I've been getting my 2007 Yaris serviced at Fuji Auto for about two years now. I've always been very happy with service, but the extent of work needed on my car has ever really been regular oil changes. Currently, I'm waiting on my car due to a few repairs needed. Firstly, Haji(ime) is a great mechanic. He tells everything to you straight, and he realizes people are working on a budget. If he feels you can drive longer without a certain repair being addressed, he'll let you know. In other words, if it's minor, he'll tell you up front so you don't drive worried and broke. Don't get me wrong, if you've got to fix your car, you've got to fix it, but he'll never replace or fix anything that can wait a bit longer. I brought in my car due to a squeaking sound I've been hearing for the past month, and knowing I waited so long to address it, I feared my pads had worn thin. It turns out my front brakes are at 90%, and my rear at 50%, so rather than just replacing everything all together, he's only cleaning the rear disks (as any honest mechanic should). And don't think I didn't get my quote from the dealership--why do you think I'm here? I mentioned to him that he had advised me about a small coolant leak during my last oil change. He checked again and said that while it certainly was and still is small, he's found coolant residue, so I definitely need to get the work done this time (leaky water pump), possibly closer to a time when the LA spring/summer heat would be encroaching upon my downtown commute. While it's not an issue that anyone should not overlook, Haji was honest enough in advising me a few months ago that I could save the money then and address it during a latter visit. Which is exactly what I'm doing now. Also, because he's going to need to remove the timing belt in order to gain access to the coolant system, he's throwing in a new belt for free. The one I have is still good, but he figured I'm going to need a replacement soon, and since I'm here already, he figured it was a good opportunity for a changeout. Oh yeah, and it's time for my oil change. Just in time! Taking in your car for repairs and maintenance is always a freaking drag, but Fuji Auto lessons the pain with expert experience, upfront honesty and great customer service. I'll take this over red sofa chairs and donut holes at a dealership any day. read more

I was lucky enough to discover them several years ago. I have yet to have a problem with them. Why do I trust them? Once had issue with clutch, took it to them expecting to replace it. Got a call "Its just the cable, we can adjust it" "How much?" "$25.00" Everytime I get a full checkup, they tell me things like: "brakes on the front, maybe 15% left, so recommend you change. On the back, 45%, so maybe you wait", etc etc.- Always seem to be communicating the full picture, and letting me make the decisions. Fast, good, and great prices! Are the the cheapest? Maybe/maybe not, but if you aren't a mechanic yourself doing diagnosys, you can't really price out honesty (Lord knows I learned some harsh lessons on other mechanics in the past) read more

Six months ago I had some major servicing handled by the guys here. I used to drop my car off at a dealer in Hollywood because of the convenience. Thinking the Prius was an unusual car I thought it might be better served by Toyota themselves. Now - in 2010 - a hybrid isn't such a novelty and a good mechanic (especially a Japanese specialist) should have no trouble with 'em. That's true with Fuji Auto. They clearly know their stuff. I'm typing this as I wait for them to replace my battery (the little one - not the big motor-powering thing) which is a dealer-only item. I've shown up last-minute yet they're going to the trouble to get hold of a replacement before closing time. Without it my car will not start - something I experienced just a couple of hours ago. My point: these mechanics are busting their butts now so that I'm not inconvenienced later. This is service! read more

Best service! As a solo female I've had some terrible experiences with many other car repair shops in my life - these guys were one of the BEST! Super nice, fast, and clear fair pricing. I thought the part would be around $500 but was $200 out the door! Amazing read more

In addition to my toyota 4runner, I also drive an old toyota which many mechanics refuse to work on due to the engine placement (under the two front seats) and the age of the vehicle (now 24 years old and counting), but at Fuji Auto, they welcomed the challenge and did a thorough job. All the mechanics are Japanese proper and they have worked on anything and everything toyota. They only recommend things on a "need to service basis", nothing superfluous or extraneous. They even tell you what services you can delay and which are priority. Very forthcoming and very fast. Additionally, they show you customer loyalty. I have had two major over hauls on two different toyotas and the second time they threw in a few things without charge, even new tires without any additional cost AND they will give you a small discount if you pay in cash. My only recommendation is talk to them in person because over the phone often leads to confusion give the language barrier. read more

