I have had a relationship with Cliff Brown automotive for over 10 years my family and I have been taking all of our cars there. After this last experience I will never recommend this shop and I'm apauld with the service we received. I took my vehicle in because it was overheating and leaking some fluid. I was expecting a $200-$300 based off the initial information I was given. I ended up with a bill for over $2000 and a car that is no longer work 6 weeks later. The car was making some unusual noises and untimately stopped work due a blown head gasket and faulty thermostat. When the vehicle broke down it did not indicate that it was overheating had the thermostat been working I would have been notified that the vehicle was overheating and I would have pulled over and not continue driving it well because I continue driving it cuz I did not know it was overheating we now have a blown head gasket which has left me stranded without a car and has been costly due to the obligations I've missed and Uber rides I've had to pay for. I've now contacted the shop on three separate occasions trying to work out a resolution that were both happy with. At minimum I was expecting them to either offer to cover the repairs to fix the car or refund me for the work that was done so that I can pay in a different shop to fix the car. The car will not take responsibility for this they have not offered to work with me on getting the car fixed and in essence that basically told me there's nothing they can do to help. On their invoices states that their work is guaranteed. If their work was guaranteed wouldn't they be fixing the problem free of charge? Wouldn't they be happy just to refund me for the work they did? This is not the case they are not guaranteeing work and on top of that they're ruining a relationship with my family and I who have been bringing cars our car there for over 10 years. What they are doing can't be legal. read more

Had a great experience here even though it was just a smog check! Quick, friendly service and the best price in town for my 1994 Toyota pickup. That is, of course, with the Reader coupon that I clipped and presented when i arrived. I couldn't help but notice a truck one year older than mine parked in front. I inquired about the mileage on said truck and the gentleman at the counter told me it had 1.5. I said, "Huh"? Yes 1.5 million miles, without even a complete engine rebuild! This infamously bulletproof engine, the Toyota 22RE, was by far the best engine ever designed and produced. Mine has 244,500 and still passes the smog check easily. It is a thrasher truck, but I refuse to let it go until it won't pass smog.. I used to take this old truck to San Diego Smog and auto repair, which was the same corporation and just down the road. They have always had the coupon in the Reader, and it applied to both locations. Apparently, they lost the lease at 4664 Park blvd and have just this location now. On a side note, even Johnston's lost their lease on Park Blvd, and I was just there a few months ago. Super-prime real estate here and high rent is making it tough. Hopefully these guys are not affected by this as time passes. read more

I just had new tires put on my car and as always Cliff Brown Automotive did a great job. I ordered the tires 2 days ago and this morning they put them on. Terry is always great with customer service. If you have car problems I highly recommend Cliff Brown Automotive. I have been coming here for a few years and they are great. Don Lutz read more

I took my old Chevy Sonic here last year to replace some hoses and they did a great job for a fair price. Fast forward to Saturday night, my car was making weird engine noises so I had it towed to them even though they were closed for the weekend. I arrived early this morning and not only were they not mad that I'd left my car there, they were super friendly and accommodating. Bonus points for being the only repair shop I've ever been to that was playing normal TV news and not angry right wing stuff :) read more

Best local automotive shop. Honest, reliable and somewhere I would recommend. Always so accommodating!!! They also are very fair with pricing read more

They've always done a good job for me, and at a fair price. I've taken my Ford Mustang in there for the last couple years and Terrie the mechanic is always prompt and courteous and helpful. read more

Great place wonderful service and very fast. I felt like I could really trust they were doing right by me. Will come back anytime I need car help! read more

I started going to Cliff Brown Automotivw about 3 years ago and have an old car. I have been very happy with every aspect of this auto shop! The quality, the pricing, the workmanship, the customer service, the staff's responsiveness to my questions and mechanical issues have always been met with positivity and a yes-attitude! So nice to see customers treated and valued! Barry rocks!!!! read more

My go -to for my 2003 Jeep TJ. Always honest and delivers 100%. Barry is awesome, and always gives me a quick phone call before servicing my vehicle. Been coming here for 17 years since moving from Boston. read more

Dude I wanna thank all the guys there for hooking me up Whit my alignment they did a great job and they work with me on the price .. definitely recommend! i wish I can give them an xtra star read more

Cliff Brown Automotive - My truck - Auto Repair Near Me - San Diego, California

We had excellent service this morning for our smog check. I will go back here for all my needs! Fantastic place for excellent prompt service read more

I feel incredibly lucky to have found Cliff Brown Automotive. Barry is clear, calm, fair and honest. I have found my auto repair shop for life! I will be recommending him to all my family and friends. read more

So happy that I live within walking distance of this place! I take all my vehicles here and always feel like I'm welcomed, and the process is very hassle free. I feel like Barry communicates very well with his estimates and is very quick with his work. I would recommend to anyone, and I do. read more

