My car suffered a complete front end failure this morning. I had it towed it to Veenstra's at 10 and they had it fixed by 3 o'clock. Unbelievable. Same day. They even plugged it in to charge it while it was waiting for me. Wow. Just wow. read more

Veenstra's Garage - Suspension failure - Auto Repair Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Veenstra's Garage does EXCELLENT HIGH QUALITY work! I definitely recommend them! The staff are also great!! Good customer service!

This place is a scam. You will be overcharged. Key points are highlighted by an (*). Background on my situation; my 2004 Pontiac Vibe has a lot of miles on it, so I change fluids and oil regularly and keep my gas tank topped off. I was letting my car idle to see how things were running, then noticed white smoke from coolant leaking. I didn't know where the leak was from nor have the tools to find out. The next morning I dropped my car off at Veenstra's Fulton St. location with a full tank of gas and fresh fluids. Soon after I received a call saying they weren't able to find a leak and they'll perform a *Hydrocarbon Pressure Test (see photo) to find out directly where it's coming from. They called back soon after and still could not find any leaks then *recommended I drive it for a few hundred miles until something happens (why would anyone recommend that). They said their only other option was to *test drive so I gave the okay to hold the Pontiac overnight in case they find anything. Next day they FINALLY found the leak and said the *radiator needed changed. Their *premium estimate, which unnecessarily included hoses and thermostat was priced at $1400 (see photo)! Without the hoses and thermostat, estimated at $950! Even-so, their *economy estimate was $1100 and $750. I told them no and I'll be picking my car up first thing. *I paid them for the "services" they provided (see photo). Total ended up being $136. They charged me for a test that didn't find anything. Charged me for coolant dye. *Both of which they never stated price before doing. Their *inspection charge stated a serpentine belt needed change which was prior information I provided during drop-off. Their solution on receipt "radiator needs changed." Also, dropped it off with a full tank of gas and they had used a HALF TANK. That's 3 hours of drive time in my vehicle. A front headlight had went out also. read more

Veenstra's Garage - Service receipt stating inspection. Total outcome: $136.34 - Auto Repair Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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had car in for front end work. was told they did a front end aliment which they didn't do. they said they did and would redo it. car still pulls to the right and during the winter it wore out my new tires. read more

I was driving through Grand Rapids and had a mechanical issue. AAA gave me a referral to a service station that only serviced foreign cars, but the foreign car place recommended Veenstra's. I had to use the drop box since it was after work hours. They called me the next day very early to discuss the issue with the car. They understood my situation and even though they had a full schedule they were able to look at my vehicle and diagnose the problem. Unfortunately , they did not have the time to repair it the same day, but they did have it back to me the next business day. I really appreciated the professionalism. Thanks read more

First of all, I've never heard of a cabin filter that costs $50. You can literally buy one for $13 on Amazon and at the absolute most $25. That was not including the $156 it cost me for labor to change it. Granted, they did say I had a dead mouse in there but explain to me how picking a dead mouse out of the cabin is that labor intensive. My friend just told me that he changes and cleans his cabin and filter and that what I paid was robbery. I am inclined to agree whole heartedly. Second, I got to the shop and had to wait about 15 minutes while someone was "test driving" my car. Excuse me, why in the hell are you test driving my car after you just changed the oil and cabin filter? And why is it taking you 15 minutes? He finally barrels back into the parking lot (he had acne and couldn't have been older than 15. Literal acne) handed me the keys and said "here you go, dude." I get in my car and see that the tire pressure monitoring system is malfunctioned and that the anti-slip regulation has been turned off and I can't turn it back on. Only god knows what that zitty monster did to my car during his at least 15 minute joy ride. I have more complaints that I'd be happy to share if it didn't mean making this post too long to read and therefore dissuading others from heading it's very critical advice to please not take your car here. read more

They diagnosed my car's issues but their quote was out of the roof expensive so I went somewhere else and paid only 20% of their estimates

Don't use this place to fix your vehicle. I took my car to Veenstra's Garage in Grand Rapids for a fluid leak. Veenstra's advised that my vehicle had multiple serious oil leaks. They gave me an estimate in excess of $5,100 to repair it. I took my car to another mechanic for a second opinion. I got it fixed for just over $1,100. Car drives great now. read more

I have been coming here for over a year and am highly satisfied with the service. The workers are all very kind and definitely are willing to go above and beyond to make sure you are happy with their work. If I ever feel something off with my car, they always find time to squeeze me in and give me a prompt diagnostic report then do not hesitate to plan a date to fix it. At Veenstra's, they will drop you off and pick you up at any place desired while they work on your car. There is also a nice lobby where there are various coffees and comfy seats. I highly recommend Veenstra's because they are kind, prompt, and willing to work with you! Awesome business!! read more

