So I have been trying to find a good honest mechanic, one that wouldn't gain my trust and the stab me in the back, these guys remind me of my own personal family, honest and up front, if there isn't an issue they don't try and sell you an issue, they do what needs to be done and will give recommendations. Personally had them service my truck and add a deeper transmission pan because when I tow my temps get hot. They not only installed the part and serviced my transmission , they kept it at the same price they quoted me, not like some of these other shops that give you a quote and then it changes after service is completed. Highly recommend would definitely come back. read more

I took in my 1999 Chevy C1500 with a first to second shifting issue. they did a complete diagnosis of everything externally that it might be, well everything was good so they threw it on the bench to dive in internally. I was shown the oil and the crappy stuff that was in the oil which happened to be clutch material. So we decided to rebuild it. After that Joseph test drove it and it still had the issue, so they put it on the bench again and took it apart and found that the valve body wasn't working with the old housing so I guess that mine to be that one in a hundred housings the one so we decided to go ahead and get one off the shelf from either performance products Jegs or Summit so that's what we did and they put that in and I guess the one they put in had been put on Dyno for which is really a plus and has a three-year one million mile warranty, so I was jazzed about that! The transmission is awesome!!! Thanks to Ian, Joseph , and the rest of the crew at Advance Transmissions!! You guys ROCK!!!! read more

This was the 2nd time (2 different cars) I have been here. Both times were excellent experiences. Ian is very knowledgeable and great to work with. It's hard to find a trustworthy mechanic, but you will find one here! read more

I brought my car in for a request for evaluation and replacement if necessary on my 2015 Nissan Sentra. Ian and his son, Joseph gave accurate an accurate estimate of the length of time it would take, the cost of repair, and even gave me a cash discount. Their service was excellence, they always knew who I was when I called and even had my car done a day early! I highly recommend this shop. read more

I highly recommend Advanced! I've used them twice in the past to work on transmissions for both my Acura TL as well as my Chevy box truck and both times they did an excellent job. Today I stopped by (with no appt), with my transmission from my Acura in the back of my truck to see if they could assist me with a problem created by a neighbor who was replacing my engine and happened to break the torque converter on my transmission. Well, Ian and his son helped me out without hesitation and solved the problem. I just want to say, you don't find customer service at this caliber, especially these days. They are honest, reliable and I trust them implicitly. Their work is of the utmost integrity. Hence why I went straight to them for help. read more

I stopped in at Advanced Automatic Transmissions a few weeks ago, thinking I could get my car inspected for registration. I'm so grateful I made this error (they don't do state inspections) because Joseph, the owner's son and partner, was an absolute savior. I knew I needed a new catalytic converter and all my check engine lights were on. Joseph kindly checked all the lights and told me exactly what each meant and then reset them, instructing me to return to the shop after a few weeks to see if I was ready for inspection. He refused to take any money, though I offered to pay him for his time. Unfortunately, my lights came back on before I could get it inspected, but Joseph's help and kindness were what I truly needed to buy the the time to figure out a plan for next steps. I'm definitely going to return if I need transmission work, as it's rare to find a mechanic who is honest and kind and doesn't try to rip you off. Highly recommended! read more

A few days ago I jumped in my suburban, started it up, put it in gear and it didn't want to go forward and didn't want to go reverse so put it in park and began a search for "near me". So I found advanced automatic transmissions online Called and Ian picked up the phone. Ian the owner. I explained to him before that I said I said something and I was going in the wrong direction so he gingerly stopped me and he said just tell me what happened And what it's doing. I explained to him what was going on and he told me what might be wrong right down the list. 60 seconds into the conversation I felt like it was about 50 years ago and I was talking to a service person who was going to give proper service. He knows how to talk to a customer so a customer understands. Even if I wasn't living around the Santee area, I would probably have my suburban flatbed to where he is working and have it worked on if it ever needed to be worked on. Incidentally, what he told me it couldn't have been more right on, so give Ian a shot. He'll take good care of you. read more

