I brought my sick car to Madison Automotive after a ridiculous and jaw-dropping repair estimate from another North Portland shop (ahem. Art of Maintenance). This guy listened to me, called me right away with the diagnostic & estimate, and fixed it right up, and didn't fix anything that didn't need fixing. It runs great now & the bill didn't even go over a grand. I'd never been there before, even though I've seen it a million times as it's right across the street from Grocery Outlet. But it'll now be my go-to repair shop. If you're sick of automotive places ripping you off, and I know I am, take your car over to Madison. They ROCK. read more

My wife took her jeep in for a no crank/no start condition. They replaced starter and it didn't fix the problem. Magically the old starter was sent back for a core when I asked to test it myself. She took it back and they had it for a long time and kept saying that they couldn't duplicate issue. Went to pick up and it wouldn't start. They were entirely incapable of the diagnosis, my wife got online and found forums that the neutral safety switch (in transmission) was a known issue. Paid nearly$1000. Drove home car wouldn't shift. They forgot to put fluid in it. When I asked for that to be in writing, the owner told me that if he needs to replace the tranny, he would but then would blackball us from the shop. A few months later, the no start issue came back. We took it in several times for warranty. Was told that they once again couldn't duplicate the issue. Once it finally failed for good, I called for warranty the owner literally told me that we missed warranty by a week. The part is like $50 and the majority was labor. They don't stand behind their work and are not competent enough to do it correctly. Took it to another shop and had it repaired correctly. The only reason that I'm leaving 1 star is that the star rating doesn't allow me to go any lower. I'm hoping that a healthy dose of karma comes Jim's way. read more

I hate writing this review. I've supported Madison for years with oil changes because he and his wife are such awesome supporters of our neighborhood sports teams and scouting. It's always so nice to leave my car and walk home. Today I parked my car in front of the business to drop off as per usual and went in to leave my key. A gentleman walked up and I let him know I needed to leave my key as I had made an appointment for an oil change. He informed me that I had to move my car to let in a tow truck.. I told him again that I had an appointment and where should I take it? He simply told me, "I don't care just move". I left and drove away, unsure of what I should do. Maybe he was having an off day but I completely felt like I'd be retaliated against if I ended up going back.. read more

Do you like to spend $500 on an oil change? Because they will find something that you can't verify yourself that "must" be fixed! And when they do "fix" it, they will not put back everything together, so you get to do a little labor for them. At $500, it had better be top quality, which this is not. Costs too much for the service provided, does not give me a "trustworthy" feeling. read more

Avoid if possible! Took our van in to get an oil change and also get some front end work done (tie rod ends). Was originally quoted approximately $675 for the front end work. They came back and informed us it would be $925. Then they said the check engine light came on, it was a misfiring cylinder. The misfiring cylinder was the #8 and they replaced the spark plug. Then they said the #4 was misfiring. Went to fix it, called and said they were having difficulty with it and asked for more time, then called and said it was rusted on and then broke it off into the engine. We were then told we can replace the cylinder at a cost of approximately $3.5k (and with quoted 50/50 risk to further compromise the engine) or replace the engine for approximately $4.7k potentially have up to a 90 day guarantee on the engine. Also, could purchase a new engine for quoted cost of approximately $6k (labor may not be included in that cost). At no time was the risk (possible engine/head gasket replacement) associated to removing the "damaged" #4 cylinder communicated to us. After the technician failed to properly remove the head gasket they informed us that the only remedies are to replace the head gasket / cylinder or have the whole engine replaced. Ended up taking the van to another local automotive technician and they repaired the engine for less than $300. Madison Automotive actively looked to take advantage of us or they are incompetent in their work. read more

Had a noise that was happening which I thought could be my brakes so I had Les Schwab check them and was told that my brakes still looked new but couldn't find the cause of the noise. I then brought my car to Madison Automotive and was charged $125 for an estimate and was told that my front brakes were at 20%. I decided not to have Madison do my brakes and brought it back to Les Schwab to question their previous assessment. The manager did a full brake check with me watching and showed me that my brakes were actually at 80%!!!! Madison Automotive tried to sell me a $460 brake job. DO NOT USE THIS BUSINESS!!!! I paid $125 to be lied to read more

