This business is highly unprofessional and completes substandard work for the industry. At first, the company was great--but I was only bringing my car in for oil changes. The first time I brought in my car for a repair, they did a good. Naturally, I returned to the company. In November of 2016, my car was in a pretty bad accident. In lieu of it being totaled, I had it repaired with this company. The work they did was garbage. I had to return the car several times after they had worked on it for approximately two months. Some of the work I returned for was cosmetic--something that should have been addressed by them and the auto body shop they outsourced my car to. I continually checked on my car while in service at their establishment, and they told me the auto body shop had the car. Each time I brought it to them, it would take well over an hour to do an oil change or they would keep my car for an extended period of time to work on it. I continued to return because the owner, Steve Groseclose, was a sound and reasonable man (or so I thought) who was willing to help. A little less than a year ago, this company replaced my catalytic converter on my 2011 Jetta SEL. On a recent long trip (1500+ miles) my check engine light came on again. Upon further inspection, it was determined that the converter was improperly installed (being welded more than twice) by whoever last installed it. This was determined by an exhaust specialist. It was also determined that the converter was bad and should be replaced. Steve and his team were the last to install the previous converter on July 27th, 2017 and I had to replace it on Tuesday, June 26th, 2018--less than a year later. Mr. Groseclose claims to be an expert (most of his training seems to be dated--see the certificates on the wall). For being an expert, it amazes me that he and his team would weld a catalytic converter improperly. Literally, this was the first thing that the exhaust specialist and his team noticed. I was asked how many times it had been replaced as it had been welded twice. I emailed Mr. Groseclose requesting that the $150 he charged me to replace the item to be refunded due to improper installation and faulty products. His response was astonishing, aggressive, and completely unexpected given that I have provided an ample amount of business to his company through the years. I have attached the email exchange that I encountered. Whatever you do, DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY. Steve Groseclose performs less than satisfactory work and then threatens to take you to court if you question his expertise at all. read more

Independent Automotive Services - The following photos are what has transpired between the owner and myself. - Auto Repair Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Ok, so water pump on VW went south. Bye, bye! Code P0117 BTW. Ok, so it happens, never a good time for such thing to happen. So, i sober up , wipe my nose and start calling for prices. $1150, $795, $950 - OUCH, OUCH and OUCH! Ohh wait $650? And you can have it done tomorrow? And you only really work on quirky VWs and Audis and certified VW tech? And i do not even need to come with the car (Its on the tow truck at that point)? Ok, i am sold! So, my Bugger gets towed to Steven's shop (Its owners/operators name). He calls me back when truck arrives and lets me know car is safe and sound and that he is going to jump on it in the morning and should be done by 5pm tomorrow. Ok, sounds good. Tomorrow rolls around. Of course, i am inpatient and i call them about 2pm - All good we are smoothly wrenching on it. Will it be done by 5? Yeah, it should or we'll call you not to come for it. Great! So, we jump in my Subaru and get there about 5pm. Owner outside. Its a small shop with bunch of vw, audi, bmws outside. WOW Busy for such small place, cool. My Bug is on the lift humming away. Is it done? Yes. Is it fine? Yes. All went smooth? Yes. Ok great, leeme pay for it. We go in the office and take care of payment, where Steve shows me old water pumps he removed and saved to demonstrate this common VW problem. By the time we done car is outside and ready for us to take him home. All in all it was pretty nice experience - good price, small shop (I do not favor those huge industrial repair facilities), honest service, pleasant owner. What else could one want? I just wish they hosed off the engine or something, it smelled like antifreeze all the way home. Thanks Steve and your guys. Bug is happy and running fine. "I like" Eugene read more

This is a very dishonest business. My husband and I left our car for a service and the day we went to pick it up they told us that our car was vandalized and that someone damage our convertible top and stole our radio, Steve told us that they are not responsible for any damage and that they will NOT pay for anything, now we have to pay for the service, plus the convertible top and our radio which was a nice brand. I am very disappointed for their rude service and never getting back to them. We also found out that the next day that our car was vandalized another car was too and their insurance doesn't cover those types of damages. Be careful if you are leaving your car for a service, they don't have a big garage to cover all the cars they have for repairs for that reason they have to leave them unprotected and can be vandalized as ours. read more

