Extremely troubling situation connected to this shop. A white Infiniti G37 (with dark-tinted windows and black rims) leaving Stu's was reportedly involved in a hit-and-run collision directly in front of the business. The other driver stated that the individual also assaulted them before fleeing the scene with significant front-end damage (missing front bumper). Even more concerning, video footage posted online appears to show employees bending and obscuring the vehicle's license plate before the driver left--preventing it from being clearly captured on video, and then declining to provide information to the officers who responded. Based on what has been reported and shown in the available footage, I am cautious about trusting my vehicle--or my safety--to a business where employees behave this way. read more

I would not recommend this shop at all please stay away. Took my truck in for a torque converter replacement. I was told the job would be done and a week after that date it was still not completed. when I showed up at the shop to watch them do the work they had not even removed my transmission. They also had me pay before they even did the work. The owner then insulted me over text afterwards read more

Stu's Transmission is out of business. I always had great service here for many years.

I chose this place -Stu's- to repair my transmission because it had good reviews here on Yelp. My experience with Stu's (Jake - partial owner) did not go well, however. This is a lengthy review but I hope it is helpful to others seeking transmission repair. So here it goes... My transmission had multiple issues : it had a traction control light which resulted in it getting locked in park at times and it would not exceed 40mph when it was driving. I took it into Stu's and they did a diagnostic. They told me that the TCM module had to be looked at and the internal mode switch had to be replaced and that doing so would require them to take apart the transmission. Jake informed me that this would take 2-3 days for $1,140. I agreed to do the work as it seemed reasonable to me and they had good reviews so I was pretty sure that things would go well; but i was wrong. I left my car there and 2-3 days turned into 3 weeks. They ordered the wrong part 2 times. Jake never called me to update me; I had to keep calling him as he is bad with communication; his response every time was "I'll call you back by 1:15" and of course I would not get a call. When Stu's finally "fixed" my car, the next morning I still had the same exact issue with my transmission. Over the next 2 months I took my car in 2 more times (3 times total) for the same issue- of course utilizing my right to return with the warranty on the parts and labor. However, Stu's could not fix the very issue they said was the reason for my transmission problem. My car would revert back to the same initial problem within hours of driving every time I left their shop. They clearly didn't know what they were doing. I believe they would just reset the computer (TCM) kind of like resetting your car for temporary removal of a check engine light. So Stu's (Jake) gave me the option of using the $1,140 I spent towards replacing the transmission for 4k. And after 2 1/2 months of work on this transmission, I needed a new transmission, according to Stu's. I requested money back since they hadn't done anything but replace parts that didn't work- there was no warranty anymore since nothing had been fixed. After about 2 weeks of calling Jake everyday he agreed to reimburse me $400. After all of that mess with Stu's, I took my car to the Chevy dealer. They said my transmission was still good and diagnosed the problem to be the TCM and internal mode switch, the same thing that Stu's said was the issue but that they could not fix -after taking my car 3 times. The Chevy dealer fixed my car after 2 weeks and I have been driving it for 1 month without any problems. So for anyone with an unusual or rare transmission problem, I DO NO RECOMMEND Stu's: You may end up wasting a lot of $$$$$, wasting a lot of time, having to call the business for your own update, and leave with your car not being fixed. read more

See all

Wow do not go here. I got my transmission rebuild due to it failing on a 2004 BMW 325ci and it did not last a year before it broke again. Took it to another shop and they said whoever rebuild the transmission messed it up and they recommended me to take it back to Stu's so they can fix it since they did mess it up to begin with. I brought it to their attention about it not lasting very long and that another shop said that the work performed was not good, the owner said well you did drive about 14k in a year. Seriously 14k miles and he is trying to justify of their bad repair. Do not bring your car hear you have been warned. read more

I highly recommend this shop! The team is super knowledgeable & has decades of experience. They are extremely professional, friendly & very reasonable. They do not try and up-sale you on unnecessary work, but has a keen eye to point out when & where something could go wrong. This helps me plan ahead. I will definitely be bringing all my cars to Stu's AE Transmission for maintenance & all my car repairs. They are trustworthy and I am glad I found this shop. My car runs like a brand new car! read more

See all

Disclaimer - I did not use their service, yet... However, I will tell you that they were super helpful over the phone compared to other shops about pricing, solutions, challenges they are facing with their suppliers, as well as what some of the solutions may be for me. This is the first interaction for good business, and I want to complement Jake for giving me good input so I can make an informed decision. read more

Very fast and reliable work done to our car. Highly recommend. They also offer finance options

