Watch your self, get everything in writing! My "friend" Brian McLees told me on a call when my car broke down in July 2025 that because of my husband's passing in June 2025, he "would take care of me, " he had " loaner cars" for me etc. He denies the original verbal estimate of $5300. I got a partial copy of an invoice texted to me Dec 2025 for $7380.00! For an old car that I paid $7k for in 2001! Now, its Jan 2026. In the meantime, I'd made payments totaling $5100! I filed a complaint with BBB. Threatened legal action, I can't afford. Brian offered me a "discount" to $6600. Now its $6100! Check the WA ST Auto Repair Act, get a written estimate! If not local, request text, DM, or email. Do not trust any verbal agreement. read more

I read the reviews and told myself that the low ratings were due to the likelihood that upset people are more likely to write a review. And I was correct because I never write reviews lol. I took my car and got a quote for $250 to $500, a week later it was $700, and by the time it was done two weeks later I was told it was 2K for replacing an alternator and fixing an electrical problem that the dealer never found before. But, since the vehicle's catalytic converter was stolen last year, I thought maybe they pulled some wires out of place. $700 made sense, but $2k is an absurd amount. I was able to talk them down to $1,500. I should have gone back to the dealer and saved myself a couple of hundred bucks. What makes me sad is that this is my neighborhood shop, and I was looking forward to having a mechanic near my home for all my cars, tractor and boat, but it was an expensive lesson. Live and learn. read more

I had an issue with my DIESEL van that the Ford "stealership" charged me $473 just to diagnose, telling me that I had a bad NOx sensor. I told them I thought it was an intake leak, and they said there were no issues with the intake system. I replaced the NOx sensor myself, no change as I suspected. I made an appointment with Randy at mclees and over the phone I could tell he was a friendly and knowledgeable tech. I was so thankful when he said that they can work on Diesel engines because diesel mechanics are difficult to find and always slammed with work. They charged me $120 (much better than $473) just for the diagnosis and ended up finding a split hose in the intake path. They said it was embarrassing that the dealership missed that, but I was not surprised. Randy gladly showed me where the hose was in the engine cause I was curious and answered my many questions about the repair with kindness and patience. They replaced the hose and my van has been running like it used to ever since. The only complaint I have is that they didn't ask permission to do the repair after diagnosis and ordered the replacement part before I said I wanted to do the repair. I would have said to repair it anyway, but it's something to keep in mind if you go here. I also had a coolant change and air filter replacement that they didn't charge me labor on. Overall I had a great experience and would gladly take my vehicle here again. Randy is the man! read more

They have gone above and beyond! Local to me, they came and picked up my only Transportation, stayed late to accommodate me, they have and continue to go the extra mile to make sure I have what I need. Big thanks to them and their crew!!! read more

Sir you better watch out for price gaging why didn't I read these reviews before I went, because I am a dummy, this place is for dummies that don't know how much they should be charged, There's one born every minute and I was that 1 today... my bad read more

Anyone else think it's reasonable to pay over $400 for an oil change? I called about having a basic oil change, filter and inspection and asked for a quote. They gave me an estimate of the cost and the time it would take. It was about the same as going to the Toyota dealer so I decided to support local and give it a shot. I dropped off my car and came back at the time given and it wasn't completed yet. Another 30 minutes goes by and it's finally done. Get the bill and it was 4 times the amount quoted. Unbelievable. No addition work done to justify the cost. The same guy I talked with over the phone simply said he only quoted me for materials. Scammers. Don't go here. read more

This review cancels my original review because the "repair" only worked the day it was done. The service didn't last and the next attempt to use "repaired AC" revealed that all Heating and AC are no longer accessible. After several attempts to reach the owner (actual service man), none have been answered even with message left. If I could give a 0 star rating I would! It's been over a month since date of service & still no response from Mr. McLees. The value of his service is totally ineffectual & caused more damage. read more

These guys and gals have been amazing. Don't take your work here, I don't want them too busy for when I give them all my work. Kudos to Brian who has earned my business as long as he sticks around at this shop. Will not be taking my work anywhere else. Bought a car from him, entrusted him with major repair engine on my truck, and now sending my kids Saturn off to this guy. So again, I urge you, send your work somewhere else, so these guys are plenty able to focus on all my problems. But if you want work done right, and to be treated fair and with respect, these guys will definitely make sure they make you leave a satisfied customer. There aren't a lot of good businesses out there anymore, but this is the exception to that rule. read more