We have three cars serviced at Veenstra Garage in Ada. We have had excellent and attentive service every time. Solid integrity is very appreciated! One car lives in Detroit, but serviced here because nothing there compares. Thank you, all! read more

While Veenstra's is polite, professional, and a very updated facility, I unfortunately was supremely overcharged. I had a 2006 Ford Fusion I brought to them with tire sound problems. I was told it was the tie rods, they suggested doing the inner and outer for that tire. When I got the bill, it was nearly 330$ for the labor just for the tie rods. Nearly 3 hours billed hours for a job that by all standards of what I can find- should take less than 2. To top it all off, I received a motley list of "recommended fixes" for my car that included replacing the brand new spark plugs I had just put in nearly a month ago. Oh and the tire sound? Still there. Had to bring it to another repair shop who told me it was my wheel bearings. Was that on Veenstras "recommended fix" list? No. You're better off overpaying at a dealership. Good job fixing the back of my alignment as much as you could without charging me tho, nice way to try keep a customer. Update: Head honcho himself (possibly different Mike) proceeded to call me and hound me about this review, saying they called because "they gave a crap". After curtly telling them to not call me back after hanging up the second time, I received a THIRD call. Clearly, you only care about the bad review, as I most certainly didn't receive a call/explanation/anybody caring about being overcharged before posting. Hats off to the follow up fellas, but you're number is now blocked as well. As a little thought experiment, I called another auto shop to see what the work that they did would cost elsewhere (tie rod, inner and outer, parts and labor, with an alignment) and as I suspected, it was only 300$. While this business was not as large or old as veenstras, they still had plenty of recent (within the last month) 5 star reviews as well. My total bill at Veenstras for the aforementioned fix was 630$. Maybe you guys use better parts, but most certainly not that great. No qualms about these guys or their work, just their pricing. Shop around, I guarantee you you will find a better price, with about the same quality of work. read more

I really like this place as our tire was going flat and they took us right away. The front desk was quick and friendly. I love the sign up front that says if you are grumpy, mean or have an attitude they have a $10 surcharge!!! Ha!! It's nice to see some people still have a sense of humor in the world. :) read more

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I've been a customer since 1976. Throughout the years, Veenstra's has repaired my Buick, my Dodge, my Ford, my Saab and my Cadillac. They are so professional and honest. The waiting area is clean and their machanics are top notch. It's hard for a woman to trust a lot of the shops and dealerships. Thanks guys! read more

Don't get me wrong, the staff were incredibly polite and courteous. I have nothing against their customer service. They guilt-tripped me for "spending an hour finding the problem" (which I had already told them what the problem was) and then tried to charge me $50 for an estimate. You know you are getting ripped off when you are charged for an estimate. The price was 2.5x the price of almost every other garage I called. My coworker had the same issue when quoted on getting something major fixed on his car. I am sure they do fine work (I assume everything is played in gold), but if you want the same quality of work done for half the price, Veenstra's is not for you. read more

Make sure you get quotes from a few places. While Veenstra's Will not usually give you a quote unless you take it in, other places will. I was given six quotes for one job on my car and cut their price in half by shopping around. Even tony betten was cheaper. When I went to pick up my car, they told me they would knock off 45% of the quote if I stayed with them. They get your car in to look at it and you might think you are stuck there but still call around. You'll be glad you did. I'll never go back. They tried to stick it to me. read more

All staff were delightfully friendly and helpful. I got my brakes checked and got a complete explanation of why my rotors were fine and what bad rotors would look like. I also had some weird clunking sounds that I hadn't intended to get checked out here but they figured out the problem, (two loose engine mounts) and fixed the problem for me anyway. A great experience! read more

Not sure if this place is slimy or just incompetent- probably both, and more of the former. On 1/29/19, I took my car here and asked them to check my flat tire. At first, they said it was just a bead leak and reparable- offered to fix it for $25 which is equitable. Then, they called me (I had gone across the street to have lunch) and said the interior of the tire was ruined and filled with ice and shredded inside- a combination of these things- and that I would need to replace the tire. When I got back to the counter, the man assisting me also said that all of my tires- with less than 30K miles on them- needed to be replaced. Hard to forget the disgusting, predatory leer on the mechanic's face as he assured me they did not make commission on tires. They quoted me $700 on the tires (estimated, between 3 options), and then said they'd need to keep the car in the shop for the rest of the day. I should mention that, as a younger blonde woman with little experience regarding automobiles, mechanics have often tried to take advantage of me in the past. All things considered, I believe this is what Veenstra's set out to do as well- first by assuring me the problem was an easy fix, then blindsiding me with a larger problem only discovered upon "further inspection". Anyway, I wound up having them put the spare back on- and I will say that they did not charge me for removing and replacing my spare tire. Then, I took it to a different tire shop. In conclusion, the next place informed me that the valve seal was missing from my tire (this probably happened about a month prior because I was having a chronic air issue with this tire. I am not blaming Veenstra's for this). They fixed it in less than 20 minutes and charged me $20. I have waited a week to post this review in order to determine whether my tire continued to give me issues. I have had no other problems since the other shop (Tuffy's on Cascade) repaired my tire. It's better than ever. Don't go here. read more

