I recommend this shop to all my subaru friends. I originally took my subaru outback to another reputable shop in livermore when there was oil in the coolant reservoir and that mechanic told me the car was toast. Thankfully I decided on a second opinion and read that Bruce was the go-to guy for subaru knowledge on a reddit forum. I gave him a call and told him what was going on and he immediately said " sounds like you have a bad pcv valve" and he was right! Im so grateful I found Bruce! If I would've trusted that livermore mechanic's diagnosis I would've retired a car for a cheap valve part... read more

Bruce and his team are always friendly, professional and take great care of my Subaru Outback and me as a customer. My son referred me to Ackerman's a few years ago. All work is completed as requested and on-time. Thank you...Chris read more

It's so nice to be able to support a local business for routine car servicing. Ackerman's was very responsive, prompt and reasonably priced in servicing our Volvo XC40. I was able to get an appointment easily and they accommodated my childcare pick up needs for a same day the around. Also love all the thoughtful touches like the thank you note!! Will absolutely be returning. Thanks Ackerman team. read more

Bruce is seemingly passive aggressive, seems like he doesn't even want to be there, complete lack of customer service. Maybe he just isn't personable but it is not conducive for making me feel like I'm in good hands. I don't want to make accusations so I'll assume that they just forgot to replace my engine cover. Took my car home after basic service. Noticed my engine cover was missing. I called them and they claimed it must have not been there in the first place, even though I had worked on the vehicle and have picture proof of it being there. They eventually agreed to replace it without charge, but claimed they didn't keep my model's engine cover in stock, so it might take a few days. I get a call less than an hour later claiming they "found a spare which happened to be lying around" that just so happened to be for my model and year. Apparently the engine cover I needed happened to be in the shop, but it "definitely wasn't from my vehicle, couldn't have possibly been" as claimed. Not going to accuse someone of something that may be an honest mistake, but the lack of accountability is extremely concerning. read more

The team here is outstanding. They did great work, and it was a fair price and there was no upcharging. It is rare to find a place that you feel like you want to go back for car service, but these guys definitely won our business. read more

I scheduled a 60k mile service for my 21 outback. There was some back and forth over email to get an estimate. In that exchange I wanted to know what it would cost if some of the conditional repairs were needed such as changing the differential fluid. There was confusion here; Ackermans believed I requested the service and not just the preemptive quote. When I picked up the car the bill was higher than expected because of the miscommunication. I mentioned my surprise and they immediately understood and addressed it proactively by not charging me for this part of the service. I really appreciated how this was handled. I will be returning. read more

Ackerman's has provided excellent service for my Volvo for thirteen years (since I've owned the car). The car is serviced promptly and Bruce explained all the work that is done. I recommend him to anyone looking for service on a Volvo. read more

Highly recommend! Bruce is super helpful- I went in to ask for advice about buying a used Volvo or Subaru and he took part of his lunchtime to talk with me. Really helped me make my decision read more

I took my car for a pre-purchase inspection. I called the shop and they were able to fit me in within a couple hours. Bill and the other mechanic were both pretty friendly. I felt pretty confident in the information that they shared with me about the car. I plan to return when the car needs any type of service or repair. read more

Highly recommend Ackerman. They fixed the AC on my Subaru and serviced my car when it reached 120K. Costs are reasonable and service is friendly. read more

Very thoughtful and accommodating! Really put effort into figuring investigating the issue my Volvo was having!

Bruce once again made the car repair experience easy and pain-free. He's kind, friendly, accommodating, honest, and doesn't over charge. He's earned my loyalty as a customer many times over. Thank you! read more

Really friendly service, thorough review of the bill at the end. And very timely! Their service will drive my future car-buying decisions!

I had an issue with overheating. My year of Subaru is known to have head gasket issues although mine had already been tended to, I was still freaking out. I drove 5mph to get to Ackerman"s, did my best to compose myself and explain the issue. Luckily I came during a slower day and the issue was fixed same day. Pricing is fair and the drive after is sound after being able to recognize the difference of a job done by true professionals. The fix was simple, the ride is smooth, the panic is gone, and Ackerman's has my definite trust. read more

My 1990 Volvo 240 has been graciously cared for by Bruce and his team. Ackerman's is a professional, transparent, reliable mechanic that has been servicing my vintage car for the past 3 years. Bruce has a genuine, honest character that I fully trust, he patiently explains the problems and costs associated with the fixes to language that is easy to follow. If I was not selling my car because of a move, I would continue to use Ackerman's for as long my Volvo 240 lives (which is probably forever). If you are considering mechanics, save yourself the time and just go to Ackerman's. read more

Covid kept me home with my Volvo for 4 years. I did very little driving. But, I needed to service my S40. I moved from Berkeley to Sonoma county a few years ago but I drove this morning to Ackermans Volvo. They have serviced my car for more than a decade and I don't trust any other place to do any service on my car. Today was another excellent service day. I am ready for Spring 2024. You cannot go wrong with having your Volvo serviced here. Excellent quality, superb customer service, and competitive prices. Thank you! read more