Very happy with my 2009 kia spectra Had a problem over 2 years ago they fix my kia and it has been running strong ever since no problems...Tim and Jake answer all my questions they are very trustworthy and professional.....recently my 2011 chevy impala had engine problems with no hesitation I took it to stu auto again they were very nice and helpful.....they are the best as a plumber am I really happy and appreciated them to take care of my car Thanks again Jake and Tim You have my business and my co worker's business too read more

This shop is the best!!! I highly recommend this shop to everyone. They worked on my car & made it run like a brand new car! The turn around time was fast! I am impressed with the service quality & excellent customer service. This shop has high integrity and is trustworthy. I will be using them for all my car maintenance / repairs. read more

LIARS! Do not trust these guys at all! Old nice guy seems legit right WRONG! TAKE your car to the dealers, have them diagnose it. Then take to your mechanic. I was told I need a new Transmission because it was grinding. Old man drive it and said without a doubt it's your transmission. $1200 Went to the dealers they diagnosed it as a rear wheal bearing. Took it to to my mechanic and cost me $260 Dont let them make you think they're doing you a favor THEY'RE NOT!! read more

Excellent, Tim and Jake have performed service on both my sons Jeep and my Durango, They do a great job and have excellent prices, They communicate well and when you talk to them I can tell they know what they are talking about. I will recommend them to friends and return for all my service needs read more

WOW,,,,,,,,,,,, I went to Stu's all through the 1960's with my dad than the 70's and 80's by myself What a shop! Stu senior great guy....Stu junior hell of a great guy along with Leo and Tiny they ran the best automotive shop in all of Long Beach ........................great shop, great guys, new guys now..........carry on the great tradition boys Love ya read more

Do not go here! Quoted $1400 rebuild transmission/ week estimate. Had car for a month and charged me $2400??? Said they tried to call, BS! I have my phone records & no call and I had to keep calling them for updates. When I call today he says my car has been done for 2 weeks?? Do not trust these crooks! read more

Did great work on my transmission. There was a small problem with them changing some parts without my permission. Tim the owner, made things right by refunding some of my money and he let me keep the parts, as compensation for the miscommunication. I would use them again. read more

I had some very specific issues that needed special mechanics that know how to work on or rebuild my differential on my 1997 Jeep TJ. If you take it to a regular mechanic, they will take it to Stu's or someone less knowledgeable and you don't want that. It take special tools and very precise mechanics to do work like this. My job was expensive because I needed a lot of new parts. The hourly rate was VERY fair for the amount of work. Just as important to me, this is a family business and you get treated a certain way when their livelihood depends on the relationship they forge with customers like me. These are people like us; hard working, tax paying, proud citizens of our community and country. They are not a Walmart store that doesn't know you or your predicament. I felt GREAT the second I called and spoke to Jake and then Tim (family). The were helpful, kind and honest with me. These are people you want to do business with. It is my pleasure to recommend them for all you auto needs, but in my case, specifically their knowledge in differentials. read more

My family has used Stu's for years. I took my classic corvette there to address engine oil and transmission leaks. I chose Stu's because I know they have very experienced mechanics. They really did an excellent job - were very thorough and exceeded my expectations with the work they did. Jacob and Jose, the lead mechanic, explained in great detail all the issues. And the price was very reasonable. I highly recommend Stu's. read more

It's been 5 or more years since I've needed transmission work. Stu's had fixed it before, however I thought I'd check Yelp before I went. I was shocked to find mixed ratings. Then I read the shop had changed hands, and somehow just believed that, since they had painted it a different color. Lucky for me, my transmission problems went from bad to worse, and I had to go somewhere right away. So I went in, and who comes walking out from the back but Tim, the old owner. As down to earth and honest as ever. Walked me to the back and explained my issue to one of his techs, who proceeded to fix my problem right on the spot, and then wouldn't even accept any money for it, since it was an easy fix. Anything drivetrain related, this is the shop to go to. Not everyone will be happy with a mechanic, and no one likes spending money on their car, but I tell you what, these guys are nice, competent and honest. And they know a lot about transmissions, especially in older (as in 90's-2000's) cars. Great place, great people, and Tim, thanks for running such a great place...business owners like you really do make a difference in the community. read more

They didn't fix the engine problem on my wife's Toyota, but they did charge me $1100. The car continued to smoke after I got it home and the check engine light came back on. Oh, they also put on new wiper blades after I told them I'd already replaced them the week before. I'll never go back to Stu's. Beware! read more

Seriously this has got to be the best shop ever! I love it, I love the honesty I'm the workers! I have recommended family and friends and every single one of them has left satisfied with the work that has been done! My number one go to is Mr.Victor, he's worked on a lot of my family members car and for as long as Stu's stays open we will continue to go! read more

