Wanted to write this review on the day of service but you know how stuff gets in the way. Today I received a letter from Carlton Auto Repair with a most sincere thank you for our business, making sure we were satisfied and expressing assurance of their continued concern should we have a problem. I'm a little overdue on my vehicle's oil change but have decided this is the only place I want my vehicle serviced. Thank you so much Bob and Russ! read more

A state emissions inspection station refused to test my car because of a "defective" computer link under my dash. I took the car to Carlton and they pointed out an electrical plug that was a little out of place. They fixed it in probably a minute. I offered payment, but they declined. I mentioned that the emissions office wanted a report documenting the repair. Russ then went online and filed the repair report directly for me. So not only did they perform a repair free of charge, but they filed my paperwork with the state saving me the trouble of completing the required forms. These guys will definitely have my repair business in the future. read more

We always depend on Carlton with all of our vehicles. Highly recommend them!! This time my daughter took her car in and they put on tires and performed an oil change and overall checked her car for any problems. read more

Such a fantastic experience at Carlton Auto Repair. They are kind, transparent, and trustworthy -- I would recommend them to anyone who is facing car issues in the Wheaton/Chicagoland area. I will be back! read more

My headlight went out the day before thanksgiving break. I need it repaired quickly and they were able to fit me in same day. They were able to fix it quickly and for a good price. I would visit again in the future. The customer service was good and I'm glad I found this place. read more

I have been going to Carlton Auto for probably going on two decades. Bob, Russ, and Renee are the best. Sometimes the cheapest repair is not the best. These guys know what they're doing. Support independent small businesses! read more

i love these guys...communicative, friendly, honest, and knowledgeable. won't take my car anywhere else.

I heard such great things about Carlton Auto Repair. I called this morning to get an "estimate" on the price to replace the brakes on my car. The woman who answered the phone was very rude and refused to give me an "estimate" without seeing my car. Unfortunately, I don't have time to bring my car to every place I'm looking to get my car worked on at. I was trying to let my fingers do the walking and this woman was not having it. I'm disappointed. Based on recommendations, I thought I found a reliable place to work on my car. I had my brakes done elsewhere - by someone who could give me an estimate over the phone. read more

Carlton Auto Repair is as crooked as they come. My young 20-year-old son had brought in his car with tree dash lights on and if you Googled the issues anyone could see what the fix was. He then received a quote of almost $800. After then having him call around to a few other shops and almost everyone being just over $500, they now also want $155 to pick up the car. I 100% understand that they did something, and I wasn't expecting to pay anything, but $155/hour. The OEM dealerships don't charge this much. And it took 1 hour to do this? Way to prey on young kids and also overcharge for the job! This is exactly why there is a stereotype for shops like yours. Do Better!!! read more

I recently acquired a 2014 Mazda CX-5 used with about 130k miles on it. I took it to Carlton Auto at the recommendation of the original owner. I mainly interacted with Bob who was very personable, professional, and descriptive. He recommended replacing of 2 belts, 2 ball joints, and battery replacement / clean up of terminals, and explained his reasoning behind each repair. I believe the car was ready within 48 hours, and at a price I felt to be perfectly reasonable. The team even went out of their way to secure a loose part in the wheel well area that was previously held up with tape at no extra charge. I then drove this car 1700 miles out to California through desert temperatures topping 118 with no issues. Thank you again Carlton Auto Team; I can't recommend you guys enough and will definitely be back if I'm back in IL with any automotive needs. - Mike read more

Great local business that provides dependable service at a fair price. Convenient night drop makes things even easier! read more

I went by this auto repair because it was highly rated. There is a two week waiting period for non-emergency repairs. They did not have a waiting room available because of Covid. I would've had to get a ride there and back twice, and I don't have a ride. Unfortunately, they did not work out for me. They were very nice and filled up my tires out of kindness. Just inconvenient for me. read more

Carlton Auto is a trustworthy repair shop. My personal experience is that they give top notch service as efficiently as possible. Recently my vehicle was finished a day before it was estimated to be done. I was so relieved when they called me at the end of the day letting me know it was ready sooner then they though! The cost was fair, and I always feel that I'm getting quality work done. read more

Great staff, strong expertise, effective communicators - good work and willing to be a second opinion as warranted. Recently had them do a second opinion after high ticket quite from dealership on late model car; Carlton thoroughly researched and explained to me what they thought was the reality of the matter and options with their recommendation. Highly recommend them to anyone. read more

Best service of any repair shop I've ever been to. Will continue to use them for all my needs

Russ and Bob at Carlton and team are the best! Have been going for over 25yrs,friendly, honest, reliable to do great work! Dave J.

