I brought my car in because my highest priority was diagnosing and repairing the check engine light so I could complete my emissions test and finally renew my expired registration. I made that very clear when I scheduled the appointment, dropped the car off around 8:30 a.m., and again explained that I needed the vehicle back by 2:00 p.m. because I work a night shift. I specifically asked that this be prioritized. Around 11:30 a.m., I received a call that my car was ready. I was then told that the check engine light--the primary reason for my appointment--had not been repaired. After reading the code, they determined the required part would need to be ordered, and I would need to bring the car back on Thursday or Friday. My frustration isn't that the part had to be ordered. I understand that no one can know exactly what's needed until the vehicle is diagnosed. My frustration is the lack of communication. If I had been told when I dropped the car off that there were six vehicles ahead of me and that my priority repair likely couldn't be completed that day, I could have made an informed decision to either leave the car or take it somewhere else. Instead, I lost most of my day and still left without resolving the one issue that brought me in. To Jeff's credit, he reduced my bill by about $30 for the oil change and diagnostic, which I appreciated. However, clear communication at the beginning would have been far more valuable than a discount afterward. Another issue during checkout genuinely concerned me. When I signed electronically to pay for the oil change and diagnostic that had been completed, the system automatically applied my signature to a separate estimate for the future check engine repair. I had not approved that repair. The part still needed to be ordered, and I hadn't even decided whether I would return to have the work done. What made me uncomfortable was that the estimate already contained authorization language stating, "I hereby authorize the repair work..." even though I had never authorized those repairs. In my opinion, signing for completed work should not automatically place a customer's signature on a separate estimate for work that has not yet been approved. An estimate is not the same thing as authorizing repairs. I raised this concern directly with Jeff because he is the owner. Instead of acknowledging why a customer might question seeing their signature on an unapproved estimate containing authorization language, I felt my concern was dismissed. Whether this is a software issue or an internal process, I believe it should be corrected. A customer's signature should only appear on an estimate after that customer has actually approved the proposed repairs. Because I had not authorized that repair, I asked that the estimate be marked "Canceled" before I left. I simply was not comfortable leaving with my signature attached to an estimate I had not accepted. I also learned that Jamie is no longer with the company. She was organized, detailed, proactive, and customer-focused. Looking back, I now realize how much she contributed to the overall customer experience. Since her departure, the communication and coordination no longer feel like they once did. Jeff has always done quality mechanical work on my vehicle, and I still believe the shop is fairly priced and doesn't try to sell unnecessary repairs. However, today's experience showed me that good mechanical work alone isn't enough. Communication, appointment management, and administrative processes matter just as much. Unfortunately, I no longer have the same confidence in the customer experience. UPDATE: Long-time customer correcting factual inaccuracies in the owner's response. Due to character limits, my complete response, call log, Uber timeline, voicemail, and supporting documentation are attached as screenshots. I also encourage readers to review the owner's responses to other critical reviews before forming their own opinion. Summary: Owner states I was "45 minutes late." My attached call log and Uber timeline document the actual timeline. At 8:08 AM, I called, explained my emergency, and asked whether I should reschedule. I was told, "No, go ahead and come in." My review was never about parts availability. It was about communication and concerning administrative practices. An estimate is not an authorization. Automatically transferring a customer's signature onto an estimate does not resolve my concern--it explains it. After my review, I received a voicemail stating the shop would no longer repair my vehicle. I respected that decision. Technical ability was never my concern. Communication, administration, and handling of customer feedback were. Please read the attached screenshots for the complete timeline and supporting documentation. read more

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Best mechanic in the state. I will never go anywhere else if I can help it. They diagnosed an engine issue years before anyone else caught it, and I would probably still have that same car if I didn't start going to a mechanic closer to my house who "fixed" the problem and then misdiagnosed it. My family has been taking cars to Dave's for years, and my family has decades-old cars that still run great. Everyone here is honest too. They had the opportunity to sell me thousand-dollar fixes that I was ready to pay for, but they're the kind of people who say "let's try an oil change first." Recently, I had a personal issue and had to leave my car there for quite a few days, and they were communicative and accommodating while I figured out a way to come get it. They even gave me advice about the DMV that saved me some major hassle. Their prices are competitive too, and I would still come to Dave's if they weren't. I can't speak highly enough of this place. read more

The communication was great with a text as soon as they knew what was wrong. They quoted a price and that's what I paid. It was done relatively quickly. read more

