San Carlos Auto Repair

Got an appointment right away for an immediate problem, unlike dealer shop which was booked one week in advance. Naeem was very professional on the phone and in person. He explained what was likely needed but was willing to find a less expensive solution that would fix the problem completely. I was given courtesy rides back home and back to the shop by Lyft...unlike the dealer which stacks rides up via its own shuttle and has limited hours. The folks at the shop were friendly and made me feel welcomed.

We heard about A+ Japanese through some friends and on Nextdoor so we decided to give them a try when our hybrid started shaking when we hit 3k rpm.  Justin was great on the phone and welcomed us when we came to the office.  He did a terrific job of explaining the process and set our expectations on timing, estimates, etc.  Turns out the culprit was a paint brush which had found its way into the engine (bizarre) and it broke some wires.  A+ could have said it was a transmission issue or something much worse resulting in big $$$, but they were super honest and fixed the problem within the original diagnostic fee.  Their goal is to have lifelong relationships with their customers so they're not out to pull a one-time fast one on people.  Thank you for treating your customers right.  We'll be sure to come back next time!

Where our repair got tougher than the estimate A1 extended our rental at no charge and completed the job on budget, except for a few additional parts. They worked very hard to get the car back to my daughter and do the job right, and completely. I have no problem recommending them.

Third update, because it's rare to keep hitting the high bar year after year, and these folks do it. My 19-year-old 4-runner is nearing 280,000 miles and I have never had a breakdown since I bought it 2 years ago thanks to A+. Seriously. Don't get me wrong, things do break on it. But we're talking window motors and whistling mufflers, which A+ always finds a way to repair better and cheaper than anywhere else I talk to. And thanks to honest inspections, they replace worn belts before they break, and advise me on what NOT to replace when it's something unnecessary. (I've actually been dissuaded from certain labor and parts, which is maybe a first in the car repair industry). Front desk is as friendly as ever even after the myth/man/legend Rob retired, and has hot coffee and a daily paper, and better yet will arrange a rental or a lift to make life easy. The shop crew take their work seriously and efficiently. I drive 45 minutes out of my way just to come here for oil changes because I know they'll be honest and cost effective.

Third update, because it's rare to keep hitting the high bar year after year, and these folks do it. My 19-year-old 4-runner is nearing 280,000 miles and I have never had a breakdown since I bought it 2 years ago thanks to A+. Seriously. Don't get me wrong, things do break on it. But we're talking window motors and whistling mufflers, which A+ always finds a way to repair better and cheaper than anywhere else I talk to. And thanks to honest inspections, they replace worn belts before they break, and advise me on what NOT to replace when it's something unnecessary. (I've actually been dissuaded from certain labor and parts, which is maybe a first in the car repair industry).

Front desk is as friendly as ever even after the myth/man/legend Rob retired, and has hot coffee and a daily paper, and better yet will arrange a rental or a lift to make life easy. The shop crew take their work seriously and efficiently. I drive 45 minutes out of my way just to come here for oil changes because I know they'll be honest and cost effective.

I can see why they are so highly rated. The stellar service started with my call to them to make an appointment. They were friendly and professional. I took the car in 2 days later and again all of the staff were friendly and I never felt rushed, but they also seemed to be thoughtful of my time. I explained the issue to them (excess moisture in the car, wet windshield and dripping from the sunroof and I had taken to the dealer a couple of weeks ago, and they said there was no problem) and they explained they would perform an inspection and call me in the afternoon with an update. A fellow named Justin was the one assigned to my account and he fortunately called with good news; the drains in the sunroof were clogged causing the water to run into the car. The mechanic also noted the carbon something or other needed cleaning (sorry, can't remember the exact term right now), so we said yes let's go ahead. They also recommended we have the interior cleaned to eliminate any mildew. They could have recommended all kinds of things, but they didn't. I'm really impressed with the staff, the repairs (the car feels zippier) and just the overall feel of the place - polite, organized and professional. I will be back and I can't believe it took me this long to use them.

Thank you so much!

Thank you so much for the great service! Thanks Justin and whole team!

Amazing experience with A+. I brought in my subaru forester for the 60k mile tune up and a weird rattling noise I had mostly ignored and A+ diagnosed the real problem, explained the potential strategies to diagnose and deal with it in plain language and great detail and recommended which things I could defer for a few months to deal with the unexpected repair expenses first. Really, really great customer service throughout (thank you Justin!!!). I'll be back in a few months!