Fast repair service at a fair price, AOK results so far. Brought my truck in for an alternator change-out at 7:30 am and it was done by 9:30 am for $330 which is right on the money for what it is supposed to cost for that work. They even checked and adjusted my tire pressure, going above and beyond. - February 2021. read more

Ive taken different cars here for over ten years but things are inconsistent. It feels like you have to understand your car and if you are depending on a mechanic to be honest maybe you should think twice about it. The soft spoken cool dude vibe is almost a trap that makes you feel like they are going to take care of you. Do not sign a quote with your name on arrival without getting the price on it since they will write it in later and they are not clear. A light bulb replacement was 58.00! And I brought in my own new bulb! Pep boys would have done it for 20.00 if I would've waited I wasn't given the cliff brown price till after work was done. Prior to this, service suggested was one that had already been done but the quotes were based on mileage not on actual inspection and assessment of need. Integrity has lacked several times, better off going somewhere that deals with prices up front and avoid a surprise and get the quote upfront. Also remember to go by your service records as I have been recommended services and I have had service already elsewhere. Buyer beware read more

My dear old car had its first ever breakdown last week -- right in front of this University Heights shop! Busy as they obviously were they took her in, called me with a diagnosis abd (very reasonable) estimate within a few hours, did the work and had her ready for me ahead of promised time. I am so grateful and would recommend them to anyone. read more

Reliable and trustworthy service. Competitive prices and great professionalism. Customer service like this is rare these days.

Nice guys, local shop, open weekends. What else do you need? Arrived at 8:00 on Sat morning for an oil change and tire rotation. Came back at noon and car was all done at the right price. No hassles. They had to search for my lug nut key, but luckily they found it. They did notice that I'm at 30K miles and recommended some stuff that the manual doesn't call for, but I think it was more their standard service instead of them trying to jam me up for work I don't need. I'll certainly go back. Especially since the weekend hours and location are so convenient. read more

Took my car here to get a smog check. Instead of saying "Hey, this won't pass with the check engine light on", they ran the tests, let the state know my ride failed and took my $50. My asshole hurts after going here. I'm guessing these are the types of mechanics that clean up on the naive. Too bad Advantec doesn't do smog tests. At very least he'd have been honest with me up front rather than run a quick $50 grift job. They were nice enough guys. Then again, Ted Bundy was a pretty swell chap too. read more

Been going here off and on since 2006. First few trips for repairs were pretty good. then the work started getting sloppy. I'd get home from having work done on the car, open the hood because I notice something funky on the way home and I find loose or disconnected vacuum hoses, inter-cooler piping not secured and throttle body hoses improperly installed which lead to boost leaks and poor driving. This happened on more than one occasion. Last time in I had them do an alignment. Got the car on the road and it kept pulling to the right. Took it back and was told it was because of the crown/slope in the roadway. Not in the mood to argue about it I took the car to an alignment shop and sure enough, the alignment was out of whack. The alignment shop did a ' good -will ' alignment for me, got a print out of the work done and sure enough, it tracked straight as an arrow. Don't know what happened since those first few times. I've also noticed a pretty good turnover in mechanics. That could be the issue. read more

I live a few blocks away so I've been there several times over the years. Barry will tell you need repairs that aren't needed or replace something that doesn't need it. Not to be trusted. Go somewhere else. read more

I was referred through the grapevine for a smog diagnostic and repair, mainly because they have experience with Volvos and Mercedes. I was told by a couple other mechanics elsewhere that one of the components (the EHA valve) is "plug and play" (the price is ~ $240 for a new one and it is a special order item) and I did my research. The diagnostic is $90. Compare this to a certain place that charges $240. To be honest with most readers, most auto repair shops refuse to do any work without a diagnostic. With a smog test it is required; if you decide to "easter egg" and change parts, the cost doesn't count. I got a call while I was riding the bus back to work with the work that needed to be done (bad resonator and attempt to adjust fuel injection before replacing a rather expensive fuel distributor). 2 hours later I was told that the adjustments were successful. I picked the car up later that evening and passed the smog test with flying colors. The total price was only slightly more than the cost of the diagnostic alone at the other place (and I am sure that I would have ended up paying $1000). read more

My clutch blew out and I needed a tow. The AAA tow driver reccomended this place and since it was close to my house I figured I'd give them a shot. They quoted me $2007 for the clutch job which also included a flywheel. Barry from Cliff Brown also informed me my hydraulic system was blown out (master cylinder and slave cylinder). I told them I would think about it. They didn't even break down the price in parts and labor it was just one all inclusive $2007 which isn't professional. If I am about to spend 2 grand if like to know what I am paying for. Knowing this was a very high price, I called 3 other local shops and got quotes from 800-1200 for the exact same job. I paid for another tow to a different shop (with better reviews) and got the job done with tax included for $950. $550 in parts, $400 in labor. I was also told by their mechanics my hydraulic system was fine and not blown out at all it just needed to be bled which was included in the job. The work was guaranteed for a year and the car is shifting beautifully. Maybe I just had a bad experience and they "accidently" doubled the price of the job and told me I needed things that I didn't need. Or perhaps they just charge way more than everyone else because they do the best work and charge premo prices....or maybe they are just a dishonest, predatory automotive mechanic. I'll let you guys decide for yourselves, but I will never give them another chance at my business and I hope you don't either. read more