The transmission on my 2008 Nissan Altima died and Advance was recommended. Got a quote for a replacement with programming, no rebuilt, brand new from Nissan. The price and cost was fully explained and they towed the car from my house at no additional charge. No hidden costs nor calls to increase the price, what was quoted was the final price with a full year warranty. Are transmissions cheap?, No, specially Nissan. Get over it and pick someone who is reliable and knows their craft. Thanks Advanced. read more

We took my son's car here for the first time. Ian was awesome! He took the time to run tests, and research warranties on the car. He told my son that the transmission was not the problem, rather the computer in the car, that should be under warranty still. He advised my son to call the dealer, and even helped him with what to say. Ian did this all at no charge. And he was right! The dealer fixed the problem at no cost. Thank you for your honesty : ) If any of our cars ever need transmission work, we will be back. read more

Just want give a huge shoutout to Ian and his crew Not only did they keep there word about the cost it was even cheaper than originally quoted they were speedy and efficient I brought my 08 escape to them late Tuesday and here we are on Friday afternoon and my vehicle is ready fir pick up I highly recommend advanced automatic for any transmission needs read more

I would highly recommend Advanced Automatic Transmissions. I had a slipping transmission and brought it in for service. I had no idea what the problem was, and they could have told me anything. The valve body (a $1000 part) got cracked by accident during the service. They could have told me that this was the problem with my transmission and charged me and I would not have known the difference. But this is a family owned business that takes pride in being Honest, and that is exactly what they are. They explained that the crack was the result of an accident on their part. They bought a new one out of their own pocket and expedited the whole process so that I could make a deadline in which I needed my vehicle. The hardest thing is finding an honest mechanic and I can tell you look no farther than Advanced Automatic Transmission in Santee, on prospect ave. Thank you guys, Nick read more

Great experience with advanced automatic transmissions. Ian was able to diagnose my cars problems and gave me the details and estimates quickly. The repairs were performed on time as promised and the vehicle is running as new again. My vehicle is a 2011 Subaru Forester and although the transmissions are not cheap i felt comfortable having Ian perform the work and i am sure i saved a heck of a lot more money than going through a dealership. I might add that i contacted two different dealerships for estimates and never received a call back or any info. Based on my experience I would recommend Advance Automatic Transmissions read more

Thank you Collins, True Value tire for the referral to Advanced automatic transmissions. Ian at advanced automatic transmission was very thorough and honest and saved me $800 on a new transmission for my 2009 Altima. read more

Came for a smog check. The owner helped us out, he is very nice, great customer service. There was one car ahead of us to get smoged but we were still all done as out of the shop within 20 minutes. And all for $32!!! It's a nice little mom and pop shop, service was quick, honest and priced great! I recommend it to anyway that needs a quick smog at a great price! It was a pleasure and I will be back for the rest of my vehicles! read more

My old 4Runner was stuck in low range. Advanced Automatic Trans fixed it right up at a good price. Trans mounts got changed too, I didn't realize how rough the ride used to be. Highly recommend! read more

With less than a week before I was expecting a large group of family to be flying into town, the transmission on my 1986 K5 Blazer started making some terrible noises. I called around to a few shops and got quotes. These guys offered a competitive price on the rebuild and were the only shop to estimate a completion date before my family arrived. When they got to work they said the transmission was in much worse shape than originally expected, but despite that they stuck to their original quote. They also gave me a ride home all the way to Bay Ho and delivered the vehicle when it was finished. Top notch work and customer service provided here. read more

A good friend of mine brought his car here and trusted them, so I gave them a chance. Brought my brand new Kia here for its 1st thru 3rd oil changes. I was told that tire rotation was included in the service though I noticed they don't write that on the work order. Took my car to the Kia dealership for the 4th oil change, and they rotated the tires it turns out for the FIRST TIME! Advanced Automotive lied and didn't rotate my tires even once in 3 service visits. What a giant disappointment and now I have lopsided tires... read more

