Rod's Japanese Auto Care

Sarah Palmer

★★★★★

3 weeks ago

I got an inspection and oil change here for my Subaru Crosstrek and it was excellent! I’m glad I found a place I can trust for all my car needs.

R. Colin Kennedy

★★★★★

3 months ago

Rod's has been great - thorough in diagnosis, high-quality work, and so nice to work with. A 20+ year-old, high-mileage car that I always wanted came my way, and Rod's did a fantastic end-to-end inspection, and has done wonders for getting the vehicle dialed so I can really enjoy it.

Dave Bishop

★★★★★

a month ago

I have a 2008 Prius. They got me in right away for a car issue. They were super great at telling me about my car's issues and make sure it will last me some more years!! Explained and showed me pictures all the repairs!

Ty DenHartog

★★★★★

a month ago

Excellent experience with this place! Brought my Lexus here to get a second opinion, and they discovered that the previous mechanic shop had definitely misdiagnosed my car. Between that and them working with my warranty company, they potentially saved me thousands of dollars. I’ll only be taking my car here from now on.

Bradley Loyd

★★★★★

3 months ago

I was changing out my bulbs for my front blinkers and one of them broke. It was the basic bulb that's all glass with two wires at the bottom for the connection. Anyways, my back has been thrown out so I can't get down and take the bumper off and all that to get to the back of the lens, so I went into Rod's. It was really close to closing and I was just trying to see if it could be taken care of. The guy in the office said they only had one tech, mind you this is during all the flooding so I totally understood, but he offered to help and did. He pulled the broken bulb out, the LED bulb I wanted to replace it with couldn't fit because the previous bulb had melted the reflector and you could see that from across the room. He offered to try a regular bulb so that I could at least get back on the road and I said yes and that I would order a new headlight lens to replace it. He put it in and it's been working no problem. I was ready to go into the office afterwards to pay but he said don't worry about it. I told him I would order a new headlight lens and bring my car back. He was out there replacing something simple but was getting absolutely soaked by the rain and helped me out for free, it was cold and I'm a big guy so that's saying something, so yeah 110% I'll be going back.

Cade Corvus

★★★★☆

2 months ago

Overall, a good experience at this shop. I had just bought a car and had them inspect it. Turned out I was sold a car with some major issues like failing differential, and had to go through a whole hassle with a warranty company. Rod's was a VERY big help in dealing with the warranty company to get repair funds approved and did a lot of that leg work for me, which was incredibly appreciated. The one issue I did have was some lapse of communication: the approved repair funds were set at a certain amount, and Rod's told me they'd be in contact with me if there would be any needed repairs that exceeded funds from the warranty company. They only contacted me when repairs were all done, and only then did they tell me there was an additional $780 due. I was pretty disappointed in that to be honest; I do understand they likely wanted to make sure the car was as taken care of as possible, and when I said I was very caught of guard by the extra amount they did manage to bring it down to $500. They did great with repairs and I am definitely grateful that my car runs very well now and I would still recommend them; just note that communication may need to be very clear about expectations for cost.