I was referred to Madison Automotive by another local company. They were able to fix the issue my Nissan Pathfinder was having and they fixed it. They were very transparent with the time it would take to get it done and with the pricing. They went above and beyond to make me feel comfortable with them fixing my car. I highly recommend them for any of your needs. Thank you for a job well done. read more

We've just moved to the St. Johns area and needed a mechanic. Our vehicle was stuttering and not shifting correctly. We decided to try Madison Automotive because they were close and got pretty good reviews. That was a huge mistake. We took it in with the shifting problem, and when we talked to them, they said there were over 5 codes. They said they needed to fix a spark plug, air intake hose and ignition coil boot. They said this would fix the jumpy, stuttering motion when the car shifted. When we picked it up a day later, we were charged $800. We were totally shocked at the huge amount, but figured it would be fixed, so that's what it was going to be. Not 3 days later the vehicle starts doing THE SAME THING. We called them back pretty upset that we had spent so much for NOTHING to be fixed. They said they would get back to us on what they'd do next. Meanwhile we bought our own meter and found out our car had put itself in Safe Mode for reasons completely UNRELATED to the stuff they'd done. After a week of not hearing from them (with a still broken car and $800 down the drain), we decided to call around. We found a mechanic nearby who got us in quickly and fixed the issue...for $350. Now our car runs great but we're out $800 because of their unprofessionalism and inability to fix the actual problem. These people will overcharge you and not fix the problem. Shop around. If someone can take $800 for minimal work, not fix the problem that they were hired to fix and then not even have the integrity to take the car back in and finish the job, they are pretty low in my book. Our family could really use that money but instead we got conned. read more

Avoid if possible! Took our van in to get an oil change and also get some front end work done (tie rod ends). Was originally quoted approximately $675 for the front end work. They came back and informed us it would be $925. Then they said the check engine light came on, it was a misfiring cylinder. The misfiring cylinder was the #8 and they replaced the spark plug. Then they said the #4 was misfiring. Went to fix it, called and said they were having difficulty with it and asked for more time, then called and said it was rusted on and then broke it off into the engine. We were then told we can replace the cylinder at a cost of approximately $3.5k (and with quoted 50/50 risk to further compromise the engine) or replace the engine for approximately $4.7k potentially have up to a 90 day guarantee on the engine. Also, could purchase a new engine for quoted cost of approximately $6k (labor may not be included in that cost). At no time was the risk (possible engine/head gasket replacement) associated to removing the "damaged" #4 cylinder communicated to plaintiff. After the technician failed to properly remove the head gasket they informed us that the only remedies are to replace the head gasket / cylinder or have the whole engine replaced. Ended up taking the van to another local automotive technician and they repaired the engine for less than $300. Madison Automotive actively looked to take advantage of us or they are incompetent in their work. read more

Jim Madison and Cora went above and beyond for my automotive needs!! We dropped our little coupe on Thursday so Jim can get his hands on it on Friday. The water bump has just started to leak so it is best to take care of it early. Jim was short handed but he gave me the best customer services he could possibly give. The quote for the repair was accurate. The car ran smoother and quieter now. Yes it took a little longer for getting the repairs fixed. But get this: Jim himself performed the work. And he made sure the work was done properly! Thank you Jim and Cora for taking care of us so well. No, I am not looking forward for my car to break down soon. But if it does, I know I will call Jim and Cora again!! read more

Madison Automotive - Very reasonable for the quality of the repairs - Auto Repair Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I was referred to Jim and his crew by several people. Our work van was stolen and the ignition and steering column were badly damaged. We received the vehicle back in a very reasonable amount of time, and the work was done at a fair price. Most importantly, Jim made us feel welcome and treated us with the dignity that we don't always find in some less honest mechanics shops. Thank you all for the great work, and we look forward to hopefully not seeing you again too soon LOL read more

Probably the worst customer service I've ever received. I waited behind a gentleman that was talking about his car with a mechanic, and I waited 10 minutes, only to be asked "somethin I can help you with?" They were just talking cars while I stood there, a potential customer. How rude! After finding out they were just ignoring me for 10 minutes I asked how much a brake change would be and he quoted me more than the dealership.. never going back these people are rude and crooks read more