I cannot recommend Ian and his team enough! From my initial call until my car was repaired, he and his team showed the utmost level of customer service. They were able to give me a ride back to work after dropping my car off, and when we ran into delays on my repair, they even arranged a rental car for me. Their customer service is truly unparalleled. Ian was honest, trustworthy, clear and responsive in all of his communications. Would absolutely recommend Advanced Automatic Transmissions to family and friends. read more

Ian and his son are honest, hard working people. I had my transmission in my truck flare up and on it's last few legs. Ian called me within hours explaining what the problem is and asked my permission to take a further look into it. It took him 1 full day to complete and repair my transmission, and he took the time to show me what exactly was wrong with my transmission and what he did to make it run better and stronger. He offered to give me a ride home if necessary and always puts a smile on your face. Ian and his son will always make sure they get the job done right and go above and beyond to satisfy their customers. A truly great business here. They beat all the other transmission businesses I've been to. I highly recommend them! read more

I took my wife's 2004 expedition here after the reverse gear went out. Ian, the owner took one whole day to diagnose the problem and three more days to repair it at a cost of $3200. Since the repair was completed, the transmission clanks when putting it into drive. He says its because the tranny is new and the rest of the drive train is worn. I took it to Drew ford and they told me I got a bad rebuild. Ian refuses to stand by his work and repair it. I would not take your vehicle here. read more

Have a black 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix. My transmission went out I brought it here to the shop. They rebuilt my car in less than a week. They also gave me a ride back to my house and pick me up when card was done read more

I took my truck to this shop a few years ago.... Advanced Automatic had to rebuild the transmission THREE TIMES. At least the work was under their very, very limited warranty. I was having trouble with my transmission shifting between gears, so I took it to them. They "fixed" it for around $2600. I told them I would be driving to Montana as soon as I got it back, they did not comment. Well, on my way back from MT the trans fault light came on in my dash cluster. Kept driving, given I was very far from home. Barely made it back to SD, and before I could bring it back in, not only did the transmission fail, but it took the engine with it. Something this shop denied all responsibility for. The mechanic who fixed the motor suggested the fault was Advanced Automatic's, given that the engine over-revved and threw a rod out the side of the case. A phenomenon which may occur when a transmission slips, and the motor loses the normal resistance against it's rotational force. Anyway, got a new motor put in it, and AAT did the transmission under warranty. Because, it didn't take long to break. After some driving for a month or two, my truck had to be taken back AGAIN, because the trans fault light came on AGAIN, and the irregular shifting was occuring AGAIN. They blamed me every time I took it in, and I had to argue with them every time just to get them to follow through with thier warranty. They said it was "user-input error", which I find funny since the vehicle is an automatic, and all I can do is either stop or go... For the record, I do not drive my vehicles abusively. I try to drive at lower rpms to save my motor and money. Nothing should fail as soon as it had, with the way I drive. Recently I just changed my transmission fluid myself, and there is a concerning amount of metal shavings. It's already falling apart and shifting erratically, AGAIN. Take note people, there is a very good reason they only offer a 13,000 mile warranty. The work won't last. The truck (2005 F150) has been through less than 40,000 miles on it since initial repair. read more

Took my Lexus here for periodic maintenance (flush and refill), not repair or rebuild. Very professional service and outstanding value. Would not hesitate to recommend them. read more

Just had my grand ams intake manifold repaired here. They were fair with thier pricing did a great job with the repair and above all were the most honest mechanics i have ever been to. Absolutly the best place to get your car fixed read more

The transmission went out on my 2006 Ford F-150 and some friends recommended Ian at Advanced Automatic Transmissions. Ian was helpful and friendly throughout the first repair process. Unfortunately, one of the replacement parts that was installed during the initial rebuild failed a couple thousand miles later. Ian took the truck back, diagnosed the failed part, replaced it and many other guts free of charge and my truck's been running perfect for a year. I rarely review businesses, but wanted to thank Ian and his team for standing behind their work and honoring their warranty! Highly recommend this transmission shop. read more

