Fantastic auto repair, diagnosis shop. Not the cheapest place, perhaps, but SUPER honest, don't sell you things you don't need, and do the work the right way the first time, so no need to return to have the fix, fixed again. I like to have my car gone over once a year for general checkup, and he gives thorough checkup with itemized things that need care right away, to things in the middle, and things to keep an eye out on for the future but don't need anything done right away. I can't recommend them highly enough. read more

What? Really? I've never reviewed Autohaven before? I've went there many times with different cars over the years, and Mark and his crew there have always been great. They're knowledgeable, critical thinkers, honest and informative to their customers. I highly recommend. read more

This place is all you could ask for from an auto mechanic. They're fair and honest and don't try to sell you on things you don't need. They may not be the least expensive but that's because they use quality parts and highly skilled long-term employees. They are very busy as a result so may not be taking on new clients. That said, when they can't help me right away they have valuable referrals you can try to fill in. Every shop should use Auto Haven as a model. Also, they have the cutest shop dog. Thanks, Mark & team! read more

These guys really know what they're doing. They've never tried to upsell me or get me to spend money on something unnecessary. Mark is honest and he knows his stuff. I won't take my car anywhere else. read more

My car had a terrible burning smell when i would turn it on and I came to this shop as it's down the street and had many trustworthy reviews. I told the gentleman my issue and he said that they were booked up for a week but he was happy to take a look! He popped open the hood inspected my car confirmed there were no leaks. He then checked underneath both sides of my car and it turned out to be a plastic bag stuck on a pipe and it wasn't a serious issue. I really appreciate the kindness and time taken out to assure me I didn't have any major issues without an appointment. I will be coming back for any future issues. read more

Hands down the best mechanic I could ever ask for! I had to bring them my 99' Toyota Camry on two separate occasions when a few other mechanics couldn't figure out what the problem was. On the first occasion they figured out my air control valve needed cleaning. On the second occasion I originally tried taking my car to two other mechanics - one whom didn't even work on check engine lights and the other kept telling me to cancel my check engine light. Johnson's Autohaven figured out the gas cap was cracked and the solenoid needed replacing. All for less than $300. They also told me they can make my car last until 300k miles. That's another 100k than where I'm at! I'm so glad my baby isn't junk yet. It's still riding smooth and my check engine light hasn't come back. The only downside is that they were scheduling a month out. They are busy for a reason! The job is done right the first time. =] read more

I'm so past due writing this and I almost don't want to because he's always so backed up, but there's a reason for that. This is the only honest mechanic in the county. read more

Excellent service and quality repair! Been going here for over 15 years and have never been disappointed!

I was told $2000 by my previous mechanic. Johnson's was recommended by a friend. I got a quote of $1,100 for the same thing. Then my car had issues a week before my appointment. They got me in that day and both issues were fixed and ready to pick up in two days. Much less for both than what my previous mechanic had quoted me for the one issue. I can't recommend Johnson's enough! No drama, just fixed everything for a very fair price. It's so great to have a mechanic that you can trust! read more

Glad to have Johnson's as our mechanic. Always excellent service, and they've always been accommodating. Appreciate you guys.

I got estimates from different places and honestly by reading the reviews I decided to go with this shop... not only where the price is good but the work that was done was phenomenal!!! We got so much done under the hood and it worked with our budget thank God!!! They were real honest and when they were telling us what was more important to fix because like I said we were on a tight budget we talk to one of our friends who knew about cars & he had already told us some previous issues at the car had in the shop told us the same thing... They did such an amazing job and they did it in less than two days and when I tell you it was over 10 different things they DID ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! Our car is absolutely running amazing and we not only see but feel the difference!!! Super happy with their service. My husband and myself highly recommend them for sure! read more

It has the friendliness and integrity of a small shop, but the professionalism of a big one. Both the pickup and drop off were quick and organized. They were prepared for both. A real class act. read more

This shop came highly recommended by another shop when my OBD board was not working properly. I stopped by unannounced and Rafael gave me his full attention, inspected my 0BD board, confirmed there was a blown fuse, repaired the fuse, and saved me hours and many dollars by not having to go to the dealership. I would highly recommend this shop based on other reviews, reputation amongst other repair shops, and the excellent service I received. read more