Do your research before taking your car in. Meaning that you've got to know more about the problems than the mechanics themselves. I had a gas leak, a check engine light and power steering issues. The gas leak was fixed but then I was lead to believe that the check engine light (code) for a pnp switch would fix the power steering issue. $360 later my power steering is still shot. When I go in to see what the problem is, the answer I got was that "He didn't say that the replacement pnp switch would fix the steering problem." My response was that I wouldn't have dropped $360 if that part if it wasn't going to fix the power steering problem! Meaning that the check engine light (pnp switch) didn't directly effect the way my car was performing, since my car effectively shifted in all gears regardless of the status of the switch. Already $800 in the hole, the power steering was still shot and unaddressed and I was told it could be upwards of a few hundred dollars to $1000 to be fixed. WOW! For potential customers. I have to say that you should take your car into a shop that "SPECIALIZES" on certain vehicles rather than Madison, a place that opts for the guess and check method on any vehicle with 4 tires. A place where simple problems turn into drawn out episodes. Instead, go with mechanics that have foresight and can prioritize a vehicle's repair strategy so that customers don't unknowingly fall into a money pit. read more

Jim and his crew have always been honest and their work has been top notch. I'm very happy with their services.

I've lived in North Portland for 5 years and was initially excited about having a mechanic in the St. John's area that was local. I took both of my vehicles to them for several years and dealt with their high prices and their constant quote changes for a while. The work they do is satisfactory in the sense that the things they fixed for us didn't fail in the short term, but I finally tired of their bait and switch diagnosis and costs. I finally drew the line when I had authorized work quoted at ~$200, and then received another call after the car was already mid-repair for over $1500. When I questioned the dramatic price increase, another mechanic admitted that the initial mechanic had not done a full diagnostic review before beginning work on the vehicle. I no longer take my vehicles there. They consistently begin work with a narrow lens only to dig themself into bigger problems and come back asking for additional money to fix them. I need a repair shop that can assess for problems adequately, and not drag me (and my wallet) along. read more

I saw other reviews, and I have to give my 2 cents now. First time I went to Madison, great all around service and care. Very willing to talk to you. Yeah they are super busy, because they are good. No they are not French Concierge service, and thus will not live up to your ever so entitled expectations of pampering. Bottom line. They give you great service, cut right to the chase, and are very transparent in my opinion about their operation. I will be going back again and again as I have since they took over that building on Lombard. read more

I took my 2019 Honda Fit there after my tire pressure light came on, and they were so helpful and honest! They checked my tire pressure and inflated the one that was low for free, and they gave me good advice about what to do if the problem came up again. I don't really know a lot about cars so I was nervous to go to a new mechanic, but based on this experience I would absolutely trust them to quote me a fair price and to give me advice that is in my best interests. read more

I need my car for my job and Madison's is the only auto body shop that I trust with my car. They're friendly, honest, and respectful. They do a great job at communicating with me about what is going on with my car and they do everything they can to fix it fast. read more

Clutch went out and had vehicle towed to Madison Automotive just before closing. Asked to be called the next day with repair and estimate. Never called. Received call just before closing to pick-up. Bill was $581 for replacement of clutch master and slave cylinder. (troubleshooting later and calling around even Toyota said NEVER td they do this repair first but always as a last resort). At pick-up both interior front seat covers/sheep skin were reeking and badly stained with brake fluid. Washed several times before able to get in and drive. Clutch pedal did not come up all the way. Had to use toe of shoe to bring all the way up. Dangerous! Returned, and told I did not know how to drive a manual transmission. I have only owned manual and driving them for 54 years. Left the vehicle and again asked to be called. Never called until just before closing. This time bill was for $1,141, but was given a $100 senior discount. Again, interior seat covers reeked and stained with brake fluid and clutch pedal did not come up all the way unless toe of shoe placed underneath and pulled up. Very dangerous and unacceptable. Researched, and found a honest, professional mechanic who knew "the mistake" Madison's mechanic had made because he only hand tightened the rod that connects the pedal to the master cylinder rather than tightening it snuggly with a tool. New mechanic said it was the second such incident he had to correct and would not verify if Madison had done the work on the other persons vehicle. Believe I was ripped off, talked down to, and if I had returned the vehicle a third time would have been billed again. read more

Super impressed with fast service (with no appointment) and super fair pricing. Had to duck back in for a quick question after the changed my headlight and they were fantastic. Highly recommend. read more