As a young petite woman, I dread dealing with condescending mechanics, and particularly dealerships. I was SO delighted to find Independent Auto on Yelp. These guys are punctual, professional, and their estimates (time and cost) are spot on every time. I've dealt primarily with Lee, who is quiet, respectful, and knows his stuff. My '10 Jetta Wolfsburg is still under powertrain warranty, and Lee advised me that a tranny problem I was experiencing was actually quite common and should be covered under my powertrain - but I'd have to go to the dealer. (Groan.) After several days, the dealer still couldn't duplicate the problem, and I was beyond frustrated with the rep's flippant attitude. I called Lee, described what was happening, and asked for advice. He told me to ask to drive my car with the mechanic riding along to duplicate the issue, and told me if they wouldn't agree to that, I should call VW corporate, who would definitely take care of me. He assured me the issue was totally legit - and that I was not hallucinating, as the dealer seemed to think. I was so impressed that Lee helped me nail down a fix when he didn't stand to make a dollar on the repair. After the dealer's mechanics got on the phone with corporate "super mechanics," they eventually traced the problem to the mechatronics unit in the transmission - which was not only covered under warranty, but it was exactly what Lee had diagnosed in the first place. read more

I've had two great experiences with Independent Auto: 1. Car broke down in middle of desert. Towed it to CarMax, which lacked the computer to fix an Audi. Brought it to Steven and Donovan who fixed things up, and made sure the CarMax warranty paid for most of the work 2. My car is a convertible and it needed a new roof. I found a great deal over the internet and they were able to install it in a day. (My car has never looked better) Net/Net: I've never had a better experience with a car repair shop. read more

Just want to say that I never, ever, nerver give five stars. IAS definitely blew me away with their professionalism, timely repairs and general knowledge about VW's. If you live in a 400 mile radius of the valley and own a VW or Audi take your car to this place but the other reviewers already said this. I took my VW in for the dreaded 40k and the gave me a extremely fair price. It was about $150 less than my best quote (from a non dealer mechanic the dealer was even more money). Because I love to list this review will follow suit (list is in order of most important to less important): 1. I was treated with respect. Because mechanics have way more knowledge about cars than your average joe they can easily make you feel dumb. These guys never once made me feel dumb, and anything I didn't understand they quickly and clearly explained it to me. 2. They gave me a very fair price. My 40k was a belated service for my car, because I didn't want to pay the exorbitant prices charged by other mechanics. IAS's first quote was my best quote by far. 3. They're VW & Audi specialists which means they know a ton about these awesome, but often very idiosyncratic cars. I've gone to non-vw specialists and these folks are clearly way better. 4. My car was finished on the same day. I'm fine waiting for good work to be done but these guys did good work in a timely manner. 5. Attentive to details. They did a few extra things to my VW that weren't on the list of stuff for the 40k but didn't charge me. To me this is going the extra mile to provide good customer service. Overall I would recommend this auto-shop to anyone with car problems irrespective of the make and model. They'll treat you fair and give you good service. If I had to say one negative thing, I'd say I wish they were located in Austin rather than Phoenix but that's, of course, not their fault. I may drive the 1020 miles to get my car serviced in the future. read more

This place rocks! I drive from LA to get my Passat serviced - all of them are great and reliable and fair. I have not found a better place so I will continue to drive 350 miles for repairs. Good job Steve and Donovan. Keep up the great work - Brian Ellenberger - Los Angeles - proud owner of: 1995 Cabrio 2001 Passat 1970 Karman Ghia read more

I recently had the check engine light come on, on my 2006 Passat out of the blue. I was going to take it to a dealership next to my house in Scottsdale, but after I saw the reviews and bad experiences we have had with almost every business we have come in contact with in Scottsdale, I sought out other options. This is when I ran across this little repair shop. I have to say, I am very happy with the result and am looking forward to coming back soon to gear up my car with some upgrades. PS. They took a look at my car and diagnosed the problem for free! All it cost me was 25 bucks for the fuel cap since that is what the issue was. IT would of cost me 100 more at a VW dealership if not more, and chances are they would of screwed something up. read more