I'm just so happy to have found this place... definitely it is more than 5 stars. Jake is the best. He knows how to explain car things to girls! So if you do not know anything about cars this is your place. Price is right and excellent work. I'll always bring my car to him. read more

A wise man once said that to survive in life you need 2 things. A Good DOCTOR and a GREAT MECHANIC! My transmission on my 98 Accord had been slipping for sometime, and we all know the fear and terror that it can bring to a car owner. I looked in the phonebook and noticed Stu's. I saw that they had great hours, had been opened for over 50 years and were a family run business, so I gave it a go. They did a free estimate on my Honda gave me an honest price. I went to 2 other Transmission Co. and let me tell you Stu's prices were so much more reasonable, and they didn't have any hidden costs. I picked up my car only days later and it runs like new! Thank you STU! read more

I could sum this whole review up in 4 words: DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH! Stu's really is FANTASTIC! One of the LBC's best kept secrets *wink* This is one of those reviews I almost hesitate to write, because I don't want them getting all popular then the lines and waiting starts. Selfish, I know, but what can I say.. As long as I've been driving and with as many cars as I've gone through, I've met my fair share of mechanics. No one springs to mind that ever really went above and beyond the call of duty.. So much so that over the years I just accepted that (no matter what! even if it seems like a total 'no brain-er') I should always double check what the diagnosis is before agreeing to get the work done. Hey, I realize this is probably in the category of Common Sense, but no one ever took me aside and TOLD me, so I've had some rough learning experiences. Anyway, Stu's came highly recommended by my fellow Yelpers, and I needed someone to take a look at the tranny in our Dodge STAT. They pretty much looked at our car for the reason we brought it in, found the real issue, fixed it, and pointed out some serious issues with some past service we received at a very popular tire chain... that shall remain nameless... All on their honor. Tim called to OK the work and when we said we wanted to take it back to the tire place (since their error caused the discovered damage), he insisted that he was going to at least fix what needed to be fixed in the meantime to make the car more safe to drive, free of charge. No labor, no tax.. no nothin. This is a guy who's doing some awesomely priced work on our car, and doing us favors left and right. How can you not love a place like this?!?! We love the way Tim runs the shop, what can we say! And get this - I found this place on Yelp and was all proud of myself, so of course I went bragging to my dad about it, he said he's been going there since the 50's! The pricing and quality of work and INTEGRITY are what blows me away. Now that I've gotten my car back, it drives like an absolute DREAM! Tim is THA MAN, I couldn't have asked for more of a straight shooter!! DO NOT forget to mention you saw them on Yelp, they honor the 10% discount, but ya gotta say it when you get there :) read more

I kind of have mixed reviews about this place. My husband's transmission went out after doing a little research on places I came across Stu's A E Transmission, they had great yelp reviews. The truck runs great and we are pleased with the work but it would have been nicer to know all the little details from the start such as: they say the transmission rebuild comes with a 3 year warranty when in fact they only offer a 1 year warranty and a 2 year LIMITED warranty! Pros: They are very friendly and helpful and very knowledgeable Checked the transmission free of charge Fast service (I had a price quote and what was wrong with the truck the next day) It only took about a week for the transmission to be rebuilt which was great! Offered a 3 year warranty on the transmission which we loved Cons: (This is where I kind of have mixed reviews) They price quoted me $2400-$2890 +tax (I wasn't to surprised when it was the max amount they quoted, we figured this) But I was told it would have a 3 year warranty which is great most places only give 1 year or 2 year warranties. However, it wasn't until after my husband went to pick up the truck and pay for the service did they change things on us. The 3 year warranty is actually a 1 year warranty and a 2 year LIMITED warranty knowing this information we probably would have shopped around a little more. Another thing we didn't care for was the fact that the warranty is only good if we have the maintenance for the truck from them only (ie transmission flush). read more

Wish I could give zero stars. Dishonest or stupid? Called Jake to get a ballpark figure to install a floor shift kit on my 66 Ranchero. I was clear I just wanted an estimate and would not hold him to it. He quote me $1,200 to $1,500! I could rebuild my whole transmission for that. I did my homework and discovered it's a $200 to $300 job. When I called him back all he had to say for himself was "I'll admit it was a bad guess." Five times what it should cost is not even on the same planet as a "bad guess". Either this guy knows nothing about the business he is in or he is dishonest. Which is worse? My take away was he heard a woman's voice and saw dollar signs. Lame excuses aside, it was INSULTING. So glad I found out before I even wasted my time driving to the shop. read more

