Brought my 32 Ford show car to them on a recommendation from a very reliable source because I didn't want to take it to a regular shop. I called on a Tuesday to see when they could look at it. Tom got me in that Thursday. I had it towed to the shop, and they immediately took a look at it and said they'd call when they had some information. About two hours later, the phone rang and it was Tom. They adjusted my valves, and took care of a few other things I hadn't noticed. I'm not taking any of my hotrods to anyone else now... and I'm VERY fussy! read more

5* I've been taking my cars to Tom's for years, and I honestly wouldn't go anywhere else. Tom's --an OG who clearly knows motors like the back of his hand and is trustworthy and skilled mechanics I've ever met. He's helped me out so many times over the years, always giving me honest advice and fair prices. No upselling, no nonsense--just real, solid work from someone who genuinely cares about his customers. read more

I called Tom to see about getting a battery exchanged in my vehicle, and unfortunately, he was out sick, but was very kind. After we hung up, he called me back and directed me on where to go and said to say that he sent me. The place he directed me to was great and able to take care of my needs. I really appreciated that he took the time to call me back, especially while not feeling well! Great service means a lot, and this was definitely above and beyond, even for such a quick encounter. Thank you, Tom! read more

Tom is a straight shooter: honest, businesslike, friendly in a no-nonsense way and reasonably priced for the high quality of the work he does. Good auto mechanics are a rare breed. Tom is a great one. read more

When you get a referral you get good stuff and BIG JOHNSON's AUTOMOTIVE is good stuff. period. Honest and grease. thats all you need. YOu just can't get that kind of stuff these days. I've got a ...well old car 10+, and I love it, you know the kind of car you just can't trade in - the one you that you will be buried in-understand. Good service is all I can say here - big johnson's is hip - now and always a referral kinda of gig. Hot rods are recommended and thick black coffee in the waiting room with old charmers of the dog kind too - what more could your automotive dollar fix it ask for. Good times good times! Thank you TOM read more

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My wife and I were visiting Santa Rosa from San Jose. My alternator shorted out at 3:30pm on Friday Tom brought his jumper box over, we got the car started, and got it to his shop. Car was back on the road in an hour or so, and our trip was saved! If you are looking for a guy who REALLY cares, and does great work, under pressure, Big Johnsons is the place to go. Thanks Tom, you saved our vacation! read more

I don't usually write reviews but I felt Big Johnson's deserves Recognition for their no nonsense, prompt service, and ability to help someone out. I took my vintage car to Tommy at a friends referral to see if he could help me get my classic car fixed and back on the road. I recommend him very highly. They took all of the stress and worry out of being able to trust someone working on something so special. They were quick and I have to say it was comforting to be able to trust them in today's day and age. Very honest, I would recommend them for your auto servicing and repair needs. Thank you Tommy and company. Al Musetti read more

I went to another shop on the Avenue and after making me wait an hour and charging me $200, they told me I needed almost $3,000.00 worth of repairs to my vehicle. My co-worker told me about Big Johnson's. I went down for him to look at my vehicle. In 15 minutes, he told me what needed to be done. He looked over the estimate from the other place and he and his employee just stared at one another in disbelief. The other place was trying to take advantage of me and they didn't give me a full estimate. So it would have been closer to $4,000.00 and take over a week to complete the repairs. Big Johnson's did the repairs in less than 24 hours and for $1,100.00! The guy is awesome and he has a good crew working for him. I highly recommend this shop and I don't generally review places. read more

Honest, reasonable and friendly. That to me are the three top qualities to seek out in a mechanic. Tom, the owner of Big Johnson's, conveys all of these qualities and treats your vehicle as if it were his own. He is quick, honest and will only repair what needs it, no up selling here! I like that I can take my car here and know I am getting a good price, and honest labor. Two thumbs up! read more

My husband and I were exceptionally happy with our choice to bring our car to Tom, He did our repair faster than I could have hoped, gave us honest answers to our questions, and never tried to "sell" us anything. Also, his dogs are adorable. But seriously, this is the kind of shop we've been looking for since we moved back to Santa Rosa. We're really pleased. read more