Cliff Brown Automotive - $2007 aka more than double other local shops. - Auto Repair Near Me - San Diego, California

Today I took my car to get smogged in Clairemont ( they shall remain nameless) and it took the guys 30 minutes before they told me that; 1) My car didnt have a full tank of gas and that they needed to have the tank full in order to smog the car. WTH ? Why ? I dont think I've ever filled this baby up to the brim with gas before and I wasnt about to start today. 2) They wouldnt be able to smog my car until Monday.Why couldnt they have told me that when I first rolled up ? Thanks for wasting my time. Assholes. I left and went to Cliff Brown on Park Blvd . These guys rock. I walk in and I take in the scene thats in front of me. Theres an old Chinese movie playing in the background mixed with the sound of air tools and theres 3 guys in the office .Two were eating lunch with greasy hands and all are smoking, indoors mind you. " If you were in this shithole for 9 hours, you'd smoke in here too ! " Yeah I suppose I would. I'm told to come back in 1 hour so I head across the street to Cream ( thats another review in the making ) My work car is a beater. It runs ok but it reeks of gas and oil sometimes, has problems starting and makes all kinds of funny mechanical noises. Honestly, I was expecting this money pit to fail miserably at least a couple of times and inevitably be tagged as a gross polluter. But somehow someway it passed ! I couldnt believe it. This wasnt even a shady hook up or anything. Thanks alot guys ! You are now my go-to place for smogs ! read more

Super bummed I got ripped off! I have been here before but this time my 2007 has many issues including a check engine light that was estimated at $325 to fix. The entire estimate for the many issues was 5k so I chose to try to sell the car. I paid $225 just for the diagnosis and chose not to do any work. 3 weeks later I call to go ahead and do the work only for the check engine light and was told that they no longer make those parts and that he could not do the repair. Basically I won't be able to pass smog therefore my car is trash. After I called the dealership in Kearny Mesa they had many manifold intake parts because they sold many of those cars so they kept making parts. The total cost to fix was $20 for the part from amazon and $45 to install at the Napa shop on El Cajon blv. Super pissed this guy took advantage of me. Not cool Barry! read more

On 30 July 2016, my wife (Pat M.) posted a negative review of Cliff Brown. On 2 June 2018, the owner responded by saying they "have no record of me bringing in my car" and being SWINDLED by his organization. In her original post, SHE CLEARLY STATED that she brought them our car, they did not replace my radiator, they simply cleaned up the original one and re-sold it to me as new. When she went BACK to them regarding this SWINDLE, they refused to refund her money because they "couldn't find" the repair record. NOW the owner insists this didn't happen because "they have no record of her bringing in my car." DUHHHH!!! SHE ALREADY SAID they claimed to have no record of her bringing in the car for repairs; that's the same excuse they used when refusing to do anything about their ILLEGAL acts. He's now using the same "there is no record" excuse to say to say it never happened. read more

Been a client for years, initially because I lived in University Heights, and their location was too convenient, but I still take my car there, and frequently refer friends, for the same reason noted by Lisa... Barry's a straight shooter. I've heard others complain about the price of the labor at Cliff Brown, but I've never felt that their prices were high, considering the level of honest appraisal and the quality of their work. Good guys, no question. read more

I recently moved to SD and needed a smog certification to register my car in CA. I only chose this place because it's a few blocks from my house and I saw an ad for it in the Pennysaver. I called and they right up front told me the cost ($50) and expected wait time, which was actually really helpful. Unfortunately the coupon in the Pennysaver doesn't count toward registration transfers but it does count for registration renewals, so if you can, look in the Pennysaver for a coupon for a $19 smog check. When I got there the guys were really friendly and personable. They called me when my car was ready, which was in less than an hour. The place is in a good location as there is a lot to walk to on Park to keep busy. The one thing I didn't like about this place was that the guy decided to tell me I had a lot of things wrong with my car when I didn't ask him for this list. Oh well. Still, this place is good enough for a smog check. read more

