He knew I was desperate to find out what was really wrong with my car. Told me he needed to charge hundreds to properly diagnose the car. I paid him $900. He put a starter in it and gave me the car back with the throttle warning light on and the engine light. Now I can't even drive the car because it loses power and im told if I drive it, it will go into limp mode. When I drove right back 5 miss later he completely shirked any and all responsibility for it. I guess Im just another victim to him. Enjoy your mortgage payment Old Man. You are a DISGRACE. I've lived in West Ashley my whole life and I plan on warning everyone I know about this criminal. DISGUSTING read more

I almost get into accidents because this place made mechanical error when they fix my car, they were terrible service, careless, inefficient, and complain for business. It is not safe at all to repair your car at this place, or your life is in danger. read more

i took my car here just to get my breaks looked at. they ended up NOT EVEN LOOKING at the breaks but the rest of the car. It took them three hours because the take a million smoke breaks. Then they charge me almost $400 JUST to have my car LOOKED AT. I have never heard of this in my life. and to top it off, the broke my air vent! it is completely cracked in multiple places and it was not like that when I pulled in! EXTREMELY UNPROFESSIONAL. please do not bring your car here! read more

My review is avoid this place like the plague. Overcharges for shoddy work which needed to be redone. Service horrible but will take your money with a smile read more

I have to say, this shop committed the ultimate sin in the auto repair business. They repaired the vehicle without a quote or consent and I had to pay up. That is fraud to me! Charged $150 for labor on a 15 minute repair. Go elsewhere! read more

Here's how I got in touch with John. I knew that my car needed a $1000 service done, so naturally I started to call around for quotes. I already gotten a couple quotes all within that range but then I called John... First off, John's quote was the lowest .... but what convinced me to work with him was because of what he said next: "You can take my quote and negotiate the quote from AAA down." (I had mentioned to him that I have a AAA membership). His straightforwardness and honesty impressed me so much that I made the appointment with him instead. And I've been having my car serviced with him ever since. read more

Citadel Auto Repair - Auto Repair Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

When I called yesterday afternoon in a panic because I knew my car was literally going to die any minute John answered all my questions & told me I could drop it off as soon as I could get it over there. Had I not needed to be at work on James Island within the hour I would have brought it in right away but alas I dropped it off this morning right after they opened & could not be happier. After running the diagnostics, which took longer than expected because as I mentioned earlier the car finally kicked it, John emailed me over a quote & gave me a call to make sure I understand what needed to be done. I needed a new alternator + battery, all of which I expected. He brought my car back from the dead & I was on my way home by close of business for honestly a lot less than what I was expecting. And I made a few new doggy friends so all & all it's a great place with great service. I'll definitely be back! read more

Our car required extensive and complicated repairs due to a parasitic, battery draw. In addition, we faced other problems such as failing power windows and a very specific radiator coolant being required. Our car is very old and foreign. I thought that we would not be able to complete the necessary repairs and fluid change successfully. However, all the necessary repairs were made and the necessary fluids were added at a very, reasonable cost. John met all these challenges successfully on a modest cost basis and in a timely manner. All our talks were very pleasant, informative and friendly. Due to these circumstances, I highly recommend his car repair shop. read more

Maybe worth it for electrical work, but they charged me $250 to replace the battery in my Toyota. Complete rip-off...I was one of only 2 cars there (came in early ~8 am) and it took them ALL day. The owner was very unprofessional and continually suggested that I may have left lights on while I was shopping...even though I specifically stated that I experienced issues starting the car while leaving work. This was mildly irritating but not surprising, even my partner was getting frustrated with it. Overall not a great experience and CERTAINLY not worth the inflated cost. Go to Gerald's or Autozone, customer service/cost are so much better. read more

I picked Citadel because of the good Yelp reviews even though they were mostly old. Guess I should've paid more attention to the recent one. I certainly won't be back. The quality of the work was not great and they certainly overcharged for the time to complete several projects. I know a little something about auto repairs, plus checked online for each job, and they must have added in several smoke breaks or lunch breaks, which I apparently paid for. They charge $100 per hour, which is high, especially for the quality of service provided. In the end one of the problems I brought them to fix still wasn't working right because they never checked to make sure it was working when they were done. The owner John was very short during a couple of conversations; guess he had better things to do than talk to his customers. Also, their office reeks of dog since they keep two or three in there all day. My recommendation, go somewhere else. I certainly will. read more