My family has been using Veenstra's for as long as I can remember and we have never had a complaint! I love small, local businesses like this because they know us and our cars! It's important to support our community by supporting this garage, and I can speak highly of the quality of their work and their professionalism. They get our cars fixed fast too! read more

This place has been in business for a long time for one reason. They care more about their biggest customers (let's just say a certain hospital for example) than a kid who gets his oil changed here faithfully. My car that I use for delivering pizzas has recently started leaking coolant. I just had my oil changed, so I decided to bring it back to Veenstra's to have them look at it. I made an appointment for 1pm the next day. When I got there the guy told me they'd take a look and call me when they figured out the problem. Not to mention it would be free of charge! Sounds to good to be true, right? That's because it is. Four hours later I walked the four or five blocks back to see what was going on. To my surprise the car had not even made it in to the garage yet. There was some kind of an emergency, but my car was next. The hospital had a jeep that needed work. I figured as long as I had it back in time for work it's no big deal. They called back a little later and told me that they confirmed there was a leak (which is the reason I brought the car in initially) and if I wanted them to find out what was causing the leak it would cost me $100. I thought about how much more it would cost to fix the problem. When I casually brought up the fact that I waited all day just find out that my free check up had now turned into a $100 check up the guy got very defensive and told me, "______ hospital gives us tens of thousands of dollars every month. When they have a problem, we take care of them before anyone else." That's a direct quote. I could not believe my ears. I immediately picked up my car without letting them go any further. When I told this story to a few people over the past week I got the same response. "I coulda told you not to go there. They screwed me over years ago." One guy said it was over TWENTY years ago! Veenstra's garage will never get another cent from me, but then again, they probably don't care, because as long as the hospital stays open, so will Veenstra's. read more

The good: The hours are decent, they also have Saturday hours. The staff was polite. They called me with updates on the car. The bad: The car was brought in because it wouldn't start after highway driving. They looked at the car, gave an assessment of what they thought the problem might be, started work on the car. $2500 later the car could be driven away from the shop but after driving the car on the highway for a couple hours the car wouldn't start just like it did when the car was brought in initially. read more

When I moved to Grand Rapids a friend referred me to Veenstra's Garage. I started with oil changes and as my car needed more attention I trusted them. They explain the issues, recommend timing and answer questions I have. I appreciate when they also advise of coupons on their website to lower my costs. They offer a shuttle service to get you to work/wherever as well. It's a nice touch to make your day easier. read more

The service here was very good, but I was concerned about the price of some work I was having done on my Ford Focus. I called around and found the same parts and labor WAY cheaper at two other places. I told them this and said I'd keep it there if they could match the price of the Ford Dealership. They did! They were also a little more expensive when I needed a new battery ($130 vs. Sears $95). I told them that, and they matched the price on that too. This seems like a really good place, but I'd recommend doing a little price checking. read more

I have been very happy with Veenstra's. Their service, quality, price, and employees are some of the best. They are honest and communicate well what they are doing while presenting different package options for customers to choose from according to their personal budget. Very friendly and customer service oriented. read more

Veenstra's garage was extremely helpful and accommodating. They may be on the pricier end but, they are up front and honest with you about cost and try to work with you. They gave me several pricing options. They also drove me to school and picked me up when my car was fixed. Staff was friendly and efficient. Would recommend their service to others. read more

Started taking my cars to Veenstra's when I was 16 (in 1968). Worst part of moving to San Diego in 1996 was that I had to find a shop that I trusted as much as Mike Veenstra. I knew his dad, went to school with his brother, and would trust Mike with any repair. They are the best. Terry Hunefeld, San Diego read more

Brought my car in for a serious problem. Original estimate was $1,200, but they fought hard to find a solution for $200. Great job! Veenstra's are straight shooters! read more