After an expensive repair to my vw beetle last summer, I was more than bummed when the dealership service department told me it was going to be a grand to be able to drive again. A couple months of saving and some mechanic shopping, I stumble into this really clean facility where they fix all of these problems for only 488.88! And writhing about 5 hours! Not only that, but they were genuinely friendly and relaxed and the shop was clean and didn't smell(like all the other ones seem to). They gave me prices of everything else I asked for, so I could save to purchase a new 700 dollar timing belt. I just felt really good about this service! I will definitely be back whenever I need a service done! HIGHLY recommend this place read more

These guys are the best, most honest import auto mechanics around. Seriously. I took my car to have the axle and boots replaced and they were the only place I could find that wouldn't rip me off. When I drove off and could tell the wheels weren't balanced, they rebalanced them for free. When my Audi broke down and I towed it to them, they diagnosed the vehicle, told me it wasn't worth repairing unless I really loved the car, and didn't even charge me for a tear down and inspection. (Though I'm pretty sure they felt bad for me more than anything.) I always recommend them to friends with German cars. One last thing, I'm a woman and I'm not completely ignorant when it comes to cars. These guys only treated me with respect and never tried to overcharge me, which I can't say about many other mechanics. read more

Great mechanics, great service, great people ! We were en route to San Francisco but had to stop a couple of days in Phoenix as our car (2006 VW GTI) was sputtering on the highway, AND was making a thumping noise when veering right. We initially took it to the dealership in Phoenix (Camelback VW). They fixed the sputtering issue but couldn't reproduce the thumping noise (which was not hard to notice). We then took the car to Independent Automotive Services. They made us feel very comfortable from the beginning, took two test drives, verified everything (wheels, bearings, shocks, struts, axle, etc ...) and the conclusion (after one and a half hour investigation) was that one axle is very slightly bent, which is not a big deal, does not need fixing at this time. Car is fine. No charge. How amazing is this ? Many thanks to Paul Johnson and his awesome team. read more

I am very happy with this place for servicing my Audi. I had previously gone to another german auto repair shop that was robbing people blind. The people here are friendly, professional and they are Audi and VW certified. read more

I have a VW TDI that I adore but frankly I know nothing about cars. Lucky for me Steve and the guys at Independent Auto know everything there is to know. I have taken my car there numerous times with fast and quality results. I have such trust in them I keep their number programmed in my phone just in case of an emergency as they have always been reliable and helpful. As a woman who tends to be intimidated taking my car in to the shop, these guys make the process comfortable and easy. I would highly recommend them to anyone with a VW. read more

I took my 03 Audi A4 to Independent Automotive for a second opinion on a repair job that another shop had recommended. I just didn't trust this other shop, and Independent just happened to be right across the street. Paul and Steve were SO helpful... Steve kept my car over night so he could get it up on the lift and take a proper look at it, stating that he wanted to rule everything else out before he just assumed it was what the other shop quoted me. It was his honesty and thorough work that has earned them a new customer for life!! And the prices they offer are WAY lower than any Audi or VW dealership and most of the other European shops in the Valley! If you own a German car, do yourself a favor and bring it here for maintenance and repairs!! read more

Unfortunately my wife has had to take our MK5 GTI there several times since the warranty has expired. Great service and price everytime. This is the only place I've ever taken a car for repair that has not charged for the estimate because the problem was covered under manufacturer warranty! read more

I went here after a VW dealership tried to rip me off for some service. Found out it was minor and they fixed it for free. Steve and his team are extremely thorough and they guarantee all their parts and labor. I keep coming back because they are honest and quick...they're prices are reasonable and the people are cool also! I wouldn't go back to the dealership for any more repairs. read more

I'll make it simple. This shop is the cold nuts. If you have a VW take it here. I'll never take my VW anywhere else. Period. My son's Jetta was stolen. They found it on 19th Ave & Buskeye. Big surprise huh? Any way Independent removed the tranny, replaced the clutch and pressuure plate put it back in and we had it back in three days. THREE DAYS! I won't discuss cost because no job is identical but I will say that we felt very good about what our out the door costs were. Heck, they even threw in a missing oil cap for nothing. read more

