Charged me $275 to switch over my tires after estimating at $35 per tire. Totally overcharged me.

When I was new to the area, it seemed impossible to find a trust worthy reputable mechanic. After a few failed attempts, I called AAA and Hillside was the only recommendation. I couldn't have been more pleased. Everyone there was extremely professional, trust worthy informative and consistent about contacting the customer to discuss any/all repairs BEFORE starting the work. Every time I have brought my vehicles here, the work is completed the same day or asap. I also couldn't find anyone to work on my second car being a VW CC. Hillside not only exceeded my expectations but we're also accommodating with my unconventional schedule. I have continued to refer others in need of a super reliable mechanic and garage. They are the best by far. I live in a different area now, regardless I will forever remain with Hillside. Highly recommend!! read more

This place is as dishonest as they get..everything seems to be 800 and up,even for simple repairs. Frank,the owner gave me a estimate for 2 to 3 hundred dollars...when I went to pick the car up,he was gone for the day,but he left a 900 dollar bill for me.total scam.i had the car towed out of there,and went to a dealer..final bill 279 dollars . you've been warned. read more

This place is close to my house so I wish I could use them, but pricing is ridiculous. Call ahead and ask for a quote. They were going to charge me over $200 dollars to replace one tire pressure sensor. I went elsewhere and got two tire sensors replaced for less than $150. read more

This dude is the BIGGEST SCAMMER. Went in to have noise checked thinking it was belt. Told me I needed $3000 in repairs or I was going to lose control of the steering and kill someone. I asked him, in tears at this point if he could just change the belt and if it would stop noise he said yes. When I returned he gave me a huge bill and said he only uses dealership parts. So that was a lie. I left with same noise in tow. Went to my regular mechanic who inspected whole car. Total for all repairs was $900 and he assured me steering was absolutely fine and that was a scare tactic shitty mechanics use. I won't even stop here for gas. The man is a CON ARTIST read more

This gas station and two-car repair garage off Broadway holds a secret. His name is The Candy Man. Like all Somerville fuel pumps, an attendant must fill your tank. Vic approached the ol' Jeep with a giant smile and when I opened the door, he danced like he was dodging a missile. I laughed. Disappeared to do his thing, and returned with what I assumed was my slip for payment. Nay nay, good sir. Instead, Vic outstretched his arms and gave me two handfuls of Fun Size Snickers, M&Ms and Reese's cups. I laughed again, this time bewildered. Turns out, Vic's been handing out candy to his customers for a few decades now. Customers so loyal, mind you, that they've written in to companies like M&M/Mars, told them the story of this animated character at a Ball Square mechanic shop, and the multinational candy empires been sending him product ever since. And if you've got the time, he'll tell you some stories about growing up in the foothills of Virginia, trying to run tractors on shine and selling two kinds of apple cider roadside. Gas is gas, and it's expensive. Never have I thought I'd look forward to a top off but with old school customer service like Vic's, I'm like a kid on Halloween. read more

Went here twice- first was a little tire swap- which they found little things they charged me more for. 2nd time- not only going 50$ over my spark plug quote- they decided to do a few other things to charge me another $50 with out asking first... oh " we added some coolant..." another $3 another local place doing scummy business- places like this want to make me pay a few buck more an hour to get it done right elsewhere. read more

I went to Hillside last summer based on some of these Yelp reviews, since I didn't have many friends who actually drive in Boston. I was having trouble with a sticky clutch on my manual, which for the last five years hadn't caused me any problems. They took the entire day to check out what was wrong, determined that the problem was a couple broken shifter cables and said it would take another couple days for them to order the shifter cables from the dealer... fine. So once they charged me a couple hundred for that, plus labor, they let me drive off the lot with what turns out was actually a broken clutch. So my car continued to have the same problem and in fact became really dangerous to drive only later that day, when it wouldn't go into first gear without a fight. So I had to bring it back to them and they charged me upward of $900 for the whole clutch replacement... But get this, the saga doesn't end there. I have since moved about an hour south of Boston, closer to my work, and go to a mechanic I trust--who I switched to right after this whole ordeal with Hillside. Last week, my car broke down completely and guess what the problem was? That's right: THE CLUTCH. It's supposed new and I haven't even driven it a year, and it's completely disintegrated. So I call Hillside because I have a warranty for a year--then they tell me that I should read the fine print and that it says either 12 months or 12,000 miles. I've put 18,000 on it due to commuting and several road trips--which isn't anything unusual for the last 6 years I've owned the car. Over the phone with them, they're clearly not even interested in helping me at all. They even suggested that maybe the problem was "how I was driving the car." My mechanic where I live now says he's never seen a clutch fall apart so quickly. He even called them to try to ask them what went wrong but they were absolutely unwilling to admit that they did anything poorly. These guys are crooks, pure and simple. Do not take your car here unless you want to wind up pouring thousands of dollars in repairing their shoddy work. Worst mechanic experience I've ever had. read more

