South Bay Car Care

Reviews

• KK

  Kezzy Kay

  1 day ago
  1.0
  This shop charged me $1,000 and returned my vehicle in worse condition than when I brought it in, including new problems that did not previously exist. This wasn't fun to write. I was a regular customer of theirs for two years... So what happened? I brought the car in for transmission lurching between 0–10 mph. Beforehand, I personally checked the transmission fluid and saw it was dirty and low. After keeping the vehicle for a full day, I was told the issue was not transmission-related but instead a failing motor mount and a bearing that needed replacement to prevent failure. The vehicle has only 85,000 miles, and based on manufacturer guidance and my research, neither part was near its expected replacement interval. Despite this, I approved the work due to prior trust. The total came to about $1,000, negotiated down from a higher initial quote. Hubert, the owner, personally assured me that replacing the motor mount would resolve the lurching. When I picked the car up two days later, the lurching was significantly worse. Additionally, a brand-new issue appeared: severe vibration at idle that immediately stops when shifted into neutral — a classic sign of a motor mount issue. That vibration did not exist before the repair. In effect, I paid approximately $380 for a motor mount replacement that failed to fix the problem and appears to have created a new one, plus roughly $700 for additional work that, based on later inspection and service record review, does not appear to have been necessary. I was also told I needed $3,000 in shocks and $700 in spark plugs. The shocks were functional and in excellent shape, and the spark plugs are rated for 120,000 miles with roughly 40,000 miles remaining. I was told the spark plugs caused the new vibration at idle — a vibration that only began after the motor mount replacement. Replacing only one motor mount on an older vehicle commonly creates imbalance and resonance issues; standard guidance recommends replacing mounts as a set. Most concerning, the original issue — dirty and low transmission fluid — does not appear to have been addressed. From what I can determine, the transmission was neither opened nor serviced. I am now paying another mechanic to properly inspect and service it, which should have been the first step. Because of this, I now question whether previous vehicles I brought here were properly diagnosed or repaired and am having them inspected elsewhere. Financially, this caused real hardship: I was unable to pay rent on time, unable to reliably get to work, and am currently driving a secondary vehicle without functioning airbags. When I called Hubert, he stated he did not personally test-drive the vehicle. I find it unacceptable that a $1,000 repair was authorized without a proper test drive. I requested a refund. He offered to redo the work while I watched, but I no longer trust returning the vehicle. I did not photograph the original mount, so I cannot independently verify what was installed despite being charged for an original replacement part. I trusted this shop with multiple vehicles and previously referred friends and family. I have since warned them to stay away. My money is gone, my vehicle is worse, and my trust has been completely broken. Take your business elsewhere and please learn basic mechanical skills. My mechanical skills and taking photos and plugging them into AI are the only things that made me realize the truth. Other mechanics have independently confirmed my fears, I was indeed charged for repairs that were not needed and did indeed activate new problems and aggrivate old ones. Stay away! I have attached this handy spark plug chart that I have utilized for years which saved me $400 from these guys. I suggest you use it and go elsewhere.
• UU

  USNLegsDave

  Feb 24, 2026
  5.0
  Long time customer. Other than recalls, I have all my auto maintenance here. Easy going, good prices.
• OR

  Oscar Reyes

  Feb 15, 2026
  5.0
  I recently took my Ford Explorer to South Bay Car Care and had a really good experience. What stood out to me the most was their honesty. They didn’t try to upsell me or push unnecessary repairs—something that’s honestly hard to find in a mechanic shop these days. They took the time to run a full diagnostic, explained everything clearly, and let me know that there weren’t any major issues with the vehicle. Instead of looking for ways to charge more, they kept it straightforward and only recommended what actually needed to be done. That kind of transparency builds trust, and I really appreciated it. The communication was solid, and I felt like they respected both my time and my money. It gave me peace of mind knowing my car was checked out by people who care more about doing the job right than just making a quick buck. I’ll definitely be coming back and would recommend South Bay Car Care to anyone looking for a reliable and honest mechanic.
• BG

  Bruce Geam

  Jan 29, 2026
  5.0
  “The staff and mechanics were prompt, professional, and accommodating to my time frame for getting my fuel injector replaced. My SUV is running great again — praise the Lord!”
• LB

  Linda Bush

  Jan 29, 2026
  5.0
  My experience at South Bay Care Care was totally positive. My 2017 Chevy Volt had an electrical problem and at times would not start. Matt answered my call to the shop and listened to my problem with this part gasoline, part electric vehicle. When I arrived at the shop Matt and another mechanic listened to my explanation of the problem without interrupting. I left the car running in their driveway afraid it would not restart. By 2pm they had it figured out and repaired. I will be sending my friend who also has a Volt to them for repair too. Highly recommend this shop.

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