Collin Buckley

★☆☆☆☆

Edited a month ago

Update: On 10/25/25 my wife struck a deer in our 2018 Tesla 3, damaging the cooling system. We had it towed to Rod's on 10/28 for diagnosis and repair if possible as they advertised as a Tesla certified shop. (See attached) They replaced the broken coolant pipes and skid plate and then determined that the battery would not charge. On Rod's recommendation that the cost of diagnosing the and replacing/fixing the battery would constitute a total, we made an insurance claim. After the field adjuster report, Country determined that Rod's was not a certified Tesla repair shop and we would need to have it assessed at one. After the approved shop in Bellingham, No. 1 Automotive, would not look at it after an uncertified shop had worked on it. After a long back and forth with Tesla, we were finally able to get it towed Bellevue Tesla on 2/2/2026. They determined that Rod's had improperly fixed the coolant system and were able to recharge the battery at a cost of $1035, significantly less than the $2434.00 charged by Rods. We feel that the false advertising of a Tesla certification which resulted in faulty repair and poor diagnosis should be recompensated for the total amount we paid: $3,469.00 Warning to Tesla Owners: In October, we brought our 2018 Tesla 3 in after hitting a deer and breaking the coolant system based on a Google search of certified Tesla repair shops in Whatcom County. They diagnosed the broken coolant tubes, repaired the exposed tubes and the car would not re-charge. At this point they advised us that it would need a new battery and they would advise making anU[ insurance claim to total the vehicle. 2 months later, we were denied our claim as Rods is not a certified Tesla shop based on both the insurance company and Tesla's own recommendations. We moved the car to another certified shop in town who will not diagnose since Rod's looked at it first and they won't take the liability. In the meantime, Rods charged our insurance company for storage fees while we, not them, battled with insurance and Tesla. We are left storing the vehicle at our home while we try to find a shop willing to diagnose our vehicle and paying for a replacement vehicle out of pocket. Do not trust this company with your EV under any circumstances. We will be contacting the better business bureau as well.

Tia Ibarra

★★★★★

4 months ago

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I just moved to Bellingham and needed some car repairs. This shop had a lot of great reviews, so I decided to give them a call — and I’m so glad I did! From the start, Zach was incredibly friendly and professional. They were able to get my car in quickly for a diagnosis, and I was really impressed by how thorough they were. I love that they provide a complete analysis with pictures and detailed explanations. As someone who isn’t very mechanically inclined, it made it so much easier to understand what needed attention and why. Their communication was excellent throughout the entire process — I received reminder texts, updates on the diagnosis, the repair timeline, and pickup details. They got me in and out faster than I expected, and Zach made the whole experience easy and not intimidating at all. He was upfront and transparent about pricing, explained everything clearly, and was just genuinely personable. During checkout, he even shared a bit about the history of the company, which was really cool — it gave me a sense of the people and values behind the business. After I got home, I watched their company video and was able to put faces to the names he mentioned. Their purpose and messaging definitely shined through in my experience as a customer. Couldn’t have asked for a better experience, and Zach even encouraged me to reach out if I had any questions or concerns afterward. — I highly recommend! 💕

Ashley Walbrek

★★★★★

2 months ago

Cannot recommend Rod’s enough! Jake and Brittany were fantastic to work with. They both took the time to explain the issue we were having with our vehicle and talked through all the options with us. Very informative and transparent about what was needed, costs, etc. We even ended up not needing one of the services they originally thought we needed and, unlike other shops that would have done it anyway, they saved us several hundred dollars by not performing unnecessary services. We will only be taking our cars here from now on!

Olivia Marioni

★★★★★

3 weeks ago

Amazing care at Rod's!! Called for a quote on a dead headlight, spoke with Zach who swapped the bulb out in 5 minutes for no charge! Straight-forward, hospitable, and reliable service, only a few miles North of Downtown. Worth the drive, Thank you Zach!

Marli Miller

★★★★★

a month ago

I can't say enough great things about my experience with Zach and his wonderful shop. Last August, I was traveling through Bellingham and my rear wheel bearings went bad--and Zach went out of his way to accommodate me and fix my car quickly. But not only did he do great work, but his warm friendly demeanor put me right at ease from the start. So thank you Zach! Even six months later I'm still remembering my experience fondly!

