Haji san was great fixing my old Honda CRV. He was very thorough and would let you know what needs to be fixed and what doesn't. As long as you remind him of the last date of service and invoice number, he'll honor the prices he quoted you and figure out what needs to be fixed next. Really worth the drive to his place in Arcadia read more

Came here for a second opinion and wanted to hear the mechanic's opinion first. He diagnosed the right-side wheel bearing and quoted about $750 for that repair alone. When I asked a question for reassurance, because I honestly don't know much about cars, the response felt rude and defensive, as if I were challenging him when I was simply trying to understand. Before I even had a chance to fully explain where my questions were coming from, he went on about how he specializes in Toyota, has plenty of customers, and doesn't need my business. I eventually explained what another mechanic had told me, and only then did he mention that the left side may eventually need to be replaced too, just not right now. The interaction left me with no confidence moving forward with the repair. I paid the $180 diagnostic fee as agreed; this review is about the attitude and lack of professionalism. read more

First of all I called like 3 times no answer so I figured it was just busy which it was when I went in. I told him I was having an issue on my Subaru and he said he can't help cause my car is too complicated for him... aren't you a Japanese car specialist ? LOL so then I asked him if he can do at least a smoke test on my car so I can see if there is a leak anywhere in my intake. He wanted to charge me $250 which was more than a dealer charges ???? Smoke test take about 5 min maybe less. Very bad experience wouldn't recommend if a Subaru is too complicated for him lol read more

Sounds like this is a pretty common occurrence, but this guy berated me in front of his other customers because I came by to check the progress before he had called me to say it was ready. I had rented a car for the day. So I stopped by on my way to Enterprise to see if I should return the car or extend the rental. Just for that, I got yelled at and he said the car's ready but he's not done the paperwork so come back in 30 mins. Seems like he also raised the price then too because I thought he said $100 on the phone but it was $350 when I got back from returning the car... I won't be back read more

I have been bringing my car to Fuji Auto for I'd say about 20 years. I wouldn't take my car anywhere else. The owner Haji has always done excellent work at a fair price. I'm quite sure he has never tried to sell me any service that my car did not need. I see that the bad reviews about this place on Yelp are pretty much about how people perceive their treatment there. Haji it is very focused on his work and he doesn't always come across in a way to give you a warm and fuzzy feeling. If I take my car in and he's busy doing something, I will just wait. It will be worth the wait. I know he will do an excellent job, no matter what it might be. read more

My car needed an oil change ASAP over the winter holiday season. My usual mechanic in Pasadena (Lex Mastertech - also excellent) was taking a well-deserved holiday break. I called around and was recommended to Fuji Auto. Hajime-san was very accomodating under the circumstances (Holidays + I had to go abroad and my friend who was house-sitting needed the car quickly). He provided a detailed summary of the repairs he made for my own records and for my own mechanic to review. He further had no issues holding off on the less essential, more extensive servicing (as we previously agreed) so that I could save this work for my usual mechanic. The price for the oil change was well within what I've been charged by other mechanics , especially given that such detailed documentation is atypical. I think it says a lot about a business when they are willing to be considerate towards other businesses, but still treat an outside customer so well. I'd compare it to the rare experience when you have a great PCP, but in an emergency, you get a urgent care doctor who not only does a great job but also makes sure to provide your PCP with all the notes needed for follow-up. Thus, I will continue to rely on my usual mechanic, but highly recommend Fuji Auto to others. read more

This guy is so rude ! Came in to asked him about an oil change. He said they use Japanese oil. I was confused because of the brand then he yelled Japanese oil. Forget this place. I go somewhere else read more

Very competent and reasonable mechanics. They may get busy so be sure to call and perhaps make an appointment.

My husband and I have been going to Fuji Auto for years (over 20 years)! Haji and his team are always so knowledgeable. They know what they are doing and we could always trust them and the work that they do on our cars. They will be honest and let you know if they are busy, so it's always best to make an appointment. Pricing: For the service and work done to our cars, it's always reasonable. If you don't have the money, they will let you know what can wait and what needs to be done immediately so you can plan accordingly. Quality: I've never had issues with any maintenance or fixes that has been done to our cars. They will never tell you that you need to get something done if it's not truly needed and they will never "pad" the pricing. My husband and I will always recommend Fuji! read more

