Pacific Auto Service

I was there replacing frontal brakes and pads today. Also had a coolant flush and a oil change. Staff and boss Olivier were friendly there. The service was efficient. Got a discount in the end for the total charge. Will return for future maintenance.

Will was great!!! Felt very comfortable leaving my car in his hands and knowing I’m not gonna get takin advantage of. I would recommend them to everyone! My car is running awesome!!!

Visited San Diego for a weekend, down from Orange County. «Battery not Charging» message came on my GMC Envoy just as I got to S. D.
Contacted AAA to find a AAA authorized repair center close to my location. They referred me to P. A. C. This place was less than 5 miles from my location. I called them and told them to expect me.
Drove there and talked to Fernando Lopez, service manager. They did diagnostics and found my alternator had failed. Offered O. E. M. or cheaper generic alternator. I opted for O. E. M. (original equipment manufactured).
Repaired my vehicle in an hour on a Saturday morning. Gave me an honest price with great service. Much appreciated. Hard to find honest auto repair shops these days. Saved my weekend. Had to give them kuddos for this.

I had an really good experience and excellent customer service with Pacific Auto Service. Will, Olivier and their staff were awesome. Will had provided an amazing service, he helped a lot in the whole process, he was kind and professional.
I had a brake service on my vehicle, the rear brakes were metal-​to-​metal, this means that the metal backing of the brake pad is rubbing right against the metal brake rotor because there is no brake lining material left.
They replaced the two rear brake pads and resurfaced the two rear rotors for a very good price.
They installed a good quality ceramic brake pads with 36K (3yrs) warranty. This is great, they are providing 36K (3 yrs) warranty on their parts.
They completed the job on a timely manner.
I am so happy that I took my vehicle to them for the brake service.
No more grinding noise… This is amazing!
I felt very comfortable, thank you so much, you guys did an extraordinary job.
I will definitely be recommending Pacific Auto Service (and their Team) to my family, relatives, friends and co-​workers and others.
Customer Service: Five stars
Price: Five stars (they provided discount)
Quality of Parts: Five stars
Trustworthy & Honesty: Five stars
Warranty (3yrs): Five stars
Facility: Five stars
Cleanliness: Five stars
7451 Trade St San Diego, CA 92 121 858−457−1977 — See more at:

Had my 2005 F150 truck towed to Pacific Auto Service, due a total loss of power. This shop did a quick diagnostic and had me back on the road in about one hour. I thought I was going to be faced with a huge repair bill, but was surprised to get a bill of an extremely reasonable amount. In my opinion this facility deserves a lot more than five stars.

I’ve been using these guys for my auto service needs since ’07. They’ve always provided prompt and honest service for pretty much any vehicle I bring in. My van was recently serviced for a grinding noise from the rear brakes. They were able to salvage the rotors rather than replace them and that saved me a lot of money. I definitely recommend these guys.

Once again we had excellent service taking our car into Pacific Auto Service. They call you to inform you of the repairs needed and estimated cost. The car is ready for pick up within the time frame they told us. We would highly recommend Pacific Auto Service. In fact, we have brought other vehicles here and told friends about it.

I’ve been a client of Pacific Auto for 15 years now. I found them through AAA — they had the best rating. I trust them completely. As a single woman who doesn’t know much about cars, finding a trustworthy mechanic/​shop meant everything to me. I feel like they treat me the way they would their sister.
Their service has always been top notch. They know their customers by name, and they take the time to build lasting relationships with their customers. I can’t say enough good about this shop — Wil, Olivier, Fernando, and all of their mechanics are the best I’ve ever worked with. The fact that they don’t really have employee turnover also says a lot about this shop. I’ve recommended it to many people over the years, and they have all become loyal customers. I was on the east coast a year ago, and sorely missed the skills of this team, and could not find a trustworthy shop to go to. I was so glad when I moved back! I live in Orange County now, but make the hour drive south to keep going to Pacific Auto — they are that good.
When I’m ready to trade in my vehicle (which I tend to do every few years), they give me great advice on the vehicles I’m considering, and even have checked out a vehicle to make sure it was in good shape before I made the final purchase. In one case, I was buying a Jeep Wrangler from CarMax. They let me know the vehicle was in excellent condition (gave me peace of mind), but that it needed two repairs. I was able to go back to CarMax and have them make the repairs at no cost, then I purchased the vehicle.
I highly recommend Pacific Auto to anyone searching for a new place to have their vehicle serviced. I’ve had two different Ford SUVs, a VW Tiguan, and a Jeep Wrangler, and they’ve taken great care of all. My kids also have used Pacific Auto when they lived in San Diego (Lexus and VW cars), and they also had great service. My point is that P.A. can handle any vehicle with professionalism and great skill.
~Julie B.

