We had issues with out Chevy Avalanche over the past year where the truck would randomly power down and go in to an energy saving mode - which is quite scary driving the truck at high speeds on a highway then randomly it shifts down much slower. After doing a lot of research online about the issue and getting a diagnostics test at Midas, we were referred to come to Mathewson's for the electric work. As it turned out, we needed the throttle body replaced. The guys at Mathewson were very knowledgeable about a recall for the throttle body switch, in turn we needed to replace the entire throttle body which is a up to date part. Anyhow, yes a more expensive part but it has fixed the electrical problem. We have not had any issues since. They were easy to get an appointment with our work schedule and in a timely manner where we did not need to leave our vehicle over night. The only issue was a little mis-communication when we went to pay the bill. We were quoted one amount and then were charged for an oil change we never asked to have. The guys were super nice about the mishap and offered to take it off of the charged amount on our credit card, or give us a free oil change later. They happily took the amount off of the charge for the oil change. We definitely plan on getting future oil changes with them for one, it was a better price then Jiffy Lube and two, they seem trustworthy and knowledgeable. After our visit back in May, I believe Mathewson's definitely gets 5 stars for the service done on our vehicle. We would recommend this place to anyone who wants honest and reliable work done. read more

I am so appreciative of the crew at Mathewsons Automotive. They took care of my immediate issue to get me on the road and diagnosed the other problem, providing an estimate and timeline for getting that work done. Knowledgeable, thorough and friendly mechanics. So happy to have this shop close by! read more

Great service. Super polite. I'm actually not used to this level of customer service post stay at home directive. Very helpful and informative. I would go back when I need other work done. They did not push to make more unnecessary repairs which I appreciate. read more

Recently I started having check engine light occurrences and was at +100K so I figured I'd run through the all the maintenance items as well. I rest the the check engine light after replacing the gas tank purge valve, as well as the gas cap. A couple weeks later it was back on, so I reset again, but it came on the next day. I called Mathewson's Automotive, explained my issues, made an appointment and dropped off the afternoon before. They called the next day, having chased down the issues. All good, running like new, no engine light in the last month. I'd recommend, and intend to be back if having similar issues. read more

I asked the guy how much they would charge for something. I tried to explain it to him, but he wouldn't listen and pretty much talked to me like I was stupid or didn't know what I was talking about being disrespectful to me. If this is how your company talks to potential customers then I will never go to Mathewsons again. read more

I went there for a pre-buyer inspection and only took less than an hour and a half even though they told me it would take a few hours. They worked fast and thoroughly on checking my car. When the inspection done, they also had a report for me with a lot of details. Enjoyed my time there. read more

They took real good care of my parents car. Honest pricing. My parents really like them. They will be coming back.

I owned a 1979 Camaro and the engine used oil and smoked when I started it. I had an engine built at Auburn Auto Machine and Mathewson's pulled out my old engine and installed the new one. They had a young mechanic do the job and he did not mark where the three Transmission Linkages connected to the 4-speed manual transmission when they pulled out the original engine. They called me and told me it had trouble shifting after the new engine was installed, and it needed a new transmission. I picked up the car and it not only shifted poorly, but the steering wheel would lock up and the car would only go straight ahead. My heart about jumped out of my chest driving it back to Covington. It cost me another $4,000.00 to get a new shifter, new transmission linkage, and the linkage adjusted twice, once at Bucky's and once at Transend in Auburn. They had to disconnect the linkage that locked the steering wheel for Safety Concerns and it got better but was never the smooth shifting car it was before the engine exchange. I was so disgusted in the end I traded the Car away for a 1923 Ford T-Bucket. It was an expensive Nightmare for me. read more

Only place I take classic Cadillac to. Knowledgeable staff and mechanics, you can be rest assured you car will be taken care of.

So you should go here only if you want to get screwed over. I went here because my water pump when out of my car. Here is a few of reasons i would never go back. 1) I was towed in on a Wendsday, was told that it would be done in a few days(so you would think Monday at the latest, right?). I figured a day to get the parts and then if it wasn't done on Friday, they might be a little longer since there was that darn weekend. I got a call on Monday afternoon saying it shouldn't be much longer. So Wendsday rolls around and i call b/c it has not been a "few days," but a week. I then let them know that i am a little irritated because i am having to rent a car this entire time!! The response i get is priceless.....The guy on the phone says, "Well if we would have known that we would have gotten your car out of here faster." Ok so that REALLY made me mad. 2) I got my water pump changed and the guy told me that i should get my timing belt changed in addition. However this would cost me over another 1000 dollars. Later to find out that when you replace the water pump off you actually have to take off the timing belt too.....which was rediculous because the timing belt actually costs like 30 buck. When i'm actually paying for the labor to do the same thing to change the water pump!!! I could go on for a while longer but, point being only go there if you want to pay a ton, taken advantage of, and for it to take forever. read more