Haji was honest and explain everything he does clearly. We went to the Toyota dealer and was told we need to spend $6000 to fix the car. Haji told us what is needed right away and what can wait. He also explains he decisions patiently and let us decide what we want to do. He is a highly recommended guy from my other auto shop. Call ahead, he seems really busy all the time and you might have to call a few times because there is only him and his assistant to handle all the cars and phone calls. read more

Haji is great fast service and affordable prices very busy so appointment is rcommended

The rudeness and curt attitude just turned me away.. I thought I found a place/ mechanic who I can go to since my old mechanic retired ( huge loss) . He replaced the light bulb the first time I went to this place and it was a nice experience then.. months later when I returned, this guy Haji was a complete ass ; no customer service skill at all. read more

We've been taking our cars to Hajime for about 10 years now. He's always done excellent good work on our cars and won't sell you a repair you don't need. He's also really helpful if you have questions. I'm so grateful for the time he tried to help us with a repair for our 2008 Highlander Hybrid. We needed a part replaced for the braking system which would run us about $5,500. We first took it to Pasadena Toyota (by the way they are crap) and they misdiagnosed the problem. Hajime and Longo got the same diagnosis. Hajime sat with us in his office for about 30 minutes to try and find the part for cheaper. He gave us great advice to cut our losses on that car and sell it. I would recommend anyone with a Toyota or Honda to take their cars to Fuji Auto. read more

I feel so grateful that we have such a reliable, honest and knowledgeable auto shop in Pasadena. Truly appreciate Hajime-San~ He can fix all kinds of cars and specializes in Japanese cars. Very honest and reasonably valued, I highly recommend! read more

Haji has been taking care of our cars for over 10 years. He provides regular maintenance plus expert analysis of problems along with wise and fairly priced fixes. He communicates well and provides clear scheduling. read more

Brought my CRV here all the time for repairs. Haji is very honest and would be straight forward with recommending if repairs are necessary or not. You can text him to schedule an appointment for repairs. read more

Super grouchy owner and over priced! This used to be the place that all our family and friends would take our cars and it was great for the past 15 + years. Even though it was a little more expensive than other mechanics, we liked going here as the owner Haji was very nice and patient in explaining what needed to be fixed. One day, seems like overnight, the owner just became very mean. He started yelling he doesn't have time for questions and to just google it. We thought maybe it was just a bad day so we continued going back for another couple of years. I am not sure what happened to Haji but I hope everything is ok with him. Over the past 2 years he has still been very rude, impatient, and just flat out mean. A simple question of "when would you like me to come back" infuriated him and he would start to yell saying he doesn't have time for questions. It's very unfortunate as this was always our mechanic for as long as I can remember but now I think we are forced to look else where. read more

Haji and his mechanics are honest, hard-working, and extremely knowledgeable in their repairs. Haji was able to accurately diagnose a big problem I was having with my Honda, and gave me advice on who could do the fix since he knows a lot of mechanics and shops that won't take advantage of customers. (He wasn't able to do the needed repair because it was a software issue but was in fact able to provide all the details printed out to give whoever had the download capability.) He has a lot of devoted customers so make sure you plan ahead for an appointment! He's top-notch! read more

Once again, recommend Haji to everyone! We thought we had some kind of oil leak on our Highlander. Haji took a good amount of time to determine the issue for our car. He let us know that that he couldn't find any issue and no repairs needed. Many other mechanics would have made up something to repair and charged us hundreds of dollars. Haji did not. On top of that, he didn't charge us anything at all for his time and effort. Fuji auto is a very honest, trustworthy shop and I again, recommend them to anyone for the car needs. read more

Fuji Auto was recommended to me by Ken's Tires in Montebello, which I highly recommend. As I trust that company, I gave my full trust to Fuji Auto. I am now about 2 weeks after my first major tune-up and I am delighted at how my car sounds, feels, and rides. Hajime, the owner, said he has 'his way' to take care of cars. I whole-heartedly said 'please do that.' And now I am a customer, and a happy one at that. I will follow his regimen. So-long dealer, where I felt like a number with seemingly unending e-surveys that felt so impersonal. Hajime called me with his initial diagnosis, recommendation and quote, then called me when my car was completed. Excellent communication. I could sense the expertise in the vibe when I arrived. I am now experiencing that expertise. I respect the integrity. Arigato gozaimasu. read more

