is occurring in the front of the car. I actually had to pull over on the side of the road because it sounded like my tire was about to come off.
We took the car back in and Kenny claimed he did not hear the noise.
LONG story short, the problem was not fixed and we are now going to take it somewhere else so it will get fixed. We can no longer trust Kenny Hill and will not recommend his shop nor go there again.

If you can get ahold of Kenny himself and have him look at your car and test it out himself, you’ll get some great service. And he won’t stop trying to figure out your issues until they’re solved. Or until he at least has a good solid answer.
I’d had my Eurovan rebuilt over the past year for WAY too much money and way too little service at Austin Veedub and another mechanic who (to be fair) mostly was familiar with older VWs.
Kenny Hill took quite a while to get my car fixed and back to me, which was irritating, but it now drives better than it ever has. The original prognosis for my suspension was that I needed new front and rear shocks. After telling them that Veedub had already replaced them a year previous, Kenny took it upon himself to figure out the problem. And sure enough, there were vital parts missing that these other guys somehow all missed. A quick fix on this, and I’m ridin high again.
No pun intended.
Yeah, all the work I had done cost a pretty penny, but he’s also given me some advice on a few other fixes that he’d like to do, and even offered cheaper and more efficient ways that would be kinder to my pocketbook. How’s that for a mechanic? I don’t know how many would tell you how to SAVE money at their shop.
All in all, I still may just have to sell the old girl. I love this van, but they seem to require too much servicing for someone like me. At least now I know the «good and bad» areas, and how much they’d likely cost to get fixed by the next owner.

Kenny Hill supports local bike racing, so I support him.
His estimate (for wiring fog lights on my new Jetta Sportwagen) was within an hour of the actual, and I found his candor honest and transparent. In fact, I enjoyed shooting the sh*t about old VW’s and what they’ve meant to us.
There’s a lot of negative reviews about this shop, so I’m glad the work I needed to be done was elective and not required to keep my car on the road. But even if it were dire straits, I still think I would trust Kenny and his mechanics.