Great place. Won't rip you off. Found this place on CarTalks Mechanic Files (http://www.cartalk.com/content/mechx/) and am so glad I did. Went to the dealer after I started to have issues with my clutch on an older car and they quoted me something like 2000 as they also said i absolutely needed to change some of my engine seals. Took it to Fuji and they let me know what absolutely needed to be changed and what would be a waste of money (replacing a seal for several hundred or an extra quart of oil once a year). Came out of there with a new clutch and a few other fixes for less than half of what the dealer quoted. They also definitely are very familiar with Japanese made cars as the owner at least used to work at Toyota in Japan! Plus, they've always been super nice and very accomodating to my often frustrating work schedule. They were my go to mechanic for my entire time in LA and the 93 camry is still running beautifully. read more

4.5 stars! Not perfect, but close to it. First of all, the place is a little deceiving to find. It's situated in the center of an auto repair park. No one really greets you, but if you want up and say "Hello" you'll get a prompt reply. Note: on Saturdays, you'll need an appointment. I went in for an oil change and tire rotation. (I brought my own oil & filter - I got a good deal on Mobil 1.) I showed my supplies to the attendant, and there was no problem. This isn't a speed oil change place, but it was under an hour. The place is relatively clean and organized. They are friendly, and seem to be detail oriented, except... I caught the mechnic starting to put in their own (Valvoline/Penzoil shop) oil. I caught his attention before the first drop, but it turns out he already put his oil filter in. Anyway, they had to put the car up again to get their filter out, but they did the rotation while it was up. (The manager apologized for the mistake.) The rest of the service went smoothly. The oil change w/ rotation supplying my own filter and oil = $21.xx. Cheaper than doing it myself for sure. And here's what surprised me... I tried to give a tip, but the manager said they oil charge what they need and kindly refused. Long story short, not the fastest, but they aim to please. If you don't like Valvoline/Penzoil, take your own. Plus, they leave your car clean and no greasy finger/palm prints left behind. I considered this a test drive... I'll be back. read more

Brought an older Camry in to investigate a clanking sound. The mechanics quickly diagnosed the issue and presented a straight forward, itemized pricing for parts and labor. They completed the work on time and without issue. Very honest mechanics with reasonable prices. Will certainly come back. The main issue I have with this place is that the customer waiting area/lounge is non-existent. read more

I've been coming to Fuji auto for the past three years for my check-ups and tune-ups. Hajime has always done a great job at keeping my car in a good condition. But what's greatest about this place is that they go above and beyond just doing what you ask of them. In November 2015, my car got hit by a lane-changing truck in the left tail light. The truck driver completely denied his responsibility and without a third-party witness, the police ruled it as disputable lane change. I showed up at Fuji Auto being extremely upset. Hajime helped calm me down, and told me to still do everything I can to get the truck driver's insurance to pay for the damage. And if I don't care too much about the cosmetics, he can help me replace the tail light at a reasonable price and I wouldn't have to worry about insurance going up too much. The story had a happy ending that the truck driver's insurance paid for everything, and Haji recommended a body shop that did such an amazing job that no one could tell that my car had any kind of damage from the accident. I'll never forget the kindness that Haji showed me in the whole process. Throughout these years, Hajime has also been very kind in helping out the little things that I shamelessly ask, such as replacing the battery of my car key, recommending smog-check places, or taking a look at the wire that just fell out under the car. I think many other places would take advantage of people not knowing what's going on, and charge you a large amount of money, but not at Fuji Auto. To end this long review, I completely trust these guys and they definitely deserve this long overdue recognition. read more

Well, Haji and his staff well trained mechanics did a great job on my 2017 Prius. The 30,000 mile service was on time like the Shinkansen train of Japan and under budget. I paid less than what he first quoted, and he repaired my broken mirror for free. I provided the parts of course. Haji, the Toro is on me next time. Thanks a lot. read more

