1. Bristow's Auto Repair

0

Tacoma, WA

Cancel

Open app

Search

Bristow's Auto Repair

4.2 (63 reviews)
Closed • 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Services - Bristow's Auto Repair

Auto brake repair

Auto engine repair

Bristow's Auto Repair Photos

You might also consider

Recommended Reviews - Bristow's Auto Repair

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Bristow's Invoice

First of all, I hate writing negative reviews, especially for businesses that have high ratings. I later find their one star reviews here on Yelp, and they sound a lot like what I went through with Bristows. On 8/25/25, after talking to Bob at Bristow's, we arranged to have our 2001 Dodge Caravan towed from our island to have our electrical system fixed, which had gone dead. On 8/27/25, the lady at the front desk called and said that it needed a new battery, alternator, and serpentine belt, and the charges were to be $1020.00, which we thought was pretty high. We told her that we only had $1800.00 to spend for the total electrical repair (which was all we could afford). 8/28/25, Bob called and said the van was ready. On 8/29/25, we arrived to get the van and reviewed the invoice, which was a surprise. It was for $1885.72. We noticed the following: 1. Labor was $400.00 for a diagnostic (this is twice what most garages charge). 2. They charged $321.36 for a new battery and charged $136.00 for labor to remove the old battery and put in a new one (which usually only takes about 15 minutes). 3. They said they needed to replace the serpentine belt (which was replaced in 2023), and charged us $81.83 for the new belt. We requested to have the old belt (which, subsequently, after showing the belt to two other garages, we were told that the belt didn't need to be replaced). 4. We wanted to take the old battery with us and were charged $83.40 for not leaving the old battery core. We checked with both Interstate Battery Co. and Costco (where we bought the battery from), and they said they only charge $5.00 to $20.00 for a core. Showing what Bristow's charged us brought looks of disbelief and eye rolls from them. 5. We were charged $72.02 for 'shop supplies, and the lady at the counter explained that this was for things like 'using shop towels,' etc. That's a lot of towels... 6. But here's the clincher...After picking up my van (I had to pay and sign for the van before I had this repair bill worked out, or they would charge me $100 a day if I left it on their lot after they said it was ready). After driving a half a block down the street, we noticed that all of the instrument panel lights were off, the heater didn't work, and the electric windows didn't work. I called Bob and told him, and he said they could look at it, but it would cost us $200 for the diagnostic test only, which didn't include repairs! After telling him that the reason we brought the van to them was to fix the electrical problem, and it wasn't fixed. His response was that at least the van was starting, as if that was the only thing they needed to fix...for $1885.72. Solution: We found a well rated auto electrical place about two miles down the street, and they fixed the problem for $320.00. We showed him the Bristow's invoice, and his comment was, "Boy...that's just wrong. All they needed to do after getting the van started was to check the fuses under the hood to see that a few of them were blown." But they didn't check. I don't think they took it for a test drive. If Bristow's had driven the van after getting it started, they would have noticed that the instrument panel wasn't working, checked the fuses, and fixed the problem. But their excuse was they got it started again...and charged us $1885.72 for a battery, belt, and a rebuilt alternator plus labor. These folks might do well with exotic car folks, but we think we, regular folks, were taken to the cleaners. Resolution? I would like to see them man up and refund the $834.00 in labor they charged, or some reasonable refund.

Highway robbery
Emily C.

If there was an option to do zero stars I would have, but you have to choose at least one. This place is the most ridiculous auto shop I've ever been to in my life. We had our car towed to the shop because they told us they had time to fix it and that was a free diagnostic because they would put this incredibly extremely high diagnostic fee Towards fixing the vehicle. They call us up and tell us that they don't know what's wrong with the car that they need Take apart the whole engine for $8000 to tell us what's wrong with it . Apparently, they have time to take apart the whole engine, but they don't have time to fix the car till January instead of taking apart the whole engine why don't we just put a new engine in it and if I brought the engine, it would've been three grand And of course that can be done till January sorry but I can't go without a car for six months so it was a total waste of time a bunch of bullshit and they wouldn't let me get anything out of my car after because they were scared. I wasn't gonna pay the bill, which is super illegal. Save yourself a headache and don't go to this place

2009 BMW 535i
Lynn E.

Recently had my 2009 BMW 535i worked on due to a check engine light and power lag. Jordan took the time to explain everything that was done and left a great impression. I would not hesitate to recommend Bristow's Auto or the technicians that work there! If you're a woman looking for an honest shop you can trust...look no further than Bristow's. You won't be sorry! Thank you, Jordan!

See all

Photo of Mike M.
1
88
28

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Used Bristow's for Porsche for quite a few years. Now I have an old Alfa, which they also are known for work on. Will be in again soon.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

It was my third time there and I had great service work done right the first time, so I'm keeping my old BMW.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Bristows is a great place to get your Porsche or European car serviced. Friendly people, reasonable prices, great service.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of J S.
0
4
0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Dave B.
11
10
0

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 2
Love this 0
Oh no 3

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Ryan S.
0
65
11

5 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

3 years ago

I'll never take my vehicles anywhere else for service. Always timely with getting me in, results are received quickly, great prices!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Melissa Birdie P.

Melissa Birdie P.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Good job guys , I will be back again , I would recommend this shop for just about any vehicle

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Melissa Birdie P.

Melissa Birdie P.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Chris A.
162
24
7

9 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

We regularly take our vehicles here, great service, quick turn around and knowledgable staff!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Simon E.
479
24
17

6 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Melissa Birdie P.