My check engine light popped on in my car. Bummed. I first called Walker Automotive who said they could take a look in 2 DAYS! So, that wasn't really working for me (I wrote a whole other review on them). Then, thanks to the great Yelp reviews, I found Stu's! Tim answered the phone, said bring my car right in and he'll have a look. I pulled up, he walked right out and ran the computer-testie-thing-a-ma-jig (I'm not very good with car stuff). Turns out it was a very minor issue where the seal on my gas cap may not be fitting tight. After closing it tight, resetting the light, he sent me on my way and no charge! Not that I'm hoping for any major mechanical problems to happen to my car... but if and when they do, I'll definitely be back to see Tim! Great customer service! read more

In May of this year I acquired the first car I have had in 8 years. Wouldn't you know, less than 6 months later, the transmission went out. I was terrified. I'm from Kalamazoo, MI, and everyone there knows SOMEONE who is trusted mechanic. You go down to the parts yard, tell the guy what you need, buy it at cost, take it to your friend who does you a favor and cuts you a deal on the labor...BAM...done. And cheap. But in LA? No way. So I had to find someone to do the work and do it fast and NOT rip me off. The guys at Stu's were amazing. They were friendly, prompt, checked the car out for free, quoted me a cost, and then gave me a final bill that was within $50 of the original quote. They also replaced a part in the transmission that they could tell would need replacing soon anyway, at minimal cost. Had I waited until it became a problem, it would have cost me upwards of $500. They charged me $30. I can't even begin to tell you what a relief it was to deal with the guys at Stu's. I knew the moment I walked in there that I could trust them. I felt it in my gut. Jose (Joe) sat and chatted with me while I waited for my ride...he told me about his wife and kids and how he became a mechanic. They all just seemed like honest, friendly guys. Hopefully, I won't have anymore issues with my transmission. But I'm a loyal Stu's client now. If I do, I'll know where to go! read more

Daughter away at college with a 2002 Hyundai Elantra with engine/transmission problem. Searched the web for a place for my daughter to take her car to. Looked at AAA Southern California recommended repair facilities, YELP, and Google reviews. Settled on Stu's AE Transmission. Quick diagonisis and very reasonable price for service and repair. Daughter and dad very happy. Highly recommend. read more

DO NOT GO HERE! Rip off! I am a senior. charged me over 3,000.00 to fix my transmission. This is over the quote amount given to me. They did not contact me about this, just called to tell me to pick up vehicle. Was charged 2,000.00 for 2 days labor! My vehicle is a small 4 door sedan, nothing exotic. read more

Based on reviews found here, I took my leaking transmission over to Stu's two weeks ago and was extremely happy with service. Tim is great and his staff fixed one small problem at no charge, then fixed my leaks at far less than I expected to pay. I'm thrilled to have finally found what I believe to be a competent mechanic in this area after having been so disappointed with Pep Boys for a very long time. Tim also let us know that his shop does more than just transmissions, they do electrical systems (wish I had know that before I wasted my time at Pep Boys) and general auto repair. Put me down as another happy customer who highly recommends Stu's. I hate to say "I'll be back" ...but I have a Chrysler, so I know for a fact that I'll be back (sadly.) read more

The transmission on my 2003 Subaru Forester needed a complete rebuild and Stu's did a fantastic job. Great customer service and fair price. The work took long enough that I knew they weren't cutting corners, but not so long that it was a big inconvenience. But most importantly, my car has been running great since Stu's rebuilt the transmission. The work was done last July and since then i've driven about 3,000 miles (that includes one long distance trip just two weeks after the work was completed and some mountain driving) and i've had no setbacks. I highly recommend Stu's and If I lived closer, I would take my car (and the wifey's car for that matter) in for regular oil changes as well. p.s. Be sure to mention Yelp so you get the 10% discount, every little bit helps! read more