Had an incredible experience as a first time customer today after bringing in a new to me Audi C5 Allroad to have the suspension and brakes checked out. The owner Steve's communication was 10/10 during the whole process and his wife Gail who runs the office is also very professional and friendly. I found this place after searching for the best dealer alternative to take care of my Allroad. Well it helps that Steve owns two of them himself! His passion for these cars shines through in all that he does. I look forward to having all of my car's maintenance taken care of by this shop! read more

I have two Volkswagen Golf TDIs that I own and love and trust Steven (the owner) of Independent Auto to always do top notch work on. I've taken both my cars there many times over the past few years. Most recently when I hit a rock and busted open the oil pan I towed my car to IAS and they had it fixed in less than a day with a new oil pan and a new aluminum skid plate to protect my car from future evil rocks. I've also had my car towed there when it started overheating on the freeway, and they had it fixed up in no time with a new fan. Other work I've had them do is replace timing belts, water pumps, brakes, and probably other things that I don't remember right now. The point is that I'd trust them to fix anything on my VWs and know that it will be done right. I also give them kudos for always being easy to get a hold of. Some shops never answer the phone or call back and that is beyond frustrating. read more

We have a 2006 VW bug hat had a burnt out headlight (padiddle punch buggy i think is the professional term...)- called in the morning, came right in and was out in about a half hour. Will def come back for anything major! read more

Being new to Phoenix, we didn't have a trusted mechanic for our Audi but now we do! After looking at the reviews I decided to try and Independent Auto Services and boy was I pleased! It was far away from where I work & live but totally worth the detour that I had to take. They were honest on what was wrong with the car, very flexible on scheduling appointments. Paul and Steve are really nice and they make sure the car is properly repaired before giving it back to you. If your Audi is sick, just go here and save yourself the trouble of going to 10 other mechanics to figure out that these are the guys that will fix your Audi. read more

Dear Mike, Thanks for your expertise, reasonable pricing and prompt service on my Audi Q7. I will be back for future service.

Great service! I've taken my Jetta in twice, the first time for a minor repair, the second time for bigger issues. In both cases they were quick, informative, friendly, and trustworthy. I ended up having to take my car to another place for my insurance, since the damage was more expensive than I anticipated, but they still gave me a quote and took the time to go over all the information with me. They were honest about what needed to be repaired, how much that would cost, and what else they would recommend. read more

I recently took my 2007 VW Passat 2.0T in for a squeaking noise coming from the timing belt area. I bought the car last September with just over 40,000 miles on it, and have put on 5k since but let the required maintenance go a bit past due. This is my first VW, I have mostly owned Hondas in the past, and am realizing that German autos are so much nicer in every way but also require a little more TLC than their far eastern counterparts do. Lee treated me with both patience and respect (I tend to ask a lot of questions and they were all answered honestly and sincerely, without a hint of arrogance or mockery like some auto repair experts tend to do). Further, he fit me into a packed house and busy schedule on a moments notice, kept in good contact about repair times and costs, and had me back on the road and at work (I average about 300 miles a week or so driving as part of my job) in less than 24 hours. It would have been even less repair time and most likely same day turnaround, but I was not able to get my car to them until noon that Monday. Considering the scope and severity of the issue (a timing belt tensioner pulley costing me around $900 in the end), I felt as if I and my car were treated more than fairly and promptly and then some--especially when I compared the repair cost to the dealership and other shops around town. New pulleys, tensioners and a timing belt and water pump, and a smoothly and silently running car now. I have just found my new and permanent vehicle caretakers, and have no reservations whatsoever taking my car to Lee and his staff for regular maintenance as well as any issues that may arise from here on out. Thank you Lee, and Independent Automotive Services. You have a loyal customer for the life of my Passat, and whatever VW or Audi model comes afterward:-).... read more

I recently discovered that Independent Auto completely misdiagnosed my Wolfsberg Jetta and it cost me $500 for a MAF valve that I never needed. These guys are probably OK with basic mechanical fixes but not very good at diagnostics. They cost me a lot of money. Turned out it was my crank position sensor. read more