I have been coming to Pacific Auto for over 15 years and they have worked on 4 different vehicles for me and my family over the years. As a Realtor, I put a lot of miles on my cars. Olivier, Will, Fernando and their entire crew are not only consummate professionals and a pleasure to visit and work with, they do a better job than the dealerships for less money! And they don’t nickel and dime you on small items or evaluations like the dealers do. I have never had to bring a vehicle back to Pacific Auto for the same issue — when they fix it, it’s fixed right. Don’t go to dealerships and pay inflated prices for lower quality work when you have a trusted, family-​run small business that cares about it’s clients work for you. Although i don’t run a fleet, I also see that they do work with commercial fleets, too. I should have written this review years ago… don’t go anywhere else!

Trade Street is a bit of a drive from Poway, but it is worth it. I went here on the recommendation of a friend because I was tired of all the incompetent garage’s who either did not know what they were doing or were out to take you for as much as they could. This place is different. They give you the straight story and trustworthy recommendations. If you are sick of the shysters, give Pacific Auto Service a try. They have my highest recommendation.

Pac Auto is a family run business that we have been loyal patrons for the past 15 years (since they started on Miramar Road & Camino Santa Fe). This is a high integrity, high touch, full service auto repair shop.
Similar to restaurants, you can gauge a businesses success/​quality by the waiting line. If you ever visit here, you’ll see various fleets of well known local businesses that bring their commercial vehicles for service.
We’ve had all our cars serviced here, over 6 various makes and models as they come and go, and we have experienced nothing short of fantastic service. They’ll notify you of all and any pertinent repairs, and also respect your budget/​willingness to proceed with the repairs. This place offers thorough complimentary vehicle inspections during routine oil changes, and the same for complex repairs. My wife introduced me to Will & Olivier in 2004 (she’s been a client since 1999) when I first met her, and they treat you like family.
During the latest visit, they spent all day diagnosing a car with high miles (my wifes car since 1995, and we’re not ready to let go) that was experiencing power/​transmission issues, and from 9am-5:40pm, they worked tirelessly to search for what was described as a needle in a haystack. They found it, and 20 minutes before closing they repaired the issue and notified us of the success. Not only were we thrilled they located and repaired the issue, but we were thrilled for the fact they proved their reliability again!
Pricing is fair, in fact, some times unfair for them and we deem that as a gesture for client loyalty. So for the whiners who say pricing is off, you’re just not willing to pay for good service, and don’t ruin it because you don’t see value in certain things in life. For example, the cost of an oil change is higher than Jiffy Lube, but the key difference is the complimentary visual inspection, that can be nothing or proactive preventative maintenance. It’s worth paying extra to know a reliable mechanic inspected your vehicle.
The entire front house is friendly, professional and down to earth. I am not the only loyal client, when I’m waiting in line I eavesdrop on conversations (can’t help it) they hold with other clients, and almost all of other clients interact with Will, Olivier, Fernando like I do, like we’ve known each other for years.
It’s widely known that finding a trustworthy mechanic is difficult, so when you do find one (Pac Auto), stick with them. We have referred anyone and everyone with auto repair needs (routine to complex) to the professional, friendly and humble family at Pacific Auto and will continue to do so as long as we own cars. Those referrals also share their great experiences here. It’s nice to pay it back & forward, karma works.
Why is this review so long? (i) it’s long overdue, (ii) it’s well deserved, (iii) i’m offended and tired of the individuals who write unfavorable reviews because of minor petty issues.
Allow me to elaborate on (iii), if you were materially mistreated, then writing unfavorable, incoherent reviews may be warranted. If you complain about paying $ 10 more for a full service oil change, not being greeted the moment you open the door and wait in line like everyone else, OR could receive the same service for a lower cost because you have a «family friend,» maybe you should look in the mirror and try to fill the void in your life through another median. Instead you post pathetic petty reviews to potentially harm businesses. Pukes. It’s extremely unfortunate people feel it’s okay to complain about petty issues, please get a life, and if you can’t afford an extra $ 10, go to your low price provider, and you will soon realize they do not provide courtesy vehicle inspections. In life, you get what you pay for. I’m sure it’s ok to speak on behalf of business owners, that customers who seek the lowest cost provider, is likely to be the ones not worth servicing.
Last noteworthy items: (a) complimentary wifi, (b) warranty on their workmanship. I have returned for minor touch-​up service and they’re accommodating and willing. Nothing but praise for this business.