Stranded 300 miles from home, AAA plunked my big, old, troubled car on Hillside's lot. Frank took good care of my car and went above and beyond what was necessary. I'd definitely go there again. read more

I've never had a worst customer service experience -- they pushed unnecessary and expensive maintenance, did a poor job servicing my vehicle, and then berated me when I questioned their work based on an independent assessment from another mechanic. Do not make the same mistake I did -- take your car elsewhere. read more

I just brought my Carolla in there this evening (5pm on a Friday before a 3-day weekend) because I was desperate to get my headlights fixed. Needed 2 new headlight bulbs- they did it right away and had me back on the road in less than 15 minutes. Charged me $25 for labor, instead of the usual $35. Not bad pay for 15 minutes of work but since they were able to help me right away, I am not grumpy. read more

Been going to Hillside since I've had my license and a reason to care for my vehicles. Jack and Frank take excellent care of everything, and are always happy to explain things to me in a manner I can actually understand. I love that I can drop my car off in the morning for an oil change and inspection, and they'll always be waiting for me when I get out of work at the end of the day to pick it up. They'll call me mid-day to let me know how things are going or if something odd pops up, which is rare. I can say that I absolutely trust Hillside with my car and even now that I've moved out of the Somerville/Medford area I go OUT OF MY WAY to see them. They also send you reminders for routine maintenance which is really helpful because I would never know if I needed these things otherwise. ...and I'll absolutely agree that the Candy Man is the highlight to my visit. Always a smile and a handful of sugary delights to greet me as I pass through. Love this place! read more

A+. I'm a girl and know zero about cars; they explained everything before they fix it, give me a parts list, so if I ever go to a different shop, the other shop knows what they did, and they are so quick. I took my car to a different shop earlier for a check engine light, and they took a week - a week! - and $1300 later my engine light was off. Cool, right? No, it was still broken. It turns out the sleazy shop had just shut the engine light off - they didn't actually fix anything. (GRRRRR). So now I'm wary, so I went to Hillside. Hillside quoted me $1000, and I'd have it back first thing the next morning. One afternoon to fix what the other shop took a week to do and didn't fix? Yes, please. Not only that, but before fixing anything, they took me around the car to show me every single thing that was wrong, and since I don't know much about cars, they explained it again and again until I understood them. Then they showed me how I could check it myself in the future. Then they went through a priority list - "this needs to be fixed; this is really minor and we'll fix it if you'd like, but it doesn't really need to be done for another few months or if it starts to bother you." Awesome. Then they gave me a detailed list of what they put in and the part numbers, in case I ever take it to a different shop. And the entire time, these guys were the friendliest people ever. I saw some reviews saying that once something got "fixed" here, it broke again a while later. I just got my car done two weeks ago, so I'm not sure if that'll happen, but those reviews were from a couple years ago, so I think it should be okay. No matter what, I'm really impressed by how I was treated and the quickness and cost of what they did. read more

Gas is gas, we fill up and go. Hillside is different all because of Victor. When I'm dreading to drive to work, Victor puts a smile on my face with his fun antics and friendliness. He has no idea that I'm addicted to chocolate and he always comes back with some sweet treats. I know I'm not the only one who gets candy but it really makes my day. It's the little things in life and Victor contributes more than he knows. read more

I live i the neighborhood and have been going to Hillside for all repairs and maintenance work on my car for the last 7 years. They are always fair, efficient and courteous. And their reception area is cleaner than my living room. They now offer a 5% discount if you are a AAA member on both parts and labor. It's a great deal. read more

Beware of Hillside Auto! I took two of my cars there for a number of years, and it's true that the work will generally be done promptly, and within the timeframe that you expect. Frank takes the time to explain the problem to you, give you a detailed estimate, and generally convince you that what you are getting is quality work. So what's the problem? For starters, like many shops, Hillside will add on little charges for things you didn't ask for. They will replace wipers, filters, and various other parts whether they need it or not. I can even remember a charge for "adjusting the trunk latch," which was emphatically not what I took the car in for. Then there is the way Frank talks on the phone, which can occasionally be hard to understand. I once thought he quoted me $450 only to find out when I picked up the car that there was an extra thousand in front of it. And of course, Frank's magic price is $800. No repair to your car will be done for less than that, no matter what. But the biggest problem is this: The repairs do not hold up! Hillside uses substandard parts, poor workmanship, or both. A new clutch that Hillside put in my car has lasted a paltry 40,000 miles, and is now so worn I'm worried about being stranded on the side of the road. Two Sumic tires that Frank charged me $90 each for (retail around $50) lasted 7,000 miles due to a shoddy alignment. "If they're worn after 7,000 miles, you've got something out of whack," said the mechanic who's been servicing the car for years. The last repair I had him do was a couple of drum brakes, and judging by the lack of anti-corrosion coating on the drums, I'm sure he used poor quality parts there too. Can't wait for those to fail. Don't be fooled by this shop. They take great pains to seem knowledgeable. But you will only end up needing to have their work re-done again and again. read more