I have been taking my vehicles to Tom Johnson (Big Johnson's) for years. He is about the most honest mechanic I have ever trusted my auto too and equally talented. I spent more than 10 years writing about cars and the people in the auto business for the Press Democrat and feel comfortable saying Tom Johnson shines in comparison to many of those working in the auto field. I asked him once if he worked on Lexus models. His comeback was, "It's just a Toyota." He's right on the money and right on the task. I couldn't recommend him more highly for how quickly he can turn around great work. Thanks Tom for working on my "Toyota." read more

Great mechanic. Knowledgeable, professional, courteous, and patient. Took a month for me to get back to pick up my car and there was still service with a smile! Wonderful quality of work as well--he took an old beater of a truck and restored it to a functioning automobile. If you're in the area and need a mechanic, Big Johnson's is a great choice. read more

Tom does a great job on my Acura. I always know he is only going to do what is needed. And if something unexpected comes up he will let me know. The loaner car is a big bonus. Personal service, great rates, great work. Definitely recommended. read more

I own a small moving business here in Santa Rosa .Had a serious brake problem with one of my big trucks .I found Tom at Big Johnson's here on Yelp. I was hoping to find someone here locally with good reviews that was willing to work on it . He said "it just nuts and bolts shouldn't be a problem " ............ Well the job ended up being much bigger than expected , when my motor blew up on the way to drop it off at his shop. When it comes to mechanics this guy really knows his stuff. He was able to not only fix my brakes , but had a new motor in my 24 footer within 10 days .With his help my business is back up and running , and that means the world to me ! Thank you Tom , I don't know what I would have done without your help ! A+ read more

He was not communicative about what he did to my car for $315 he was offended when I asked him since it was a 50,000 mile check up I would've liked to have known if he checked all the fluid did he check the brakes he up charge the parts terrible would not go back to him read more

Tom is great. He'll do you right. Going to him for over 10 years now. He worked on my '64 T-Bird. Toyota Tacoma and recently, my 2002 Lexus 430 SC read more

This is a no-nonsense car shop. Tom was incredibly helpful and flexible when my truck broke down. He was able to diagnose the issue with the truck and flexible with my tricky situation (I'm not from the area and had to leave the truck with him). Tom is honest and straightforward, exactly what I want from an automotive shop. read more

Tom did a perfect job on my Tundra's timing belt a while ago, but more recently I brought him my nightmare project. A 65 Mustang that I'd fought and fought and fought - rebuilt carb, new fuel pump, new lines, fresh fuel, plugs, wires, points, etc. I could not make the thing run for anything. Tom dug in and in a few hours figured out what was wrong. Had parts in that day and the car sorted out fast. And at an incredibly fair price. Fast, honest, reliable - you can't ask for more than that. Thanks! read more

I found Tom on Yelp because I needed some minor auto repairs and wanted someone who had good reviews. Let me mention that I did call and bring my car to another shop in town and they wanted to charge big dollars just to diagnose. I guess that is typical, however, I don't have money to burn which led me to Yelp and finding Tom. When I called him he let me know he didn't charge to diagnose which immediately put me at ease. It's so easy to be taken advantage of when you're a female who knows nothing about cars! Tom not only fixed my vehicle issues, but went out of his way and did not empty my bank account! I am so happy to have found a mechanic that I can trust and will continue to bring my vehicle to him for service and repair, and will be a great referral source too! read more

I bought a used Ford Pick-up truck and wanted to make sure it was up and running good. I didn't know of any mechanic to really trust and my experience at the Ford Dealership was nothing more than them adding more and more to the bill. I was so glad to those who wrote about Tom at Big Johnson's. I have to say he is awesome and a hero! He is straight to the point and knows his stuff. Because my work hours are not the usual 9-5, it is great that he allows for drop off after hours too. Tom looked it over and gave me recommendations for the truck of her age and things for me to keep in mind when taking care of her. It is great to have someone not only you trust, but someone who is genuine and to the point. You can tell he is a guy who does what he loves. Very fair price and excellent shop! read more

This guy saved my bacon. AAA said my starter was out and I needed to pick up 3 children from school in less than two hours. They saw me immediately and also replaced my near death battery. Thank you!!! read more

Big Johnsons Automotive is a great repair shop. Every time I have something that needs to get done I price about 3 shops to get the best deal. Big Johnsons on fire with competative pricing. I've had him done some work in the past year and have been totally satisfied. I can't usually say that I'm totally satisfied, but I would recommend Tom over any other shop in the north bay. read more

Tom is a great and honest mechanic...the kind you always want to find...I highly recommend him and won't go to anyone else!