I came in to Citadel without an appt yesterday morning when my 1998 Isuzu Oasis threw a "check engine" code. I'm not from here, so it was totally a Yelp-based decision to go to this shop, and I am happy I did. The staff could not have been nicer or more accommodating. They checked out my van right away, gave me a diagnosis, changed a headlight that had been out for week, and changed my oil and transmission fluid--using ONLY Honda-recommended fluids, I might ad (that is SO important). It only took about 1.5 hours beginning to end, which was amazing considering they didn't know I was coming and had to go get the right fluids for my vehicle. It's only been a day, but my van is running great, the engine light didn't come back on, and my headlight is working great. I am hopeful it stays that way. But when I left they said "If you get a check engine light again, just come on back and we'll see if something else is amiss." And I know they will. Great service. Super friendly. Dedicated to doing things right the first time. Can't ask for more. read more

I made an appointment for 8:30 am to have a device installed in my car. When i arrived i was told they would not be able to do the work, the technician did not show for work, come back Monday. Not a chance! read more

Bad way to start the day. Rude and dismissive. Didn't have time to hear me out. While my '91 Ford Probe is nearly 30 years old I bought it new and have maintained it pristinely. I was told by John that people who own a car that old can't afford to fix it, and he was too busy anyway. When I asked if he could recommend someone, he had no answer. I chose his repair shop based on what were favorable reviews. I am not sure we are reviewing the same person/business. Given my experience with John Yeager, I will never, nor will I encourage anyone to use his services. What ever accolades he has been given must have been for rudeness and unprofessional behavior. At that, he is exceptional. read more

I was on vacation in Charleston and had needed a mechanic. Citadel took me right in and fixed me right up at a great price. They came up with a way to repair not replace the broken part and only charged $45.00!! I highly recommend these very friendly folks!! read more

One of the best experiences I have had at a car shop. I had gone to a treadquarters and off course they told me a bunch of stuff that after John looked at it told me I didn't need. He is very knowledgeable, his mechanics are as well, and the service was fast. I got in, had to wait for the parts to come, they had to take the CAR for an alignment, and come back all within three hours. Well worth my time. read more

My son is attending the Citadel in Charleston ......and being from out of town had to find an auto repair shop ...Thanks Yelp ......I call down to Citadel Auto and the guy on the phone was helpful and setup to get my sons car towed to his shop .....had it fix and at a very reasonable price ....and made arrangement to have my son pick the car up after hours Thanks to Yelp and Citadel Auto read more

I had to get a new radiator when my car was over heating ...John was very helpful and honest while another shop gave me a $1000 list of parts I "needed" ...only mechanic I trust ....highly recommend citadel auto and their team... read more

I was very pleased with my service at Citadel Auto Repair. At first, my car issue was misdiagnosed and I had to return the next day, BUT, John gave me a HUGE discount for the repair that ended up fixing the issue. As a female, it is always nice to find a place that doesn't try to take advantage of you. He owned the mistake and made it right. I will definitely be returning. read more

These folks are honest and quick with repairs. My truck broke down on the side of 26 and I had it towed here due to the good reviews on yelp. They got back to me the same day with their findings. Turns out that it was a quick fix and we didn't need to order any new parts, as I had expected. Their competence and willingness to go the extra mile has earned them a new lifelong customer. Any other corporate owned shop would have just assumed I needed a new fuel pump; turns out that these guys researched and traced the circuitry to get to the root of my problem and didn't try to upsell me. They're really here to take care of you. read more