Melissa Birdie P.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Scott C.
145
15
3

16 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Chichi C.
58
166
1

10 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Annette L.
694
41
13

13 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Joe P.
16
23
12

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 2

Ask the Community - Bristow's Auto Repair

Review Highlights - Bristow's Auto Repair

“Brian at the front counter is great at getting things setup and making sure the customers are being taken care of.”

Mentioned in 6 reviews

Read more highlights

You might also consider

Verify this business for free

People searched for Auto Repair 8,072 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

Verify this business

Matsenko Auto Body and Repair

Matsenko Auto Body and Repair

(13 reviews)

I needed some work on the rear passenger side panel. I called for an estimate and was able to get…read more it that same day. I was more than satisfied with the estimate, and I was told more work might be needed, depending on what they saw once they started working. I appreciated their honesty. I took my car in the next day, and two days later (I had been told it might take 3 to 5 days) I got it back. Not only were there are no extra charges, but the bill was less than the estimate. And what a nice surprise when I got into my car - it had been cleaned and looked a lot better than when I took it in! The people there were friendly, accommodating, and knew what they were doing. I am not an easy person to please - this was an excellent experience!

I had a wonderful experience with the team at Matsenko Auto. I have a 2021 charger scat pack with a…read morebig brake setup (400 mm two-piece rotors and 6 piston brembo brakes). For a dealer job with OEM parts, this costs around $4500 for the front pair. After doing tons of research, I decided to utilize a quality aftermarket kit. However, when I talked to the dealer, they tried to steer me away from this, and while they said they could do it with aftermarket parts, they seemed very unsure and cited issues with prior customers going this route. Another local shop told me they wouldn't be comfortable replacing just the rotors (they wanted me to bring a factory rotor/hat assembly which is honestly unnecessary if old hats are in good shape). I did not feel very confident with both shops. I reached out to Matsenko on yelp by chance and their tech, William, responded within a couple of hours and knew exactly what I was trying to do. I was honestly surprised at how knowledgeable he was with my specific brake job and decided to give them a shot. They got me in quick, and everything was done by end of next day. The brake job is excellent, there is no noise or judder, and braking action is very smooth. In addition, they did an hvac cleaning for me (i had some contamination in my evaporator core) which another shop tried, and failed, and charged me $500 for the whole ordeal. All of this was done well at a fraction of the cost at Matsenko, and I saved thousands. I am very pleased with everything, and the amount of attention to communication I received is something I rarely see these days. Everyone was also very nice and personable, from the shop owner, to the tech and to reception which is also less common these days. I drove all the way from Olympia to have this done, and when my rear brakes need a swap, I know who I'll be calling Thank you for the wonderful service everyone!

Center Street Auto Repair

Center Street Auto Repair

(9 reviews)

They fix your car or truck according to manufacturer's standards, not your insurance standards!…read more They mainly hire previous military staff, I love that! They also give a car away to a deserving individual that people write in about why that person deserves a helping hand with a new car. Love that too!

I'm shocked, shocked I say, that there aren't more reviews for this place. It's so hard to find…read morehonest mechanics who won't try to charge you an arm, leg, and first-born son for something that is an easy fix, by saying that the problem is a lot more complicated than it actually is. Enter Gary at Center Street Auto Repair. The heat went out on our car the other day, and without the savvy necessary to fix something (read: anything) on our car, my husband took it to Gary yesterday. Gary told him that it probably be Wednesday before he could even take a look at it, which is bad because my husband works in Auburn and had to be back at work on Thursday. We were also stressing about the cost, worried that with it so close to the holidays, we'd have to crunch some numbers to be able to afford repairs to the car. We need not have worried. Gary called this afternoon, said that it had just been a loose wire, and the car was ready to be picked up. Best part? It was only $70! Many mechanics in this type of situation would have said it was a motor issue, and that parts had to be replaced. He very easily could have, and we wouldn't have known the difference (though we would have been hurting financially if that was the case). So, a big thank you to the employees at Center Street Auto Repair! We won't trust our car to anyone else, and highly recommend this place!

Lapin Auto Repair

Lapin Auto Repair

(1 review)

I really, really wish I would have gotten a quote before coming in. I got on Yelp to search for…read moresomeone to do an oil change for my 2025 Ford Escape and received three responses right away. Two quotes were $100, so I stupidly assumed the third would be competitive at that price as well. Since they were the first to reach out, they got my business. I had been asked several times for the SAME vehicle information (blamed on a "bot" doing their initial reach out, of course). After getting there, the guy that took the appointment wasn't even there, and the tech didn't even know I had an appointment. He's feverishly making phone calls and getting voicemails. I should have walked, but gave it a few minutes. Daniel at the front desk does not ask me what kind of oil I use, but did say I was not being charged for labor. The bill comes and guess what? I was charged for labor! They used synthetic oil, which I would not have chosen since it costs three times the amount. Total cost? $202 for a dang oil change! Next time I will get a Groupon and go somewhere else!

From the owner: Lapin Auto Repair – Electrical, Mechanical & Programming Specialists in Tacoma, WA…read more We provide dealer-level diagnostics, advanced programming, and complete auto repair services for European, Asian, and Domestic vehicles. Our specialties include: • Advanced computer diagnostics • ECU, PCM, BCM, and module programming & coding • Key programming and immobilizer services • Electrical troubleshooting & wiring repair • Engine diagnostics and repair • Transmission diagnostics and service • Brake system repair • Suspension and steering repair • Cooling system repair • Air conditioning service and recharge • Hybrid system diagnostics and battery service • Battery, alternator, and starter diagnostics • Check engine light diagnostics • Pre-purchase inspections We use professional diagnostic equipment and follow manufacturer procedures to ensure accurate repairs the first time. Honest estimates. Transparent communication. Quality workmanship you can trust.

Bristow's Auto Repair - autorepair - Updated November 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...