BEWARE! $108 oil change ultimately cost us $12,000 for a new engine. We chose Dave's based upon AAA endorsement and then established a relationship over the last year. After a routine oil change, we began having issues within 124 miles of driving from Dave's. As we were driving up the mountain with no place to pull over safely, our Jeep's low oil pressure warning lights flashed. By the time we could safely stop, the Jeep was smoking. Towed to the closest garage. We were informed in the report that the "an oil leak has been present for a long time" and later verbally told this had been an issue for many months and possibly up to a year of our Jeep leaking oil. When we asked Jeff at Dave's why we had never been informed of the issue, he stated that it was written in the comments of the oil change invoice. Dave's NEVER verbally said anything and they NEVER provided a quote to fix our problem. They simply pointed to Jeep as the sole entity to blame for the loss of our engine. If you're looking for an auto mechanic who is professional with a high code of ethics and cares for his clients and their vehicles, I STRONGLY DISCOURAGE TRUSTING THE ETHICS AND QUALITY OF SERVICE AT DAVE'S AUTOMOTIVE! Yes, I do expect Jeff to respond rudely and defensively... that's his business acumen. read more

I cannot stress enough the honesty from Jeff and Jamie is unbelievable! They don't do unnecessary work and even give you the timeline in which they think it may need repair. They are the most personable and HONEST people you could hope to meet. Cuz I've been going to them for a few years now. And never have they put unnecessary work into my vehicle or said they change something that didn't need changing. I recommend them higher than a five! They also have your car in a very reasonable amount of time. I recommend them to everyone! read more

This place is awesome! Had newer vehicle and was bringing to dealership to repair and always something else would come up and be broken and of course cost a mortgage payment. Take my vehicle to Daves Auto and my faith in mechanics was redeemed. They tell me whats wrong, give me a price and fix it. Been going here for 10 years and won't be quitting. I've been on the road and screwed in middle of nowhere. Used a local because I had no choice. Got 20 things wrong and $5k quote. Chose to fix minimally just to get up and running. Brought it to Daves and $500ish new radiator and all was perfect. Father in law has super nice Ford 1500. Broke down at Eisenhower Tunnel. Towed to dealership. They said engine and transmission $17k (after having at shop for a week), that he should buy new truck. I sent him to Daves and new transmission and few other items less than $7k and works perfectly. Got 10 more just like that. Every time I send someone here for second opinion they stop going other places. Love this business! read more

Where do I start.... This is the most incompetent business I have ever given money to. Here's my story: I took my car in because the AC/Heat was not functioning correctly. I got a call the same day saying it will be $600 and that would fix the problem. 4 hours later, I got another call saying that they broke a part on the car and wanted me to pay an additional $1500 to diagnose the part they broke. They also said an additional $2500 may be required to replace the part, even after they guaranteed the $600 would fix it. So I come back, pick my car up and start driving home when I realized they didn't put together the car dashboard correctly and the heat was worse off than when I came in. I then took my car back and the owner, Jeff, said I will need to pay for a $90 part to fix the AC/Heat after they broke the piece. Jeff is the definition of a snake oil salesman - Don't trust him. The owner will comment on this and try to plead his case, however there are no excuses for this poor business practice and the way I was treated. I was literally charged money to bring my car in only to have it worse off. Generally when a company breaks something, they are responsible to fix and make it right, not blame the customer and make them pay for their incompetence. My car is now worse off than how I brought it in and they still charged me for the labor ($250 to break my car even more). I cannot emphasize enough how incompetent their garage is, both on the business and mechanical side of things. I tried this place because I want to support local businesses but this was the wrong place to go if you are looking for quality and honest service. Thankful to walk out of there with only spending $250 on labor after they tried their best to scam me. Funny how they originally said labor was $400 but changed it to $250 because they know they messed up big time. TAKE YOUR MONEY ELSEWHERE AND DONT END UP LIKE ME read more

I had my oil change at Walmart earlier this morning, down below the Walmart auto tech wrote comments that there was oil leaking from my transmission. In a panic I took my car to Dave's which happened to be the closest location. There Jeff took a look at my car, few seconds later he informed me there was no transmission leak. But an leak else where and quoted me a very reasonable price. I appreciate the customer service I received as well as the honestly given. Like most horrific mechanical stories. Jeff could have taken advantage of my lack of knowledge about cars and lied saying there was in fact a leak and charge me $$$ to fix. This location has gained a customer that will be in more often as my car is a little fixer upper. Bring your cars here! . . . PERIOD read more

