Leale’s Transmissions & Auto Repair

I live in the Keyes neighborhood just south of San Jose State University and Leal’s Auto Repair was a local place that I decided to go for some urgent work on a nail in my vehicle’s tire. Bob and Mike were extremely helpful and quickly identified the tire that had the low pressure due to a nail. I brought in the car in the early morning on a weekday and it was attended to within 15 minutes. Great service all around. Would definitely use these guys again.

I was extremely pleased with my recent visit to Leale’s and my interactions with Bob. He is a true professional who you can trust with all of your transmission needs. I was referred to him by my VW mechanic after my 2002 Eurovan began showing signs of distress after longer drives. I called on a Thursday and Bob was able to schedule me for the following Monday. Bob and his crew ran some diagnostics and were not able to reproduce the issue. Instead of trying to sell me on some work that I did not need, like a lesser mechanic might do, Bob provided an honest opinion that I did not need anything done at this time. He is also approachable and answered questions in a friendly manner, which I appreciate as I do like to understand the underlying issues. When the time comes for my transmission to be rebuilt or replaced, I will definitely return to Leale’s. It was well worth the drive from SF to know that I received excellent service from highly experienced professionals.

They did a transmission rebuild for my 4Runner. There was an issue with the transfer case and they replace it with no questions asked — all under the warranty.

Worthless!!! Don’t waste your time.
Based on other Unilocalers’ reviews, I brought my 2002 Volvo in for what sounded like a transmission problem. They kept my car for ~2 months, apparently to check it out. After «trying» a few things they decided that a replacement would be the best course. They ordered a new transmission. Another few weeks and ~$ 5K down the road, we picked it up.
The transmission was jerky from the start. We brought it back in, as required, to make adjustments. It *never* felt right. Now, ~18 months later, we have a transmission warning.
Time and money down the toilet.

My experience with this place was definitely NOT a pleasant one, and I am pretty sure I was ripped off…
My engine decided to shut off while I was driving one day, so I had my car towed to this place. Unfortunately, they were about an hour away from their closing time so I left my car with them. Next morning, I got a call from this place informing me that an estimated cost for repair would be around $ 500. I know absolutely nothing about the cars (I am sure these people see that too), so I figured if they say it would cost $ 500, then it costs that much. It wasn’t like I can drive my car to other places anyways.
I get a call 2 hours early that my car was ready. I pick up my car, and I noticed that on my receipt, the part was $ 150, and the labor cost was $ 350. I questioned, but not knowing anything about the car did no good. Apparently, I had to replace a «camshaft position sensor».
Leaving this place with doubts, I started asking my friends, and called other shops to see how much it would cost to replace a camshaft position sensor. No place would quote anything close to $ 500 range.
Since I felt that they were already undermining for being an Asian girl with an accent who knows nothing about the cars, I had my guy friend call the place to get more information. When I called, they said we will need to call back when «Bob» is here since he’s the mechanic that serviced my car. However, he was (conveniently) gone for the day and won’t be back until Monday. We asked why the cost for labor was so high, and he informed us that the labor cost also included «diagnosis» price.
They called me at 8am to let me know that it would cost $ 500. I guess they knew exactly how long it will take to do the «diagnosis»?
Maybe I am completely mistaken about this point of view, and I hope that I am. However, I can’t shake this feeling that they took an advantage of a car that can’t be transported (unless you call the towing truck again), and the owner who knew nothing about the cars.

I am very disappointed in the service I received at Leale’s. My transmission went out on my 2003 Hyundai and I had it replaced at this establishment. The engine light went on about a month later and I took my car back in to have it checked. I was told that it was an evap hose. Bob informed me that they did not need to replace the hose, but were able to «repair the old hose and I was charged$ 240.00. When my husband and I picked up my car we asked them to put $ 120.00 on my husband’s card and $ 120.00 on my card. A charge of $ 240.00 was put on my card and $ 120 on my husband’s card. When I let Bob know he credited back the $ 120.00 Shortly afterwards the engine light went back on and I took my car back in. My car was left for a week and I called on a daily basis, but was either told Bob would call back or they were still looking into it. After a week of no one calling back and no work being done on my car I just picked it up. I did let Bob know I was very unhappy with the service. I will not be taking my car back to Leale’s after receiving such poor service.

I originally got my transmission rebuilt in Arizona. I was having issues after moving to California and decided to go here for my warranty. Leale’s will honor gold atra warranties!
Although it turns out what’s wrong with my car is not covered under the warranty, and the issue I’m having with my transmission control module has not happened until after my transmission was rebuilt — I understand that it is not their fault and if anything the fault lies with the shop in AZ.
Leale’s did accidentally run my card for $ 120 but quickly refunded the amount within the hour. It was an honest mistake.
I give them five stars for their professionalism and honesty. As much as I would have loved the experience to go a little differently, they did what they were supposed to and did it with the customer experience at the top of their list.