These guys are AMAZING. Hard working crew who just love fixing cars. No talking down to you because you're a girl, no BS pricing on parts, no jerking around like other mechanic places. I highly recommend them to anyone and everyone. Fast working that'll get you back up and running in no time. My heroes and life savers. Thank you! read more

Johnson's Autohaven is great! I have been taking my 2001 Audi TT here for years and have been very, very pleased. Having an older car doesn't feel like such a burden when you have such informative, knowledgable, skilled, and honest folks in the car maintenance profession. Thank you!! read more

My favorite place to bring my car! I am extra partial to Mr Johnson as his sis but I trust him even if he wasn't my brother. He has always been honest and taken care of his customers. He treats them like family. Raphael is also the best he is super friendly, great at what he does and always honest. If you want it done right take your car here. Best of the best always. read more

I came in here ~3 months ago b/c I made the dumb mistake of driving over an island & the island took out a plastic panel (splash guard) underneath my car. The panel was dragging & b/c my usual mechanic was farther away from the "accident" site, I took it to Johnson's Autohaven. Rafael was about to leave (it was almost 5pm), but he took his time to take the panel off & research prices for replacement...& get this, I offered to pay him money for the labor of taking off the panel & examining any further damage the incident might have caused, & he wouldn't even take my money (what a stand-up guy!). In sum, Rafael recognized that I was in a stressful situation & stayed a little longer than his normal workday in order to make sure that I was taken care of. I'll never forget this kind gesture that Rafael did & for this reason & many others, I highly recommend Johnson's Autohaven! read more

I have been visiting this establishment for years with multiple vehicles and will continue to for years to come. Very honest and straightforward. I hadn't been in months because my cars have been great. Showed up today for some help checking a check engine light. They didn't hesitate to pull the codes and give me the information for free. It is nice to know that I have an honest mechanic to count on. read more

I would definitely recommend taking your car here if there is any issues. The staff is friendly and they only charge you for what is wrong with your car and the parts were not marked up so much so that you gasp in disbelief. Thank you again for the wonderful service read more

Today I took my car for an overall annual check, brake replacement and oil/filter change. I found everyone here to be very courteous. Their estimates were very reasonable and the end cost was pretty much what I expected. I am always hesitant to bring my car in for service, because I feel like I have a flashing sign over my head screaming "Here comes the blonde lady, let's sell her the kitchen sink!" I'm definitely wary of service stations because I've been sold things I didn't need in the past. Mark was very honest and told me how to handle those 'upsell' situations next time I go take my car for a quick oil change at one of the chain establishments. His team also gave a referral for a business to handle some body work I needed done. And, they pointed out a repair that the tire shop overlooked when I brought my car in the previous week. I find that when a business is happy to go beyond the basic service, in this case pointing out work that they don't even handle, they gain customers for life. I will definitely keep Mark and his team as my place to go for car maintenance and repairs. Since I brought my car in for routine work (brakes/oil), I can't speak about repairs being fixed for the long haul. But for courteous, honest, and timely service, I highly recommend them!! Oh, and I love Auto, The Great Dane who greats everyone as we roll in! He's a gentle giant, nothing but love. read more

I've had two cars service by Autohaven, one about ten years old and one 3 years old. I was very impressed with the service I received! They really know what they're doing, they're polite (which can be hard to find in an auto mechanic!) and they're reasonably priced. They replaced the brakes on one of the cars, and when I started hearing a noise months later i brought it in and they fixed it up no charge, and even fixed a small unrelated issue at the same time without charging! They close at 6, which is tough for me, but when I called Mark said he'd stay later one evening for me. Really nice of him, I didn't even ask - he just offered. They were also really good about making recommendations without being pushy, and they were happy to explain things as much (or in my case, as little) as I wanted. I'll definitely be using them again. read more

I am so relieved and happy that I brought my truck here, when it comes to car issues I tend to stress out and panic , I never mind paying the money if I can trust the shop i am taking it to. One thing i can stand is paying hundreds , only to find out i was lied to about issues that I never had or a couple weeks later having to come back for more problems that didn't exist before. I WILL NEVER EVER TAKE MY CAR ANYWHERE ELSE. I fully trust everything they tell me without any second thoughts!! I highly recomend them! Thank you Johnsons Autohaven for putting my mind at ease!!! read more