STU's is the BEST!!! I have to agree with all the reviews below, Tim the owner and the mechanics are HONEST, FAIR, ETHICAL, FRIENDLY, and provide great SERVICE!!! They do not try to BS you in order rip you off like most auto shops. This is my place to go now for any car problems and willing to drive to Lakewood from Long Beach. I definitely recommend Stu's !!!!! Thank you for saving me money and sharing your knowledge with me! Basically, I have a 02 mustang and the "check engine light" came on the first time. I wasn't sure if it was serious or just a sensor issue. I went to a near by mechanic from my place I told them about my car issue. They did not even want to look at it and just said we need to do a engine diagnostic test which will cost $80 and then depending on the result it will cost more. I said no thanks. I checked on yelp and came across STU's place with excellent reviews. So I decided to see for myself and drove out to Lakewood from Long Beach. I drove into the garage and one of the mechanic approached me and I told him about my car issue. Instead of giving me the run around like the other mechanic, he simply said it could be the gas cap that is causing the issue. He took a look and he was right and he just attached a device under my steering wheel and reset the sensor. NO CHARGE for his time!! He also said if the light comes back on just come back and we can take a look it closer again. After a month my "Check Fuel Cap" came on then few days later the "Check Engine" light came on again. I went back and this time I met Tim, the owner. Tim was polite, friendly, and honest!!! He checked my gas cap and he agreed that was the problem. It was old and wasn't sealing my gas tightly. He just told me to order a new "original" gas cap from Ford dealer, which was down the street from his place and replace it. It only costed me $28 for the part from Ford. I asked him how much for your time and he said NO CHARGE. This is how professional service should be. Willing to help people and sharing simple knowledge with minor issues. I left the place very satisfied and with some new knowledge!! read more

Stu's AE Transmission is awesome. I would highly recommend going there if you have any transmission issues. I had my 1995 Volkswagen Winnebago Rialta towed over 30 miles to get to Stu's, as this shop came highly recommended. Most shops wouldn't even take on the job of repairing the transmission on my Rialta, but Stu's stepped up to the plate. Not only is it a difficult task to rebuild the transmission on a foreign RV body, the problem is also compounded by the fact that parts are hard to come by for a 20 year old RV. Stu's did a fantastic job on the rebuild --the car drives smoother than it was when I first bought it; they also installed an aftermarket cooler! Price was better than any other shop that I considered, and they have a 3 year warranty. I highly recommend Stu's! read more

This place is a rip off, 3k for trans rebuild, and it lasted one year. Took to another shop and they said who ever rebuilt the teams screwed it all up. Trans only had 5400 miles. This place is a joke. read more

Of course my first sentence in the original review was "i hope yelp doesn't filter this review..." and sure enough... that is UNBELIEVABLE!!!! I am going to Stu's to have them work on my Mercury Mariner... i am 100% sure they are going to do the awesome job they did on the Xterra... it's really their customer service that shines... c'mon yelp, get with it already and stop this filtering nonsense!!! If people can't figure out a fake review from a real one, then they deserve whatever consequence that comes from either: 1. Being too gullible and/or 2. From Real, Honest businesses that have amazing reviews from real peeps! read more

Not many reviewers buy several transmission rebuilds a year, but as owner of Fjords of Sweden Volvo, I've used and recommended Stus over and over through the years. Their work is excellent and their warranty coverage superb. There are a lot of fly by night operators and snakes in the grass in the transmission business, but Stu's is a good honest place that has been in business for years and will be there for years to come. The building is old and the utilitarian architecture dated, but don't let that fool you; inside they keep up with the newest transmission technology. They've rebuilt several late model Volvo transmissions for my shop and my customers, all of them running well even years later. I send all my front wheel drive transmisson rebuild work to Stus. Strong recommend! read more

I'm a little late with this review but I'm sorry, I really am. I came to this auto shop just like everyone else.. I was scared they would drain the money out of me just how you hear from every other place... I was scared they would tink with my car so I would come back again.. I was scared they would tell me I had more problems then I thought I did so they can work more and get paid to their full.. I was just like everyone else... I was scared it would be too expensive... I was scared to bring my car here.. But i want everyone to know that there is no need to be scared anymore. These men have no need for lies. These men... they have integrity, and they will help you. So it's ok.. you can stop looking for another shop because they will take care of you and your vehicle. Sepmer Fi. read more

I've been meaning to post a review of Stu's AE Transmission for a while, just now getting around to it. I've been taking my truck here for about three years now, and I've definitely found my mechanic for at least as long as Tim Giffin is running things. Honest, fair, competent and professional. Here's an example. Two years ago my transmission was slipping, and Tim told me right off the bat that I was probably going to need a new one. However, he tried his best to help me avoid that. He tried at least two cheaper fixes before we finally had to give in and replace the tranny. Tim seems to understand he doesn't need to gouge you - if he treats you right you'll be back, and he'll have a customer for life. That's definitely the case with me. read more

This place was great! Jake was very nice and understanding with me when I kept bugging them about my turnaround for my car and what the diagnostics were showing. I highly recommend this place for any of your car troubles. Very respectful even while others are being disrespectful to them. Whenever I have any issues with my cars in the future I will be going back to this place! read more

These guys are awesome. Straight forward. And helpful. They Helped me out immediately and honestly of what my car needed and what I should expect it to be to fix. And all this on a rainy day! My new go to shop! read more