I went from being very impressed, to somewhat disappointed, to very impressed again with this place. Here's why: I came in not long before they were planning to close with multiple "Symptoms" that my car had suddenly started having a few days ago . I know my car, and I could tell it was working really hard whenever I accelerated, and that something was very wrong, further confirmed by the fact that every time I would drive a distance of only, say, 20 minutes, the coolant would be completely used up. I had had my car looked at by a few people before I got to Citadel, including someone with a computer reader. None of them could figure out what was wrong, and when I got to citadel auto they figured it out within literally about three minutes. They said I needed a new catalytic converter, and that I could leave my car there overnight and have it ready by noon the next day. I found a ride home and left it there. My disappointment came in the next day, when their communication and timeliness were a bit lacking. When I hadn't heard from them by 3 PM, I gave them a call and asked about the status of the car. I heard some back-and-forth yelling in the background which indicated that no one had even started working on the car. this was a bit problematic, as the ride I had to figure out to get over there was no longer available. When I called them again around 4:15, they said they were working on it and that they had also discovered my gaskets needed to be replaced, and that it would've cost an extra $40. I was a bit miffed because it seemed to me they would have put them in without consulting me about the additional cost before hand if I have not called them, but I eventually agreed to let my gaskets be replaced, but still. It also was a bit disappointing that when I expressed my concern about the fact the car was worked on much later than the time they had given me, the shop owner said it was because of the gaskets, but I know that wasn't true because they only discovered they needed to be replaced after I called them the first time at 3. I had to get a cab over there by then because they were closing too soon for me to arrange another ride (costing me a pretty penny extra unfortunately) and here's where I became impressed again. When I drove away, it was very clear from the difference in my car's behavior that they had figured out what was wrong. It was driving exactly the way it should've been,and better than it has in a while. In summary, my takeaway was this: they are nice people that are very good at their job. I would be wary about going to them if your schedule is very tight. I got lucky because this day happened to be much more open than any on my schedule usually are. But, if you've got time on your hands, and you want good work done at a decent price by people who know what they're doing, this is the place to go. Next time I need something major done I will likely go back to them, and hopefully I'll be able to give them the full five stars then! read more

We were in town on vacation our car developed a very loud screeching sound from near the back tire. Found Citadel Repair on Yelp and gave him a call. He couldn't have been nicer! He got us in short notice and let us know it was the brake wear indicator. Went ahead and had him change out the rear brakes. After a couple of hours (a nice long lunch at the Thai place next door, which by the way is very good!) we were on our way. Price was very reasonable. Thanks John! read more

Citadel auto-repair is the best place I've been to in Charleston. The guys there know what they're doing and they're very fair to their customers. We needed a new catalytic converter for our car, and these guys got the job done and found a new part within a day. This would have cost me thousands at the dealership, Citadel really gave us a deal. I'm going to bring back all my cars to them. It also helps that they've got cute dogs in the office. You wont be disappointed if you take your car to Citadel. read more

An Honest** Mechanic!! As a young female student, I am usually weary of mechanics, as I've had many bad experiences. I'm so happy to have found John, at Citadel Auto, as he has only been honest and, being so, a proper businessman. He seems to truly understand the importance of retaining business (and surely acquiring new business) through honesty and looking out for his clientele- sadly so hard to find these days. John will not let me pay for anything I do not need at the moment; he tells me when those things will be needed and gives time to save the money to fix things; he is honest about pricing, going through all pricing options; John did not charge me to look at my car recently, although Firestone would have replaced a fairly expensive part without even checking to see if I needed it!; finally, John is very happy to help his customers by phone, even after hours and very kindly took the time out to call and check on how my car was running! Exceptional service, very customer-oriented, knowledgeable, and passionate about his business. I hope others who have had trouble finding a good mechanic come across this review- this is the guy to entrust with your car. He also specializes in electrical issues. read more

Citadel replaced the starter in my car and did a fantastic job at a great price. The owners and employees were extremely helpful and knowledgeable. The final price was actually cheaper than the quoted price. We had a great experience and I highly recommend them. read more

Pick up my car today. I was very pleased with the service received. My car was fixed in a timely manner and priced fairly with the customer in mind. They were honest about repairs and if I didn't need something they told me. I will definitely return and tell all my friends about this garage! Oh, and the warranty on repairs and parts is as good as the dealerships! I was very impressed! read more

Great service. They took me back to the garage to show me what was wrong, explained what I needed. I recommend this shop.

My son and I came to Charleston to visit after he'd finished as a camp counselor in Eastern Tennessee. Something was obviously wrong with his car. We'd called Citadel on the way and John said to stop by when we got to Charleston. The problem was the rear brakes and rotors. We got there at 12:00 pm and he had them fixed for us by 9:00 the next morning. We were so impressed. He's very nice also. Fortunately, another son was meeting us from Atlanta so we had wheels in the meantime. We were so thankful he could replace them right away. Great service!! read more