We've got an oil changes here a few times. They are super nice and fast. And I guess good because there's nothing wrong with my car now lol

Very Disappointed in the "12-Point Inspection" and Customer Service We brought our car to Hometown Auto in Stoneham on April 19 for a routine oil change that included a 12-point inspection. Just eight days later, our car died while we were traveling out of state--right in the middle of Letchworth State Park. We were stranded for nearly two hours waiting for AAA, which was incredibly stressful. When the technician arrived, he jump-started the car and immediately noticed severe corrosion on the battery terminals. He said it was one of the worst he'd seen. We had to cut our trip short and find an AutoZone to replace the battery that same day. That technician echoed the same sentiment about the corrosion. Yes, shame on us for not looking under the hood ourselves before the trip--but that's exactly why we count on routine services like a 12-point inspection to flag major issues. A severely corroded battery should have been obvious. When I called to express my concerns, "Mark" offered a vague apology before going on the offensive, claiming we never follow through with recommended repairs. We actually do--we just do them closer to home. I checked all our receipts from past visits and not once has a battery issue been mentioned, verbally or in writing. Mark ended the call by saying, "If you don't like it, then don't come back." That was both unprofessional and disappointing. We've been loyal customers, but this experience--with both the lack of real inspection and the dismissive attitude--makes us question the integrity of the service here. We will not be returning. read more

Hometown Automotive Services - Corroded battery- hard to miss! - Auto Repair Near Me - Stoneham, Massachusetts

We love these guys! We've been taking our Prius to them for routine maintenance since we bought it in 2014 and we can say that we've never had a moment's trouble with our now 11-year-old car. Their prices are fair and I'm usually in and out in under an hour. And it's extra convenient that they do state inspections too! The guys are friendly and approachable and I've never known them to treat women differently from men (a real problem in some other car repair places). In fact I've noticed that they treat everyone with respect and patience. My husband and I share a car and so it's extra-important to us that it stay in excellent, reliable condition. We know that as our car continues to get older, more repairs will be likely. We trust Hometown to keep the car in great shape and we wouldn't go anywhere else. Highly recommended! read more

I needed an oil change and found a special on Groupon. It was a short drive to get to Hometown but we'll worth it. My car was quickly brought into the shop at my appointment time ... serviced and I was on my way. My prior oil change was at a Toyota dealership and I waited in excess of 2 1/2 hours. I was furious with the dealership for not informing me of the wait time that they gave me a free detailing. On thing that I really appreciated is that they didn't try and upswell me anything. Usually the dealer wants to sell you wiper blades, a cabin air filter, or something else. Small waiting area but seems to be good guys and an honest shop. Would go again. read more

Hometown Automotive Services - Waiting area and service desk - Auto Repair Near Me - Stoneham, Massachusetts

See all

Trust me when I say avoid these guys. We were lured in with the cheap oil change from groupon. My wife decided to do brakes due to the convenience and price point of the brake job. we went with Hometown Auto to complete the job. We paid for Akabono brake pads and oem Honda rotors ( i reiterated the parts over 4 times ) long story short we recieved the invoice saw akabono pads on the invoice along with brake rotors ( not oem Honda) they were the slotted type ( I'm sure that they wear down 3x as faster than typical rotors had no factor into installing incorrect rotors as well ) We did not notice the wrong rotors were installed till months later. That's not the initial gripe . We received my wife's vehicle back with a noisy master cylinder ( mind you the car is a 2018 Acura with 50k on it ) unheard of for a defective master cylinder on a Honda product ( coincidence I think not ) the brake fluid was completely dirty like almost black I went back twice where the subtle eyes and tone was noticed " we checked everything and cannot find anything wrong " fast forward the brake job since October the master cylinder still squeaks and makes a weird "turkey like noise when braking " My friend is a mechanic he popped the wheels off the front rotors were certainly not oem Honda but cheap autozone type slotted rotors for which we did not want nor request ( I wonder what the motives were in installing them as well ). My mechanic friend also found the screws loose that go into the rotors. Long story short avoid these guys they're cheap For a reason and have zero quality control and installed inferior's parts , after requesting certain parts!! I have never had anyone mess up a brake job in my life , but these guys did ! read more

Highly recommend. Came in for an oil change and was very pleased with the customer service and quickness of the work. I have been coming here for years, even after moving towns away, I won't use any other shop. Their prices are fair, honest and never once have I ever felt taken advantage of. read more

Highly recommend. They do really good work for an extremely reasonable price. Very trustworthy guys.