Tommy and JJ are great! They got me in right away. I was a bit concerned about going to a new shop as i have trust issues with all mechanics and especially dealerships since its so easy to get taken advantage of. Ford dealership wanted to screw me, take 3 weeks to do a repair and charge me 3 times the price. Big Johnson did a fantastic job and the price was reasonable, and the timing was fast. The reason they have a 5 star ratings because they rock!! I will return to Big Johnson automotive in the future for any car needs while in Santa Rosa area. I would recommend Big Johnson to anyone looking for car repairs. They are honest, talented, nice guys. read more

Tom has gone above and beyond to help me with our cars. He is honest and explains everything to me. He is reasonable, has a strong work ethic and morals to do the right thing. If a part is faulty he covers it and makes sure that he holds his end of the bargain up. There are no gimmicks and no hidden costs. I can't recommend him enough. read more

Tom did the work I asked, and when he couldn't do part of it (rebuilding the AC), he found someone who could and got it done for me. He replaced shocks, installed seat belts, replaced a battery box, and replaced brake lines for me on a vintage car I had recently purchased. Drove it to Sacramento. The brakes failed on the trip. Turned out to be the master cylinder (which clearly was not Tom's fault), but the mechanic who fixed it for me in Sacramento (A-tech Mobile Auto) checked the wheel cylinders (which were in dire need of replacement and the brakes shoes, which were rubbing because they weren't the correct part for this car). I'll definitely go back to Tom for future work, but I wish he had checked the other aspects of the brakes while it was in the shop with him. He's a really great guy to talk with and seems to enjoy what he does. read more

Got me in the same day I called (Christmas Eve), does all the work himself. Fast and accurate. Quality work for a competitive price.

I chose Big Johnson's based on Yelp's reviews that he was truly an honest and more importantly, knowledgeable mechanic. Though his shop is small, the photos adorning his walls of drag cars and finely tuned machines was a true symbol of his prowess in all things mechanical. I needed both a suspension change and a new engine mount. He was able to give me an honest assessment, a fair price, and a timely repair on my car. I feel quite fortunate that I've found a great and reliable mechanic in Santa Rosa. Thanks for your help, Big Johnson's! read more

This is a mechanic you can trust, who will always answer even the dumbest questions, and will take excellent care of your car. Whether you have a fancy hot rod, or a boring little commuter car, the service you'll receive at Big Johnsons will always be outstanding! read more

Tom is the best Mechanic in town! He's looking to find the best solution for your car. Don't let chains and big mechanic shops take advantage of you always go to Tommy for any questions about your car. He's saved mine and my husbands cars multiple times as well as all my friend! Love you Tom Johnson thank you for all you do to make what can be such an expense and pain in the butt into an easy fix for an amazing price! read more

What can I say except absolutely amazing. This is the second time we've brought our car to him and both times he has done a fabulous job. Not to mention the prices are a lot better than what you're going to pay at Firestone. He's a man you can trust. read more

Did a great job of repairing my 69 Jeep. Kept me informed throughout the process. Will definitely use him for any future repairs or upgrades. And will recommend him to all my friends. read more

I have worked in the automotive/transportation industry for years. I used to manage a nationwide chain store in S.F. But now I am no longer working at a shop, and I have entered the "customer/consumer" ranks. Looking for a "small town" type repair facility, I found Big Johnson's Auto. The owner, Tom Johnson, has been a mechanic for ever it seems. He's worked on classic muscle cars, drag race cars, custom hot rods, and even just regular modern daily drivers. In this day and age it is hard to find a shop that you can trust to be experienced with modern cars, trustworthy that they know what they are doing, and wont rip you off. Hard to find one of those types of shops these days. Big Johnson's is THAT shop. Tom's prices are lower, his work is better, and he stands behind what he does. You really get that "small town shop" feeling at Big Johnson's Auto. Thanks Tom. The car runs great, you saved me a lot of money, and I told you I would be telling everyone! read more