I had serious issues with the 6-​speed auto transmission in my Audi. The car only recently came out of warranty and the dealer wanted big bucks to replace it. After negotiation with the dealer, I was still not satisfied, so I took it to Leale’s. I talked to Bob about the problem and he explained to me the process they go through. This was my first time taking a vehicle there. They have years of experience working on german ZF transmissions, so I felt they could do the job right.
Turns out the the some parts failed inside the transmission and it required a full rebuild. Leale’s got the parts and completed the work in 2 days. I have had the car back for a week and it shifts as good as new.
Awesome communication throughout the whole process. Bob was terrific. I had such a good experience that I will definitely consider them for other car work in the future, since they do a lot more than just transmissions. The transmission work wasn’t cheap (nothing about these german cars ever is), but Leale’s gave me a very good warranty and that makes me confident they stand by their work.

Took my 350z in to have some transmission timing thingy code p1084 work done and I can not tell you how great it was working with an honest repair shop. I searched out Unilocal and found these guys and read the reviews and let me tell you THEY ARE TRUE!
The problem I had was kinda tricky and took a couple days to diagnose but Bob told me that from the start. It did take over a week but I didn’t mind because they wanted to be sure they got the problem taken care of correctly. I seriously had my mind set that this repair was going to cost me over 2 grand because I swear to buddah my car cost a grip to get anything done on it. so I was scared. When all was said and done (and they did some work and labor hours on it) the tab? 945.00!!! I am positive any other shop would have been over that 2K so I was grateful. No really I WAS. $ 945 may sound like a lot to some but to any 350Z owner out there that has had work done. you feel me! I would recommend these guys in a heart beat. If you need any transmission work done PLEASEEEEEEE call these guys first. Honest, up front, no BS.

This is the most DISHONEST auto repair shop I’ve ever met.
The original clutch of my Honda Accord with 168K + miles needs to be replaced. I called several shops asking quote (parts + labor) for clutch work. Bob at Leale’s quoted $ 795 over the phone for after-​market clutch kit + labor (including flywheel re-​surfacing). He also said they would use good quality clutch kit, the quality of which should be same as original factory clutch. Since it’s my first time to deal with this shop to do mechanical work on my car, I drove there on the same day to take a look. Bob already left, so I talked with shop manager Lyle and tried to get more detailed information of the clutch kit. He explained to me that they would use LUK which made clutch for major auto companies like Chrysler. Their quote is not the cheapest, but competitive (in the range of $ 720-​$ 900 I got). Therefore, I decided to let them do the clutch replacement work. A few days later I sent my car to this shop. After I signed service paperwork, I double checked the price they quoted. And then they said $ 795 was labor only, and adding cost for parts, the total would be over $ 1000. They are insane !! They de-​committed what they quoted. They are ZERO or negative star shop !
I asked the signed service authorization paper back and drove to another auto shop. This is an extremely bad experience I wanted to share with other Unilocalers.

Needed a new rebuilt transmission for my Ford Taurus — failed at 153K miles. Called around for quotes and found these guys, Leale’s Transmissions and Auto Repair. They quoted me below other services and had a good reputation so I decided to try them out. It was a big decision because getting a rebuilt transmission can be very expensive and you want to get it right. Very friendly and very knowledgeable — worked with Lyle and Bob — they really know their stuff. Icing on the cake: I was provided a free tow from my house to their business AND a free rental car while my car was in the shop! The rental car service even dropped me off at Leale’s after I returned the rental. Only minor complaint was they said the car would be ready on Thurs or Fri and it wasn’t ready until the following Tuesday. But no worries as they extended the length of time on the rental car for free. I would definitely recommend these guys to my friends and family. And, most importantly, the Taurus seems to be running great so far.

I have used this auto repair shop several times in the past couple of years. My last experience was an absolute pleasure. Bob was excellent to work with and he kept his word. I was on the fence as to whether or not I wanted the repairs done or not. Bob gave me an estimate and kept his word. I wasn’t hit with any surprises even though the job wound up being more difficult than they expected. I think they barely broke even on this job. I cannot say enough wonderful things about this shop. Professional, courteous, and honest.

Leale’s has been in business a very long time. They do transmissions and clutches, AC and cooling systems, oil changes, electrical… in other words they have people trained in all areas, and for almost all brands. As a result, this is where the car dealers take their problem jobs and overflow work.
What you can take away from this is that these guys have proven that they know what they are doing — year after year. You don’t go there to get the best price, you go there to get it done right. And then in the long run it’s the best total cost because they used quality parts and the work was done correctly.
So yeah I recommend Leale’s very highly, as they work on my Suburban, and my BMWs, and other cars as well.

Not happy at all.
After three failed attempts to rebuild the transmission on my work truck, and a service at 25K later, the tranny failed again just 5 thousand miles after the service with them telling me all was fine.
The whole system was never cleaned/​flushed properly.
Hoses were not put back on causing a major leak the first time the pto was engaged
Torque converter was not put back on correctly.
Contaminates ruined the seals on the pto
and on and on.
Looks like they have a new shop manager every six months too.
Had to buy a re-​manufactured tranny which I should have done in the first place

Love this place! Got an oil change while at work. Then after seeing a jerk about my car I take it here and within the hour Leale himself diagnosed what was wrong for free! They were super busy but he still took my car out and confirmed I wasn’t crazy and that my car is acting weird. They are sooooo nice and helpful I won’t go anywhere else.