Hajime and the rest of the team at Fuji Auto are the best mechanics in the business for the following reasons: 1) They specialize in Japanese and Korean cars. If you have such cars, you know that you're going to get a mechanic who only does such work. 2) They don't have a receptionist; I've seen a lot of other reviews that mention the lack of a receptionist but the reason is simple - they're trying to save customers money by not paying for one. Another reason is that if you call ahead to plan a service, you don't have to worry about a receptionist since you have it already scheduled with Hajime. 3) They are so good that even after moving to the Westside, I refuse to even consider going to any other places to fix my car. 4) They are competent, quick, and make sure you get your money's worth. 5) My only regret in writing this review is that other people will see how good they are and make getting an appointment even harder. In conclusion, they work hard, quickly, and competently. Don't worry about the other reviews that complain about the lack of customer interaction or a receptionist. These simply add to the cost of fixing your car without adding any real value to your hard-earned money. They'll fix your car in the shortest amount of time with the least amount of money spent on your part and the greatest amount of skill. read more

Knowledgeable, fair pricing, nice staff. They've done good work in a timely manner for my Subaru multiple times.

Very quick, efficient, and attentive. I was in and out in less than an hour for routine maintenance and an oil change. No complaints at all.

I brought my AE86 with a JDM imported engine here for oil change. They are very knowledgeable on Japanese cars, they know what they are doing. Really nice people. read more

Fuji Auto - Auto Repair Near Me - Arcadia, California

Hajime is the owner and he has an assistant. He works on mostly Japanese cars but I see a few Toyota Prius there. I was referred by the manufacturer of catalytic converter shield as nearest place. He is very professional and honest. Did not talk me into getting anything I didn't need. The work was done extremely well and he showed me what he did and the price was right. I don't understand why a brainless reviewer gave him a low rating because there was no receptionist. Yes, let's hire a receptionist and a housekeeper so he can double the price that he charges. Duh. I will bring my car back and have already referred couple people there. This is someone whom I trust with my car. My previous mechanic retired and am so glad I found this place. read more

I am so happy that I have found Hajime at Fuji Auto. He is extremely knowledgable about Japanese cars and gives honest opinions. I had my car inspected at the dealer and because they always give higher prices on parts and labor, my boyfriend ordered the OEM parts online and brought it to them to install. Of course, their is risk involved in doing this (whether OEM is truly genuine, warranty issues, etc.) but I so far have not had any problem, as well as my boyfriend who has been doing this with his mechanics. I am so far very happy with their work and I am coming back if I have any problem with my car again, which I hope it won't happen any time soon! read more

If you have an ounce of respect for your time don't go here. If you like waiting for a long time this is your place. There is no receptionist read more

I'm not sure why I didn't give 5 stars for excellent service for my last review. I've moved so I no longer use Fuji's but I have yet to find a place that simply does all my routine maintenance without trying to rip me off since I look like I wouldn't know any better read more

My husband and I went this Japanese car mechanics place and tried to get the door fixed. When we got there, nobody greets us instead they looked like they were being offended because we wanted to go to their place and gave them business. I could not understand why we're you giving us such a bad attitude when we were trying to give you business? Never wanted to come back again. Really bad experience. read more

This place has become very popular and very busy, probably because of all the great yelp reviews. However, as with any mechanic's shop, having a lot on their plate has a negative effect on their quality, personal service, and sometimes results in cutting corners. While I don't doubt the honesty and integrity of the work that Hajime and his shop hands put into my car, some key issues stuck out in my mind from my past visit. 1) I left my Mitsubishi there in the morning, but while I was out, realized I needed my car registration to run some errands (getting some spare keys for my car at the dealership). So I stopped back early... and when I got there, my car was not there. The workers seemed embarrassed, and 5 minutes later, Hajime pulls up in my car, apparently having taken a trip to the Honda Dealership to pick up parts for another customer. TOTALLY unprofessional and irresponsible. 2) Since my car was there all day, and he didn't have time to immediately check my car, I dealt with him on the phone. He gave me the wrong quote, forgetting to include labor in the price he told me. Also, he mentioned that my brakes may have some small issue, but I told him not to work on it. After I got home, I deciphered his handwriting and found that he'd charged me for brake "adjustment", and charged me another $25. My fault for not going over it clearly when I was there, but it was still annoying that he performed the work when I told him not to. He still does the standard check for how much "% remaining" on your brakes, and I'd still give him the benefit of the doubt if he said I needed something done for my car. But I think the popularity of this place has turned it into just another good and honest mechanic, nothing special. read more