Honest and genuine mechanic, he is not out to gouge anyone, he solved my oil leak problem without charging me an arm and a leg like 3 other mechanics were quoting me. He explained in simple words, not evasive in any way, that's because he knows his stuff well and it means he is experienced and very well educated on car mechanics. He didn't charge me $600+ to replace 3 gaskets/seals, like all others instead he diagnosed the problem by using the dye to detect where the oil leak was coming from and then explained in simple terms and common sense how oil seeps down, not up, and how my leak was coming from a cheap oil filter gasket I had put on in Walmart (the cheapest parts ever! will never go back there). Then explained how the oil pan gasket very rarely needs replacement!!!! but all others wanted to charge me $200 bucks to change it! oil around was actually coming from above not the oil pan gasket being worn out!!!! and also explained how the top cover gasket did not need replacement either, oil around it is common for the 13 year old age of my car and high mileage, but that's no reason to change it!!! All in all he only charged me $25 bucks for dye, lifting car, inspecting, explaining and showing me, replacing oil filter with a better on and said to keep an eye on it, if leak continues then we'll take further steps to search for culprit of oil leak. I love this mechanic! God bless him for his surgery to be a success, he is going in the next few days and he will have some down time, so my prayers are with him. I wish him all the best in his surgery and recovery and hope you take your car there and see how honest he is, people like him do great for humanity!! and get to sleep at night :) Happy I found a mechanic I can take my Honda '96 to for all kinds of work, except body work ofcourse! read more

WOW! Love this guy. My check engine light was on. I called him and told him the history. The next day I went to his shop, he hooked up the computer to my car, looked at the engine, checked with the #s and my car was good to go. Thank you Tom! No charge, the cars good and the service was excellent. I have finally found an honest mechanic, who doesn't see a woman as easy $. I had gone to some AA*co that claimed they would tell me for free what was wrong. lol, they were. $150.00 just to really check, and that wouldn't go towards the bill. Thank god that there are good people still out there. read more

Is there such a thing as an honest mechanic? YES! Tom is as good as they can possibly come. He will tell you the truth and charges fairly. He is the one that works on your car too. He is like having a mechanic in the family! We have been bringing all three of our cars to Tom for the past five years. I can't recommend him highly enough. He is also right next door to Fischer's Auto Body. They can fix the body of your car, and Tom can fix the engine! He also sells tires at a better price than the big box stores and stands behind his work. read more

Took both our cars in for repairs recently. Tom provided very honest opinions and made a very quick diagnosis/repair on my 95 Cherokee. He wasn't even going to charge us! Great to find a mechanic that we trust. We will be back here for future needs. read more

Tommy came In on his day off to fix my car. Previous to taking my car to Big Johnsons the only solution, I was told, would be $600. He fixed my car in 5 minutes and the part needed was less than $5. Thank you Tommy for being such an Honest man. I so appreciate Everything you did for me today. I have taken my cars to Big Johnsons for years and recommend this business 100% read more

OK I have to admit the name "Big Johnsons", the big pink building and the two dogs that greet you at the counter (one actually growls at you) does not come across as an overly welcoming atmosphere. But do I really care. NO I just want my car fixed right without breaking the bank! That is why I can't say enough good things about Tom. He just saved me and my friend over $2000.00 on our old vehicles. We had taken both of our vehicles to another place for an alignment. We were told that we needed ball joints and other services totalling $1,300 for my vehicle and around $850 for my friends. They also said that our vehicles would NOT align without fixing those problems. We both have very old vehicles that may not be worth more than $2,000. lol After crying over thinking of spending money I don't have, I called Tom and he said I understand that you just want to get your older vehicles aligned without putting alot of money and fixing them up because they may not be worth much and that you also don't want to ruin the new tires you had put on without an alignment. $195.00 later both vehicles are on the road and steering straight ahead. I will definitely be back... but I hope not anytime soon. :) read more