Horrid experience that resulted in more than $4,000 out of pocket and a completely malfunctioning car. Our car, 2008 Subaru Forrester, broke down in Red Wing and Johnson Tire and Auto Repair was convenient. After my husband spoke to a person named John there, they said they could put in a good used engine that would work well given that the car was in such good shape and had low miles, 126,000. We paid over $3600 for that used engine (and other costs for fixes in the following two weeks). It malfunctioned within 5 miles of leaving the business. They spent several hours checking things out and said it was a timing belt (Had to take a vacation day). We got back in the car and were able to get it up to Minneapolis, allegedly fixed and working well. The next morning I noticed a very large oil spot. I immediately brought it to a Midas store a mile away and they told me if I had driven a few more miles, I would've had a catastrophic engine failure. We picked up the car from Johnson on Friday and this was Saturday morning. I paid out of pocket and spoke to John the following Monday and he did reimburse the oil leak. Three days later, another oil sensor problem and fix needed. Again I contacted John and said this was another couple hundred dollars and I was completely confounded how a good used engine could have multiple problems within a week of driving it (drive less than 200 miles in that time). I said I needed to get a refund for the engine as it was a non-reliable car and he said I could bring it down to Red Wing to fix it. The car was not drivable so I was confused as to what the point was. The Midas place also said I had a cracked axle and that would've easily been viewed by the people that put the engine in before putting it in and they should have told us as that is another expensive repair of several hundred dollars (which we did not do as it was a money pit situation). In the end and within two weeks of the big expense at Johnson, we traded it in for $2500. Thousands down the drain. When we had problems the day we picked up the car in September, the mechanic John (different John), repeated more than three times, to my husband and I, "you never know with these used engines." Obviously if that had been told to us upfront we would've simply gotten rid of the car rather than spent the $3600 with Johnson. Absolutely no financial relief or warranty support (said it was 90 days) from Johnson other than bring it down and we'll fix it (how when it has no oil and I live 64 miles from Red Wing). My second post-car trouble conversation with John resulted in hun quietly hanging up on me. Do not have anything significant done with your car there would be my recommendation from this experience. They may be absolutely fine with oil changes, tires, etc. but we felt completely bait and switched and again our out several thousand dollars as well as losing time at work. Extremely poor decision to go with Johnson Tire for a used engine. Bottom line, they said the car was in great shape and once we get the used engine, we should get many more miles out of this car. The used engine was a good way to go we were told (again the mechanic working on the car did not provide confidence that day with his repeated - you don't really know what you are getting). Well it didn't go and we are left out big $$, inconvenience and non-reliable transportation read more

See all

I dropped off a pair of trailer tires and wheels at Johnson Tire on a Saturday. I was told by John, the counter/sales guy, the tires would be ready the following Monday. I received a call from John Monday morning saying the tires were ready to be picked up. Excellent! When I arrived at Johnson Tire after work on Monday, John was able to bring my tires out right away. Excellent! When he told be the amount due it was over $140.00. "What the____ ?" I asked him. He ran down the list of expenses which included charging me for my own tires. I called him on it - I was none too pleased. No apology or "sorry about that" offered by John. Not so excellent. When I mentioned how I thought the price they charged for mounting two 12" trailer tires was kinda steep (my fault for not asking when I dropped the tires and wheels off) given the small tire size, his reply, in addition to listing the fees included in the hastily revised work order/receipt, was "well next time you can change them yourself." And his co-worker behind the counter added "and add in the cost of using our $10,000 machine." If you're looking for passive aggressive customer service you'll definitely find it at Johnson Tire. read more

went to get tires. left with two new front tires. wasn't told about my back tread. tread gone thank gosh I didn't get in an accident. I do not recommend Johnson Tire. i asked the owner why this happened. response. we are swamped. read more

went in with An idle problem and now my car dont work at all they replaced spark plugs not sure why they were less than 3 months old and said I had a bad fuel injector but they we're guessing because no I don't when i dropped off my car it ran almost fine when I got it back it don't run at all they fucked up my car I called them to inquire about what they did they got an attitude and hung up on me for calling them out they r crummy ppl taking advantage of good people do not take ur car there they dont care about u or your vehicle let's put them out of business read more

I really wanted to buy tires from a local business. I really did NOT want to go to a national retail chain place. So I walked into Johnson Tire one day this week and ... waited at the front desk. The woman behind the desk helped the customer in front of me, then disappeared when that customer walked into the shop. When she came out the shopkeeper looked at me, said nothing, went back to the break room, came out--wordlessly--and started furiously digging thru her purse, which was sitting on a desk behind the front counter. For five minutes. Yes, really. I cleared my throat a few times to let her know I was still there, but, no "please hang on" or even a look up from her. "Is Bob here?" I asked. Silence. We were less than 10 feet apart at this point. She was digging in her purse like there was a winning lottery ticket in there. I waited a few more minutes and then left. I drove down to the national chain down the street. Walked in, and the guy behind the counter almost leaped over the counter to help me. I was not in the store more than one minute and he had me in back looking at tires and in 10 minutes he sold me four tires, an alignment and was giving me a ride home. Hope she won the lottery. read more

Broke my wheel cover & didn't bother to tell me I came in for a basic oil change and winter tire change, which i had bought from them. That took a few simple hours, and i was called to pick up my car. I picked it up, but soon after i got home i noticed one of my wheel covers broken sitting in the back of my car tucked behind my passenger side seat. Now it was a basic cheap plastic wheel cover i bought from a local auto store for 30 bucks so it wasn't expensive but that fact of the matter is they thought they could just accidentally break it and not tell me. I called them telling them the situation but was told i couldn't prove it was them after i had left the shop. Avoid if you care about business integrity. read more

Very recently my Wife and I were stuck in Red Wing with a vehicle that left us on the side of the road. When few other would help they came to our help and fast. We needed to be out of there fast and they delivered quality service and at unbelievable speed. I Praise the Lord for leading us to them. And I praise Him for them. read more

I've used Johnson Tire for all my basic maintenance for the last 18 months for our 2 vehicles. I've found them to be very customer service oriented and willing to go out of their way to look at stuff even though they may not be equipped to handle it and give me advice on what to ask for at another repair shop. I like being able to take my business locally and they've been excellent. read more