I brought my car in because the engine light was on and there was an oil drip on my garage floor. I was told that the engine light was resolved by reconnecting a "mass flow air sensor" and latching an air box. The oil drip was simply caused by a loose drain plug. Easy fix. No problem. The tech then asked if I would like an inspection. I agreed. He then recommended what I was led to believe was a 60k Subaru service. He quoted me $1900 which I thought was high but he said that he was going by the book and that the price might actually be a bit lower. This led me to believe this was a Subaru recommended service so I went ahead and paid. Problem #1: I later learned that dealerships and independent shops estimate between $500-$600 for the 60k service. Problem #2: The check engine light came on the next day. I was told this was unrelated and caused by very old oil. I was charged $101.93 for that. Problem #3: There is an oil drip again on my garage floor. They say they will look at it but will make no promises about cost. (I've never understood why a business's solution to bad service is to offer additional bad service.) #1: I never would have paid $1900 for the 60k service if I had not been led to believe it was a standard service. I was misled. #2: I had the oil changed one week before I brought it in so I am suspicious about how it could be needed. #3: The original problem is still present after $2043.19 worth of service to the car. read more

I'll be back. Veenstra's took my car in on short notice and took care of everything very professionally. When I say "everything", I will include an anomaly w/ my car after paying, driving away, noticing an issue, and returning 10 min later - they were quick to make it right. I've been looking/hoping for a neighborhood shop that I can trust, and looks like I've found it. They have a solid operation. read more

I have brought my car to Veenstra's Garage twice in 2009 and both times they have not only not completed my simple repair in less than a day (as they stated they would both times) but they also charge $100/hr for labor and then jack up the time it will take to do the repair over twice as long as the actual time it will take. The GM Brad was unapologetic for their lack of follow-thru and costs and actually told me he couldn't make me happy so he would not even try...WHAT?? I have dealt with a number of garages in the GR area and can say with 100% confidence that Veenstra's is the worst I have ever been to. They overcharge for the job - have a horrible turnaround time - and could care less for whether a customer is happy or not. ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE! read more

Been going to Veenstra's for about three years now (part of the Veenstra loyalty service too) and for some reason their prices have always been higher than most. Took my car in recently and said it was making a weird noise when it accelerated on the driver side tire. They spent 3 and a half hours on it and said that they could not diagnose a problem. Phil called me and said that he wanted to put on different calipers, roters and new break pads. What Phil didn't know is that I just had my brake pads checked somewhere else (east side of the state; General Motors dealership) and they said my brake pads should last me another 5,000 miles and saw no other problems with the brakes. So obviously when Phil tried charging me for the front and back (approx. $900) I knew something was fishy. When I denied him he said that they come in sets and that I could just get the front done. I told him money was tight, he came back with another offer. When I said no again, he was very dismissive and practically hung the phone up on me. When I arrived to pick up my car he said there was a $55 charge for looking at my car, in which he neglected to tell me on the phone (remember, because he hung up the phone on me). When I asked him about he charge he again was very dismissive and said, "Normally when we have someones car for the entire day we charge them." The entire day... They had it for a few hours (3.5 to be exact) while I was in class. After he said that I went to speak and he stormed out into the garage and left me to talk to his associate who was also in shock of his behavior. They dress up professionally and are constantly remind their customers of how trustworthy and excellent their customer service is. Do not let this fool you, they will will charge a premium price for their 'expertise'. I will never do business here again. read more

Veenstra's continues to provide outstanding service and repair work. In addition, Brad was very accommodating! He provided a discount on required work that ran into an extra day at the shop. read more

I experienced VERY EXPENSIVE service here after an accident required new tires be installed. Owner, Mike Veenstra, was aloof and disinterested in my satisfaction. I was very dissatisfied with their customer service. They have NO customer service. I would not recommend them to anyone for any service. Try Spaanstra's down the street or Community Auto. read more

