Greg’s Japanese Auto

They fixed my Subaru’s front wheel in record time. I brought it in knowing it could be a very expensive ball joint replacement. To my surprise they said it was a lose bolt and with an assessment it cost less than $ 70. They asked if I had bought the car used, which I had. They said there was evidence of it being in an accident. I mentioned carfax was clear and the front desk guy said if it’s not reported to insurance or ticketed by police it won’t show up. Lesson learned and they said they do $ 100 used car assessments. This is for next time we buy we can use it for negotiating power with the seller. I loved the honesty and helpful attitude. I would highly them recommend to anyone.

I called Greg’s Japanese Auto after hearing lot of good words about them on KIRO FM (my buddy to office). I have 2000 model car and it started showing Service engine warning. I’ve some tool to read the error code and I found it was P0135 — O2 sensor fault — Bank1 Sensor 1.
I called them to told about the error and to check replacement cost for O2 sensor. However they schedule appointment for next day as I was late the day I called and told be to drop off the car.
Next day morning when I dropped my car and they gave estimation of $ 165 for diagnosis (I overlooked it as I was thinking this going to include repair for the labor as well) In the afternoon I got the call that they found the problem (O2 Sensor) it is going to cost me $ 497(excluding tax, including $ 165 which any way I have pay whether or not I want it to repair and yes that includes $ 203 part replacement which seem to overpriced when I googled the part only)
Well, would the estimation have been told without asking me dropping off the car I would have decided to get it repair elsewhere. (I am little reluctant to leave the car for diagnosis for half of the day and then get take it somewhere for repair)
I didn’t want to discuss with Clayton in detail but he told it’s like going to doctor, who will charge for the separate for diagnosis if spending significant time. Agree, In my case — I told upfront that I want replace Bank1 Sensor1 as I diagnose with my tool.
My plan was that if replacing O2 sensor doesn’t help, I could ask Greg’s Auto to diagnose and pay for it and repair if reasonable.
To me I felt ripped off.
Positive side — No doubt they’re courteous, they even provide shuttle for drop-​off/​pickup, But I feel cost wise they’re not reasonable.

Rude and way over priced. I knew I was getting ripped off as soon as I received my quote!

I’ve been a loyal Greg’s customer for 15 years and by and large have had a good experience with them but over the past 2 months I have been into the shop 6 times dealing with the same issue (a faulty ABS sensor) and it has been such a poor experience that they have permanently lost my business.
I can appreciate that some issues are more complex to diagnose than others but it’s how they handled it — the customer service aspect — that was so frustrating. The first day it was in the shop, they contacted me at the very end of the work day and told me they would need to keep it for another day — with apparently little regard for the fact that I rely on it for transportation. I was luckily able to track someone down in the office who could give me a ride home and figured out the public transportation situation to get into the office the next day but all they needed to do was provide me an update earlier in the day so I could plan. On subsequent days that my car was in the shop, it was a similar situation, I wouldn’t get any updates throughout the day and would have to call to find out what was happening and when they would be done. After each visit, I was informed that they had fixed the issue only to find out within 24 hrs that wasn’t the case. In between visits, I would call to inform that the issue still persisted and the standard response was that they’d do some more research and call me back with next steps. I would never receive a call. After several days I would have to contact them again and repeat the same process. So time consuming.
Halfway through this ordealI was handed off to a new customer service rep who didn’t have historical context for what had been taking place (apparently the notes they keep aren’t very thorough) and I had to re-​explain everything. Ultimately, they determined that the issue was beyond their ability to fix and told me that I would have to take it to a dealership. I said I’d be happy to, even though I’d invested numerous days over the prior 8 weeks trying to work with them, as long as they would reimburse at least a portion of the $ 600 I had paid them. They were unwilling to consider it. I know they did replace one sensor and that some diagnostic labor is reasonable but $ 600 seems exorbitant when there was literally zero value provided. My car was in the exact same condition as when I brought it in and I had wasted countless hours shuttling into the shop and chasing down responses.
So, suffice to say, I will now be taking my vehicle to the dealer for service from now on. It’s really too bad — it would have taken very little effort to keep me as a loyal customer. Greg’s just isn’t the great service-​oriented shop that it once was.