I would give 0 stars if i could. They way overcharge you for everything and claim to be your friend and giving you the best deal. Im warning you people they wayyyyy over charge. Funny that everyone i know who has went here has never ever had a good thing to say about them. I don't even know how they are still in business read more

This review is for a single experience. It may or may not represent business as usual, but I won't be going back. Had my AC worked on -- a hose and a recharge -- for $800+. Supposedly dye was added to the system so leaks could be traced. I went back for another recharge after it leaked again. It failed again, and I won't be going back. They broke some interior trim parts on the dash to remind me of this experience. read more

Called them at 8:30 am with a list of three things that needed checking/repair. Dropped off at 9:30 am. They called me a few times during the day to give me updates on what was happening and where I was on the cost. By 3:00pm my repairs were done and I was able to pick up, no prob! Quick, fast, efficient and friendly! read more

I have had two experiences with Hillside Auto. Both times the staff was knowledgeable and helpful. The Office is clean and well maintained and the prices were reasonable. The repairs were completed quickly and professionally in both cases. They even went out of their way to get one of the vehicles inspected at a location down the street. read more

Car broke down on highway. unfamiliar with area and were towed to this place. given estimate. when we picked the car up we found we were charged close to an extra $100. Had plaque on counter claiming great service for over 25 years....... Don't think so! read more

Wow this place has blown me away with their level of customer service. My car was towed here after one of my rotors broke. They were prompt and kept me updated the whole step of the way. Fair priced and friendly. They also offer email updates/pictures of the work they do on your car. I also realized my inspection sticker was also up so they were able to squeeze me in for An inspection at the last second. I also learned after I picked my car up that they had replaced my faulty wipers free of charge! read more

My car started making an awful noise on the highway very suddenly so I pulled over and got towed to the nearest autoshop (hillside). They had a full garage, but got to my car quickly. Turns out that I ran over a towel or a blanket at some point and it got wrapped around my drive shaft and caused a little havoc. They fixed it quickly and were really nice about it. Plus the gas attendant gave me some klondike candies because I looked like I was having a rough day. Would recommend. read more

I've been to Hillside before and they've always treated me well and fairly. Not this time. I dropped my car in the morning to replace a blinker bulb, got a call halfway through the day that they found rust around my brakes. I picked the car up to a $256 bill! read more

Had my car towed here since it was close. Hillside looked at my car. They said master and slave went on my clutch, which they would replace, and if I needed a new clutch they would replace that. They quoted me $1500. Way out of my price range so I paid to have my car towed to another place who quoted me half that price. When the other place looked at my clutch, they showed me the bearing had been melted off. Not knowing much about cars, I asked if this is normal and he said that it would only melt if someone melted it on purpose. Hillside was the only place to have looked at my clutch before I had it repaired. read more

These guys have always gone above and beyond to help me out. I've been there twice now for last-minute repairs. They are honest, fairly priced, and fast! read more

I have been bringing my car here for years. They are always prompt, friendly and never make me feel like an idiot for not knowing much about cars. I don't feel like I have ever been overcharged. read more

We have used Hillside for numerous repairs and have always been completely satisfied. I own a 1956 Chevy and they have done a great job with the repairs. Not every garage can work on this type of auto. They have also done a wonderful job on our regular cars. We are lucky to have found such an honest and competent place to repair our cars. read more

Yesterday morning I dropped my newer Cadillac Deville off to be serviced because the "Check Engine" light had activated. They advised me that I have 2 vehicle ahead of me and then they would take a look at it. They also advised me off the initial fee of $90 just to hook it up to the computer which is a average. A short time later I received a call advising they had hooked it up to the computer and there was an indication of 6 "codes"(Malfunctions). Before just fixing them all and running up the bill to thousands they said they would test each code to see if possibly one code was snowballing and causing the others to go into alarm. About an hour later they notified me that the cause of the check engine light was due to a short in one of the wires. This meant that that the other 5 were "False Codes." From here they advised exactly how much time it would take to find which wire(s) were shorted and the total job was about $350 dollars of which only $7 for parts. Overall this place is/can be expensive but these people know there stuff and I would highly recommend them. From the outside it looks like any other gas station but when you see the front desk area and there book keeping you will be impressed. read more

Bad experience i was getting gas and 3 mechanics was yelling and swearing at a AAA driver scared my kids in my car never recommend any one to go there read more

I had some trouble with my car turning over, and stopped in here late on a Sat afternoon. They spent a good half hour trying to figure out what the problem was. Unfortunately I had forgotten to tell them the check engine light had come on before they disconnected the battery, so they lost the codes. They told me I should come back if the light came back on or I had further troubles. NO CHARGE! They could easilly have thrown in a battery and sent me on my way. They aren't anywhere near where I live or I'd go back. I was impressed. read more