Laguna Viejo Auto Service

Debbie Gilster

★★★★★

8 months ago

We call John a magician with cars! My hubby for a curb and the car wouldn’t drive straight. We had it towed to LV Auto and they were able to work on it that day. The dealer told John it would need $7700 in parts but he tried an alternative method that only cost $700. He likes to figure stuff out but is open and honest with you. He’s definitely the go to guy for our cars.

Jacklyn Williford

★★★★★

a year ago

Laguna Viejo Auto did an outstanding job for me! My car was done quickly and efficiently and I was informed of the work progress throughout the repairs. I WILL go there in the future!

A. L.

★★☆☆☆

7 months ago

Total replacement of all 4 shocks and struts + alignment + replacement of all 4 tire sensors = $3,277.65 Synopsis: Took my car in for major repairs on the struts and shocks only to come out with a new problem: my passenger window didn’t work when I picked up the car, and it was working when I took it in. Further explanation: timely repairs, but when I picked up the car, the passenger window would not go up or down from the master control panel on the driver side door. All my windows were functioning properly when I brought the car in. Instead of trying to solve this issue for me, after paying thousands of dollars for the repairs, Megan (the front desk clerk) told me that the window becoming inoperable could be something that happened on its own as an independent issue separate from the replacement of the struts and sensors. She went on and on with multiple explanations for how that is now my problem to deal with, and not something at all related to the repairs. However, when I turned on the car, I noticed that the clock had the wrong time... so I went back in to ask why the clock was incorrect too? After deeper probing, Megan revealed that the battery was disconnected to install the sensors and the struts/shocks. DING DING DING! - this was the reason why my window didn't work - NOT for some random independent reason. When the battery was disconnected, so too was all of the electronics in the car, including the switch to the windows and the clock in the car, leading to the wrong time and a loss of memory settings to the automatic window feature. For $3277.65 they could’ve taken that extra step to Google how to resolve this issue before I picked up the car. The windows were functioning properly when I took it in. Why did I have to look up how to fix a problem they created?? I simply Google how to reset the windows and fixed the problem in 5 minutes. This is something that should’ve been done as an extra step to ensure that the customer would be completely satisfied with the job, especially after paying so much money and an issue they created. The most ironic thing about this story is that I had just talked to Megan about how I hate when auto repair people think I don’t know what I’m talking about with cars, then they pulled this. Nothing I hate more than being treated like an idiot. There was no apology given to me by Megan nor the mechanic for the issue they incurred, even after I fixed their problem. In fact, when I told Megan I fixed the issue she did not look up from her computer to acknowledge my presence.

AshLynn Morehouse

★★★★★

a year ago

Huge shoutout to Laguna Viejo Auto for getting my car back in top shape! They replaced my radiator and took care of a ton of other issues, and the whole process was smooth and stress-free. The team was super professional, honest, and kept me updated the whole time. My car runs better than ever, and I couldn’t be happier with their work. If you need a reliable mechanic, this is the place to go. Highly recommend!

Jeff Bruchs

★★★★★

a year ago

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I recently had the pleasure of visiting Laguna Viejo Auto Service, and I can't say enough good things about my experience! From start to finish, the service was absolutely fantastic. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and really took the time to explain everything to me. I brought my car in for a full brake service, including rotors, and they completed the job by the end of the day! The turnaround time was impressive, and the price was just right—no hidden fees or surprises. If you're looking for a reliable auto service that delivers impeccable service and great value, I would absolutely recommend Laguna Viejo Auto Service. I will definitely be returning for any future automotive needs. Thank you, Laguna Viejo, for a job well done!

Dave Hatheway

★★★★★

11 months ago

This is my 3rd review about Laguna Viejo Auto. I simply am beyond grateful to John Esses, his wife Gail, and their front office staff person, Megan. The best auto repair experience I have had in a heck of a long time! My 15 year old Jeep Grand Cherokee has taken me through 151k miles and I have had nearly all work done by Jeep. No longer. I found my mechanic and I’m stick with John and Gail. I had A/C issues, which Jeep told me was something I couldn’t quite believe. On a hunch, I explored Yelp and something took me to Laguna Viejo Auto. I called. Gail answered. Sweetest, most friendly, informed, person I could have asked for. Like a family member, she asked me questions and guided me to possibilities. I felt comfortable. I spoke with my wife and mainly based on the different feeling I was getting from this shop, (compared to Jeep’s Service Dept), I went with Gail and John. I did this based on reviews and a gut feeling. So glad I did. I got my A/C fixed, they found some other issues (valve gaskets, spark plugs, and did a complete survey of my car), all for a fraction of what Jeep was going to do just to ‘fix’ the wrong A/C problem! Never going anywhere else. I’m home again and it is so good to have a mechanic that gives you an honest assessment at a fair price!