The first 2-3 times the service was great They seemed to be honest I believe now it was just a tactic they use to deceive customers!!! My confidence in their service or expertise no longer exists and am left broke (--$) and disappointed! How could 5 separate items be wrong with one car at the same time? read more

A well-deserved shout-out to my friends at Dave's automotive. I've been taking my vehicles here for some time now and have always been met with timely and efficient service. These last few months, my sweetheart of a pickup was met with a defective part, which was swapped out at no charge. During that time, said bad part caused an ongoing leak to the power steering pump rendering it inoperable. A quick phone call and replacement and was on the road again within a days turnaround, all the while acknowledging that the defective part played a role in the pumps untimely demise. I truly appreciate this level of service and highly recommend Dave's automotive. Jeff, the lead mechanic, is a pleasure to work with and very much trust him with my pickup (this is saying much as I am a farm girl without a shop of her own and I tend to be quite particular when it comes to whom I choose as a mechanic) For so long as I reside in Denver, Dave's will be my mechanic of choice. read more

These guys are top-notch. Jeff, the current owner, has worked himself up to this position throughout his career at Dave's. He has the ability to understand your situation and give you the respect and courtesy as a customer that is missing in a LOT of repair shops. I have brought my vehicles to Dave's for many years as I discovered that they are a rarity, a honest, fair garage. Thanks for all you do. read more

We had Dave's do a precheck on a used car we were interested in buying. They did the check in their estimated time frame and the fee was reasonable. The front desk gal was friendly and helpful. She even got the mechanic on the phone when I had a few questions. He was helpful, kind, and came across as very trustworthy with his advice. read more

I brought my car in last week, and had my wheel bearing replaced. The cost was very fair. Later in the week, the same wheel began making awful noises. As soon as Dave's opened this week, I called them up. Jeff told me to immediately bring it in. He fixed the loose bolt on the brake caliper within 15 minutes, and didn't charge me. Though, it was a bit inconvenient to have to return, the service was excellent. I highly recommend Dave's to everyone. read more

This place is so great. The employees are so kind and fair in everything they do. I'm so oblivious when it comes to cars, and I can always count on Dave's to take care of me. They never try to upsell, which I definitely appreciate. They are honest, sincere and genuine. Definitely recommend going here! read more

Absolutely the best around, PERIOD! They are truly honest guys, they had no idea that I had plenty of auto repair background, and they didn't try to over charge me or up charge me on ANYTHING I didn't really need. I have used them twice in the last week, for various and unrelated maintenance on my C6 Corvette, I won't go anywhere else ever again, no need to look anymore! I'd like to thank Dave, Jeff, and their whole crew. I'll be back. read more

After 3 shops these guys got the job done! Very friendly and trusting, any future auto repair needs will be done here! Highly recommend!

YALLLLLL I just want to give a HUGE shout out to this AMAZING shop in wheat ridge I found to do all of my work on my car for a very reasonable price! It's a pop and daughter owned place and I can't support this place enough! From being educational to reasonably priced to professional I'll never go to another place! Hands down amazing place! Especially for women who don't know shit about cars that don't want the run around!!! read more

Horrible customer service and bait tactics! Called on Monday 6/26/17 to request quote on specific repair/service. Owner personally told me that it would be at the very most $250 to complete (statement repeated multiple times). Schedule appointment for the shop's next available appointment for Friday 6/30/2017. On Friday I drop the car off as soon as the shop opened, get call a three hours later that the repair needed (no different than what was schedule for) would now cost $450!!! So, I speak with the owner and express my frustration that he told me it would only be $250, and he continues to say the price of $450 is based on what the "book" was telling him...well why was this "book" not referenced when I called for the quote earlier in the week. So my wife and I decide not to allow this shop to work on our vehicle, and we go to pick up the car 20 minutes later and the owner has the audacity to lie to my wife and say that he always told me it would be $450 for the repairs. Very dishonest, untruthful person and company! I will gladly pay more for this service needed on my car from an honest and upfront mechanic! Very unsatisfied with the situation and inconvenience this shop caused. Could have had my car repaired earlier this week from 4 other mechanics but took it to this one based on a false and inaccurate quote and dishonest company!!! read more