Myself and immediate family have had numerous vehicles repaired here and will not hesitate to come back again. Bob and Russ are good people and treat you right. Very pleasant to deal with, and they get the job done right the first time. Couldn't ask for more. read more

Great skill, good sense, and honesty. Carlton shows that honesty truly is the best policy because they are very busy. An auto repair shop that you can trust to do the job right and at a decent price. read more

A few years ago, during icy weather conditions, I slid in to the ditch twice causing some damage to my Jeep when driving on the highway. After having taken my Jeep through several different Jeep dealerships and a couple auto repair shops (as issues kept coming up in my Jeep over the years due to the original damage)...I have always had lingering issues that were never fixed by those places, even though I spent thousands of dollars in repairs. However, after just taking my Jeep ONCE to Carlton Auto Repair - they found and repaired both issues that I asked them to investigate. You have definitely made me a satisfied customer! Thank you Carlton Auto Repair for the superb service!!! read more

I recently had need for an urgent repair service for my 2009 Scion XB. The rear brakes had completely worn down at 151,000.00 miles. The rear brakes had never been replaced I found. The pads were completely gone and the shoes had come loose and slipped down to lock the wheel. I called immediately when they opened at 08:00 am. They had me drop the vehicle off and said they would look at it in the afternoon. I received a call within 1 hour of submitting my request with the diagnosis and estimated repair. They went beyond the origonal request and inspected all wheels and brakes at no cost. The were detailed in their investigation and offerred the best solution at the lowest price. The service was exceptional and the vehicle was repaired and ready for pickup the same day, at 200.00 less than what MIdas quoted. All this convinced me that they are the most reputable repair shop in an the whole area. I am over the moon about Carlston Auto Repair and the great service they provide, I am grateful and will always reecommend Carlton Auto Repair. Great work guys! read more

Ditto what Jen said. I took my car in, knowing it was going to be over $1500 to get it fixed (brakes and other maintenance). I had gotten a quote for that much from another place, with a list of things I needed to get repaired. Carlton Auto charged me less in total, and they found other things they fixed as well. When I came to pick up my car, they showed me all the parts they'd removed, and told me why they changed them and showed me the wear and tear on the parts. They explained everything to me, and did not talk to me like I was some moron chick who didn't know where her steering wheel was located. Granted, I probably am that chick, but they didn't let on that they knew. I didn't feel ripped off or scammed, and nothing broke down after I drove away. Plus, I had my dog with me when I came to pick the car up, and they let me bring him inside, so extra props for that. Highly recommend! read more

In the summer of 1990 my S-10 pickup was having serious issues. I was working for College Craft Team Housepainters and they recommended the "guys down the street". Going on 30 years later and those "guys" are the only place I take our cars after the factory warranty expires. They fix what's wrong, they tell what else they find that could be a concern and they stand behind their work. If it's broke these are the folks to have fix it. read more

I totally agree with the others who have reviewed Carlton Auto Repair. I took my car there for several years for routine maintenance (oil changes) as well as more extensive repairs. They always explain everything (on the phone and again when you pick up your car). They listen to and answer your questions. They are honest in letting you know what needs to be repaired and also when you *do not* need a repair immediately. An added benefit is they are very close to the Wheaton Metra station, so it's very convenient to drop off your car for maintenance in the morning and pick it up after work. The only downside is I think they only take as much work as they can handle in a day, so a few times I had to wait longer than expected to bring my car in. (The upside is your car is always ready when they say it will be ready!) read more

I started going to this place 10 years ago - and only get more impressed with time. They are always honest and quote you at different levels - need vs. might want to do if you are keeping the car a while or simply not worth it if you are letting it go soon. This has helped us and family save a lot of money over the years. We bought new cars 4 and 5 years ago so we honestly haven't visited that often. I brought the four year old car in today which I'm frustrated has to have the air fixed for a the second summer in a row. Last time they said they didn't have the special equipment for the new style of Freon and gave me the name of a shop that did. This time they have the equipment, but called to let me know it's under a special service warranty due to this issue occurring in this model - and they called Honda to verify with the vin that it was covered. I asked how much it would be for him to do so I don't have to go to the dealership and he said $1300 but I should get it free from the dealership since it's a known issue with unlimited mileage warranty. I'm so impressed that they didn't just ask me to pay that money (which I probably would have going into a hot summer!). If you want an honest shop - go to Carlton auto! read more

Trustworthy. Honest. Clear & concise in their communications. I have lived in Wheaton for 23 years and my only regret is not finding these guys sooner. read more

Very happy they could take me right away for an oil change on a Monday at 5:00 pm. Friendly people and I ate some free candy :-) read more

I called about some screeching in my brakes, and Russ was able to get me in within the hour! They were thorough, professional, and quick- I had my car back in only a few hours. Definitely will come back with any future concerns! read more