Unwilling to help.
I noticed the Check Engine Light (CEL) on my wife’s people-​hauler, and popped in at Greg’s to see if I can borrow an OBD2 reader to see what the fault code would be. The man behind the counter said that a reader would not help at all, since the error code (s) could mean any number of things, and proceeded to pull up the scheduling screen on his computer as if I wanted to schedule an appointment. The earliest appointment would be in TWO days.
I asked again, if he could just pull the code so I can determine the «general» fault. He repeated that it wouldn’t do any good. At this point, I knew he was TOO LAZY to help since it was nearing the end of the day. It takes less than 30 seconds to pull a code, but the willingness to help out a potential customer was just not there.
He also said «…for example, the code could be P0214, meaning a misfire, but it could be caused by a lot of different things…» First of all, P02xx numbers refer to Fuel and Air Metering (Injector Circuit), not Ignition System or Misfire. I knew this, because I’ve read up on generic OBD2 codes before. He is either not educated in his trade, or was trying to shoo me away with bogus info.
For those interested, P0214 refers to «Cold Start Injector 2 Malfunction».
Will I ever go back? No.
Will I ever recommend them to my peers? Definitely not.
…this is the repercussion of not willing to spare less than a minute of one’s time and talk to a potential customer.
Solution: I left, and bought an OBD2 reader at the auto parts store down the street. Pulled the code (P0305 and P0304), and found what was wrong (misfire), knew that it was because I left the car sitting for a long time, since I replaced the ignition coils for those two cylinders last summer. I reset the error code, and it never came back. Problem solved.

These guys are great! I always feel comfortable leaving my car with them and not having any mysterious items come up needing work, I completely trust them! Plus everyone there is SO friendly and helpful!

We told our son to take his older Honda to Greg’s for repair; our understanding was that they were reputable and reasonable. Instead, they charged him $ 125.00 PER ITEM that they found to repair, in addition to the repair costs. This added an additional $ 250.00 and their bill was close to $ 1000. At least the dealer doesn’t charge you for the diagnostic if you do the repair at their shop. We will NOT recommend them anymore, or be using their shops. Too sad.

I brought my car here for a buyer’s inspection because I had a guy interested in buying my car. They told me that my car had a big water coolant leaking problem. They said that my water pump needs to be replaced asap. They said that my coolant was extremely low.
I have been taking my car in for regular oil changes and services and no one had EVER told me that my coolant was low or about a possible leak. So the interested buyer super low balls me from his standing offer, and I decline.
I take my car in to a certified Honda dealer the next day, and they say that my coolant is FULL, not even close to extremely low. A possible small water coolant leak, but no signs that it needs replaced asap.
So I called Greg’s up and asked them if they filled up my coolant the day before, and they didn’t. I don’t know what their problem is at Greg’s, or why they stretch the truth. Maybe they knew the guy that was interested in buying my car, so they tried to point out small things and make them into a big deal.
I would never go here again because I don’t feel that they are honest. I hate dishonest auto mechanics.

I contacted Greg’s about getting some maintenance done on my Acura TL. There were some issues that required some diagnostics and they were very adamant about letting me know the price would depend on how much work was required to diagnose. That I understand, I just want it fixed.
However, the guy on the phone informed me that my bumper has to come off to replace the headlights (it doesn’t) and it would take an hour of labor. I’m sure they would figure it out when I brought it in but that doesn’t bode well for their knowledge. Then they said replacing my tranny fluid could be $ 220 if they have to do a super extra special flush, which they would determine after looking at it. I’ve never had any other shop offer a super extra special flush for 2 ½ times the cost of the regular lower class fluid change.
I wasn’t feeling so great about the prospect of going in so I’m taking the car elsewhere.