These guys are so kind and honest. Because they were unable to diagnose my specific accord hybrid issue, they refused to charge me even a penny for their time. read more

Hands down the best mechanics I have used. Hajime, the owner, is always courteous, helpful and keeps me informed on what I need to do without going overboard. Gives a girl who doesn't know anything about cars a peace of mind. Guess I will still be driving a Japanese car for my next ride, so I can keep having Fuji take care of my car. read more

My 2008 Prius, at 160,000 miles, needed a new 12v battery. We were on the road, staying in a cheap motel in Pasadena, and chose this place because it was close and the guy answering the phone sounded intelligent and his price was right and he could take care of the whole thing within an hour. I was impressed with the order and cleanliness of the shop and the knowledge and good humor of the guy in charge. If only it were always this easy! read more

I've been taking my car here for the past few years and I can't recommend this place enough. They are open Saturdays and you get your car back by the end of the day if you're doing major maintenance. Oil changes take 30mins to 1 hour. Hajime and his crew really know what they're doing. You pay a little more but you get premium, honest service. read more

Thinking twice about buying a new car because of the economy, but need somewhere competitively priced & professional to keep your used Japanese vehicle humming along? Consider Fuji Auto! The mechanic who probably speaks the most English here, Hajime, spent many years servicing Toyota's in Japan while, along the way, acquiring the highest-level Toyota technician certification achieved after passing exam with 2 parts: a written and a lab portion, where analysis methodology & diagnosis is graded under the searing eyes of an adjucator with a stopwatch. Who better can you entrust your car? Over the past 5 years, I've taken a 96 Camry, an 05 Subaru Legacy, and an 01 Honda Accord for service here, in many cases following a discouraging dealership visit. With the exception of their oil changes, I've realized cost savings probably on average of 50% vs. dealership estimates (the oil changes cost about the same as the competition). No fancy waiting rooms with leather sofas w/ A/C, HDTV's with DirecTV, and expensive foreign auto magazine subscriptions on a modern coffee table here. Which, aside from loaner car service, is just about all that's lacking here. Because here you get bulletproof competence, efficiency, honesty, sheer politeness and courtesy, and maybe even a dirty handshake. Appointments recommended. Closed on Sundays & Mondays. PS: I've found out that Harvey Mudd professors give Fuji Auto mad props! PPS Due to lack of having a loaner car, I usually drop my car at Fuji, and take the Metro 187 down Colorado to Old Town Pasadena and make a full day out of it. PPPS: To those concerned (as I was) about Fuji Auto being overrun by being too popular or Yelp'ed, Fuji Auto has simply told me not to worry. There are always ways to accommodate all customers, both old and new! But they're mum as to what this really means. read more

I have an old yeller Camry that imposes minor irritations, but which I love to pieces. The latest was the left front door handle breaking apart. The romance of my husband and I reaching across from the passenger seat to open the door for each other began to lose its retro appeal after a while, so I took it to be fixed. The dealers quoted me $100 for the part and $170 for the labor. I ordered an OEM part for $85 with shipping (ok not huge savings), and took it to Fuji auto, where they replaced it in under an hour for $65. They didn't even accept a tip. There's a cute art gallery/cafe a few blocks East on Colorado, in which you can wait while they fix your car. read more

Best garage in town . Honesty is a rare thing to find in shops these days and this one won't disappoint .

I went there after having many bad experiences with mechanics. Hajime is very knowledgeable, honest and helpful. He put himself in my position to think about the best way to go with. I finally found the car doctor! I highly recommend him. read more