My car engine died while I was driving at 9pm on highway 30. My insurance towed me to Madison auto and I called them the second they opened the next day to fill them in. They agreed to take a look but I didn't hear back for a couple days so I called. I guess they couldn't find the key (which was on the tire *eyeroll*). They told me that it was locked in my gas tank which was not true. So they left the car on the street for 3-4 days. In the meantime, my passenger window was smashed and someone was clearly hanging out in my car as there was trash that did not belong to me. No one called to tell me. I waited over a week after they found the key to hear a diagnosis and estimate. They never called. I called and they said they were still working on it but STILL DIDNT TELL ME MY WINDOW WAS SMASHED. After the second week, I get a call from them and he said, "What are you going to do with your car? We need it off the lot." I told them I was still waiting for an estimate and diagnosis. He then said, "Oh he hasn't called you yet?" to which I obviously replied no. At this point, I am doubting their ability to do the work based on the total lack of communication with each other and with me, the customer. I told them I was going to a different shop and they demanded $100 for a diagnosis - a diagnosis that didn't mention anything about the damage that had occurred while my car was there. I had the car towed to another shop. This second shop thought I knew my window was broken so they didn't mention it either, but felt awful when it showed up to my house later with no window and I asked them what happened. I found out TWO MONTHS LATER that my window had been bouncing around with no window. When I called Madison, they refused to refund me my $100 because it had been two months (I had just found out!) and because they diagnosed my engine as being dead. What a fucking joke. Get your shit together, dudes. I am appalled at the unprofessionalism. The interior of my vehicle is SOAKED. Not even a wink of sympathy. read more

People with the one star two star crap are people who want it done with a snap of the finger impatient with entitlement issues. Ive been going to madison since they started their business 4 years ago and never once had an issue with service or the way they work. Jim and cora are awesome people and very hospitable. I was one of their first customers when i needed a transmission for my car (that i trust no one with)and with a price less than 800.00! Why would i say no and the experience jim and his brother have it was a no brainer and 3 years later my transmission......STILL WORKS LIKE A CHAMP! This is my trusted and always go to mechanic shop read more

Took my van in for an AC recharge $139 service. Left it for service returning 3 hours later to be informed my compressor was bad and informed that is another$1200 repair if done to warranty standards. Basically my AC didn't need a recharge it needed a compressor but he still charged me the FULL $139 even though the problem wasn't solved by the service they performed...a minimal fee for the used freon I would have happily paid, but you'd think a mechanic might diagnose an issue better to begin with or discount the price of his ineffective service to make me, a first time customer, a second time customer for my more costly repair. But since he took all my money and told me the issue I'll gladly find another shop to replace my compressor. read more

I am sadly ending my association wih Madison. I really liked doing business with neighbors and the utter convenience of the place. But too much is enough.. Been taking my car here for maybe nine months - two cars for that matter (and even a third when I came by with a car for them to check out a used car for me.) In past I have not been unsatisfied with my service (but I never felt 100% either as it takes a while to really build mechanic trust). These guys are kind of gruff and they smoke anywhere and everywere they want with no thought for anyone else. But I'm from Boston - gruff is fine. However, my last interaction will be my last. I brought my new car in because the brakes were very squeaky. Got a newer car to Uber and cant very well do that with squeaky brakes. So it took a week to get the appointment, but I took it. My car is there at 8am when they open - the owner and I exchange pleasantries. A few hours later they call and tell me that the brakes are fine and it's simply brake dusk (Is that like faerie dust) and they cleaned it out for $50. They took the car for a test drive and no squeak. Best news I'd heard all day! I got my car and drove to my P.T. appt. The brakes still sqeak... Differently, but clearly and loudly. I call him within 20 minutes of getting my car to tell him this. He doesn't really have an answer. I ask hin to look at it again and he offers me an appointment 9 days away. I am surprised to which he says - "should I move someone else's appointment for you?". To which I replied that they had not fixed the problem the car was brought in for. I was anxious and frsutrated - so I said "let me think about it and get back to you OK? By". Ok.. One minute later, I get a call from the owner - I answer - because in my silly pollyanna brain, I think he's going to 1)apologize for the inconvenience 2) get me in sooner. Wrong-O. I pick up the phone to which he replies.."This is so-and-so, you hung up on me". SERIOUSLY? I calmly explain that I did not and that was certainly not my intention. At which point he SHOULD have apologized. But then I relaized that this guy wanted to pick a fight with me where there was none.Really not my way of doing things. I might have taken car back there - but not after you felt in necesary to exert your power over me. Like I don't already know that you hold all the cards here. So - These folks don't seem to want or need my service. I never felt I was a priority when I was in. Service is not timely nor reliable/complete and now the owner thinks it's okay to talk to me that way. No thanks. I will also add that because of the mentality, I am slightly afraid of retaliation as they know where I live... read more