Our coolant level was low and the gentleman who helped us could not be nicer. He was professional, efficient, and friendly. Highly recommend getting car service done here. read more

Came in for a smoke test to diagnose a leak in the fuel tank/EVAP system. Tech proceeded to smoke the intake system and supposedly found several leaks that warranted replacing 2 plastic hoses to the tune of $750+ before the test could continue. Did not perform the requested service that I came in for (smoke EVAP system). Bruce (owner) was not especially friendly or interested in any discussion of the mechanical issues involved. After disassembling the intake system myself, I inspected the "faulty" hoses and found no cracks or defects. Turns out the business model is based off charging a 50% markup on dealer parts in addition to shop labor. For these rates, you are better off at the dealer. Better yet, find an independent that cares and can source OEM parts from Tasca/FCP/AA for a fraction of the cost. If you don't know much about cars, stay away or beware of getting charged ridiculous rates for parts you don't need. read more

If you don't want to pay dealership labor cost and get better service than the dealer, Ho here. Friendly and responsive help. Enjoyed the experience! Thanks Ackerman Service's read more

I have been going to another mechanic for several years. When they were too busy to really get to my Volvo, I brought it in to Bruce for a bi-annual service and to address a noise it was making. Bruce fit it in to their schedule and gave me a very thorough inspection report at a reasonable rate. My Volvo needs to be retired at 242K miles and 22 years old. Because of the thoroughness of their inspection notes, I will be bringing my Subaru in for servicing soon! read more

If you want excellent auto repair work on your Subaru, Ackerman's is the place to go. Always professional and courteous. It is not like a meat market like some repair shops. Highly recommended. read more

Ackerman's is the the best Subaru service in the East Bay. Bruce is always polite and professional and they do excellent work.

Five stars for customer service. I brought my car here because I've seen this spot on my daily commute, and my radiator fluid light began flashing today telling me I had to pull over. I first took it to my lube guys and they looked quickly and said maybe sensor is busted the car was fine, showed me the fluid box which from afar looked full and quickly slammed the hood. I read on the Volvo facebook forum I'm part of it could be much worse than that and didn't want to be left stranded by the side of the freeway. Drove right in and the owner was very kind, he offered to fill it for free if it needed it, showed me that it was indeed low (there is a very small maybe inch separating full and low which I couldn't see earlier) and sent me on my way. I will be coming back for service. Good neighborhood people here. Thank you! read more

Ackermans did a quick, thorough, reasonably priced 90k service on my Subaru Forester. I think I saved at least $1000 over the dealership. I will be using them again as far as scheduling allows. read more

Very courteous person at the front desk. Very professional result. My service was fairly priced and they did coordonate with Joe's tire shop. Thank you Bruce! read more

I brought in my Outback to get a second opinion regarding brake work and general maintenance following an inspection during an oil change done elsewhere, and these guys not only gave me a better price for the work that was needed, but pointed out that some work was NOT even needed, saving me over $500. It's nice to have a local repair shop I can trust. Will definitively return. read more

Bruce and team were very professional and just pleasant to work with. Explained the issue to me in an easy to understand but very thorough fashion. Will definitely come back. read more

Patient and trustworthy and good prices. I needed front and back brakes. Thank you! read more

Great service at a reasonable price. I highly recommend Ackerman's. I only wish I had switched to Ackerman's from an unnamed dealer earlier.

After having a cracked control arm replaced, my car's back wheels were misaligned. The shop that replaced the arm for me was unable to address the problem in a timely way and their communications to me were misleading and confusing. I brought my 2013 Volvo C30 to Ackerman's to see if they had the expertise to rescue my car and indirectly rescue me from a frustrating situation. Ackerman's discovered the underlying issue (a small missing bolt) and fixed my alignment. But, what impressed me more was that throughout the process (which had several phases), Bruce and his team communicated clearly and regularly with me. They worked to acquire the part for me, dealt with delivery delays, and they worked with a sister shop to both test and fix my car's alignment. Throughout the process they coordinated with me and kept me informed daily. I am not a car guy, frankly. I can't give you a recommendation based on price or the difficulty of the fix. What I can say is that, if you value your time and peace of mind and are looking for a shop with expertise in both Volvos and in customer management. Ackerman's is for you. read more

I finally ended my 8 year unhealthy relationship with the Volvo dealership & moved to Ackerman's! why oh why did I wait so long??? Bruce & his staff are awesome-- attentive, knowledgeable & reliable. I get calls if the repair/service is going to be more than originally estimated. the car is actually ready when it is supposed to be, or I get a call if they need more time. I don't feel pushed into repairs/service I don't need. and I don't end up spending %600+ every time I walk through the door. I also love the shop's commitment to charitable giving-- don't forget to designate a non-profit & Ackerman's will donate 5% of labor costs to your cause! read more