Have been going here for years. Used to look over my whole car and check everything to make sure it was running great. Eventually they chose quantity over quality. Recently I broke my oil pan, had it towed here and they put a honda oil filter on my infiniti that did not fit causing an oil leak and forced me go to another mechanic and I was still charged $1000. Another time they bottomed out my car and broke my exhaust then told me it was my fault for having a lowered car, even though I mentioned it to them and said please be careful. I had to replace the part myself on top of paying for my oil change. I will not be going here again. Would only recommend if you have a stock piece of crap car you don't care about and want fast service, but they are not cheap for the low quality of work they do. It is a shame really, used to be a great shop. read more

I take my wife's Audi A3 for service here, and have been for the past 3 years. These guys are great with it...honest and up front about what work needs to be done. They are great working with our schedule and are prompt with repair. Really glad I found a place I could trust to work on an Audi, considering I can't trust Audi at all with the emission scandal or the takata airbag that both still need repair from an "authorized Audi service technician". Too bad Audi has no fix for either issue yet. read more

I could not have more praise for this shop. Extremely friendly people, quick repairs, and reasonable costs. One time I had to have my engine replaced after it overheated. I went to several chain shops that offered me a "new" engine with 100,000 or so miles on them, which was 40,000 more than my original engine. When I asked Independent, they found me an engine with 30,000 miles for $1000 cheaper than the other places. They will go out of their way to help you out. Also, I've had minor issues with the car that could be fixed now, but these guys were always straight forward regarding whether these were necessary right now or I could hold off. These guys have my absolute trust and this is definitely the shop I will use if I ever come back to Tucson. read more

I have conducted business with this shop for years. But am done, for the following reasons. They have two mechanics; young with no formal training. Unfortunately the lead mechanic passed away. With 3 people in administration, this company is "TOP" heavy. Mike plays the role of a service advisor; with no prior automotive experience. The general manager; Jim Johnson, pays the bills; and stays out of operations. And the owner, Steve, is hard to find. Spending very little time at his shop. Steve prepared a written estimate for work to be performed on my new purchase. A 2008 VW Touareg. Here he researched and wrote an estimate for oil cooler hose replacement. Parts and labor to be $217.17 The actual amount I paid for this procedure was $327.84. Charging me 30% more than estimated. The primary problem lies in the attitude I received from the employee's. I gave the shop a week to do the work; I was out of town on business. In addition to the hoses, I asked for a light bulb to be replaced. That was not done, when I was there to pick up my Touareg. So the mechanic (Andrew) said he would pop one in for me before I left. "Said he did not know which bulb I needed". Ask Mike to look it up. Mike acted like I was putting him out, by making this request and "would not help me". So I walked back to Andrew and told him Mike was not helping. Andrew then pulled out the bulb. Matched it from their inventory and replaced it. Andrew then told me what a great deal I got on getting my oil hoses replaced. He said "the book calls for 3 hours and we only charged you for 2 hours". I then asked him. How long did it actually take? He answered, " 2 hours". He told me to settle up with Mike on the bill and there was "no-charge" for installing the bulb. I proceeded to Mike. He helped everyone in the lobby, but me. I was left there; awkwardly waiting to pay the bill. It is obvious he does not like his job or me; or both. Finally. He presented the bill. Adding $10.00 labor and $16.91 for the bulb. $26.91. This bulb; a Halogen-Low Beam /55W, sells for $10.54 everywhere else. I then mentioned that Andrew said there was no charge for installing the bulb. Mike threw a fit. Went outside. Scolded Andrew. Andrew changed his story. I was charged $26.91 for a bulb, bundled with the installation.; In conclusion: I was over-charged $130.00 for the hose and bulb replacements. And treated like shit along the way. I will NO longer do business here. They have lost this long time customer and friend. All the detail in this case is verifiable via receipts and the written estimate prior to service. read more

Took a vehicle in about month ago I found communication between staff lacking which increased my cost close to another 400 dollars. Engine light came on again they basically wanted to change parts until the right part would keep engine light off. Independent did negotiate with me on a few things to satisfy me. I would go back for general work. But anything real technical maybe not, they might be lacking sophisticated diagnostic equipment to get right the first time. So three stars it is. read more

Good service and don't go crazy on suggested maintenance. Been there several times and will keep going back.