I moved to San Diego a few weeks ago and needed to find an auto repair shop for my 4Runner. I’m really glad I found Pacific Auto Service. Oliver and Fernando provided me with great customer service. Fernando explained the recommended repairs and the cost estimates were very competitive. The repairs were done perfectly and I got my 4Runner back quickly. I’m very happy that I found a go-​to auto repair shop in San Diego.

Shout out to Jonnie. I think he was part of their towing and battery repair unit. He was very professional very nice and very helpful. He was very efficient and I felt like you worked very quickly.
Easy to talk to you and he was very personable. Highly recommend them.

We had to change mechanics due to recurring problems with our old shop (see other review).
We found this place thanks to 1) Unilocal and 2) AAA. It’s been over a year now, and we’re really happy with the place. It’s great to talk directly with the mechanics (rather than just some cust. rep.) and I had a great chat with Olivier, one of the co-​owners. They are sensitive to the fact that I have an older car and am looking to avoid sinking too much money in it, and don’t pressure me or make me feel like a second-​class customer. Their prices (including a AAA discount!) are just as good as other places.
Bottom line is, I completely trust these guys and wished I had found them years ago. Would have saved me so much money and trouble.

I brought my truck in for a radiatror replacement. I asked for a 3:30 pm pick up and my truck was ready and waiting 1 hr earlier. This is my second time and I’m pleased with their professionalism and quality work. I will be back again for any repairs.

I originally went here because a Unilocal friend recommended it.
They are very thorough, take great care to explain every detail of the work and follow up to ensure satisfaction.
As someone who knows nothing about cars, I appreciate how detailed they are. Plus my car is working very well.

My last review done for «Pacific Auto Service» was in 2012, so here’s an update.
I’ve been going to them since then and will continue to go to them until they give me reason not to. In other words, they are superb! Below is a brief summary of my experience with them from 2012 up until now:
The owner, Olivier, is super personable and honest. He’ll answer any questions you have and explain things if you do not understand. This goes the same for his staff. They are all genuinely nice and helpful.
I’ve brought both my vehicles in for usual maintenance (i.e. oil change), timing belt replacement, brakes, front bushing replacement, etc… and have no real complaints so far. They’ve seem to always fix the problems I’ve had for a reasonable price. Then again, I wouldn’t say the best deal pricing but I’m a strong believer of you get what you pay for. I have a brother in-​law that works as a mechanic for Toyota and I always consult him on pricing to make sure I’m not being totally ripped off. So far, they’ve been around the same ballpark of what he tells me it should cost. Plus, they’ll let you know if the issue your having is a must to fix or if it’s something that can wait.
Here are other pluses:
The place is kept clean and organized (i.e. they use computers to keep track of everything).
They provide coffee, tea, and sometimes snacks while you wait.
Plenty of seats for waiting and even accommodate kids (i.e, toys, small kid seats).
Free wifi
Online scheduling (I recommend maybe 3 – 5 days in advance and you’ll for sure get a quick response back confirming your appointment).
They are open on the weekend.
Fast forward to present day:
I scheduled an appointment to have my brakes checked because it’s been making a weird noise. I was given an ETA of 45min.
Olivier comes to me somewhere close to that time and lets me know that my brakes are actually in great condition. He walks me to my truck (which is up in the air) and explains everything they’ve checked for. The noise I’m hearing is normal and he tells me that if it gets worse, to let them know. Reassures me that my breaks are good to go and asks me if there is anything else they want me to check. Then he tells the staff that is working on my truck to calibrate or tighten the back brakes (I’m not a car person, so I don’t remember exactly what it was). So I go back to waiting room and he tells me that it’ll be just another 10min. He did not lie. 8 – 10 minutes later, my truck is ready. He walks me past the counter and in my mind, I’m expecting to pay a small fee for them to check my truck but he keeps walking past the counter.
I didn’t get charged for anything. I know no «real» work was done on my truck, but the staff spent time checking it out. I felt bad but do you guys see what I mean about how great of a place this is. Any other crappy auto service I’ve been to, have charged me for something like this.
So yeah, I highly recommend this business to anybody around the Mira Mesa area. Don’t expect deep deals, just expect fair pricing, honesty, and great service!

