Robby's Auto Service is a great neighborhood gem--convenient and close to home, which makes getting car service so much easier. They respected the time of my appointment and had everything ready right on schedule, including pickup. The team was professional and efficient, and I felt well taken care of. My only small suggestion would be to provide a printed or emailed report after the service for my records. Other than that, everything was excellent. I'll definitely be coming back! read more

I brought my car in this week because my vehicle was vibrating while in idol. It turned out my vehicle wasn't handle correctly by the pervious staff. Manny was really kind and polite. He was open and honest with me and did his best at working with cost for repairs. Even though my vehicle was a sudden repair request for motor mounts, he got it done within less than 24 hours. He found name brand quality parts and got everything taken care of. Well done! Thank you Manny and staff!! read more

HONEST MECHANIC!!!! If you need an honest estimate w no hidden charges or up charges that your car doesnt need then take your care to Robbies!! Manny the owner, is a honest guy. He will not do anything that does not need to be done to your car. He will tell you the truth and will go out of his way for you! He bent over backward for me with my two cars. He made it easier for me based on my schedule. I truly appreciate him and his crew!! Just good honest people! No mechanic is cheap but finding a mechanic that wont tell work is needed when its not, just to make money is hard to find! Well, Manny at Robbies is the rare mechanic! 100% recommend Robbies for your cars repairs. I travel from East County to Robbies for all my cars. My family and friends do the same!! read more

Charged way too much for a quote on repair and then was given a ridiculous estimate for said repair. Total scammer. DO NOT Recommend

Robby's Auto Service have also taken great care of our cars. I recommend Robby's . They are fair and always discuss what issues they find and ask you before they do any work. read more

Great service, reasonable cost and they stand by their work with an excellent warranty!

I received a referral to go to Robby's. I spoke with a lady, Terry, who is extremely rude and disrespectful. I've never experienced anything like this before. She is sarcastic and difficult to deal with. I asked to speak to the manager and she said he wasn't there, so I left my name and number requesting he call me. This review could change depending on my conversation with him. The woman that works there, Terry, has a very bad attitude and is not good for their business . read more

I've taken all my cars here and have always been treated kindly and fairly. I will continue going to Robby's as long as I'm in the Poway area. I've taken one of my cars to the dealership for a series of oil changes and get the same sales pitches for services that aren't really needed for car maintenance. I don't get that from Robby's and really appreciate that. So far, they've kept three of my cars maintained in the last 10 years. Here's to 10 more. read more

Steve helped from beginning to end. Great communication & turnaround. My truck was making a rattling noise when I would accelerate. I was worried it was going to be expensive. Steve identified the problem, told me what they were going to do to fix, & how much it would cost. I didn't feel that they were upselling me on cost & labor (I felt the cost was very reasonable). I love when going to a mechanic is this easy & quick! read more

Robby's Auto is the local mechanic that every town should be lucky enough to have. Robby, Steve, Terri, and all the guys are beyond great if you're looking for honest recommendations, reasonable and fair pricing, quick turn-around times, and amazing customer service in an era where that element is non-existent in most industries. This shop has been a cornerstone of the Poway foundation and before I could even drive my parents trusted Robby with all of their cars, and now I wouldn't bring my cars anywhere else either. I have one vehicle that has 207K miles and Robby has been servicing it since I bought it in 2007 with 35K miles on it. I tell all of my friends, neighbors, colleagues, and now YOU- this is the place to go! read more

Oil change, rotate tires and check brakes, got it back earlier than expected. Awesome work and always reasonable! read more

These guys are the BEST. I wish I lived closer so they could be my mechanics, honestly I would drive so far to see them. I was buying an old Toyota rav at Hyundai dealership across the road, took it to them and they told me to run away from the car. They showed me underneath it and explained everything and gave great advice. Such legends. So knowledgable and nice and it's honestly made my day to know there are some decent people in the world (not dealerships!) Thanks guys!!! See you when I finally find some wheels. read more

This place is AMAZING! wonderful service and don't rip you off. Thank you SOOO much. I appreciate communication and quick service.