So I’m a young woman with no dad or boyfriend around to take care of my car questions. The whole car maintenance thing just stresses me out because I always hear about how mechanics rip people off. I’m probably the easiest target there is. Just clueless. Anyway, I’m totally satisfied with my experience at Leales.
My 2007 Jetta broke down on the side of 87 during rush hour. I had my 2 year old in the car, and it was super hot and really lame. I called a tow truck and had my car towed to the nearest shop with good Unilocal reviews. Leales.
It was after hours so they were closed, but I left my keys in the drop box and kept my fingers crossed that I’d have my car back ASAP and my engine wasn’t shot. They contacted me right away the next morning and assured me that they’d take care of everything.
I needed a new serpentine belt, belt tensioner, water pump and battery. Yikes. They let me know the price and I gave them the OK. My car was ready the next day.
When I went to pay, my bank card had a security spending limit, so I needed to get to a bank to withdraw cash. One of the guys, Mike, offered me a ride. Super nice of him, right? So now, I’m back in the road again.
They gave me a receipt with a break-​down of all the charges and friends all said it was very reasonably priced. My car-​enthusiast friend also said that Leales was reputable and I was lucky I didn’t have my car towed somewhere else. I was/​am very satisfied with their level of customer service and how quickly they repaired my car. Seem to be honest, professional and efficient. 5 stars for Leales :)

The one stop transmission place for me!
I have a 2001 BMW 330i and the torque converter is a common problem with this car. Leale’s fix it with a ¹²⁄₁₂ warranty and in a timely fashion.
The most knowledgeable about transmission and automobiles around, always friendly and reasonably priced.
If you own a BMW and have any transmission problems, save yourself the time, headaches and money by going to Leale’s.
I will never look further then Leale’s Transmission Shop!
Thank You Jim.
JB

This is the best automotive shop in California. Period.
I’m normally so negative in my reviews that Unilocal has taken many of them down and temporarily banned me at times.
But Jim and his team deserve five stars. They deserve more, but I can only give five.
For all of you «enthusiasts» out there: I have a 2004 Audi Allroad, am an engineer, and worked as a mechanic when I was in college. I know a little about what I’m talking about when I say that NOONE I have come across in the last 20 years is as knowledgeable and trustworthy as this shop.
This review is no joke. Email me if you want a direct reference.
–Warren V

Twice now I have brought a vehicle into Leale’s only to get it back with cosmetic damage. Naturally they deny any damage took place. The place is small and completely packed with cars and equipment; it is also located on a very busy street. When they run out of room in the yard, they reserve the right to park your car on this busy street and really couldn’t care less if your vehicle gets vandalized or scraped.
Leale’s is always overpriced when I call up to get a quote, and I shop around. They suckered me the first time by saying they would inspect it for free to determine the problem, and when I had it repaired, the bill had an inspection fee! I simply paid them minus the inspection fee, told them what was up and they didn’t argue.
The only thing good about this place is the staff speaks English and the two receptionists I have spoken to are talkative and friendly. They’re also lenient when it comes to having to pay them in installments.
I would recommend Leale’s to people with junker cars that don’t trust a gas station service shop to get the job done, and you have some money to blow. Just get your car out of there as quick as possible so it doesn’t get dinged.

ABSOLUTE BEST TRANSMISSION SHOP IN AMERICA!!!
No Joke!!! I belong to an international Jaguar car club, and the entire membership goes on at great length about the dreadful state of affairs with auto repairs generally, and specifically. When it comes to high end ZF transmissions, about 3 people in the USA really know how to service them, and they all work at LEALES!!!
If your transmission has serious or minor problems bring it to this shop and you will always be treated fairly and will get the absolute best and the most fairly priced repairs compared to any other shop in existence. The guys in this shop will probably be able to diagnose your problem in about 30 seconds. They will have it fixed faster and cheaper than any other facility in the world! If you have a really new high-​end car, dont even think about taking it to the dealer where they dont do anything but upsale you into replacing whole components. Thes guys will save you time, money, and heartache!!! ONE THOUSAND STARS!!! *******************************************************************************************************************************************************
This shop can fix a 3 speed standard in your old ford or a 7 speed transmission in your Ferrari… go NO WHERE ELSE!!!
I dont give praise lightly, but I have been talking to tranny mechanics literally for years trying to get mine serviced properly. One shop said I needed a brand new tranny ~ 4GRAND! I knew he was wrong, but the level of incompetence is astounding and so prevalent that when I talked to Mark, I knew I had found the best Transmission mechanic and shop in the USA. Hell! I’m looking forward to my next tranny problem just so I can watch these guys do their thing again!!!