Wow what a horrible customer service.
I made an appointment one week in advance, come in early in the morning, and I have to wait until the front desk to finish talking on the phone. The front desk didn’t even acknowledge that I was even there, just kept on talking on the phone about different services and quotes. Wait a minute, there is a paying customer right in front on you. You might want to make an eye contact and say, «I will be right with you». Or even better yet, tell the guy on the phone to hold and help a paying customer. I am just getting an oil change and brake check, so it should only take 30 seconds to process the order. But NO, front desk person just kept on talking and talking.
If I am paying for a service using my hard-​earned money, I deserve respect as a customer. I am definitely not coming back.

They’re super attentive to the health of my car, even for just an oil change, which is a positive thing. I’m giving this place three stars due to the fact that my oil change, although synthetic and four quarts, was proven to be ~$ 75 total. For San Diego price, it’s average, but I could go elsewhere for a lot less with the same service quality; this was just more of a convenience thing for me.
Another thing I want to add from my experience that was negative, making it deserve three stars was the way that they were talking to me about my car. Like I didn’t know I was over my mileage to change my motor oil. For God’s sake, if you checked my car and the aftermarket parts installed (fully legal, I might add), you would of known how much knowledge I had on my car. I did not need you to degrade me on my knowledge and your snicker after changing my oil and filter just because I went over a few hundred miles. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover, friends.

Getting your car repaired is usually unpleasant — long waits, high costs, service reps who just want to shuffle you in and out. I’m used to getting that experience at car dealerships. Sick of it, I went to this independently-​run service shop based on a friend’s recommendation.
Pacific Auto Service was a completely different experience. They were no hassle, friendly and truly helpful from the moment I first called them to set up an appointment (they even gave me a quote over the phone) to when they finished replacing my intermediate steering shaft in less than two hours. What really stood out was how everyone at the shop was relaxed and pleasant, and I didn’t feel like I was being pressured, hurried or pushed around. Three weeks later, my steering shaft seems to be holding up quite nicely.
BETTER PRICE: The price they quoted was 15% lower than at my dealership’s service shop, and then when I arrived I took advantage of their Unilocal «check in» discount on my iPhone to get 10% off their price (it’s good for up to $ 50 off). The overall cost ended up being ~$ 80 less than my dealership.
FLEXIBLE: When I requested a Saturday appointment, they suggested I come in early in the morning given that steering shaft work takes a while. We agreed on 9am, and I arrived at 940am. They were still very friendly and happy to see me even though I was late, and they never rushed me. By the way, the shop seemed pretty empty that morning which was a big plus b/​c I often take care of car repairs on Saturdays.
TIME SAVED: If I had taken it to the dealership, I easily would’ve had to wait four or five hours for the work to be done given that there would’ve been more vehicles being serviced at the same time. I was amazed that they called me at 11:45am, having completed the work in just under two hours.
NO BUREAUCRACY: When I asked if there were any shops nearby I could go to walk to, they said no and then offered me a loaner vehicle at no charge. I didn’t even have to ask! Plus, I didn’t have to sign my life away with forms or get a long lecture. Totally hassle-​free. «Do you mind if it’s a pickup truck?» they asked, and then suggested I go to the mall a couple of miles away. I was able to take care of a few errands during those two hours. It was so hassle-​free that I felt like I had just borrowed the family car from Pacific Auto Service.