I rarely give out 5 stars, but for this place I will make an exception. I have never met more honorable and honest people let alone mechanics in my life. My car a black 2005 honda civic was making this crazy noise that made it seem I was a stunt double for the Fast and Furious franchise. I was dreading the transmission had gone out or some engine trouble. I honestly though I would have to pay $1000+. I read the reviews on yelp and thought Fuji Auto was the best option for me, and oh boy was I right. I called Hajime and set up an appointment. He said it would cost 75 bucks to have that sound checked out. Cool. I dropped it off and kicked it with a buddy. I get a call from Hajime saying that it was my front wheel bear. He said the cost would be 275 to 450 bucks. In my head im like, yeah Hajime will probably charge me the maximum 450. I head back to Fuji Auto late afternoon and Hajime quoted me 275 bucks...and he didn't charge me the 75 dollar inspection fee. However, there was one thing he said afterwards which made me want to give him 10 stars if that was possible. I told him that his reputation preceded him and that I will put in a positive review on yelp. He told me "Oh those are just my friends and family members" who reviewed my profile. Not only is this man hard working and honest, he is humble. A true Japanese Samurai! Guys like this live by a code. 5 stars. read more

I think I've found a new home for my car. Thanks to Yelp, I chose to bring my '99 Mitsubishi to Fuji. As a trial run, I asked them to look at my front disk brakes that needed work. $168 later, the brakes are great (new front pads, discs machined), rear brakes adjusted as well. I'll be a return customer from now on. read more

So I've gone a few times and have slowly become more disenchanted with the place. At first I thought they were great, but in the end I think they're just pretty typical with their pricing and service. The prices they have quoted me have been exactly the same as when I've called around asking other places for prices. For that I would give them 3 stars, but there's a certain language barrier that makes it difficult to understand the problem/what's going on, which then makes me wonder why I don't just go to a place that will do the same thing for the same price and not confuse me. Here's a breakdown of my last time...I had to get a new water pump (annoying since I only replaced it 3 years ago, but not their fault of course) and I was originally quoted $500 (same as at two other places). I found the part for $40 new online instead of the $173 quoted by all places, and Fuji agree to put it in for me (but so did the others), though saying they wouldn't guarantee their work. I figured I'd just do it there since I've used them before and my car was already there, but they ended up taking like two weeks to get it done. But....midway through he called me to tell me there was some kind of leak, of which I never quite understood whether it was important to fix, or where it was coming from. I tried to ask if it was something that would be more cheaper/most cost-efficient to do while everything was opened up instead of waiting, and was in no way able to get a response. And...they charged me an extra $20 for coolant that wasn't in the original quote. And...my belts were horribly, obnoxiously squeaky to the extent that I was embarrassed to start my car in a public place when it's cold, and it turns out all they needed to do was spray some belt dressing on the belts, so I would've thought they could do that while it was there. Maybe if I'm desperate I'll go back, but I think I'll search for a new place to service my Mazda. read more

I rarely write Yelp reviews, but after my experience with Fuji Auto, I just had to give my 2 cents. I took my oldie-but-a-goodie camry in to replace the front left rotor and brake (I had been driving metal to metal for weeks now - yeek). I had called several places, including Longo, to get some price comparisons. Just to give you an idea, Fuji's quote was half of what Longo quoted me (Fuji = $280, Longo = $538 and this is WITH the 10% discount). When I arrived, Hajime greeted me with a friendly smile and we talked about what I needed. He said he would try his best to save my rotor, to which I replied "good luck". He asked if I'd like to change my other rotor and brake, since it was down to about 5%, and I said sure. I had my baby with me at the time, so I couldn't stay for the entire job. He said he'd call if he saw anything else. When I returned, my front brakes and rotors had been changed, and they had cleaned the brakes by hand (I personally watched them do this). The final price came out to be $261 with tax included. Woohoo! And he never once pressured me to fix anything else. After I paid, Hajime even took about 10 minutes to answer a question I had about my low idle speed, and again did not pressure me at ALL to fix it. In fact, he just said, "some people fix it, some people don't. It's completely up to you." What mechanic says that?? All in all, it was a great experience, and I'd definitely go back for any small tune ups. read more

This place is good.. The owner seems mean but he seems very honest and tells it as it is.. Would definitely visit again.. Unless something goes wrong with my car.. read more