Riley Blotteaux

★★★★★

2 months ago

I recently bought a used sequoia that by all accounts seemed super clean for its age, minimal rust, clean history report, and on the lower end of mileage. It had some wear and tear on the interior so it was priced slightly lower than comparable ones, nothing out of the ordinary. After a clean initial inspection, I pulled the trigger, and immediately took it to Rod's for a deeper dive. Now I was expecting it might need some basic work, but it was a lower mileage Toyota, so I was not super concerned. After an oil dye test, we found it to be leaking oil from the upper oil pan. I have buddies with 200k+ mile tundras, and did plenty of research on what to look out for when buying a sequoia, this was not something I had ever heard of. Unfortunately, this is likely one of the most extensive repairs needed on a sequoia, and had a price tag to prove it. With a warranty on the vehicle, and a report in hand, I went back to the dealer to get everything sorted. To their credit (after performing their own dye test, which took some driving miles), they got me sorted with zero issue. However, before going back to the dealer to see if we would have a problem getting it fixed, and after driving ~ 500 miles to allow the dye to seep out of the problem area, Zach let me steal some time on his lift to educate me further. He and a technician took the time, at no charge, to point out exactly where the oil was leaking, and helped me get photos at the best angles. With extra photos, and clear visual of what was happening, it was hard to deny problem. Zach reached out via text a number of times to let me know he was happy to help in any way he could with the dealer, which was beyond what he needed to do. Once everything was fixed, I had the crew at Rod's do some routine work, as well as glance over what the dealer had done. Happy to report everything looked good. It is no understatement that they saved me a TON of money. I like to work on my vehicles when I have the time, but I am no mechanic, and don't have a lot of free time. I can confidently say the team at Rod's genuinely wants to do right by their customers, which is kind of rare today. The work is always done well, and at a reasonable price. Go here for work, you won't regret it. Thank you to the team at Rod's!

Brian Johnson

★★★★★

3 weeks ago

I called up Monday morning to try to get my truck in for a alignment after I installed a lift kit over the weekend. Zach was able to squeeze me in to there schedule , and the technicians did a great job. The staff is very personable and they were able to clearly explain everything they accomplished. I would definitely recommend them.

Selena Smith

★★★★★

3 weeks ago

They do really top tier work here. After getting my car back from them, it’s running better than it ever since being with me. They truly care about their work & their customers. They’ve proven this to me through the MANY hiccups my car put in front of us. During this time, their loaner cars were super helpful, as I could utilize them while my car was in the shop. Finding the right mechanic can feel uncertain & stressful, but I can confidently say you and your car will be well cared for in the hands of those at Rod Japanese Auto Care. I know I won’t be going anywhere else for a vehicle needs. :)

Diana Ochs

★★★★★

a month ago

Very kind, honest, trustworthy automotive professionals who know Japanese cars through and through! I took my Subaru there for an oil change and inspection, and they did a thorough job going over my vehicle with me before a big road trip. They found some big issues that would have definitely left me stranded in an unfortunate situation had I not addressed them, and let me know what work I should expect in the future. I appreciate their expertise and willingness to work with my schedule, and even had a loaner car for me to borrow! Overall incredible service and people. I would highly recommend if you are seeking quality work from reputable mechanics.

Bryana Mumm

★★★★★

3 weeks ago

I’ve been taking my car to Rod’s for 11 years. I’ve seen a lot of changes over the years. The current management is doing an amazing job. I can get my car in right away for minor to major repairs, which is important since I only have one car. They also provide courtesy loaner cars. Turnaround time on most jobs is quick. One thing that can hold it up is the time it takes to get the necessary part(s) and that is out of their control. A standout feature is their warranty. They guarantee their repairs for longer than any other shop I have done business with. I have had warranty work done at no cost already. Mechanics are very thorough when doing inspections. I would rather catch things before they become a problem and leave me stranded looking for a tow truck. As for customer service, I have mostly dealt with Zach in the last couple of years. He is friendly and very up front about repairs and cost. I trust him and value his opinion. Recently, I have also dealt with Brittany and she is also doing a great job in providing quality customer service.

Claire Steffe

★★★★★

3 weeks ago

This was by far the best experience I’ve ever had at a mechanic shop. I have a Toyota so they had so much experience with my car and knew exactly how to take care of it. They were able to get me in quickly and when it came to discussing what needed to be repaired, Zach was amazing. He was honest and kind with me, helping me understand what was essential work. My car needed a lot done and I was from out of town so he helped work with my situation and prioritized my safety and what was best for the car. On top of that they got the work done within a day! Everyone at the shop was so friendly and I felt valued as a person and wasn’t just a customer to them. Highly highly recommend this spot!