This is the auto shop of choice among San Diego "Burners". Mark works on cars of ALL sorts - he even figured out the dual carbs on my air-cooled Pinzgauer. He's also helped build art cars, hosted gatherhings, and is an all-around great guy. Prices are very reasonable. Great place to take your hoopty. read more

Just got my timing belt and spark plugs done for half what the dealer wanted. Mark and his team are incredibly polite and the best deal in San Diego. I will never take my cars anywhere else. If you're looking for a mechanic look no further. I trust them implicitly and that's the hardest thing to do with a mechanic. They openly answer any questions you might have and are great about giving advice, tips, and tricks. And on top of all of this they have the friendliest best trained dogs hanging out to greet you when you arrive. read more

Mark at Autohaven is the best mechanic I've found. He is honest, and has saved me over $1000. I got a bid from another place of over $1000 to "fix" a few minor problems with my car. Mark looked at it and gave me other options that ended up costing a fraction of the other place. I highly recommend Autohaven, and have already sent several friends to him. read more

Rafael ( head Master Mechanic ) a truly gentleman I can trust and know my car will be taking care in a timely matter and his work ethic's are incomparable! Thanks Rafita for the great service you offer, Cheers! read more

This place is great, mark the owner is, patient, honest, reliable, if there is a way to save you Money by not doing unnecessary work he will let you know and he gives you options if there are any. I have had the best experience here, never have I been to a mechanic where I feel they are doing what's best for me and my car. He is very empathetic and you just know your in good hands here. I know others feel the same way because they have lots of good reviews. Give this place a try and feel the relief of trying to go somewhere where they don't rip you off, sometimes they are really busy you Might have to wait for an appt but obviously it's because they have a lot of honest work to do. I forgot the mechanics name but he is great too, he showed me and my son where a leak was and got us to understand and visually we saw the issue so I never question there work or option. Johnson's Autohaven is the best. They also have a sweet doggy there to greet you read more

I have been taking my cars to Mark for repairs and service almost 30 years and I don't think there is anyone around more honest and knowledgeable in the business! Everything, from a service, to a non working lock/door, a light, engine trouble, oil changes, brakes, all kinds of repairs - big and small - you name it - he can fix it for a fraction of what you would pay elsewhere! Always accommodating!!! His shop is always clean and is a pleasure to speak to him either in person or over the phone .... Polite and always a gentleman - You can tell his customers come first. You only have to go to Mark and his team once and you will never take your car anywhere else! - L read more

Mark Johnson at Autohaven is great! He is 100% trustworthy. He will never do work on your car that he has not discussed with you first. He always lets me know what has to be done to the car and what can wait a little longer before I need to drop some dough. I would recommend Autohaven to anyone who wants great service and no bullshit. read more

These folks are the ones to take your ailing car to. They have the yelp rating they enjoy for a reason. A shout out to Rafael, last time I had a red dash light scenario he told me something easy to try before he worked on it. A few dollars of techrolene in the tank and I'm good. Each time I've had my 100,000+mile truck in here they've managed to fix it the first time and it stays fixed. I absolutely recommend Johnson's Autohaven for all your auto repair needs. read more

Mark and Autohaven get 5+++stars in my book! We have been taking our two Hondas to him for quite a few years now. He has kept our 95 Honda Civic running like a charm. He is honest, and will not do any work that doesn't need doing. Recently our CR-V was in need of front brakes, and without me even knowing we were still covered under warranty, he put in new front brakes, and he was the one that told me they were still covered under his warranty. He is truly a stand-up guy full of integrity. If you ever are needing maintenance or repairs, Autohaven is the place you will want to go, and you are greeted by two beautiful and very well-behaved doggies too! read more

"Woohoo! As good as it gets!" is just about right. I first went to Autohaven when my Audi was having a "check engine" problem that three different garages told me would run around $1200 to fix. Rather than addressing the issue through brute force, Johnson's Autohaven took the time to locate the actual problem. How often can you say that a mechanic **saved** you $800? Actually, for Autohaven customers it's not that unusual. read more

Johnson's Autohaven - Auto Repair Near Me - San Diego, California

I have recently been taking all of vehicles to Autohaven for service needs, and Mark has been an absolute pleasure to work with and has provided confidence that our car issues are corrected and resolved. Mark's team and their expertise have been reaffirmed after my latest visit, when I arrived at his garage with an expensive shopping list from my vehicle's dealership. After conferring with Mark and his assessment on my car's needs, we saved valuable time and money. Thank you Mark! People looking for a good mechanic and honest business man should call Autohaven for their repair needs. read more