I've brought both my wife's and my old cars here many times. They are very honest and will do what needs to be done, without charging for more. They've told me that my front breaks were bad, but told me that the rear ones could wait, when they could have replaced all four without me questioning them, or that a clunking sound I thought was my rear suspension was actually just a loose exhaust that could be cheaply welded on. They've also diagnosed problems, told me the price to fix them, and then when I opted not to bother with the repair or to replace the part myself, didn't charge me anything for the diagnosis. You can be confident that when you take your car to them you'll get good work done at an honest price. read more

I asked for recommendation on a community facebook group and this place got glowing recommendations. So I booked an appt for today at 8 am. Oil change, rotate tires, secure heat shield, and check the brakes (which do need replacement and I approved that repair at 2 pm). I get called at 4:30 - sorry we ordered the wrong parts, we can't get it done until tomorrow. That is really bad service - they had it for 8 1/2 hours. I need it by tomorrow at 10 am to get to an appt, which I told them. Hope its done by then. But, man, I am so disappointed after seeing so many recommendations. read more

I always come here for my maintenance services for both of my cars. They always do great job doing oil changes tire rotation high quality full synthetic oil. I trust them and very honest diagnostics. read more

I have been getting my 2010 Toyota Corolla serviced here since I moved back to Melrose in 2017, so it's already been 5 years. Always outstanding service in every way. Congenial no matter how busy they are. and an excellent referral when I needed some muffler work. If there were more stars to give, I would give them. read more

This place is truly "hometown"! We used to take our old Acura RDX there all the time. The staff is just great. This week, my daughter was out with friends and they had a flat. I told them to call. You guys took them in right away, fixed the flat and send them in their way. You are the kind of shop I trust my children with! Thank you so much! We really really appreciate it. read more

I started using Hometown many years ago when I had a Groupon. Sal and each of his guys are polite and the job is time quickly and properly. Like many of the other reviews, they don' t try and upsell you; they just do a quality job. I recommend them wholeheartedly. Dan D read more

I found Hometown Automotive a few years ago by using a Groupon for an oil change. I am so happy I did. Sal, Mark and the team are the nicest people and so honest. My husband and I have brought our cars there for oil changes and many other repairs. They are always accommodating and very friendly. They never upsell and try to save you money where they can. I had a rough month recently with my Ford Escape. One repair after another. Took it in for the muffler and they recommended I try a place in North Reading because they could replace just the part that needed replacing and not put in a whole new muffler which would have been much more expensive. Not many places would do that these days. It was very much appreciated! I can not say enough about Hometown. They are the best automotive place I have ever used! Thank you so much, guys! You are the best! read more

I was looking for a specific brand and model tire for my Toyota pickup as they are the BEST rated wet weather & Winter tire, without going to a dedicated or studded Winter tire. Hometown Auto understood my request and obtained and installed them at a very fair price. They didn't even ask for a deposit on this special order and the job was done on time as promised! read more

Fantastic service. Very down to earth staff. They joke around, but they take their work seriously. They take time to explain options. Show you what's wrong. They are very helpful whether you have a Groupon oil change or a big repair. And they run on time! Really a hometown feel that you can trust. I did two oil changes and now I'm doing brakes and other repairs there. Highly recommend. read more

I was so happy to find this place. Very friendly and they were kind enough to see me at the very end of the day. I had an appointment and left work early, but got stuck in traffic because of a Red Sox game. These guys were so understanding and that's always greatly appreciated:) read more

Got in and out quickly for a inspection on a Saturday when then seemed pretty busy. The guy who helped us was friendly and good humored. I won't go anywhere else for my inspections in the future! Maybe even for service! read more

Didn't have service done but was expecting to. After a conversation with this garage I was told that the service I was seeking really wasn't needed. The honesty that I got was so refreshing that when I do need service this is the garage I will definitely contact for the work. Thank. read more

this has been my go to repair shop for several years not but over the last year the service has been very poor on 3 separate occasions I dropped of my car for something that i needed them to diagnose and all three times they were not able to find the issue. they are so busy they just do not put the effort in to find the issue and repair it correctly. would only recommend for general maintenance like breaks and oil changes. So sad to see this place go down hill read more

This was the most positive experience I've ever had getting an oil change . Their excellent attitude prompt attention and quick service was very appreciated. A warm difference from what I am used to. Sal was great. My truck takes 6 qts of oil and they wouldn't even take money for the extra quart. The inspection that came with the oil change was real and identified that I would soon need front brakes. This was something that I already knew and I feel safe knowing that they truly did a full inspection. This will be my go-to mechanic from now on. Truly a great experience. Thank you. I will be a return customer! read more

I am so glad to have found Hometown Automotive...they provide the best and most reasonably priced service. I have a 2020 Kia and I'll bring my car here for any maintenance long before I'll take it to the dealer to be ripped off. These guys are honest, knowledgeable, and fair with their pricing. They have lifetime customer in me. read more