Mathewson's Automotive - Mathewson's Automotive - Auto Repair Near Me - Renton, Washington

Not a positive experience here, although I left before getting my car worked on. The shield on my converter rusted through. Another garage was willing to bolt the shield back on but unfortunately they were full for the day. The person behind the desk was hinting that he wanted to replace the whole convertor which was unnecessary and expensive. He also would have charged $100 an hour before even looking at the car. We got much better service around the corner. read more

Edit: After a long series of exchanges with the owner, we worked out an agreement, and all was well. The service done to my car may not have been the best, but the customer service with the owner was above and beyond. Thank you. --------------------------------- Original post: I took my car in after it had stalled on the highway, and Mathewson's Automotive charged me $500.00 to examine and "fix" my car. On the way home, my car stalled twice in the same manner that it had been stalling before - it was definitely not fixed. And I still don't know what's wrong with it. When I called back, I was told that I need to be more responsible, and that it was going to cost me more money for Mathewson's Automotive to investigate the problem. No thank you. I am taking my car to someone I trust will fix it. read more

Have used these guys many times over the years and they have never let me down. All makes and models. I highly recommend them for classic cars. read more

I have taken both my car and my husband's car to Matthewson's four times now. I have also recommended their service to friends; however, after today I will never recommend them again. Being a loyal customer, I thought I would be getting exceptional treatment and honest service. This is not the case. I took my car in for a brake check and Matthewson's said my car needed rotors, calipers and brakes replaced on the front of my Geo Prism (1997). Their quote was astronomical compared to the real prices of parts for my vehicle. I called Autozone and found parts for 3x less than what was given to me there. I chose to get a second opinion, paid for the brake inspection (which most places don't charge for, but they do), and left. Welp, driving out of the lot my car is making a weird noise that it had never made before and sounds awful! I am even nervous to drive it 1 mile down the road to my house! I called Thomas Auto Rebuild and asked if they knew a good place and they recommended Tony's Auto Care on Logan in Renton. I told Tony's about the noise I was hearing and how bad it sounded, also that he should hear it even when he pulls my car into the shop. He calls to tell me the noise I am hearing is the back drums of my car are rotting and need replaced. Matthewson's failed to tell me this. The write up said 4x4 service may be necessary but never verbally told me about the drums rotting. The sound was not present when I dropped off the car and was present when I picked it up. They must have heard it too! Failure to tell a customer this is beyond liability to me. I provide services to people everyday as an Exercise Physiologist and I have a duty to care, what happened to their duty to care also? My life is in as much their hands as it is mine when I get behind the wheel. Not telling about the rotting drums is negligence and could result in my brakes failing. So, If I were you I would not take my car there. The price I got at Tony's was 200+ less than Matthewson's and the reliability of honesty! read more

Hands down the BEST place to have your vehicle fixed!! These guys are so friendly and very straight forward about what to expect when they look at your car. Brian came out and checked the codes on my car and walked through every possible issue it could be. Josh was so diligent in calling to update me on the process and issues. He explained in detail why they needed to do certain things and didn't treat me like I knew nothing. I truly appreciate that! They always ask before fixing something and run through ACTUAL prices of parts and labor. They round down on labor hours and even do extra work on touching up and tuning up!! Love this place!!!! 6.5 years of having an e-vap leak code on my Jeep and in 5 mins he diagnosed it and cut the hose to fix the problem... It wasn't even what I came in for. My hero!!! Thank you guys 1,000x over!! read more

Mathewson's is a shining star when it comes to honesty, service and communication. My Dad recommended that I take my 1998 VW Jetta to Mathewson's when I was having issues starting it. My folks have taken their car to Mathewson's a few times and have had ONLY great things to say about them (coming from my Dad, that means a LOT!!) I thought maybe the ignition coil was out, maybe the fuel pump, but I called Mathewson's to schedule an appointment and was given a quote for the 1st hour of diagnosis, and that they would call me with details of what they find. I was also advised to drop my car off at the night key drop (which was very easy and convenient), with an explanation of the problem. That next morning, they called me to let me know that it wasn't the fuel pump or the coil, but that they wanted to try a new distributor cap, plugs, and a fuel filter to see if that fixes it. They kept it overnight to try and re-create the problem, and their suggestions resolved the issue, Potentially saving me tons of $$! Even though I suggested to them that it may be the fuel pump or ignition coil, they were *honest* with me and let me know that it wasn't that, and that I should try this less expensive fix first. Upon picking up my car, the personnel explained to me in detail what they replaced, and why. I ended up spending a lot less than I thought I would have to spend, and because of their honesty and reliability, I will be bringing my car back to them with any service needs. read more

I wouldn't take my car anywhere else! I love these guys. They're always honest and upfront with pricing and what your car actually needs. They don't just rack your bill up of unnecessary things like other places..and they also give you a ride home if you need to drop your car off. Thanks guys! read more