Fuji Auto is the best repare shop ever!!! They are very honest, the price always makes sense, and the owner Mori is very very sincere! I am a little middle-age asian woman, so I was always easy to become an easy target for repare shops. I have been here Fuji Auto for a while since then, but they have never ever tried to cheat me. I used here to repare my used car for selling once. There were many parts needed to be fixed. They estimated at a reasonable price and did a great job. In the fact that I could sell the car with the same price when I bought it. Anyway, I still sometimes choose other repair shops near by my house. However, I always come back here when I have real troubles even though I have to drive a quite distance. I trust them that much, 120%!!! read more

I've had my car repaired at various places before. However, I've never walked out with a bill less than 100 bucks like this time. My car had weird noises when the engine was running, especially when the AC was on. So I had thought it may be some problems associated with the AC. I actually had my car checked at another place before for the same reason. And all I got was replacing some part of the AC system, and it cost me more than 200 bucks. However, the problem was not completely fixed and the noise was still there. I brought my car to Fuji Auto this time. The owner was very efficient and honest. He spotted the problems fast and told me I actually had two types of noises, and explained what can be done. I asked him to go ahead and fix the problems. And you know how much that would cost? 75 bucks! I went to pick up my car about 2 hours later and the noises were all gone. After about a year of annoying noise, I finally have a nice and quiet running car again. read more

Hajime was very accommodating and kind. I had a spark plug gasket that came off and oil flowed right into one of my ignition coils. Fuji auto replaced all my valve cover gaskets and a fine job they did. No oil leaks anymore! For such a great deal too! My 97 i30 is a happy car again! read more

Can't say enough good things about these guys. Always completely professional, to the point, and trustworthy. You can breathe easy when you go to them, you're in good hands. read more

The best, most honest auto repair place I have ever done business with. Competent repair folks and they work quickly and the prices are not as high as the dealerships. They only work on Japanese cars (Honda, Toyota and Nissan, I believe). I drop my car off in the morning (they open around 7:45) and head back to my office in Pasadena, and my car is ready that afternoon. No nonsense, efficient service. read more

I went there for an oil change after referral by a friend that they are professional and clean. My friend was right! Even the smallest auto job of an oil change, they did an excellent job. They check up every parts of my car and they clean up the inner parts like the battery and the wires. They were very professional, clean and honest. Great place to go if you are looking for honest and professional mechanic who doesn't try to cheat for more money. Cost wise, it costs more compare to the chinese mechanics but it is definitely worth it! read more

Had taken my car here for oil changes a couple times and this past weekend I took it in for major service (90,000 miles!). All I can say is that I think these guys really do a great job. Everything was explained to me and I was even encouraged to look up his suggestions to confirm that the work they would be doing was indeed recommended by the manufacturer. read more

Friendly service, though you have to wave one of them down first. I took my car in, thinking it had real bad electrical issues, and he diagnosed a bad connection without even looking at it. I pulled it up and ten minutes later he'd reinstalled the battery. Only charged me ten buck and I drove it home! read more

I went to Fuji Auto last week for my first time. I chose to go to Fuji based on the reviews I read on line which all seemed good. THEY WERE RIGHT! Haji, the owner, is friendly and he knows his stuff. I showed him maintenance history and he recommended only what I needed not the full tuneup I was requesting. The car was done a day earlier than was estimated and was $300 cheaper than the original quote. I have found my new mechanic for my lil 2004 Honda civic! read more

Great honest and fair mechanic. Sometimes they are swamped with clients - but that is because they are so good and their prices are excellent. If there is ever something that doesn't "have" to be done right away they will tell you and not try to get you to do unnecessary repairs. read more

Fuji Auto is a great place that does the job right at a reasonable price! It was car tune up time and I decided to give Fuji Auto a shot after a couple friends highly recommended it. Still a little test first, wanted them to tell me what needs to get done (I knew EXACTLY what needed to be done as no one other than my family has touched the car- dad's a mechanic/technician). Fuji auto not only told me EXACTLY what I knew needed to be repaired/replaced, but for some parts that can wait a month or so, they gave me the option to do it now or wait a month. That's GREAT! Other repair shops would just tell you that you need it done now and a few other things... We checked the work and it was done perfectly! Now I take the car to Fuji Auto fully confident that the job will get done right and at a reasonable price. I don't need to get under my own hood anymore :) and I haven't since ... Thanks Fuji Auto!!! read more