Wow, Veenstra's is the gift that keeps on giving. Buckle up a get ready for this holiday horror story. My car broke down on Thursday and would not start. I had it towed to Veenstra's garage that night since it was less than a mile away. They called me the next morning asking if they could do several diagnostics for a charge of $150. That seemed pretty high to me, but my car was there and they were ready to work on it so I told them to go ahead with it. I got a call back from Brad in the afternoon saying that I had a bad distributor and that the entire assembly needed to be replaced (they also tried to get me to replace my battery which is perfectly fine). He quoted me three prices ranging from $1300 to $1600. Thankfully, I'm not an idiot and I know that anything that isn't a major engine repair rarely surpasses $1k. I told them I'd call them back that night (Friday) to let them know what to do with it. I called Cascade auto (shameless plug for the best mechanics I know) where my girlfriend has been having her cars worked on. They said using the highest quality parts, the repair shouldn't exceed $600. They also said $150 to diagnose a bad distributor is ridiculous. So I resolve to have it towed to Cascade Hills Auto to have them do it. It gets better. I go to Veenstra's Friday night at 6pm and I say I'm not having the work done and I'd like my car. Jacob, the manager on duty tells me that the paperwork is locked in Brad's office, that he's gone home for the weekend, and that I can't have my car until Monday! Disheartened and frustrated, I exited and resolved to call Cascade and let them know I wouldn't be bringing my car in until the following week. When I told Mark what they had said to me he was furious. He told me to march right back in and demand to have my car returned to me. So I did. After arguing with Jacob for about 10 minutes he eventually called Brad at home to see what could be done. When he came back he just typed up a misc diagnostic charge for $150 and let me have my car. But this is not the end of my troubles with Veenstra's I have to it towed to Cascade and they get to work on it Saturday morning. I get a call from them saying that the distributor itself is fine and that only the distributor cap needed to be replaced. Car runs great, and they charged me $148 for the repair. LESS THAN I PAID FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC AT VEENSTRA'S. And get this, Mark tells me that when they popped the hood, the car was taken apart. They didn't even bother putting anything back together! But they still left me yet another surprise. And this I can't prove, but it would fit the bill at this rate. On my way to work this morning (I have an hour commute), I went to plug my phone into my car charger and it's not there! Those buttheads swiped my car charger! Veenstra's are a Class A scam artist. They will swindle you for whatever you've got. I will never take another car there so long as I live, not even for an oil change. BEWARE. read more

I am very adamant when I say Do Not Go Here. They will overcharge you...by a lot! Could have gotten the same repair(power steering failed) done for almost half the price. And on top of that, after they finished the repair and I drove off, the engine light came on and it just didn't feel the same when driving it. Knowing how much they charge, I didn't want to take it back there. I decided to take it to another auto repair shop, whom I've gone to before, out in Cascade to get a second opinion. Once the mechanics at that shop saw the work Veenstra's did on it, they were shocked that they let me drive away in the condition it was still in. The other shop fixed the problem at no cost, but discovered my car had a coolant leak, which Veenstra's failed to tell me. The other shop in Cascade also completed these repairs the same day i brought it in, where as Veenstra's took about 3 days, since I heard they get their parts from Ohio! After being ridiculously overcharged, and having my car there for nearly 3 days, they still didn't do the repair correctly. But the general manager was so worried about making us happy. He seemed to know all the 'awards' they've received in Grand Rapids Magazine and that they have a top 10 mechanic in the country, as to sugar coat the quality of work they do. Oh and the reasoning for the very high cost of repairs is because they have their employee's family's to feed, based on the GM's response. This was the most ridiculous experience. Trust me, don't go here. But please go here if you love throwing your money away and don't have any other monetary responsibilities, and if you don't care if the repairs are done right. read more

Terrible costumer service and incredibly rude. Extremely over priced and was asked to pay for my free quote when I told them I'd go elsewhere. read more

I cannot say enough good things about Veenstra's. My daughter's car had a serious, catastrophic failure while returning to school in Grand Rapids. We picked Veenstra because it looked convenient, but in retrospect it was a God-send. They went well above and beyond what was expected. They called nearly every day to keep me informed and the price was more than reasonable. Particular kudos to Phil who even came in on a Saturday to dedicate to working the problem. This it the kind of auto repair shop you want to use. They have a life-long customer. read more

These guys are incredibly honest and up-front with you about your vehicle. I would recommend them to anyone. A few weeks ago, I called multiple garages to ask about an estimate on a timing belt replacement, and Veenstra's was the only one who wanted me to bring my car in for them to look at before giving an estimate in order to ensure accuracy. When I did brought my car in for the appointment, they gave me a coupon to the coffee shop across the street. When they had finished with my car, the owner of the garage met me in the coffee shop and talked with me for at least 15 minutes, listening to my questions and making sure I knew everything that was going on (he even brought over a timing belt display model!). I ended up having them replace my timing belt, and they were very courteous and friendly throughout the entire process. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for an affordable and honest garage team. read more

Always enjoy my experience with Veenstra's. The staff are the best of the best. Genuinely nice people that are happy to help. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a local shop! read more

After paying to replace a part the problem continued. 4 visits later the issue had still not been resolved and I didn't even get all of my money back. I ended up wasting time, money and energy for nothing. Would not recommend at all!!! read more

got my car fixed in less than a week and my diagnostic cost went towards my major repair. thank you veenstras! read more