I would say 5+!!! I have had two different vehicles for repairs over the last few years. They came in under the estimate on my Jeep and diagnosed a simpler problem which costed less. My expedition was diagnosed as needing the intake replaced, oil leak up top by a very trusted shop(primarily work on Toyota's). Shop is near my work so very convenient. I decided to take it to Robby's to double check since I recently put $$$into it. With a quick look, they confirmed it looked like a "warped intake" and needing replacing. With the leak and Robby's coming in $200 cheaper I left it with them. After removing a few components to get into the engine they did a pressure test to confirm the leak. Low and behold it was a hose clamp in the back that was squirting up to look like a intake issue. Their diligence to their work and honesty in business saved my over 1k in this case alone. I would not hesitate to take any vehicle or recommend any person to Robby's Automotive. Trustworthy, dependable, first rate people and business! read more

Have been here twice for brakes on both cars. Also had a sensor giving me issues that they were able to clear up relatively easily. Always nice in the office. Will return for sure read more

Robby's Auto Service to the rescue once again! Rear brakes on my Explorer started sounding bad - called Robby & he got me in the next day! My car was fixed earlier than scheduled, great price & now I can feel better knowing my brakes are fixed. The crew there are just the absolute best, like family. Don't look any further for all your automotive needs! A+ read more

Just got my car back from these guys -- they're great! From the moment you talk to them you can tell that they're honest and genuine people. You can actually TRUST them, unlike most other auto repair places (I've dated several auto mechanics... I know who's shady and who's true! LoL) Robby's also charges reasonably as well. Example, I took my car in a month ago to Bruce's Quality Lube in Mira Mesa for an oil change. They do a free mini inspection of your car as part of the package deal and they found several things "wrong" with my car. They recommended I get a powersteering & a transmission flush, a radiator fluid exchange, and to replace my serpentine belt, valve cover, and shocks/struts. Bruce's got really good ratings on Yelp so I was gonna tell them to just fix everything, but then both my boyfriend & my Dad told me to hold off and to try Robby's Auto Repair instead. I'm so glad I did! Robby's fixed my car at a FRACTION of the cost that Bruce's wanted to charge me... [[ Replace serpentine belt ]] Bruce's Quality Lube = $100 Robby's Auto Service = $35 !! [[ Transmission fluid flush ]] Bruce's Quality Lube = $70 Robby's Auto Service = $46 !! For the most part I'm very impressed and pleased with Robby's Auto Repair. The only criticism I have is that they're not too good at calling you when your car is ready. I brought my car in yesterday afternoon to have it looked at and was told that I'd recieve a phone call later that day when they did. Nope, my phone never rang. Maybe they were too busy to get around to looking at it, but it still would've been nice to get a call saying they'd look at it tomorrow and they'd keep it safe overnight. I ended up calling them and leaving a voicemail since it was after hours, but even the next morning I didn't hear from them. My Dad ended up calling in to check on my car and THEN Robby's told them they were almost done looking at it. Eh, a little annoying, so that's why I'm giving them 4 stars instead of 5. But still... Robby's is a good, local place to take your car in for repair! read more

See all

Brought my car in for an oil leak. They repaired it but a few days later it shut down on the freeway in the rain. Had to have it towed back to find out there was no radiator fluid! A few days later it started doing the same thing again. Hubby brought it in, this time the cap to the radiator wasn't screwed on. Come on.... Basic stuff here. Won't be back. Just glad it wasn't worse., read more

I would drive to Robby's from anywhere in San Diego County. The mechanics are experts at what they do, skills are unmatched. Their ethics are first class, always honest and straightforward with the customer. No upsell, no bait and switch, no taking advantage of anyone. This is why customers like me are so loyal and refer everyone I know here. read more

DON'T GO THERE! Total rip-off. I went there and was told that the clicking noise I heard was from a broken car axle. I told them that when I was in reverse, and in a tight turn, I would hear the noise. When my car was still there, I called to see when they would be done, and they told me that the mechanic was out driving it to listen for the noise, when I had explained that i only heard it when the wheel was turned tightly while in reverse. After they replaced the axle, I drove home, and heard the exact same noise. I called, and had to bring it back in. They then said that the OTHER axle was broken too. Hmmmm. So, after telling them that I found that hard to believe, they said that I could bring it back in, and they'd put the first broken one back in. Wow. They Then offered to only charge me the cost of the second axle part, without labor. After researching prices of axles, ( called the dealership), I discovered they had price gauged me on the parts as well. I had heard by word of mouth, that if you're a female, be prepared for this to happen. I feel so cheated and taken advantage of. read more

