I have taken my aging Saab to Swedemasters and Tim for several issues. Each time we have been in they have worked quickly to diagnosis and run the repair options by me. The repairs have been quick and complete and get us back up and running. Tim and team have always been honest and straightforward with us and I haven't felt pressured at any point. If you have a car Swedemasters works on, I couldn't recommend them enough! read more

After an oil change, I took my XC60 to have the radio looked at. I was quoted over $700 to have the software loaded (i would be liable for the cost if it did not work). This was contrary to several dealers, parts suppliers, and other reputable independent Volvo shops that said it was plug and play (as long as part no. matches, they do)! Sketchy practices! read more

This place is what you call a trusting local shop, getting you the best recommended parts for a fair price. I came in for a fuel pressure sensor causing engine misfires. Turns out this place accepts MaxCare and Karen was so helpful in going out of her way to call the warranty. While we were waiting, I asked her for a second opinion on another service from elsewhere about 1000 miles ago. Turns out I was right, the other place overcharged me and on excessive repairs. This placed would have been cheaper, used OEM parts, and better service. read more

Have a 93 Volvo 240 wagon with over 250,000 mi on it thanks to Swedemasters. They always do good work and in my opinion go above and beyond to make sure we know what things to look out for in the future, like things that are cracking or starting to go, but never try to "upsell" us. To have that information is important to us for budgeting and has helped keep our old workhorse safely on the road for years without breaking the bank. Your vehicle is in good hands at Swedemasters. read more

Got my front brakes done here on my BMW but they squeaked for weeks afterwards. Although I did choose a primarily Volvo-specialized shop for a BMW, I didn't think brakes would be out of scope. They were not careful with special ordered parts and left large scuff marks and fingerprints on the brake pads and rotors, causing the noise. Took my car to another shop to have the brake pads re-surfaced and have their work corrected. In the long run everything ended up costing around double what it should have been for new brakes. The lack of attention to detail and carelessness with handling parts left me dissatisfied. read more

We have been taking our Volvo to Tim and Swedemasters for the past 6 years and have always received great service. They are honest and always do good work and they never recommend work that doesn't need to be done. They back all of their work and we couldn't be happier. As long as we drive a Volvo we will be taking it to Swedemasters. read more

Superb mechanics , very friendly and honest. Tim has the best shop in town for Volvos and I would not trust either of my Volvos to anyone else. Swedemasters has been servicing and repairing my Volvos for over 20 years. Thanks Tim and crew! read more

Tim and his mechanics immediately gave me the sense I was in good hands. The initial issue was stumping them and they gave me the option of trying a used but working part to see how my Volvo reacted and it solved the problem! Tim gave me a very good price for the used part. (Update: Still working almost a year later!) Their general diagnostics was thorough with timely estimates of when things needed attention by. Nothing over the top or unnecessary. Tim is friendly, honest, knowledgeable and communicates very simply and direct. No b.s.! read more

Knowledgeable, expert service. Tim and his crew are excellent problem solvers; I strongly recommend them. Mechanics tend to be intelligent, but I find that his staff and Tim, the owner, are especially good. I recently needed a smog test on a 960, and it took some doing because that car has an early engine control module. Tim knew just how to get it done, and saved me $ in the process J read more

I found SwedeMasters through a Saab Facebook group and I'm glad I did. Tim and his crew sorted some issues with my 2010 Saab NG 9-5 Aero that a previous Saab authorized shop had inadequately diagnosed and serviced. It was a relief to find such competent, professional service for my beautiful unicorn vehicle. I will definitely be using their services from now on. read more

Karen kept me informed from beginning to end. She's very good with people and she knows her car stuff. Once the mechanics had figured out why my engine light was on, she told me what they'd found and what it would cost to fix it, along with the 10k maintenance I'd requested. When the car was ready (in less time than I'd anticipated), she called to let me know. When I got there, she explained everything I was paying for. I'm happy to feel safe in my car again. And some more good news: I won't need new tires for a year. read more

Excellent and honest service. I'm so glad to find this reliable auto shop for our Volvo!

I had a fantastic experience at Swedemasters. Tim was kind, honest, and went above and beyond my expectations for a mechanic. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a great mechanic in Santa Barbara. read more

The man representing SwedeMasters was incredibly pompous and rude on the phone to me when I merely asked for an estimate regarding shocks for my Volvo. I don't understand why a mechanic wouldn't want to make money. False advertising on website that claims to "care about customers." read more

Make no mistake, this is a small business that depends on it's CUSTOMERS to make a reasonable living for owner and staff. Tim, Karen, and the guys behind them get it. They have embraced a philosophy that ensures RETURN customers by treating us like friends and family. I feel fortunate to have found them and recommend them "to the moon". read more

Swedemasters is an absolute gem. I had just moved to Santa Barbara from Portland, Oregon all on my own to begin my PhD work at UCSB, and after a great deal of driving my Mini overheated. I had my car towed to Haik's German Autohaus based on some seeming good Google reviews, and ended up being charged $330 basically just to tell me that the coolant was leaking, oil was low, and it was going to cost another $300 or so to see if there was severe engine damage - not to repair anything as of yet. So, I decided to call Swedemasters for a second opinion. I spoke with Karen, who was very patient, knowledgeable, and helpful, and I decided to have my car towed to them. They were upfront with the basic diagnosis cost, which was already much less than the initial $280 estimate I received with vague reasoning from the other mechanic. Swedemasters kept me updated through the process and within a few days my car was up and running again. In the end, my engine was ok, my car wasn't hopeless as the other mechanic had told me repeatedly, and my final bill (including the diagnosis) was under $1,000. Oh, and just when I thought they were lifesavers already, I received a call from Karen at Swedemasters a day later saying they realized they accidentally charged me for a small part that didn't end up needing to be replaced, so they wanted to refund my account. This kind of honesty is rare to find and so greatly appreciated. I hope my account conveys the true value and integrity of this wonderful shop. I am so very grateful for their work, and I incredibly glad I found a local mechanic that I can truly trust. read more