Mark Johnson is the *BEST* in San Diego for auto care. He's always prompt to return your call & update you on your cars status. Not to mention his -beautiful- pet/mascot "Auto" (go figure) is always there to meet & greet clients ;-) Thanks Mark! We'll be back. Lynn & Norm Browne San Diego, CA read more

This is the only repair shop in San Diego I take my cars! Mark and his team are amazing. When I first started going there I would get estimates from multiple shops before deciding who would do the work. Autohaven's estimates we're always the best price and they have never gone over an estimate. (Not the case with other repair shops.) They guarantee their work but I've never actually had to take them up on it since they get they do it right the first time. I've referred lots of friends here and everyone always call to thank me for the recommendation. I've never trusted an auto repair shop in my life. I no longer worry that I'm going to get ripped off or charged for work that I didn't need. I trust Autohaven completely. read more

I have had so many experiences with mechanics. This place by far is the Best. Mark definitely knows how to win costumers. you can immediately tell that those guys are honest and are not trying to rip you off. Keep it up guys. Best in San Diego. read more

Great place, honest and very friendly! I've been there 3 times because my engine light would always pop up. I was only charged the 3rd time once we had clearly identified the issue and I finally had it repaired! Fair price too! My car runs great again! Thanks guys! read more

I had nothing but bad experiences with auto repairs until I found AutoHaven. From those who tried to rip you off by overcharging repairs, to those who add a bunch of extra things you supposedly need and try to scare you off if you don't repair them, to those who charge you replacement parts when they do not actually change the parts etc..I faced every possible scenario of dishonest garage shops and I am sure any female going alone to an auto repair faced them too. Mark the owner of AutoHaven and rafael, one of the employee, are not like that at all. After 18 years, I finally found a good doctor for my baby. I have an old car (2000 Celica) so obviously with problems sometimes. I just LOVE my car so it is hard to say goodbye and I don't want to. Mark, his doggy, and rafael are very nice. AutoHaven made several repairs so far. Their prices are reasonable, their repairs are great, their behavior awesome. They are not trying to tell you that you need a bunch of stuff unless it is really necessary. That alone is worth Gold! Honest people! It is sad that auto repairs have a bad reputation due to the "way to numerous" amount of bad, inefficient and dishonest garages but these guys not only know what they do, but they have values, ethics, decency and a sense of responsibility. Before I met them, I ended up in the middle of a major street with an unresponsive car just after leaving a garage! I had to be towed and FORTUNATELY, I was towed to AutoHaven. Since then, I only go to them. I have nothing but wonderful things to say! If you ever had bad experiences before with auto repairs (ok almost everyone on yelp is going to call these guys now!) give them a call! :) read more

I have been using Mark and his staff for years and recently a friend of a friend said they could fix my check engine light "quick and cheap". I should have known better and long story short I got burned...One week without my car and $500 later I came crawling back to Auto Haven on my knees. Mark just laughed at me, completely understanding, and I made an appointment for him to clean up my mess ASAP. The best thing about Mark, besides being fair and honest, is that he expains everything in simplified terms. I am a girl who bought her car because it was pretty, not because I knew what was going on under the hood. Needless to say I need some serious dumbing down and Mark never makes me feel stupid and I always get what he is saying. I never leave feeling like I was just ripped off and that to me is priceless! Like everyone else said. Plan ahead and make an appointment. Quality service is in high demand and you will not be sorry. read more

Another great review for Mark Johnson! My 2002 Mazda Tribute has some miles and is showing his age. I'm just using it as a commuter car that will last probably another 2 years max. I came in here twice for little things that I expected to be bigger problems... Both times Mark said I was fine with small tweaks for under $200 to get me by. I feel like another shop would have upsold me and did work that I didn't need yet. So surprising and nice! When the time finally came, I came back to Authohaven to get brakes here in June 2014. Standard procedure and no problems at all. They even left this cute little note hanging from my turn signal with notes on how to "break in" my new brakes. Hehe! This is an extremely trustworthy shop where they take your car seriously. I love that Mark takes the time to explain everything to me and doesn't do any work to my car without me approving it first. It's such a relief to have a great honest mechanic who does quality work at a great price! :-) read more