AUTOMOTIVE AUTHORITY REVIEW
This shop was personally…read morerecommended to me; I really wanted to like them. However, bottom line: the issue I took my car in for was NEVER FIXED - across several visits. Nick & Tim are very nice and seemingly easy to work with; however, if the issue is never fixed, and new issues keep showing up, what's the point?
VISIT 1: On 01/26/2026, I took my 2014 Subaru Outback (200k mi) because the engine was shuddering upon braking, the car then stalling itself off while driving. They test drove it and did a diagnostic, telling me what I already knew: the catalytic converter (CAT) was due to be replaced. I was not ready to commit to that repair at the time; the current issue was something new that hadn't happened previously. They couldn't find anything else wrong. They insisted fixing the CAT would surely take care of this NEW PROBLEM and offered to use an aftermarket part to lower the price. The codes were reset and I left. Less than a week later, all lights on dash turned back on.
VISIT 2: Forced to make a decision between the pricey CAT repair and having to start over elsewhere, I begrudgingly agreed to the CAT replacement BELIEVING that it would, indeed, fix the problem, as I'd been told. However, within 72 hrs of this 'repair', the engine shuddering (original complaint) happened again AND it turned all the engine lights associated with the catalytic converter back on. VERY CLEARLY, the problem I brought the car in for had NOT BEEN FIXED.
VISIT 3: I was told to bring it back in on a Friday evening (01/30/2026), so they could drive it cold in am to better diagnose it. They FORGOT to test drive it cold. They ran the diagnostic but still didn't know what the problem was. They cleaned out the air manifold, a GUESS as to what may help, then reset the codes. 2 weeks later: HUGE engine shudder causing a stall in traffic; all warning lights back on. Also: violent shaking on the freeway; an entirely new problem.
VISIT 4 (2/20/2026): After running another diagnostic, they told me they still had no idea what was causing the initial engine shuddering/stalling issue; they literally said "It ain't broke enough yet!" for them to fix it! They said the highway shaking was caused by 2 control arms needing to be replaced, a safety issue that should be fixed immediately but that I had not been alerted to at any previous visit. Every time I picked up my car, I was assured that it had been vigorously test-driven before it was approved to leave, yet new problems showed themselves each time I had it back. After having the control arms replaced, I was again assured that the car was ready to go, no visible/diagnosable problems present, (save the ORIGINAL COMPLAINT which was 'not broken enough to fix'). I had given them about $3000 of my money at this point; the ORIGINAL COMPLAINT yet to be fixed! Here, I vowed that I would go elsewhere should the original problem repeat itself again. Clearly, Automotive Authority had no intention of actually fixing the original complaint!
Immediately upon leaving that time, I knew something was VERY WRONG with the brakes. I thought "No way would they let me leave the shop with brakes about to fail; I must be mistaken". I KNOW the brakes were not in that condition when I dropped the car off. There was a tactile and audible grinding of the brakes from the moment I left that shop after the 3rd unnecessary repair. On March 3, 2026, the brakes completely cut out WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I had to use the paddle shifters on my Subaru to get home safely. What had they done to my brakes?!? I dropped the car off with normal brakes, lots of wear left, and after picking it up from an unrelated repair, the brakes were worn to the point of failing. I have no answers. But, they certainly didn't test drive it before giving it back to me; there was no way they could have missed it!
After $3000 already paid for unnecessary repairs, I was not going to pay AA to fix it again. I reached out one last time to tell AA the brakes had died while driving and to ask if they would take any parts back that they sold to me and I didn't need. I never heard from them again. I got ONLY $900 trade for that Subaru and had to buy a new car in the end. My advice: never trust these guys without a 2nd opinion...or, just don't bother at all.