Greg’s has been my mechanic for years now. They replaced my clutch and my transmission. Today I got an oil change and my brake pads and rotors replaced.
They’re always friendly and don’t bull shit you. They’ll tell you what needs to be done now and what can wait.
Their prices are a little higher than other places, like jiffy lube or les Schwab but are less than dealerships.

These guys are real JERKS. They wanted to leave a part off my car because they said it was too hard to put back on… This is the lamest bunch of mechanics ever… I will NEVER bring my can back to these rude JERKS again. I hope they go out of business…

I’ve been to Greg’s a few times over the past 10 years. Most of my experiences have been mediocre and more expensive than the Acura dealership one block away. About a year ago, I had a particularly bad experience that has convinced me never to return.
My Really bad experience.
I went in for a check engine light. They told me the problem needed to be fixed since it was dangerous to drive. I already owed them $ 100 for the diagnostic so I didn’t see much choice. They also said my front brakes needed to be fixed and that the wear was an at unsafe level. I asked why the brake warning indicator hadn’t made any noise yet and they told me these indicators can fail sometimes. Almost $ 1000 later I got my car back. As I left they said my rear brakes were almost worn out and I should come back in a month to have them replaced.
A month later, I still didn’t hear any warning indicator noise from the rear brakes so I called my usual Honda/​Acura shop and was told that the indicators work very reliably and that this is an unfortunate but typical fear tactic shops use.
It’s been a year, and still no warning noise from the rear brakes. I had them inspected to be safe and they are at 45% wear remaining.
What this means to me is that these guys are either really dishonest or very incapable. Either way is bad and I can’t support this business. Finding a good mechanic is difficult so when I find good ones, I’m happy to steer friends toward them, but in this case my advice is to stay away.
Mediocre Experiences:
— When I’ve contacted multiple shops, Greg’s always has the highest price. They attempt to justify it with the usual «we use OEM parts» and my personal favorite, «I won’t lie to ya» whenever I ask a question.
— With a high diagnostic charge, you’re screwed once they get your car since going elsewhere means you still have to pay Greg’s at least $ 90.
— Uncreative «part replacement» ideology. Good shops know how to fix cars, mediocre shops know how to replace parts. The difference can be huge in terms of price and waste. I went to Greg’s with the assumption that they would know my «Japanese» car well enough to fix it instead of just throw parts at it. That never occurred, but I acknowledge that at least they replaced the right part.

I had a great first time experience at Greg’s.
I asked greg’s auto to inspect a car I was interested in buying. I knew it had a rebuilt title and it was in a wreck, so I was especially concerned. The vehicle owner assured me it was repaired professionally and that he had no problem allowing me to get an inspection because, after all, it was his daily driver. I was able to make an appointment for the next day in the late afternoon. That day, I got off of work later then expected and I ended up being a half an hour late. Greg’s was still able to look at the car. It took about an hour and fifteen minutes and $ 95. He informed us that the frame was bent, and the tire overinflated to compensate. He was very, very informative. He said that the mechanics took the left side apart and even drove it to see how it reacted with correct air pressure. He explained how the frame looked and the attached points looked, how someone tried to fix it but couldn’t/didn’t. He explained how often the tires would need to be replaced, and how it is unsafe to drive. Obviously I didn’t purchase the car, and the car owner was pretty shocked. I am very thankful how exploratory and explanatory Greg’s Japenese auto was.

Excellent repair shop!
Steve at the front desk has always been super helpful. I had a failure with the electric control of the front seat of my car, the dealership wanted $ 1200+ to replace the base of the seat. Steve gave me a phone number of a place in Snohomish that sold me the exact part I needed for $ 100, and Steve even printed a diagram of the parts and showed me how to install it myself (simple).
I have had my 30k and 60k services done at Greg’s for less than half of dealership cost.
I have referred my sister and my father to Greg’s, and they have been very happy with the service received.
I only had one small issue with another referral, but it was well taken care of by the staff, and I won’t hesitate to return to Greg’s for my 90k, even though I moved a bit further away.