I came here last year based on reviews from Yelp, a recommendation from a friend, and the fact that my car is Japanese (Mazda 6). Unfortunately, I had a really bad experience that needs to be shared. My car was hesitating (Mazda with a v6 engine), so I took it in to Fuji to get it checked out. They were busy, so I dropped it off and took public transportation to work. After work I went back to the shop. They told me that the misfiring was due to a bad ignition coil in the back of the engine, which required taking off the intake manifold and disconnecting a bunch of tubes and wires to service (a 3-4 hour job; really crappy designed car). The estimate they quoted for the repair was going to be a few hundred dollars for parts and labor and that I might as well replace all 6 coils due to the high cost of labor involved to replace the back three coils. I was billed $75 for the diagnostic (which was just checking codes) and another $25 for replacing the gas cap, which I didn't ask for. I told him that I needed to think it over and left, paying the $100 for the diagnostic and new gas cap. I took the car to a DIY shop, took the manifold off myself (took me 1/2 a day), and found that the back ignition coils were not the originals and had recently been replaced (I bought my car 2nd hand and was unaware that the back coils had already been replaced). Regardless, I replaced the back 3 ignition coils & spark plugs, put the engine back together, and drove home. Unfortunately, the engine was still hesitating, so I decided that I needed to get a 2nd opinion. I took the car to Palmers in Highland Park. Jeff (the owner) pulled the codes for me for free and in less than 5 minutes told me that the misfiring was coming from one of the FRONT ignition coils, not one of the BACK ones. This makes a HUGE difference because the front coils only take minutes to replace because they are not covered by the intake manifold. I replaced the front 3 ignition coils (Jeff told me that they were the originals) and spark plugs in less than 15 minutes and the hesitation immediately went away. Problem solved! Long story short, Fuji (purposefully or accidentally) misread the computer codes by telling me that the engine misfiring was coming from a cylinder in the back of the engine and not the front, which they charged me $75 for and tried to rope me into another $300-500 bill to do a repair that didn't even need to be done. On top of that, they replaced my gas cap which I didn't even ask for. They are expensive and either dishonest or ignorant. Palmer correctly diagnosed my problem in 5 minutes and didn't charge me a thing for pulling the codes. This could be a one-off occurrence, but after dealing with Fuji and dealing with the honest guys at Palmer in Highland Park, I would never go back to Fuji again and have made Palmer my trusted mechanic. Again, Fuji may have been having a "bad day" when I took my car in, but be warned, if you find yourself in a similar situation, take the car somewhere else to get a second opinion, and don't let some jack ass charge you $75 to pull computer codes only to give you the wrong diagnosis and try and rope you into an expensive repair that didn't need to be made. read more

Car mechanics can be like car salesmen, you think they are feeding you a line and trying to get you to pay for more than you need. It's hard to find one you can trust. Not me, I have found the place that I feel totally comfortable at and know I am being told the truth about whatever needs to be done to my car. Fuji Auto and Hajime are the BEST! I can trust whatever he says and will know he is charging me less than other repair shops or dealerships. He requires an appointment but always delivers on what he promises. He and his talented mechanics have taken care of my Japanese cars for over 15 years and I have been pleased with every visit. He has kept my aging cars young and vital as well as taken care of my new cars with care and quality. They are HONEST,clean, careful, fastidious, and experts. I never have to worry about trust or fear of a shoddy job from this great establishment. PS. as for the waiting room, it's better than the splintered table with the mini umbrella that was their waiting room in the past. Glad to see he grew to the level of his expertise. He added a new waiting room that has nice seating and some shade but I never went to wait, I went to have my chariots worked on by expert techs and this is what you get at Fuji Auto! read more

Japanese mechanics working on Japanese cars! What a concept! Hajime is Toyota Factory trained in Japan. He also specializes in Hondas, Nissans, etc... If it was made in Japan, Hajime's your man! Sorry but you'll have to take your GM ride elsewhere. He gets a lot of business so you may be without your precious sled for at least a day. But he takes his time to diagnose. He's always very thorough and will even prioritize for you what is most important to keep your car running. His prices are always less than the dealer's quote. Besides that, he's friendly. What a concept! read more