My vehicle has over 150k on the clock and runs like it's brand new, thanks to these guys. Their recommended maintenance is spot-on. Since these guys have been maintaining the car, I've literally seen my fuel economy increase from 24MPG to 28MPG on the highway. Honest and excellent service. read more

This is a wonderful place to take your Volvo. Karen, the service manager, is really helpful. I brought my elderly mother's car into the shop for a small tuneup, and they found other issues that were important and safety related. Thank goodness they did such a good check on the car, otherwise we would have broken down somewhere. Everyone was helpful, friendly, and open with information. They even gave me a ride back to my Mom's house since the car had to stay in for an extra day. Thank you SwedeMasters! read more

Wonderful place to take your VOLVO in Santa Barbara! No price gouging, honest, kind and impeccable communication at Swedemasters! Karen was awesome to work with, she handled everything from dealing with the warranty company, to making sure the car cover stayed on the car while waiting for parts! When I got my car back after having the top end of the engine replaced, it was as good as new! Not one issue has come up since the work was done! My only suggestion might be to follow up with the warranty company to clarify what they promised in regard to rental reimbursement! They told Karen one thing, and then changed their (the warranty company) story after the fact. read more

Love Swedemasters! They are the reason I can feel confident holding on to my Saab for as long as possible. I trust them.

The tow truck guy said the battery was bad and we needed a new battery to make it back to Los Angeles. He recommended taking the car to Swede Masters for a new battery for my C70 Swede Masters quickly took care of us without an appointment. They double checked and found that the battery just needed a good charge. Tim charged my battery for zero dollars and we were able to complete our trip back home! read more

Rick, the tecnichian was very rude. He made a mistake on my smog test, requiring me to go back to the DMV twice before I could get my tags. He ultimately fixed his mistake but was verbally abusive while doiing so. Save yourself the aggravation and avpid this vendor. read more

Tim and his crew are the best. Super high level attention to details and incredible follow up. If Tim says he can do something and have it done at a certain time it will be done. Easy to get a hold of, flexible, honest, hard working and constant/consistent communication while your car is being analyzed and fixed. If I could give six-stars I would! read more

Tim and crew went above and beyond fixing issues with my XC90. We were on our way back to Seattle and in a bit of a jam to get the car operating correctly for the rest of our road trip. Sweedmasters was able to squeeze us in their schedule and then they worked into the evening to sort everything out. They really went above and beyond. Work was done right at a fair price, good communication throughout the day. read more

I had a 2003 Saab 9-3 which had quite a few issues. The problem with Saabs is that so few mechanics who know what they are doing work on them. I was fortunate enough to discover Swedemasters, they worked on my Saab several times and when it mattered most they saved me a ton of money by replacing a few sensors ($200-$300) instead of replacing the transmission ($4,000+) like the dealer had told me that I needed to. It was a good enough of a fix to trade it in for a new car and get a very good price for it (much more than it was worth). The customer service has always been very good, every mechanic that I have dealt with always took the time to explain to me what needed to be done and why, they have never pushed anything on me (maybe because I know cars?). They are always professional, honest, fair and accommodating. I would highly recommend them to anyone with a Saab or a Volvo. read more

No brainer!! tim has been servicing my cars for 13 years. He once offered me cheaper parts from Canada if I was Willing to wait a few extra days. He saved me $600. Who does this ?! Love this place and I would trust Tim with my wallet. I will probably invite him to my Daughter's wedding someday. Tim for President. read more

Great shop. Reliable, honest, careful, and excellent service. If you have a car type that they service, you can't go wrong. Also, they are very nice! read more

These guys are great. I took my car to them in the morning and had it back by early afternoon that same day. Best part was they only charged me for a half hr of labor, because the problem them found was so small. I will be going back! read more

They take great care of my S60R and are able to do top notch dealership quality work at a much better rate. If you want the best go to the masters. _john M read more

Having trust in your mechanic is a rare concept, and Rick at Swedemasters is trustworthy, Thank you!

My father used to be a mechanic and has retired. I trust Rick 100% to work on my cars. I will go nowhere else!!

I have a 1987 Volvo 240 DL sw and I have been trying to keep it like new. Tim has been my go to guy when anything weird, odd, or unexpected happens to my car. He does extensive testing to make sure he figures it out. Although sometimes their price range is difficult for college students like myself to afford, they are worth every penny. read more

Being taking my Volvo to Tim for a few years. They do excellent work, don't find problems that don't exist, and stand behind their work.

They are competent, honest, and always a pleasure to deal with. Almost enough to make one want to buy a Volvo.

I absolutely love Swedemasters!! my car has about 105K miles and was starting to drive a bit flimsy. I brought it here for service, & when i place my car in drive i could instantly feel a difference. They have amazing customer service too! i definitely recommend them! i am one happy/ satisfied gal! read more

great service, Tim the owner is really nice and goes out of his way to be helpful, I never worry about taking my car there, and have always been very very happy with the service. read more