I love this place. My stupid engine light came on after work and I called them (after their listed hours) hoping to leave a message. Not only did they answer, but they had me bring my car in right then to make sure it was safe to drive - they then made a "quick fix" so my car was driveable until my official appointment. My car was fixed - and way less than if I took it to the dealer. Everyone there seems knowledgeable and friendly - won't take my Audi anywhere else! read more

This is the place to go if you have a Volkswagen or Audi, it's as simple as that.

Wanted to wait a few weeks before posting a review, but since the service, everything is running smooth. Replaced thermostat on 06 Passat, for much less than the dealer and within $10 of their estimate. Great guys working there, let me know exactly what was being done and how long it would take. I'll definitely be returning for scheduled maintenance. read more

Overall great experience- very fast, easy to get appointment, clear communications, car was ready exactly when they said it would be, and simply a great group of people to interact with. read more

I've used this shop several times and they've always taken good care of my car. I've checked their prices against other vw specialists and they're comparable and sometimes less. They automatically do an overall check to keep you informed of any issues that might be starting. Sure, so they can do the repairs but they don't push and will let you know if it can wait awhile. When I was there today, they let me know my battery is going to konk any time. They know I get mine from AAA so they simply gave me the test results and said to call AAA right away to change it out. I do miss Mike, the best customer service guy I've ever met, but you can't have everything. read more

These guys are awesome. Did a pre-purchase inspection for me for a vehicle that I was interested. Mark was very professional and courteous.

Great guys. Very helpful and accommodating. Priced better than the dealership. We had all of the fluids flushed in our Touareg on the day I called. They will tell you if you don't bee something and save you money. Thanks! read more

I wonder if this shop has changed owners or what: I paid upwards of 1,100 towards the fixing of the AC on my car. AC stopped working soon afterwards; took it to the shop; I was given a lame excuse for the problem; claimed the freon was recharged and sent me on my way. Three days ago the AC stopped working again; called the front desk, I said I was having problems with the AC without mentioning it was a recurring problem for which the shop was reponsible; I was told to bring the car in, next day but upon presenting the repair bill to the guy at the counter he started giving me the runaround that if I wanted the thing fixed it was going to take 3 or 4 days and so on. I was so disgusted that I told the guy I was going to go from now on to the VW dealer. The guy just kind of smiled sardonically at my predicament. A TOTAL RIP OFF. I'll go to the dealer; I'll pay a bit more but at least I'll deal with professionals. read more

Do not use this shop. I took my car in due to the radiator light being on and the headlights not working. I explained to Lee what was wrong with the headlights and the part that was broke on it. They had the car for the day, called and said I could pick it up. When I got there I paid over $500.00 for the repairs, and the headlights and break lights did not work. I took it in the next day and he fixed the lights charging me another $90 for labor. 2 days later the radiator light and oil light came on. I called the shop, they said they couldn't get it in that day. I called the next day, and again they were to busy to look at the car they never fixed. I went to the shop twice and they couldn't look at it. They wouldn't even keep the car to look at it the next day. I was driving to work and the engine blew out. I had it towed back in to Independent Auto. They said that the dealer must have put leak and seal fluid in the radiator which clogged the oil pump so oil couldn't get to the engine. (Independent Auto was the only place I had taken the car for repair) At the time of the second repair he told me the cost was going to be $136. I called and told Lee that I couldn't pay for a new engine right now and I would have the car towed back to my place. He didn't even put the car back together, he put the oil pan and all the parts in the back of my car. When I went to have the car towed the cost all of a sudden went up from $136 to $269.00. When I asked about it Lee got very defensive and never did give me a clear answer other then $40 for parts and the rest was labor. They didn't do anything to the car, they only looked at it. Why was the issue not found when I first had it in. There lack of fixing the car correctly the first time has ultimately left me with a car that I owe $7,000 on and now need to replace the engine. Any time I spoke with Lee on the phone he acted like I was just a dumb girl that didn't know anything about cars. Truth be told I actually know a lot about cars and I also know when I'm being screwed over. read more