Needed to get a headlight replacement on my 2012 Subaru Outback, and called Ackerman's to make a reservation. Darren was super helpful on the phone, and I got an appointment for 2-3 days later. I showed up at 8am, when they open, and Darren took my car in quickly and without a whole lot of paperwork or overhead. I felt comfortable leaving my car there, and asked them to take a quick look at my car -- fluids, brakes, tires, rust??. Usually, I would be concerned about such an open ended request, and I was a *little* nervous about it. I got a call and came back to pick up my car. The headlamp was fixed and Darren reported that he looked at the car thoroughly and really didn't find anything. Maybe new tires in a while. The bill? $23.00. I don't think I've ever driven way from a repair shop for less than 10x that amount, especially when if I've invited them to "check out the car, see what you see." Darren and Ackerman's give a great name to mechanics and I'm DEFINITELY going back, again and again. read more

My Forester has over 200k miles, so I wanted to go someone that specialized in Subarus. I found the team at Ackerman's to be highly trained and they communicated clearly what my car needed and how much it would cost. I also appreciated that although I had originally asked that the front ball joints be replaced, upon inspection, they told me the ball joints were in good shape and didn't need to be replaced. Lastly, the provided me with a typed report which included what they did, and the work they recommended be done. I will be a repeat customer. read more

These guys are great and impressed me with their knowledge of Subarus. I went in for a second opinion on a major repair which would have been a great opportunity to create work for themselves. Instead they were candid with me and advised that they didn't think the repair the dealer called for was necessary. In fact they advised that they would no have even noted it on a service visit. This is pretty darned impressive! read more

Great repairs and quick turn around for my 2000 Volvo S70. Replaced the failed alternator (car stopped running and would not start) and bypassed the heat exchange in the dashboard (slow coolant leak in the dashboard causing windows inside fogging). Prompt phone repair options, cost of repairs, and updates. Thank you Bruce and Team! read more

I took my '92!! Subaru in for repairs and replacements. A-1 job. If you have a Volvo or Subaru that needs some help, take it here!!

They were able to find a passenger door grab handle, a discontinued part for my 2002 Volvo. My passengers are now happy because if you ride with me, you may need it ;-) . They are courtious and very knowledgeable. If you need your Volvo repaired, I recommend you contact them. read more

I am extremely satisfied with the level of service. New to the Bay Ackerman's has been godsend. I continue to return and know my car is with very capable technicians. read more

Bruce and crew keep my 2011 in super shape. In the last service I mentioned an issue, that I thought might be a money crunch. They took care of it for small change. Bottom line, great service and good work. read more

Excellent experience, throughout. Ackerman's really saved the day, for me, starting with a much-needed free second opinion/inspection in a case where I was not confident acting on the recommendations given by a previous mechanic. I'd been given a Volvo, a nice but older family car; the goal was for me to sell it and use the money toward the purchase of a new car of a type more suited to my needs. I became a first-time customer at Ackerman's in the process of trying to make sure this car would be in good shape for sale. Ironically, Ackerman's free second opinion was more thorough than the $230 opinion I had just paid for elsewhere, and also caught some important things which were not even checked for by the prior mechanic, which I believe represented Ackerman's going above and beyond what they'd promised to do under the umbrella of the basic "free inspection" offer. I'd like the folks at Ackerman's to know that the free second opinion really paid off, for me and hopefully for them as well, since I decided to go ahead and have them do the work they designated as most immediately pertinent and necessary, based on the things they found in their evaluation. For me, putting down $230 with multiple mechanics just to figure out if it made sense to repair the car, and if so where to have the work done, just wasn't feasible. It turned out to be sheer good fortune that the one shop I found which offered a courtesy second opinion was also the kind of place I'd hoped to find in the first place; from the outset, I felt that these were folks one could trust. Bringing a car to Ackerman's was a positive experience, from beginning to end. They were clear, polite, patient, responsive, and respectful. They listened well, and came up with an easy-to-understand list of priorities which directly reflected my needs. They didn't over-promise in any way, nor on the other hand did they inflate costs or repair recommendations. Instead they began by being reasonable and then quietly provided even more than expected. One additional thing I appreciated, which may seem small but which I feel is indicative of their overall approach: When trying to compare what Ackerman's recommended for the car, to what the previous mechanic had recommended, I realized that Ackerman's writeup was designed to make it easy for the customer to quickly and easily see what was recommended, as well as what those repairs would cost. No hidden costs, no need to go from column to column to make sure one had caught all the fees that would add up to a single repair. Just clear, straightforward, honest, and simple to understand. Which was descriptive of the entire interaction with Ackerman's. In the end, Ackerman's helped me prioritize clearly and reach the positive outcome I'd hoped for, to make sure the car was safe to drive and ready for sale. And, to add even more value to the service provided by Ackerman's, Bruce Ackerman then offered to drive the car to the neighboring smog check station, which was super helpful. The car passed that inspection right away, and is now certified and ready to go. Thank you, Ackerman's! read more