Just had my 2005 Nissan Murano checked for oil leak and safety check. Turns out I needed new gaskets which I did get and was out the same day. I forgot to mention that sometimes I smell gas when I park in my garage. Went back a week later thinking I would have to pay yet another inspection fee but Andrew checked my gas cap and under my car and found nothing. Yay, no charge. Turns out, fingers crossed I was not clicking three times when putting the cap back on when getting gas. Found the service to be great and doing the right thing for the customer! Thank you so much!! read more

We have taken our vehicles to Robby's for years. Always great service wether it's last minute or an appointment made in advance. Responsible pricing and friendly service. read more

Firsts time using Robby's Great experience! Did what they said, when they said they would do it, and did it well. They earned my trust. I would use them again and recommend to others. read more

So, my father has been going to Robby's for over 30 years. He has always trusted them and had good experiences. So when my wife's check engine light came on, I decided to give them a call. Before we brought the vehicle in, I decided to trouble shoot it myself just to see if I could fix it. I bought one of those check engine light readers and plugged it in. It came back with an air flow sensor error. It seemed like something I could repair on my own, but we had another issue with her car so we just took it to Robby's. I never mentioned the error message I received when we brought it in. I ended up calling a few hours later just to see if they isolated the error. They told me it was the air flow sensor and it just needed to be cleaned. That was exactly what the check engine light reader said they also isolated and fixed the other issue. All this was done on a Saturday before they closed. The estimate was right on, and they completed the work in short notice. I don't leave many reviews, but Robby's deserves one. My wife and I are extremely impressed and will be loyal customers for the foreseeable future. Thanks Robby's to you and your staff for outstanding service! read more

Robby's Auto Service & Repair - Check engine error message - Auto Repair Near Me - Poway, California

It saddens me to update my review only to lower it. Some background: I do have two older cars (one is a 1999 - Car "A", and the other is a 2003 - Car "B"). Their mileage however is not too high the 1999 is currently just under 140K and the 2003 is around 112K. I expect them to have some normal wear and tear but they should be still ok. I've been coming here for almost 6 years now between the two cars and before I was pleased with the service. It was only around the last year that problems had started. 2013-07; Car A: My car started overheating so I took it into Robby's, they said I had blown a head gasket. It would require machining and replacing the belts and related parts. It coincided with the 120K service at the time so I decided that it would be worth spending the money. It was an old car but was assured that with the work being done it would last a long while before significant service was needed again. So I forked over the thousands of dollars. 2014-07; Car B: Days after my first car had the repairs done for the blown gasket, my other car started overheating. What bad luck=( Took it to Robby's and they said it was a cracked radiator. Since it was the original one I didn't think to much of it, it was just its time. 2014-08; Car A: Everything ran ok for about a year but around this time the temperature needle started fluctuating. I took it back to Robby's since they had done the work for the blown head gasket and they said they couldn't find anything wrong, and changed the thermostat. 2014-08; Car B: My other car started overheating again and there was coolant everywhere. Took it back to Robby's and they said the radiator they had replaced a year ago had cracked again. They said they replaced it with a better one with a 3 year warranty (which begs the question why they didn't use the higher quality one in the first place) and sent me on my way. 2014-08; Car B: Literally 2 weeks later there was coolant all over the street again. Had it towed to Robby's and turns out they didn't tighten a hose on the coolant system tight enough. They fixed it and now the car runs ok.....for now. We'll see again in about a year. 2014-11; Car A: The temperature began getting higher and higher during driving and I noticed that I was burning coolant, but noticing no leaks underneath the car. Took it into Robby's again since they knew my vehicle. They said they checked the cooling system but found no leaks. 2014-12; Car A: I decided that either those at Robby's weren't checking my car properly so I decided to bring it to the dealer for an opinion. They confirmed my worst fears: the head gasket had blown again. It was going to cost more the the value of the car to repair it. It seems that the work that Robby's did only lasted around one year. And not only that but my repeated attempts to bring a serious problem to their attention was met with either repairs that were either done incorrectly or with sub par parts or with out right misdiagnoses. Needless to say, it is not worth fixing this car and it will be scrapped. It is unfortunate since if repairs had been done correctly the first time, it would still be running. **Conclusion: The first 5 years I had been taking my two cars to Robby's had been great and without incident. However, when real problems started showing up is where they started to really disappoint me. I really wanted to give them a fair chance, and as you can see above in my lengthy description there is a pattern of subpar work. It might attribute it to the car had it been one car, but it has happened on two cars that are of different makes and each circumstance is independent of each other. The constant is the work only holding up for a year or so before it falls apart. I can't say with any kind of certainty if they are being negligent or using subpar materials but all I know is that I've spent my last cent there. Sorry Robby's, you've failed me for the last time. I will be taking my future cars elsewhere. read more