Haji at Fuji Auto is fantastic. He knows Japanese cars well, and is always very honest. He has saved me hundreds of dollars over the years. We take all of our cars here and would highly recommend them! Keep up the good work! read more

Awesome shop. Incredible service & customer care. Highly recommended. read more

I got a 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS-T with 30,000 original miles. Needed work, alot of the original parts were starting to give. Hajime (Owner) fixed it and brought it back to 100% for a more than resonable price. Took my wifes 1999 Nissan Altima with 238,000 miles. Needless to say, my wife neglected her car as most women do. The car was dangerous and a hazard on the road. Hajime and his team brought it back to life and I feel safe letting her drive the Altima again. Thank you Hajime for your quality work and your honesty! read more

The words great, awesome, reliable, honest and reasonable are all understatements. Fuji Auto is the only place I take our cars. If you are looking for an honest shop with more than reasonable prices, look no further. read more

If you don't have a high comfort level with mechanics in the past - Haji's your man. He's the best!

Family has been a customer for over 10years, when i got my car, i absolutely went to go see Haji at Fuji auto, and i am proud to say ive been a happy customer of Fuji Auto for about 3yrs now. Nothing but perfection here! Anytime i have a any problem at all with my car i take it straight to Fuji, no doubt. A little pricey but I know he gets all his parts straight from the dealers, and you know your car is in good hands and will be returned in nothing but PERFECT condition. Update: 7/30/15 Again here i find myself even more impressed than i was years ago. Now that i am a bit more mechanically inclined and know my way around a vehicles systems I can determine for myself what good workmanship is. I have come to know Haji on a personal basis, and by far i cannot express how impressed I am with his expertise. I brought him my Lexus GS400 which had squeaky suspension joints, and a check engine light. I had a good idea of what the problems were but wanted a second opinion on them. Haji found the squeaking joint and told me he could fix it no problem, but advised me to attempt the fix on my own first as it would save me ALOT of money (he probably would not advise most to do this, but again im familiar with the vehicles suspension systems). He also told me the source of my check engine was a bad cat, I've never experienced a catalytic converter going out on a car, let alone a Japanese made car. I was a bit skeptical and wondered if it could be a more simple issue, mainly because replacing the catalytic converter would cost me a cool $1600 to fix (Toyota Genuine Parts are not cheap); a hefty amount to pay on a part that may not be the problem. He told me was 98% sure this was the problem as his experience has told him, he advised me to go to an exhaust shop to have it replaced rather than buying the part from Lexus ($350 total vs $1600). Low and behold it has now been 3 weeks after the cat change with no check engine light. But what impressed me most by FAR... I also brought my 1996 Toyota Celica to him that i know for a FACT, very few shops could diagnose the issue. Reason being, the original motor had since been replaced with a nondomestic engine imported from Japan, a rather rare performance engine only available for the Japanese Market (a 3S-GE BEAMS for those of you Toyota Enthusiasts); most mechanics have never seen the engine before and therefore have no clue how to work on it. All service manuals were only ever written in Japanese and so i could not read them, parts are quite difficult to by, Since its a nondomestic engine diagnostics computers cannot be used on it, along with the fact that very few of these engines were ever made and were never sold here in the United States, factors which add to the extreme difficulty level of fixing this car. Anyhow, i brought the car in hoping Haji could at least take a look and maybe give me some recommendations as to what might be wrong; i had an idle issue, check engine, not to mention some suspension squeak and other various minor issues. Well about a week and half later Haji called me to tell me the car was all fixed and issue free, ready for pick up. AMAZING! This would have stumped any other shop, hands down, i know because i asked around. Haji's expertise in the Japanese Domestic Market Automobiles is certainly unparalleled; If he can fix that, then there's nothing he can't fix. read more