After all these years, my 20+ year old Nissan Maxima is still running great. All of it is due to the competency and honest workmanship offered from Fuji Auto. Haji knows how much I love my car, and he has gone above and beyond all reason to ensure it runs top notch. From resurrecting it after it was inactive for years (previous Yelp review) to even having the transmission replaced in late 2013, I can never thank Fuji Auto enough for the utter joy of being able to enjoy my "old" car. My husband has his Hyundai Elantra serviced here, and he is just as pleased with the establishment as well. My brother brings his Toyota Camry here too. My mom has a Toyota Camry also, but has not needed any services yet. Our family loves this place! read more

Fast and competent service, with a staff of what appear to be all Japanese technicians speaking Japanese. Pros: + The wait for an appointment was only three days, so not bad at all. + They got me in right on time, and my car was ready right on time. Punctuality is not always a feature of auto shops, but it is here. + They found a couple things wrong with my car (blown shock, worn tire patch) but didn't try to upsell me or pressure me to fix it with them. + There's something comforting about a Japanese business handling Japanese cars. + They were full of Lexus, Toyota, Honda, Mazda, and Nissan cars when I picked up my Mazda. They clearly have a good local reputation for Japanese car work. Cons: - Their waiting room is quite spartan and in direct sunlight in the morning, so I recommend taking a walk to see local shops until your car is done. Overall they did a great job my first time here, and I will be back. read more

The head mechanic can get pretty impatient when giving explanations and answering your questions. I would have given him the benefit of the doubt and chalk it up to him having a bad day which is understandable but it has happened on several different interactions with him. read more

My family and I have been taking all of our Japanese cars here for over a decade without any real complaints. They were good before they hit yelp! You know you're taking your car somewhere good when you can barely understand him due to his heavy japanese accent. Hajime is a personable always honest in what needs to be done right away. It seems as if he and his guys check on the brake condition every time a car is in regardless of what it's actually in for. I always see the % left front and rear on the service slip which is always nice. One time I sheared a bolt head completely off while trying a DIY project. Drove the car in and he helped me with removing the stuck bolt (seized in the bushing) and then went above the call of duty by breaking the rest of the suspension bolts free with an impact wrench so I'd have an easier job. I also brought a TL in (that I later bought) for a pre-purchase inspection. They did it for $75 which blew my mind as I was expecting 100+. Of the things they found, they noted every single little leak, things that I would consider "normal". Small oil leak here, small coolant leak there, etc. You could only tell it was leaking due to the little bits dried residue left behind. These were the small leaks they were documenting. Checked the tread wear, brakes, fluids, mounts, etc. There are many other stories I have where Fuji came to the rescue, but it would take up this entire page. These guys are really busy and it's best to set up an appointment with them. They're one of the few shops open on Saturdays. They even offered to work on my dad's 2001 BMW 325i. They're not dirt cheap, but they do good work. read more

We have gone to Fuji for a few years now and I would not go anywhere else. Even when my last car began to die, he nursed it until I was able to get another. He always lets you know the difference between vital repairs and the ones that can wait, in case the cost is too high. And also warns if there are upcoming problems for which you might want to be prepared so that you don't have any surprises down the road. It can take years to find someone you trust and then you have to hope they stick around until you drive your last car! read more

Fuji Auto is one of the best places to go if you want an honest mechanic. I trust Haji to give me a straightforward estimate of what services I need and to charge me fairly. To give two examples: I needed a fair amount of work done for a major mechanical problem that I didn't (and frankly still don't) quite understand. The dealer quoted me nearly double what Haji charged. My AC broke in the middle of the boiling California summer. I drove to a mechanic close to my job, who said that the AC unit was unfixable. Went to Haji for a second opinion, and he proved otherwise. read more

I am a girl who knows next to nothing about cars. I also tend to be pretty careless about taking care of my car--I forget to have oil changes, check my tire pressure, etc. I'm pretty sure any mechanic who takes a glance first at me and then at my car will have me sized up in about two seconds as someone with "SUCKER" written across her forehead. Such was the case when I went to the nearest dealership (see my hate-filled review for Glendale Mitsubishi--seriously, NEVER EVER GO THERE) -- but the mechanics at Fuji never take advantage of even the most deer-in-headlights car owner. They are very nice, swift and professional; the owner (Hajime) will tell you exactly what you need to know and try to save you money at every turn. Fuji is the best! read more