Super nice and efficient! Brought my car here for an oil change a little while ago because I found a Groupon. Just made another appointment, will definitely be a returning customer! read more

I strongly recommend this place to anyone who need car services or any kind of help about their cars. The first time I came over because of a transmission problem. My car broke down somewhere and got towed over here for checkup. Since we live nearby, we called a few different places and ask whether they can fix transmission and the answers were all"No". Not every place do it, but Hometown Automotive sure does. After my car got towed over in the evening, they checked it quickly and called me back the next day, gave me a few options about my transmission. They are not just simply throw a price at you, but trying to find the best possible way for the customer. My car is old, so the guy even said he doesn't think putting so much money to get a new transmission is necessary. They are very professional and really trying to help, at the same time very considerate which make me feel comfortable and happy that my car is in the right hands. Lucky me, my transmission was still under warranty so I got the car towed to the dealership. They didn't get business from me here but the guy were happy for me which made me feel appreciate it so much. They were just so sweet. Especially Mark. So I got back for state inspection again. Had a nice fun chat while I was waiting. It was quick and done right! Dealership was trying to charge me some money for the CV boot while they changed my transmission, I asked the guys here, and the answer is" they are still Ok for now, can check them later when the time for oil change" Guess Hometown Automotive will be a hometown for my car now, I will come back. All the guys here are great! It is for sure a fantastic place! read more

Love hometown automative! Used them first with Groupon, talked with the owner Sal about a few issues with my car, he's very respectful/honest, doesn't try to up sell anything. Not a lot of mechanics are like this anymore. Very very honest, highly recommend if you're in the Metro Boston/North Shore area. Nothing but positive things to say about Sal & his staff! read more

Hometown Automotive Services - Auto Repair Near Me - Stoneham, Massachusetts

See all

Great work, nice people, transparent pricing, easy scheduling. what more could you ask for from a mechanic!

I went in for a full synthetic oil change, after they finished with the oil change, I went and look back at the dip stick, I saw the oil color is dark like they didn't charge the oil at all. The reason I am giving 2 stars is bc I am not sure what oil they used, it's either it's bad quality or they didn't change the oil and the filter AT ALL. read more

Sal and his team at hometown automotive are the most knowledgeable and honest auto body mechanics I have ever been to. Any time I have ever had a problem with my car, they take me in same day without any issues and get the job done quickly and efficiently, all at a reasonable cost. I trust them with any and all of my auto issues and can't recommend them enough! read more

I found Hometown after looking for somewhere convenient to get my car inspected. When I came back to pick up my car, the guys informed me that they had topped off my oil (and I take synthetic!) and filled my tires for me. These are small things, but so much more than any other inspection place had done for me. When I had a bigger concern about my car, I took it here since they were nice and it's walking distance from my house. They gave me a great price and talked to me about all of my options without pressuring me into anything I couldn't afford or didn't need. I was pretty bummed after I moved and realized I couldn't really take my car to Paul's in Waltham anymore, but, I am SO glad I found Hometown. They do good work and truly have integrity; I plan to take my car here as long as I'm in the area. read more

I have been to my fair share of auto repair shops over the years, some good and some bad. I was happy we came upon Hometown, because this place is on the top. Every person you deal with is polite, funny (which is a very good thing), but most of all, very professional. They tell you what is needed and identify if it should be done right away, or it is something that can wait. I would highly recommend visiting Hometown when the need arises. read more

Even though this rating is 4 stars, go here. Really. I had a wonderful experience at Hometown Automotive. It is within walking distance of my office and found an oil change coupon that they participate in, so I gave them a try. They can service several cars at once and are very popular, for good reason. TL;DR summary: Go here for fair, friendly, routine service for most cars. If you're looking for more than that, you're probably in the market for a specialty shop anyway. Here's my breakdown: Professionalism: 5 - Excellent! Friendliest shop I have been to in a long time (some good jokes too). They are honest about what they can do and cannot do and give realistic advice. If you value straight talk and respectful treatment -- go here. Cost: 4 - Competitive and fair. I would say better than average for an independent shop as busy and responsive as they are. You won't pay extra for any mistakes and they will work to make things right. Technical capability: 3.5 - Above average (for my car). Keep in mind this will vary depending on your type of car. They're very good for "service manual" type work and any standard maintenance (they won't break your warranty). They'll tell you if a request is beyond their comfort level. In my case, my Subaru has some quirks that require manufacturer specific familiarity and some engine modifications, so some work isn't "by the book" anymore and it's too old for me to worry about warranties. I had brakes replaced and a heater core flushed for a competitive price. The heater acted in a way that is not very typical, so I provided additional info on my issue and together we solved the problem (thanks for taking crazy-sounding customer input and using it). We decided to leave the engine bay alone, however. read more