Had my truck transmission overhauled their and when they were done it would not work right cold . I had to wait 5 to ten minutes before it would engage, after that it would work ok . I took it back three times and they could not fix it. I cant say I would recommend them, now I have to get it fixed right.. read more

They don't know what they're doing! I took my car in for a routine check and after they were finished, my car was not able to drive anymore. They tell you one price and then the moment they get the transmission out, they double and in my case, triple the price. They are crooked thieves! It would seem like somebody would shut them down because they are not a legitimate business. Mark is clearly the same guy from free miles! Do not go there if you value your vehicle! read more

Took vehicle in and when I went to pick it up they stated they had done all this work. Went to drive it home and it died- didn't even make it home. Didn't even get a receipt for my 900 saying what work they had completed - car seemed the same as when I dropped it off, seemed nothing got done- didn't even top up fluids- didn't seem knowledgeable at all about basic things. Left wires exposed- it goes on and on. read more

Three words to describe this place: EXCELLENT! EXCELLENT! EXCELLENT! I was told by an oil changing place that I needed my shocks replaced. Their fee was $1300. Decided to check around......Called the dealer(Toyota) and was quoted $1800. Called Advanced Automotive and they quoted $900 even adding an alignment to the package. So I took the car there. After an hour of working on the car, the mechanic called and said the rear shocks were just fine. Nothing wrong with them.The front were the only things needing to be replaced. So the bill dropped to $650. The other 2 places could very easily have taken advantage and replaced both sets. I'd have never been the wiser. So, while Advanced Automotive could scammed me they were instead HONEST. Having been fleeced a number of time by automotive places, this firm stands out among the pack. The work was done well in a very timely manner and the price was great. Highly recommended! read more

Friends of mine who have been taking their cars here highly recommended Advanced Automotive. I needed a 60k service. I just picked up my car and am quite happy with the work they did, the cost for the work and the friendly staff! I will refer friends in the future! read more

Ian at Advanced Automatic Transmissions is a trustworthy as they come and stands behind his work. When there was a problem with a part he had gotten elsewhere to install in my son's car he stood behind it 100% and bent over backwards to make it right, at his own expense. As a female I frequently feel like I am being taken advantage off when dealing with car-related issues. But not here! I would take a car back here anytime. read more

I took my car to this place for a smog test, the manager filled my coolant tank over floating it in purpose and then, he disconnected hoses so, my car will not pass the smog test. The manager said that my car was overheating and leaking coolant plus that the fan was not working. I am glad I arrived on time to stop him, I took my car to my mechanic and he confirmed that one of the hose disconnected will provoke my car for sure to fail the smog test. The manager was very angry because I did not let him continuing ruining my car, his assistant a Mexican old man was very rude too. I just wanted to send this review to help good people from being robed. This place has authorized licenses to do whatever takes to steal. What a dishonest manager and workers I wonder if the owner knows what is going on in this place or if he trained them. After seeing my mechanic, I took my car to a smog test only shop and my car passed perfectly, of course after connecting the hoses that the manager lied disconnecting, the fan was working fine and the car was not overheating, the cooling tank did not have any leaking read more

I got my transmission rebuilt here, even though the main problem seemed to be a sensor that they never checked until I still had the same issue after their repair. Now 2 years later my transmission is bad again! I took it back to them, and was sweet talked about it being just a possible loose wire, or something minor. I didn't feel comfortable having them work on it, and they couldn't even diagnose it until the next day because they don't even have a tech to be able to look for the problem, and have to call one in. I took my car somewhere else and sure enough it turns out that Advanced Transmission did not do a complete rebuild, and now there are metal chips in my transmission, which needs to be rebuilt again!! Beware of this company! They also took over a week to do my rebuild the first time. Do not trust them! read more

I have been taking my cars for 4 years to Advanced Automotive because of the work and price. They have always been able to fix whatever problem I am having. If it is an expensive fix, they call to talk about it and offer alternatives if possible. I even called them once from Northern California when I started having car problems and they offered assistance over the phone and even talked with the local mechanic the next day. If you are a customer, they will take care of you. read more