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Tacoma, WA

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Bristow's Auto Repair

4.2 (63 reviews)
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Services - Bristow's Auto Repair

Auto brake repair

Auto engine repair

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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!

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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.

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2 years ago

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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.

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4 years ago

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2 years ago

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

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3 years ago

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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!

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4 years ago

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5 years ago

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Melissa Birdie P.

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3 years ago

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

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6 years ago

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Melissa Birdie P.

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9 years ago

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4 years ago

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

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6 years ago

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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

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TNT Tire Point S Auto Service - Michael M, General Manager

TNT Tire Point S Auto Service

(81 reviews)

I have used TNT Tire Point Soften for the last several years for new tires and oil/filter changes…read moreand brake jobs. I took my granddaughter's car into TNT last week to fix a noise around the front driver wheels and had them inspect the tires. The noise was loose lugnuts and the tires needed to be replaced, which I figured. I also asked them to put new front brakes on the car cause another place told my granddaughter she needed front brakcs at the time she got new rear brakes at this other shop. TNT did not do the front brakes because we did not need them yet at all. I sincerely appreciate the honesty. They could have done an unneeded brake job and I would be "none the wiser." There have been other times they have told me I didn't need something yet and saved me money. VERY HONEST PLACE

This place and the staff in general get a 11.5 out of 10. They're honest, not trying to get…read moreanything over on you. Just all around good experiences and I'll continue to come back. Sabrina @ the counter is awesome, the technicians doing the work took a great deal of time to cover every aspect of the issues and what it means, what should be done. No sales pitch, pressure at all. Gave me information to do my self if that's what the budget calls for. I greatly appreciate that. I'd trust them to do the work properly and let me know if it can be accomplished for lessor amount. As they've done twice already. It's a unicorn.

Bristow's Auto Repair - autorepair - Updated November 2026

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