They are friendly and busy. I don't always like to wait, but they're busy because they're fair and honest. I've had a couple oil changes here and will be bringing my wife's car in for new air and cabin filters this week. I got a Groupon for 3 oil changes but will come back for other work due to their good reviews and the down to earth, honest vibe I've gotten when I brought my car in. read more

As a new resident in Melrose, I needed a new mechanic so I asked a colleague who grew up in Stoneham for a recommendation. I couldn't be more thrilled with Sal and Dave - they are awesome! My car had been making a rattling sound for about a month, and I was nervous that I would get charged a ton, or would need to make serious repairs. As it turned out, it was a minor repair and these guys didn't even charge me bc it was so small. I've found my new mechanic! My fiance and I will definitely be coming back to Hometown Auto again with both our cars. read more

Ive been coming to Hometown for about 3 years now and unlike other places ive brought oil change coupons or Groupons to, never once have they tried to upsell me on services i don't need. Today i was there and i saw a woman in her 70's being waited on, usually a mechanics dream. The mechanic came out and told her issue was under warranty so bring it to the dealer. No charge. She told me she trusts them and so do I. So much so i brought a car in i was thinking of buying for them to look over. Even though it is further from my house than I'd prefer, its worth it to me to go there. read more

I have gone to Hometown for all 3 of the cars I have had, since I learned to drive. They are usually busy, so call ahead to verify availability. They are busy for a reason! Their services are fast, thorough, and affordable. They are honest, informative, and friendly. read more

Sal is the man. Super laid back and always does great work for a low cost. Highly recommend!

Good little local shop to provide alternatives to oil changes and such. Reasonable pricing as well and the guys there are nice. I had one minor issue with the gasket not being replaced (I don't think they do it at all here), but they took care of my concern immediately when I showed up again. Overall, pretty good experience and would go there again after years of getting my two Subaru's serviced there. read more

Hometown has been the best shop I have had the pleasure of working with. After spending thousands at the dealer, I realized there had to be a better way. I stopped by Hometown for a simple oil change. What would have run $440 at Mercedes ran $60 and from there the rest is history. My check engine light came on for the first time since owning the car today. I stopped by Hometown. Mark picked up the diagnostic reader came outside (in the snow) and told me it was nothing to worry about. But, if it came on again they would take care of it. Awesome service, awesome team and and GREAT value. Go here!!! read more

Hometown Automotive should change its name to Hometown Heroes Automotive. I found them following a horrendous experience at Hondar House in Cambridge. I had taken my car to Hondar House for what was a working driver's side climate control system, but it had been making a growling noise when switching from hot to cold and vice versa. In order to make the noise stop, I needed to have the blend door actuator replaced, which is what Hondar House did. Following the replacement, I discovered less than 24 hours later that while the growling noise had stopped, the driver's side was not producing hot air. Hondar House insisted it was working, and that I just didn't know how to use my own car, plus with my car having a lot of miles on it I should expect things not to work. (My full description of the Hondar House experience can be found here: http://bit.ly/2vMvoHK ) I Googled around for other auto repair options and found Hometown Automotive was not only close by, it also had consistently incredible reviews for an extended period of time. I took my car there and Mark, Sal, and the rest of the crew went above and beyond to figure out what was wrong. After many hours (that they did not charge me for), they figured out that Hondar House had not only installed the actuator backwards, they broke plastic pieces around it in the process, causing the blend door not to be able to open all the way and reach the heat. Those plastic pieces were hard to access, and the guys at Hometown spent a long time carefully taking my car apart to remove and replace them. (Plus they didn't mark up the cost of the plastic pieces that they had to order) Not only did the Hometown team do a great job on my car, every staff member was kind, respectful, diligent, and above all, made me feel confident in my repair experience which ran me a more than reasonable $340 (In the meantime, my credit card company reversed the Hondar House charges so I didn't lose money on that mess). I am not knowledgeable about the inner workings of cars, which I felt Hondar House tried to exploit. On the contrary, Hometown explained everything to me in layman's terms and kept me informed every step of the way. Going forward, I will be taking my car to Hometown for everything. My disaster at Hondar brought me to Hometown, which was the ultimate silver lining outcome for what was a truly terrible and upsetting experience. Thank you, Hometown!! read more

This was hands down the best experience with any automotive shop I've been to. Friendly, real, down to earth, individuals. They told me it would take 30 minutes, and it took almost exactly 30 minutes (everywhere else will tell you 30 minutes and come back 2 hours later). Also, I am a Veteran and they were most definitely a Veteran friendly service. I will be returning to this shop for any and all future automotive issues/maintenance. I would recommend this automotive shop. read more