Wow. I've always been petrified of auto mechanics and have done all work on my vehicles, partly because I enjoy the challenge, and partly out of fear of being taken to the cleaners. All I ever heard is the nightmare stories from others, and witnessed evidence of shoddy work. When my '03 Chevy Express started acting up while in Portland (I live in SF) I considered shipping my car home 650 miles and flying before taking it to an auto repair shop. I avoid them like the plague. So I took a chance, and stumbled across Madison on yelp. All 5-star reviews written by real people seemed worth at least trying. I called in an explained my problem to Jim. I immediately picked up on the fact that he knew what he was talking about and seemed genuine. I showed up in the shop, and Jim took a look. Most mechanics don't want you anywhere near them while they're checking out your car 'wait in the lobby please'. In about 30 seconds Jim found the culprit of my engine stumbling (doh!), but based on the engine error codes he knew there was something else going on. He diagnosed a throttle position sensor wire that had failed/broken INSIDE the wire insulation, right as I watched him do it. Hard to imagine how long it would have taken me to find that problem. The repair was trivial, but the diagnosis priceless (ok, within reason). I walked out in 45 minutes with my issues resolved. I have a lot of respect for people that are real professionals. Jim is one of them. Highly recommend. read more

I moved up to Portland from Southern California about a year ago and was terrified to take my car anywhere but the mechanics I've been taking my cars to since I started driving. Of course, once a problem arose, I knew that I had to go somewhere. So, where else would someone turn for a good business other than Yelp!? It was between Atomic Automotive and Madison. When I called both shops, I got roughly the same estimate so I knew that either shop would have been relatively honest with me. However there was something about Jim's tone on the phone and the casual feeling I got from him that made me feel much more comfortable with giving him my business and money. Turns out, this was a great decision. I arrived shortly after he opened. We went over everything I had spoken to him about prior and got another rough estimate. He promised a call when he got the final totals for all the work I needed to get done and followed through. The pricing was exactly what I was expecting and the service reminded me of how my father used to treat his customers at the Midas shop he used to own - with respect. He let me know that, even though he closes at 6:00pm that he's usually there until 7pm, just inches I needed a little bit more time to arrive. He even offered to let me drop my car off the night before which I was greatly appreciative of. I appreciate the honesty that Jim put forth as well as having my car fixed in a timely manner. He sent me on my way with an air freshener and the feeling that I had found a mechanic that I knew I could trust in the future. Thanks to Jim and everyone at Madison Auto for helping put an end to the stigma of dishonest, gouging mechanics. read more

Friendly, quick,reasonable and professional..what else would you want in a local mechanic? Moved to st johns 8 months ago and I will never take my van anywhere else read more

This place is great. A friendly, honest family run shop. I picked up my car a couple hours ago and couldn't be happier. Great price, top notch work and done in a timely manner. Couldn't ask for anything more. Thanks guys...be back next time. read more

This place is as good as it gets when it comes to complete auto repairs. Its been about a month since we left our former mechanics of 7 years (because they were too far and could not do good GMC work), and changed over to Jim and his crew on Lombard. These mechanics are fair, honest, and friendly and when it comes to your vehicle... They tell what's wrong and leave it to you to get it fixed or leave. And if they make a mistake, they have no problem correcting it, even at N/C (No Charge) sometimes. Special thanks to Spud, Brian, and of course Big Jim. read more

Madison Automotive saved my 4th of July weekend! My car wouldn't start last night, and I was super bummed, thinking I was going to be carless all weekend with a guest in town. They were able to get me in and out for a new starter in the same day - a feat practically unheard of for Portland mechanics. Not only that, they didn't charge me for the diagnostic test. Thanks for the excellent service y'all! read more