Took my 99 Honda Accord here, they got it done reasonably quick, but the prices were quite high. I believe they were charging $ 92/​hour for labor, and parts were very marked up.
Greg’s emailed me a PDF of their inspection sheet to my office a few hours after dropping the car off SUPER useful for me to plan what service I wanted done.
They did a great job on the Honda though, and were quick and friendly. Only complaint is they recommended replacing my brakes, saying they could not resurface them, but when I took it to Les Schwab down the road they had it resurfaced in 30min… So, I’m glad I passed on their over-​priced brake service
They also suggested i replace my plugs/​wires/​rotor/​cap, which I passed on due to their high cost estimate from Gregs. I ended up getting it done at a dealership a few weeks later while on a road trip in CA, but for almost exactly the same price… I wish Gregs was a bit cheaper.
I’d recommend them for reliable engine work, but get the brakes done elsewhere, and shop around. There are a few other good shops in Bellevue which probably would do equally good work for 75% the price. I’ll probably take my car to the dealer before back to Gregs, but they were worth trying.

Good service, high prices. Came in for some simple brake work, and it wasn’t done correctly. I should have tested /​verified before I left the store. When I returned to get it done correctly, the price sky-​rocketed. Recommended other work that I found for 75% less when I shopped around other quality shops in Bellevue. Lots of up-​selling to higher cost service. They know their stuff, but push rapidly for add-​on work at high cost.

I can echo what others have said here. How many times have you been excited, even moved, that your auto mechanic is honest, helpful and competent? I have taken our dying Toyota here plenty of times, and they are realistic about what should be repaired in my old vehicle and what should NOT.
We’ve worked with both Martin and Steve at the front desk, and they are wonderful and helpful. They also come in WAY under the dealer, as well as once confirming for me that the problem the dealer wanted to fix was NOT necessary.
Let me end by just saying that they are VERY interested in making me happy, lifelong customers, which they did to me by the second visit.. How many businesses can say that? I never give Five Stars, even for great service, but these guys get one of the few that I would ever give out.

I wanted someone other than the Toyota dealer to service my vehicle and after reviewing recommendations from my co-​workers, I decided to try Greg’s. When I called to make an appointment, they asked me enough questions to ascertain exactly what service was needed and gave me a quote without my asking. They were friendly, informative and when I arrived, I was taken care of quickly and shuttled to my office promptly. I was called as soon as my vehicle was ready and picked up, again, promptly. The price was fair, and the service was great. I will return.

I called around to a bunch of auto places for quotes on labor costs. Greg’s was the only place that gave me a straight answer. The other places told me that the labor price depended upon «what work is being done».
I then asked the price for repairing a headlight. I gave the specific make/​model of the car. Gregs gave me a flat answer consisting of the price for the light and the price for the labor. The other places did a strange little song and dance about «gosh, we won’t know how much the light costs until you bring your car in».
So, we went to Gregs. We were told the service would take three days. It took three days. We were called about the work and authorized work before it was done.
Only negative — when we went to go pick up the car, they were quite pushy about trying to upsell us on some cosmetic fixes to the car. I had to tell them «No, we are not interested and will not be buying that» pretty firmly.

Great great great! Nice facility and very polite staff.
Jeff, their service manager, was incredibly helpful. He even dropped my keys off at a friend’s store that’s near their shop because I couldn’t make it over there before they closed and didn’t have a spare key.
They diagnosed the car for the price they quoted me, and didn’t do any work before calling me. I had some major problems with my Subaru and he broke them all down by what they cost, what was essential, and what was recommended, along with some factory recall information. I ended up trading the car in, and so didn’t have them do any actual work.
I’m hoping they can service the warranty on my new car though, I loved this place!