I have been to this place several times and every time I go here I like the place a little more. Its good have a mechanic that you can trust, when they are not 100% sure they will let you know what is going on and let you make the decision. I would feel comfortable sending anyone here, because they rely on fair price and good customer service for return business. Also another plus is they can usually get your car in and out on the same day if you drop it off in the morning. Just a quick pricing example they were over a $100 cheaper than ford to replace my alternator. They didn't charge me to pull the codes on my other car when it threw a check engine light when many places wanted to charge me $50-100. read more

This place is as good as it gets. Talk about great prices, quality of service, and friendly customer service.....top of the line. I found the place because I used to live next door to Steve and Terry. The first time I had them do any work they became the place I take any work that I am not doing myself. read more

I have been going here for years and I felt it was time to let everyone know how awesome this place is. First off, as a previous yelper mentioned in their own review, I too am a woman and don't know a whole lot about cars. Ok, but I'm not a damsel in distress either. That really doesn't matter here. All of the employees go above and beyond to make every customer feel welcomed and understood. And to that same above mentioned previous yelper, I had a situation where my car wouldn't start and I needed to get to work. I had no idea what was wrong. I called Robby's and Robby himself answered. Since I lack a thorough knowledge of an automobiles anatomy, all I could relay was the sound my car was making. After having made what I thought was a fool of myself, Robby told me it was the starter. At no time did he make me feel stupid or inadequate. He sent a tow truck to my house to give me a jump and I drove it over to his shop to have a look over. After a short time my car was given the green light to be good to go. This shop has been around for 20+ years. It has a old time, small town feel and all the employees make both men and women feel important. It's their job to know what's wrong with my car so don't feel bad if you have no clue. I have price compared and I always get a fantastic deal...especially when you are looking for quality work. If you want something cheap, done half right and more than likely not put back together well (been there, done that) then maybe you should go elsewhere. read more

I am so impressed with EXCELLENT customer service I recieved from Robby's. Fair pricing, and I was so happy to hear how quickly they finished the work, and the politeness on the phone is awesome. I highly recommend Robby's. Carla T. POWAY CA. read more

Rather than bore you with the details of the miserable experiences with other repair shops all over town that led to Robby's..let me just say that I'm glad they did. Robby's was the ONLY shop that was HONEST (what a concept, huh?), didn't try to upsell me, gave me several options (including self-help/DIY), and came in under the original price quote and estimated time. They are an honorable business and the ONLY shop in San Diego for me and my vehicles. read more

Excellent service extremely fast. Brought vehicle in in the afternoon and got back the next morning Highly recommend read more

Super!!! Have had ONLY POSITIVE experiences for 10+ years! Robby has been in business and at the same location in Poway for as long as I can remember. He provides quality care to my Toyota Camry. Other members of my family have also taken their vehicles to his repair shop with complex problems and maintenance work. He has the years of experience that if one ever needs work on their vehicle, he will know what to do. He is a very kind, generous, and trustworthy person. The recent work I had done on my vehicle was the replacement of the original alternator and belt (with 200,000+ miles on it) and my car drives smooth again. Thanks Robby and everyone there for all the awesome work you do!!! read more

The people are very friendly. I went in to get a per inspection on a Hummer H3. It took about 40 mins. They looked at the vehicle and gave me information about a couple of things they saw on a visual inspection. Did not pull the wheels to check the brake pads or rotors. No information regarding the fluids. It just seems like they could have given me more information about the vehile. read more

Great service; Robby's has worked on three of my vehicles; 1997 Jeep; 1970 Bronco and 1972 Bronco. They completed brake work; general maintenance and installed an aftermarket product. All service was completed quickly and within the estimated price. I will definitely continue to use them for all my regular maintenance work and highly recommend them for auto repair in the Poway area. read more

Many years ago I use to bring in my Nissan Pickup into Robby's for general maintenance and some repair. When my drive shaft needed replacing they came through. They found a recycled shaft and replaced it in my truck. This saved me quit a bit money. The truck ran strong and quiet, thanks to Robby's. Yesterday I brought in my sons 1999 Ford Explorer that needed front end shocks. They put new shocks in and the SUV rides like a champ. I believe at Robby's you too will find them to be HONEST, RELIABLE, and REASONABLE....They do not over charge, nor take advantage of their customers. They also are grateful that you brought your vehicle in to them. They deserve your business by providing great service. Sincerely; Phil Factor Poway CA read more