I own EcoTech in St. Johns and we have a dozen vehicles from trucks to a Ford Focuses. The first vehicle I took to Madison Automotive had stumped another mechanic for months. Jim listened carefully to the history of work already done. He went online and did some research and found a solution. It worked! Months of frustration with another shop and Jim figured it out and fixed it in a day! I send all of our vehicles to Jim because he can diagnose problems quickly and he is fair on the price. What relief! Oh, and yes the car or truck gets a bath too! read more

I never leave review feedback but I feel that these guys have always bent over backward to help me out in a pinch. Twice they've been swamped and still fit me in when I was in an emergency. Another auto shop worked on my power steering hose and apparently broke the pump that I just had replaced. I took it to Madison thinking it was just a bad pump. The guys at Madison squeezed me in and fixed the issue a day before I had to make a cross country road trip. Im now in Denver and everything is running smoothly. Thanks Madison Auto!! read more

I had an amazing experience! I work in St. John's and my car started acting up on my way to work. I didn't think it would make it home so I called Madison and they got me in that afternoon. Within 20 min they had figured out what was wrong and my car was fixed in about an hour. They also gave me a discount for being a teacher! read more

I went to Jim with an electrical issue after being referred by another garage. Not only did he fix the problem in less than 5 minutes, he did what mechanics I've had almost never do: NOT talk down to me. He was quick, kind, and effective. I could not recommend this business more. read more

Recently took my car in for some very unexpected work. I chose Jim Madison's shop based on recommendations from neighbors and social media. Jim was thorough, friendly, and his prices are quite fair; they even washed my car. If I need auto repairs again, he'll be my first choice. read more

Brought my car into this shop yesterday (June 12) and the were able to diagnose the problem, call me and advise what needed to be repaired. The guy also encouraged me to replace my battery and knowing that it hasn't been replaced in 5+ years, I gave the go ahead. The price was super reasonable. I think I finally found myself a 'good as it gets' mechanic where I will be sending my business from now on. read more

Great service at a reasonable price! I recommend them to everyone. Big Jim and his crew are the type of guys I like running into when I need a mechanic. read more

I took my car in to get it inspected for oil leaks. They charged me $60 just for that. The place smells so strongly of cigarette smoke I had to breathe through my mouth the whole time I was there to try not to be sick. Not to mention an old man hit on me at the front desk saying "Want to take a ride on my motorcycle? This is how fast it goes." I don't know if he worked there or not, but he definitely fit in with the vibe of the other employees. I scheduled an appointment for the next week to get the leak fixed. I showed up the day of and the owner behind the counter said "Ohh, I don't know if we're gonna be able to fit you in" even thought I had made the appointment a week in advance. He said he was too busy to fix my car because he had just gotten off the phone with a guy (mind you, they sounded pretty buddy-buddy on the phone when I walked in) who "locked himself out" of three separate cars and then broke all three of the ignitions when trying to break into them. So, THAT guy got to bring in all three of the cars to get them fixed before mine. At first the owner said he couldn't fit me in at all and then, after bonding slightly by laughing at a few of his jokes about drinking whiskey in his coffee, suddenly he changed his tune and said "Oh, I'll make my guys stay late if they have to and we'll try really hard to make sure to get that done, but I dunno, we'll see, but we'll try. Needless to say, they did not get to my car that day, but the owner continued to say of bring it back next week and I'll make them stay late and we'll make sure to get it done. No thanks, guy. You can serve all the good ol' boys in your shop and I'll find my way to a more inclusive mechanic. read more

I'm speechless. I was aware the neighborhood raves about this shop and I finally made my first trip in for an oil change. The owner and his wife will be the people you'll talk to at the front desk. They're really nice and they had my car up on the rack before they'd even finished adding me in their database. I took a short walk and my car was already done when I got back in 15 minutes. At the dealership I used to go to it would have taken hours just to get a oil change and still would have cost more even with a coupon. They definitely got a new customer out of me. read more

Jim at Madison made my day. I towed in my van that was not turning over. My mechanic from many years had told me it was an ignition problem that was intermittently failing and would cost $1,500. This time I decided to try Madison Auto and was skeptical but saw some great reviews. Jim saved me money, time and stress! Great customer service and thankful for his move to St. Johns to serve our community! read more