I wouldn't trust any other mechanics with my cars. Mathewsons have the best customer service, knowledgeable technicians. They are worth the prices they charge. We have been taking all of our cars to them for over 10 years. I highly recommend!!!!!!!!! read more

There are so many good things to say about Mathewson's Automotive. Let me start with saying they are the most honest automotive shop I have ever been to. Their work is beyond excellent and their employees are highly educated and provide the best care of you and your car. If you are a woman who needs an auto repair shop to take your car to, this would be that the place. I highly recommend them because they will definitely not take advantage of you. I am so happy I found this automotive shop. Thank you Mathewson's Automotive for being a business I can truly trust. read more

If you live in or around the City of Renton and you haven't made Mathewson's your go to shop...you're doing yourself a huge injustice. This staff is top notch. You will have no regrets. read more

I wrote a review regarding Mathewsons and goofed on the rating that my husband and I gave them. They are a DEFINITE 5 star rating and if it went any higher with stars they would rate the HIGHEST RATING. Everything that they do is great. We have taken our cars into them for years and they do the finest work! They always call us with an idea on what the car or truck needs and a price estimate, as well. Their staff is absolutely top notch and we think the world of them. If you want an honest, welcoming, caring place to take your vehicles to Mathewson's is the best place for you! read more

I've been taking my car to Mathewson's Auto for routine service for over two years. These guys have consistently been honest and fair with me. They do what they say they will, and they get it done on time at the price quoted. I highly recommend Mathewson's for quality car repair that you can trust. read more

My family and I have been taking our classic cars here for years. I would not trust anyone else to handle custom cars with the same care and professionalism that they do. Yes, they're labor rates are perhaps not the cheapest, but they're in line with most automotive shops and, to be honest, here you get what you pay for - knowledgeable mechanics in the back and good communication at the front desk. I wholeheartedly recommend Mathewson's for all of your automotive maintenance needs. read more

All of the employees at Mathewsons were extremely courteous. My Old Pontiac needed quite a lot of TLC. They went out of their way to make sure I was well informed at the progress on the engine . What was most remarkable to me : when I came in dressed as a business person in a suit and tie or jeans ,no socks ,and a favorite T shirt managers and techs treated me equally well. If you need it done right the first time this is where to take your car or truck. I have had two different major repairs with this shop in the last 3 years. Both times the staff and work done exceeded my expectations. read more

The 1 star is not for their mechanical knowledge, it is to their misleading pricing. First their diagnosis charge doesn't seem too bad upfront but be prepared for the hours to be inflated. They will tell you they only use oem parts and their mark up on them is 100%, and yes that was confirmed. I did call them out on their pricing methods and when they were caught they did offer some of the money back, fortunately for me I have a friend that can access pricing. We obviously expect a mark up on parts but when I left here I realized I was better off dealing with dealer prices, it would of cost me less. They are courteous to deal but expect to be taken to the cleaners. read more

This shop is fantastic! Larry listened to my concerns, significant gas mileage drop, hesitancy on acceleration, sluggishness..my truck has 267k miles and I know after putting that many miles on it when it's not running right! (problems that the Chevrolet dealer couldn't diagnose without a code multiple times) they repaired my vehicle in the timeframe stated and the price quoted, honest and didn't sell me a bunch of services I didn't need at the time. It's nice to find an auto mechanic shop that still knows how to work on vehicles and not just throw their hands in the air because there's no code and send me on my way! Thanks again guys and if I need more work I know where to go! read more

I do not know what people are complaining about. I have used this shop off and on for 30 years and never have had any difficulties. I treat them as any other professional, ask what is wrong, not tell them. They ALWAYS call to say what they found and what it will cost to fix. They always call to inform me about when my vehicle will be ready. They always suggest what should be done while they are in the area, saving me money in the long run. Only once have they ever had to re-do anything AND then it was done without charge or long discussion. They are not cheap - you get what you pay for. No wonder AAA rates them highly. read more

Everyone I worked with at Mathewson's was great. The communication was excellent as was the work they did on my priceless convertible.

Josh and the team at Mathewson's are always accommodating, thorough and professional, and my most recent visit was no different. I wouldn't trust my old classic with anyone else. read more

I had my car towed to Mathewson even though they said it could take as long as a week to get my car repaired. Much to my surprise, it took only a couple of days for a technician to look at my car and try fixing it. They quickly determined not only the problem but that the car was not worth saving. Throughout the whole process one of their technicians was calling me and letting me know what was going on with my car. He even recommended that I not get the car repaired, as my car was old and on its last legs anyway, and gave me some phone numbers to call to have my car donated. The service was exceptional, the price was reasonable, and I would highly recommend them to anyone. read more

all of my repairs have been great and when i take my vehicle home i know it has been fixed right no surprises as a life long renton resident i recommend mathewsons for the right fix the first time thanks josh and team manly g read more