Erika Baker

★★★★★

8 months ago

Just had another great experience at Laguna Viejo Auto Service! John and the team are always honest, reliable, and professional. It's such a relief to have a mechanic I can truly trust, they never upsell work and always explain everything clearly. I've been coming here for years and they continue to deliver top notch service. Highly recommend!

Nancy Levyssohn

★★★★★

Edited 2 months ago

Gayle was very friendly which I really appreciate. She was also very clear about what needs to be done, how much it will cost, and when it will be done. John was efficient and it was clear that he is going to provide the best service possible!

Patti Taylor

★★★★★

8 months ago

After driving from Sacramento to Laguna Woods, our car’s maintenance light kept coming on. Being out of town, it was stressful trying to find a trustworthy mechanic. After a quick Google search and seeing all the great reviews, we decided to try Laguna Viejo Auto Service—and we’re so glad we did! The team up front was fantastic—friendly, professional, and quick to get us scheduled. Communication throughout the process was excellent, with regular text updates so we always knew what was going on. The pricing was fair, and the service felt honest and transparent. It’s always a little scary dealing with car issues far from home, but Laguna Viejo Auto Service made the experience easy and stress-free. Highly recommend!

DEMONIC EXTINCTION

★☆☆☆☆

5 months ago

I can't say much because I'm involving licensing the the courts but please do not trust a word this guy says. There is a reason his wife talks over people and explains away all the stuff he damages on your car. Basically I went to a new place and the new place found all the stuff he broke and I called John to get a refund and he got snotty with my. Nope. Sir I work hard for my money and I had to pay another mechanic to fix what you damaged. Not cool.

Tom Tice

★★★★★

2 months ago

Laguna Viejo auto repair is very competent, professional and knows cars. I highly recommend them for service needs. They also repair cars on a timely period.

Heather M. Trudeau

★★★★★

3 months ago

Laguna Viejo Auto was amazing! They fixed my car at a fair rate, communicated with me throughout the process and I was very happy with the entire process. Highly recommend!

Jon Ash

★★★★★

4 months ago

I called here needing a new clutch for my Jeep. I got a quote on the phone in a couple of minutes and dropped off my Jeep a day later. The job was done quickly and they kept to the quote. As a comparison of the two local Jeep dealers, one never answered the phone and also did not reply to an online email request and the other said they could not give me a quote because no one was around who could help. I guess i know where i will go first next time.

Daryl Yokochi

★★★★★

a year ago

If your regular everyday ar has trouble, this is the place. They do a great job troubleshooting and repair. They seem really reasonable and the owner is the one who goes over things with you. My titan had ignition problems. I was expecting a bigger expensive repair job but turned out to be a simple fix. My wife and I feel safe here, not worried about being taken advantage off. And they don’t push you to do other things like replacing timing belts like the dealer does.

pouya beheshto

★☆☆☆☆

a month ago

Had a oil leak on my bmw for couples months, came here once 2 months ago to get it checked and the mechanic said the area is too dirty for him to check what the problem is, so no issue so far it’s ok. Then I come back for a oil change and somewhere else said it’s my drain plug that’s leaking, so I told them to replace that for me and change my oil, and still then it leaked and I went back and he said the same thing, it’s too dirty under to see what it is. I went to 2 other mechanics and not only both of them very easily showed me everything step by step and brought me in the garage to show me the leak, they also said that whoever replaced my drain plug did a horrible job because the plug was super loose. The other mechanics were a lot more professional and showed me that the mechanic here was either being lazy or wanted to charge me for a cleaning. Their customer service is good but their work is very unprofessional. A mechanic should treat every customer like family and they absolutely don’t do it here service wise.

Thomas Jeselson

★★★★★

a month ago

I brought my vehicle in for battery service. I had a lot of white powered build up on my battery terminals & battery tray which is actually dried sulfuric acid. John brought my vehicle in to check the battery. He cleaned the terminals & battery tray. He applied anti corrosion battery coating to the terminals. He told me my battery was in good shape. He also looked into some warning lights that were showing on my dashboard. He did all of this work free of charge. I highly recommend Laguna Viejo Auto!

Rick H

★☆☆☆☆

3 weeks ago

If I could give this company 0 stars I would. I just spoke with a customer rep with the name Megan. All I asked for was a quick estimate because I am planning on dropping my truck off the next day to get this done. I was able to get 2 estimates within 5 minutes over the phone from other auto shops. She refused to give me any information. I have a gmc Sierra 1500 diesel 3.0 liter. It’s not hard to look up. She said she could get me rough estimates, but refused to give it to me on the phone and hung up. I then called back and asked for a manager and refused to let me speak with a manager. If this is how business is done, it’s highly unprofessional. I don’t recommend working with this company as they don’t know how to treat their clients with respect and give their clients what they request. Keep in mind, working for a company for 8 years should be 2nd hand nature on giving out quotes.