I could not ask for a more honest, efficient and reliable business. Robby and his crew are so HONEST and polite and take care of your vehicle as if it were their own. As a woman, it is very hard to trust in a business, especially an automotive business, because of being taken advantage of and having them perform work you do not need. Robby's Automotive does not do this and works with you every step of the way. I like that the office calls you first to check in with you and give estimates for any other work they feel needs to be done at the time. Also, they let you know what future work is needed on your next visit (i.e. rear brakes) possibly for me instead of telling me when they called that you need them NOW. They also send you updates through emails of future work they feel needs to be done according to your mileage. I love this because I don't always remember to check. If you want to get the best care for your car with the best and most honest mechanics, Robby's Automotive is the place to go. Honesty is huge for me and I trust Robby and his crew 100%. Thank you to Robby and is crew for your integrity, honesty and great work ethics, including commitment and dedication to your community. You guys ROCK. read more

To preface this review, I didn't actually get any service done here. My car died on the way to work, 25 miles away from home. Basically, tell-tale signs of a dead alternator. I kind of panicked after work and decided to just drive it to the first mechanic I could find. My friends helped me and it made it there in two charges. They really didn't seem that busy, and it was still an hour before closing . . . that kind of worried me to start. I will say that I am a girl, probably seemingly stupid when it comes to cars, and my car's a foreign notoriously expensive to fix car. I went in saying it I thought it was the alternator, tested it with a voltmeter, and the main dude (Robby?) said he'd be back with an estimate. After waiting a few minutes, he walked out with a piece of paper with some scribbles on it, and told me it'd be $575 to replace the alternator. Mind you, I'm very sensitive to people's vibes and what's going on in situations. I definitely got a weird vibe from him the entire time, just him. I definitely looked like I wasn't into the price, and he told me that the part alone would run me $600 at the dealer and that he looked it up. So, this is what he's basing his price on? Not the cost of his parts or labor, some price he found online claiming to cut me a DEAL? I told him I wanted to think about it or something, and told me something along the lines of good luck and I'm not going to be getting too far with the state of the car. Yeah, that sure is going to turn me right around and beg you to fix my car. In the end, I towed it to my apartment for $100, STILL saved another $100 at a different mechanic who fixed it the same day, AND got a new serpentine belt installed which I ended up needing too. Getting the alternator fixed alone at a different shop would've saved me almost $200 total, and that's WITH paying for a tow. Chances are he just didn't want to fix my car. Whatever the reason, if you're going to go in, don't seem desperate. Or be a girl. Don't have a foreign car. Or just shop around instead before you settle. Gave 2 stars because the other guys I talked to were really nice and they tested my car right there without having me sign anything or charging me. read more

I won't be back, they don't seem to be able to diagnose problems well and don't stand behind their work. I took my GMC in for low power, low gas mileage. Over $800 later, I had a new mass airflow sensor and a new fuel tank pressure sensor, but continued low power and low gas mileage. Went to another mechanic who immediately diagnosed an exhaust obstruction, probably the catalytic converter. After replacement, the engine runs like new. When I went back to talk to Robby, he just shrugged his shoulders and walked away, saying "We did the work we said. File a complaint." read more

On Jan 11 2018 we brought in a Poway dealership car to an appointment we had made for a thorough check before we decided whether we were buying it. Robbie and his staff could not have been more helpful and friendly. Their findings revealed this to be a car worth buying due to its good condition. We received good value from their assessment and are really enjoying the car. Thanks ALL! C.Fraser Palm Desert CA read more

I took them a very simple job, dropping and replacing the transmission pan on a '68 Pontiac. I purchased one of the newer "no leak" aluminum pans along with a metal gasket (that was as much as the pan). With a lift, this is a 20 minute job, tops. They charged me $120 and didn't install the gasket. UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!! When I brought it to Robby's attention, instead of taking care of it, he told me I would have to return the following morning and leave my car there again for a second day to do what now would be a 10 minute job, as the new pan has a drain plug. This happened at 3:45 PM, with an hour and 15 minutes left in their work day and 3 open lifts. Never Again!!! read more