West Escondido Automotive & Transmission

Reviews

• VM

  Vincent Miniel

  Apr 2, 2026
  5.0
  First of all I must recognize the entire maintenance professionals employees that perform exceptional maintenance on my 2011 Toyota Tacoma! Next Danny your maintenance manager (Best Ever). Y’all make my beautiful truck drive like new every time I come in for maintenance! I never have to question the advice y’all give me! Trust your team and always respect your repairs! Cudos always to Danny! Y’all know I recommend all my family and friends to your awesome Shop ! Keep up the excellent work! I’ll be back for all of my vehicle maintenance! Vincent Miniel.
• TB

  Tamara Bachofer

  Apr 2, 2026
  5.0
  Our LR has over 158k miles, Rick thank you keeping things simple and it’s great to have our favorite car back.
• JZ

  Joseph Zayas

  Mar 24, 2026
  1.0
  These people are overpriced. I made the terrible mistake of not mechanics shopping when I first moved to Escondido. They order the parts that’s needed for your car then double the price of the parts. When asked why they do that, they say we need to put food on our table. I had got an axle replaced and they charged me 3k. When I finally moved back to New York, I went to my guy and he said They put an aftermarket part in my vehicle that’s why the axle broke loose again. Please don’t go to these guys, there are better mechanics in the area. You really don’t know what they are doing to your vehicles, they could tell you anything and they get aftermarket parts then charge you as though it’s a brand new part out the box. Even as a repeat customer I would tell them to give me a discount and I never got one. I’m just glad I moved out of California and these guys are wolves.
• DS

  Dave S

  Mar 20, 2026
  5.0
  Outstanding customer service, Christian helped me out, friendly and knowledgeable.. thank you from abe.
• DC

  Darwin C

  Mar 8, 2026
  1.0
  UPDATE: After my visit to West Automotive, I sought a second opinion from Sawaya Automotive. Their inspection included a borescope exam of the engine and a laboratory oil analysis specifically to detect metal fragments, which confirmed HEMI lifter failure and camshaft wear. In contrast, West Automotive relied solely on a stethoscope and a visual inspection from outside the engine, which did not allow them to actually see the camshaft or assess its condition. West Automotive also incorrectly claimed my car had twin camshafts and provided no accountability for this mistake, which further eroded my confidence in their technical knowledge. Sawaya’s evaluation was much more thorough and significantly lower in cost than West’s. As a result, West Automotive recommended replacing the crankshaft and lifters but did not identify the camshaft wear. My experience highlights the importance of detailed diagnostics, proper technology, and transparency for any repair. I brought my car in to West Automotive for a diagnostic inspection. The facility itself was very nice and the front desk staff were polite. Danny helped check my car in and mentioned they had shuttle drivers and offered a AAA discount, which I appreciated. When I arrived, I specifically asked if they could perform a compression test and oil pressure test. I was told they would inspect the car thoroughly. I left the car there but was not given a clear estimate for the diagnostic cost beforehand. At check-in I was also told they had a Chrysler-certified mechanic who would be working on my car, which gave me some confidence initially. However, when I later received a call with the diagnosis, the mechanic told me my engine had “twin cams.” My vehicle only has a single camshaft, so that immediately raised concerns for me about the accuracy of the diagnosis. When I picked up the car the next morning, I was told two separate inspections had been performed. The explanation I received was that the technician had done a visual inspection, test drove the car, scanned for codes, and listened to the engine with a stethoscope. The compression test and oil pressure test I had originally asked about were never performed. I was then presented with a $350 bill for the inspections. I had not been informed ahead of time that there would be multiple diagnostic charges, and the AAA discount that was mentioned when I checked in was not applied to the final bill. While the facility itself was nice and the front desk staff were courteous, I left feeling disappointed by the lack of clear communication about the diagnostic process, pricing, and the accuracy of the information I received.

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