After purchasing a beat-up 22 year old, 200k+ mile Ford Bronco, I needed to find a mechanic for it. After passing emissions (phew) I needed an overview (eg physical at the doctor) and to fix urgent outstanding issues, including Front End work and new tires. There are about 10 auto repair shops in a 2-mile radius, and 2 closer to me than Dave's (in case I need to walk). Originally I was going to shop-hop to see which one I liked best (Wheat Ridge motors appeals to me too) but I was drawn to Dave's and have been sticking with them with confidence. The girl at the front is sweet and professional. Jeff the owner is friendly, knowledgeable, and lets me know what is going on. There's a tech who seems like a hard worker. B & F tire (not just tires) told me Jeff has been with the shop since apprenticing under Dave in High school. Dave's has accommodated me on transportation many times, including delivering my Bronco across the street then retrieving it, driving me back to my apartment, and have been flexible on pick up times/days. I've had a lot of work done there (tie rods, steering column, u-joint, ball joint, windshield, tires, etc) I don't feel like they are trying to upsell me on anything I don't need (a business model of chains), yet I feel like they are taking good care of my beat-up vehicle. It needs a lot of work. I now refer to Dave's as "my" mechanic. read more

I took my car on 09/13. The gentleman on the phone was very knowledgeable and delivered exceptional customer service. When i took my vehicle in i had the unfortunate experience to speak with a very rude and uneducated man, he said his name was Jeff. He brushed me off to the point that i left with my vehicle and will never ever return again. Worse customer service ever. Unfortunately i had to give a star in order for my review to post. If not i would not have even given a star . read more

It sounds to me the people below who have negative comments about pricing KNEW it was an expensive job and they were trying to get something for nothing. It also is extremely crappy and low to write TWO yelp reviews on a very good, honest and reputable shop to drive down the ratings. The shop did not rip you off, as you imply because they said the book seemed high but he'd need to check it and then quote you, which he did. It sounds like you just didn't like the price and thought you should get it cheaper. I have dealt with Jeff and Dave for years and it is the ONLY shop I would take my car to. They have always been honest and good to me and my family and ALWAYS go beyond. As far as respect, Jeff is a local favorite to many of the customers who regularly frequent the shop. He has many elderly, local customers who trust and adore him. It's too bad some people want to tarnish a good reputation because they want to be cheap and petty. I have never known any one at that shop to be rude; in fact, they take very special care of their customers by shuttling elderly patrons to and from the shop and doing work beyond the scope of a typical automotive repair shop read more

My husband and I are very disappointed with our experience at Dave's automotive, particularly with Jeff. My husband called to get a quote on fixing a cv axel and Jeff confirmed that the cost would be around $250 based on the information provided (part, car make and model). When we take the car in, he then quotes us for double the price and states that he looked up the parts in his computer system and the work asked for more labor time. This evaluation is fine but had we known this job could vary so greatly we would not have wasted our time taking the car in and gone to another repair company. When I went in to pick up my car, I voiced to Jeff that it would have been helpful if he had quoted the correct price range for this work and voiced my disappointment in his lack of honesty. He then proceeded to yell at me and basically called me and my husband liars. I'm shocked that he finds it appropriate to not only speak to a customer this way but to a woman. Completely blown away by the lack of respect this company and employee has for their customers. read more

I read the reviews for I live in wheat ridge and water a fair price on the work on my truck. Jeff the owner is a snake. I took my truck in for the engine light was on. I was told multiple times that any engine light work was under warranty at there shop. I dropped it off and a few days later they told me it was ready to be picked up. Only problem was the engine light was still on. After getting a bad attitude from the mechanic on the phone he told me he would look at it. The next day still no call so I called in and they told me I needed a new part that was associated with my emissions and was an easy fix and would have the part in tommorow and installed. After picking up my truck and paying almost 400$ for the part and labor my engine light pops back on a few hours later. Extremely upset by this I called and asked to speak to the owner Jeff. He tells me that he would not warrant the work because he can't claims it must be something else wrong. That it needs new spark plugs and a coil for another 600$. If you can't see the pattern here then you might aswell go to this shop and get fucked. This guy try's to come off as a local blue collar guy but really he's a snake. Il be taking my truck to a master mechanic via good Friend in Broomfield. To think they would screw a hard working young guy outta that kinda money is a sin. I hope this is a warning to anyone considering Daves automotive. See you around Jeff. May.3rd,2017. Just picked the truck up from a very highly rated auto shop. Turns out Daves shop didn't even fully connect the part they put in. And we're trying to milk me on new spark plugs and coil. Shame on you people for being so dishonest about your service. I will be reporting you to the BBB of Denver! read more