The good Took my car in for service at Carlton auto repair not too long ago. First and foremost, they do good quality work, the price is right, and the car was all done the same day. I will be taking my car back there because of those facts. It's hard to find a good honest shop nowadays. The techs are always nice to talk to if I ever need my tires filled or something of that nature, and they are very knowledgeable. The bad While dealing on the phone with Russ (one of the owners) it was a pleasant experience. He explained to me exactly what was wrong, didn't talk down to me, and especially considering I am a female, I didn't feel like they were taking advantage of me. HOWEVER, when I went in to pick up my car, Bob (the other owner) was the one I dealt with. WOW, what an ignorant old man. Not only did he tell me to hold on mid conversation to answer his personal cell phone, but when I was walking out I heard him mumble what a piece of s*** my car was and how I was stupid for buying it. So to sum up, its great shop, and I would recommend it, but STAY AWAY FROM BOB! read more

Recently I found that the headlight on my 2002 VW Bug went out. I decided to try this local auto shop and was very pleased. At first glance the shop is small and parking is on the other side of the street or in their narrow lot but it wasn't very busy so there was not a problem parking. The man who worked on my car had a lot of experience with VW vehicles and the rest of the staff was very friendly. As a curious female who asks a lot of questions about what is done to her car they answered my questions respectfully and did not talk down to me. I was in and out of the shop in 25 minutes and didn't have to pay what my dealership had quoted. I would definitely recommend trying out there services once to see how you like it! I know I will be going back if I need help again. read more

Carlton Auto Repair was friendly, efficient, honest, and quick! I needed new brakes, and they fit me in that same afternoon. They assessed it, communicated, and completed the job all within that day. The pricing was fair and affordable; I know what brakes run, and they did not play the cost inflation game-which was nice. Super personable, too; which is refreshing! I definitely recommend this business! read more

Needed work and they gave me bad advice. Elsewhere I was told they were using old information--how things used to be 15 years ago. Almost would have wrecked my car. If they can't keep current, I don't want them. read more

If I could give these guys more than five stars I would. I was trapped in an Illinois Air Team hell with three fails on my work van (and I needed to pass so that I could renew my registration)...because for some reason the"Air Team" couldn't read my OBD. The "Air Team" couldn't tell me what the problem was...I couldn't figure out what the problem was and at first Carlton couldn't tell what the problem was. But after a couple of days of diagnosing and talking to others in the field they came up with the answer...got it fixed and even took it to the testing center to make sure the van would pass. Turns out my van had a rare glitch to where everyone could read my OBD except the "Air Team" testing center. Thanks to Carlton's perseverance...they got me through and I'll definitely use them again in the future. read more

Their honest and excellent service makes up for the fact that they don't have the convenient hours at most dealers. If your car is no longer covered under warranty, definitely bring it to Carlton's. We save a bundle by bringing our 2004 Honda CR-V and our 2007 Toyota Prius here, instead of to the dealers. read more

This is the only repair shop that I trust. I went to them a few times years 10 - 15 years ago after they had been recommended by the head of the automotive program at College of DuPage. After I moved to another town, I started trying some other places more convenient to me but I'm going back to Carlton now. I had my 2006 Chevy HHR at the dealer last week and when I left they said they I URGENTLY needed a new accessory drive belt, front and rear brakes, control arm bushings, and sway bar links. I took it to Carlton to find that the brakes were okay (25% left), the belt needed replacing, ONE bushing was bad and ONE sway bar link was bad. (I ended up spending $553 instead of $1444) They showed me the bad parts and explained everything thoroughly. read more

I had to get new brakes and Carlton was recommened by friends so i decided to try them. The service was incredibly polite and professional. More importantly the work was excellent! Highly recommend! read more

Have been going to this shop for years. If you want honesty, proper craftsmanship and folks that stand behind every car they work on.... you are looking at the right shop. These guys truly care about their customers. read more

We came in with a trouble light which might have been taken advantage of but Carlton's worked through to a defective sensor, corrected the issue quickly and at a fair price. Highly recommend. read more

I used to go to Carlton for everything since it was conveniently located and they seemed quite honest. So I call in to get my oil changed and mentioned how I went to them before. So I drive in and wait in the lobby. Lo and behold, they start telling the other lady in the lobby area and myself that we need to get filters changed and other little things here and there. I tried to opt out but they said they had the filters in stock and it wouldn't be a big deal so I tentatively agreed. Then at the end , I'm charged $60 for a little minor oil change. I am a small Asian female so I was used to being ripped off by auto shops thinking that they could get away with over-charging me. I was hoping Carlton wouldn't do that too. I held my tongue and just paid to get out of there as soon as I could. Oh well, never going back there again. They lost a customer who had their number first on her list. read more

So happy that this place got recommended to me! They took the time to explain everything clearly, were honest and fair and got the job done in the time frame they had provided to me upfront. On top of it all they were pleasant to deal with... You really can't ask for much more than that! Will definitely be coming back for any and all auto related issues. read more

The guys at Carlton were really nice and charged a fair price for what they did. Another shop in town wouldn't work on my Nissan because it was a "foreign car" (I've never thought of my Nissan as exotic), but Carlton had no problem taking a look. They even fixed my car the same day I had it towed in (they're probably not that fast for everyone, but it was nice). I'd recommend them to anyone in the Wheaton area. read more