I used to take my Saturns exclusively to the dealerships, thinking I'd get better service. But about 5 years ago, my dad convinced me to use "his guy" that he's been going to for years...loving the fact that Cliff Brown Automotive is within walking distance from my place - I tried it out. Well, Cliff Brown is long gone, but Barry is your guy! HE. IS. AWESOME. I haven't gone anywhere else since. Super soft-spoken and laid back (duu-u-u-ude), he doesn't pressure you to get other things done that you don't want. He is reasonably priced, and if he can think of a work-around for less money, he'll tell you about it. Over the last few years, I've stopped by with tail-lights that need to be changed, a dangling side-mirror, and a few other random little things...he rambles out and fixes it on the spot. I've also come to him for a full overhaul for my 10 year old car, she runs like a champ! Their hours are super convenient, and their location is great. If you have to wait an hour or something, there are bars, coffee shops, and other stuff within walking distance. The ONLY REASON I give him 4 stars (I'd love to give him 5) is because he writes his work orders by hand. Nothing's computerized. Therefore he has no record of your oil changes or engine maintenance. read more

I dropped my car off Saturday night at Cliff Brown Automotive. Barry, the Manager surprised me with a phone call today (Sunday morning) to tell me they would fix my car by Monday. I am happy with the service and price to replace my starter on a SUNDAY!!! AWESOME!!! read more

Barry and crew did an excellent job repairing front wheel bearings -- got rid of the problem completely! Price was at least a $100 less than competitors. I was very satisfied with the price because I googled comparable prices and got a price estimate from the automaker. Honest folks, smart workers, and quick. Gil Ontai read more

I'm pretty new to San Diego so when my evaporator went out, I was panicked to find a good place to get it fixed. We called all over the city to try and find a place that wasn't going to charge us a million dollars for a $100 part! We called Cliff Brown's for a quote and they were $700 cheaper than any other place that we called. I was skeptical but, why not! We took my car in early on a Monday morning. They were incredibly nice and again quoted us exactly what they had quoted on the phone. I'm still skeptical because it's so much cheaper than everywhere else. I picked up my car a few days later. Everything was fixed, my AC works great. Best part, my total was EXACTLY what I was quoted over the phone and in person. Not one dollar added! This will be my mechanic from now on!! read more

I love this shop, but love Mr. Barry even more. He has been the point of contact any time I have brought my car in (a crappy little Fiat, of all kinds...); he is super friendly, straight forward and reliable. I'm always pleased with my service, the pricing is affordable, and I never feel like I'm getting the typical sales pitch to add on services I don't really need. Very happy to have this shop in our neighborhood! read more

I am very impressed after my first experience here - the quote for the work I had done was reasonable and I even talked him down about 20%. However they completed the job on Friday after telling me Monday and fixed things I didn't know were wrong and told me later, sort of matter-of-factly. I'll be going here for whatever I can't do myself - Barry has earned my trust and I don't take that lightly. read more

I have come here a few times to get my oil change. They are very friendly and I can trust them when it comes to pricing and what needs to be done! read more

Cliff Brown Automotive - Auto Repair Near Me - San Diego, California

I had passed this place a million times on my way to Lestat's, but never considered going there for any car services. When I received my DMV registration renewal in the mail for my 2011 Honda Accord and found out it was time for a smog check...I scoured Yelp to find the fastest and cheapest smog places. I was about to settle on a friend's recommendation, when I noticed that my weekly Penny Saver had a coupon for this place for $16.75 + fees. I went in on a Thursday afternoon at 4pm, was greeted and when I told him I needed a smog, they took me right away - the cost? $27 out the door. I grabbed a strong cappuccino across the street and 30 minutes later, received a call that my car was ready and that I had passed my smog check. Fast, friendly, efficient, and can't beat the price. I'll be back...not like Arnold, but I'll be back. read more

I've been using Cliff Brown since 2000. I am a small independent used vehicle dealer. Over the years I have brought them hundreds vehicles to be safety inspected, smog checked and serviced. I know their work is good because many times over the years I have had prospective buyers take these vehicles to their own mechanics for inspection. Not one time has a vehicle failed an inspection in over 20 years. Barry is excellent to deal with and clearly explains whats needed on every vehicle. When the work is completed I can confidently tell my customers I am selling them a good vehicle! read more

Barry is the bomb. He never rips us off. He often tells us that we need to get something done and then tells us how long it can be before we get it done...like "you can probably get away with driving like that for X more months", etc. A lot of the time, if we pop a tire (because our neighbor likes to do construction on his house and leave nails all over the alley), Barry will plug it for free. He is awesome. Take your car there now. read more

I take my cars here all the time and for a long time! Barry is great to my cars!!1 read more

This place was recommended to me by a coworker. I've had to take my car here twice for different problems. They were able to complete the repairs quickly and efficiently. I fully trust Cliff Brown Automotive will all of my car maintenance needs. They are friendly and very knowledgeable. One day they even stayed open a few minutes late for me so I could bring my car in because it needed a new alternator. They had it replaced the next day and I picked it up in the early afternoon. I highly recommend these guys. read more