Beware. Charge me 3 times what I was quoted without informing me. Also they were "finished" with the car months later than originally quoted. Beware and stay away from Mclees read more

My travel companion and I were headed out of Seattle to Seaside OR for a weekend getaway when the car broke down (alternator) just 5 miles away from our destination at midnight on a Friday night. No auto repair shops were open around the area for the weekend and the tow-truck driver was of no help to suggest options in our pursuit of a shop that would be open Saturday. We thought the best thing to do at the moment was to have the car towed to Olympia (close to home) where we might find more options. We had the car towed to a shop that was listed as being open on Saturday (Flat Rate Auto Repair on Plum Street), but when my companion showed up at opening time, there was no one in sight. He got the phonebook and just started calling shops to see who would pick up and McLee's was open! They sent their tow truck out to the car, and by the time we made it to the shop, the owner had already called for the part and said it would take maybe an hour for the car to be fixed. He suggested we go down to the Shell station/mart to grab some coffee/grub (which, by the way, had one of the best produce selections for a gas station). We came back and within an hour, the car was fixed and ready for us to still make it down to enjoy a little weekend trip to the Oregon Coast. A very friendly auto shop- the owner, Brian, really knows how to run the place, conduct a team-oriented shop, and motivate his staff. Expect tip-top service, status reports, and a clean, relaxing environment full of lots of reading material while you wait for your car to be serviced. Sure, this place was located a little ways out, but it was well worth it! This business also appeared to be family-owned and run, with several years of experience ( I think 79 years in business). McLee's saved the day and we got on the road promptly around 1 pm to still make it to Seaside before the sun set. read more

Great to know this shop is honest and a pleasure to do business with. They gave us a quote to fix our motor home and did just that. Their service was great. It was Completed on time and the job was done right. I would recommend this shop to others and will bring our autos there as well. read more

They had my vehicle for two months. They stated that they were having a difficult time finding employees.

I would give this shop no stars if it was an option.. but these guys used extortion tactics to try and keep my car. I requested an estimate over and over they never sent me an estimate. then when I went to pick up my bill is for $6,658 after he took two months to even get to my vehicle to start work on it . he charged me over $3000. for storage and told me he's gonna keep my vehicle if I don't pay him. did I mention all the work they did not authorized I told my only one of my car was to get it running there's no way in hell to pay this guy $6,000 ridiculous extortion is finest. how to disable American war veteran 2 so obviously doesn't care about veterans. so I plead with you people do not take your car here. his window recently got broke out by angry customer it wasn't me he blamed me but I said I'd like to shake the guy's hand who did it. don't waste your time or money or effort of this place they are crooks they're crooked and steal from you. read more

I've had my car to McLees several times, and they've consistently done great work. They've gone out of their way to do things like pick up and deliver the car, make sure the billing is clear, work with the changes on my end, and to deliver the car clean inside and out. Would take my car anyplace else. read more

I made the mistake of using this company twice on two different vehicles. 1st- They 'repaired' my jeep that was leaking anti freeze only to have the entire car shut down on me in the middle of main st. in Centralia. I was HORRIFIED. Mclees took the car in (Although i had to pay for the tow) and 'fixed' it right away not giving me an explanation and not charging me. **Red flag that they dont have quality workmanship 2nd- They 'repaired' my Pontiac G8- this time i had Gieco pictures that showed all the damage. I got the car back to find paint chips and scratches on the bumper that weren't there before they went to Mclees and i found the side mirror STILL broken! He claimed that he couldn't fix the mirror because he was helping me make it cheaper. I explained that although i wanted it to be cost effective, i dont pay thousands for insurance and repairs to have it NOT be fixed properly. (Especially considering the insurance company thought the mirror was fixed) He had NO explanation for the added damage and advised that i would have to pay for the mirror myself and bring in the car so he can fix the bumper. Obviously at this point i realized this is NOT a reliable nor trustworthy company so i did not bring my car back in and did not pay him the last $200 for the car he did not repair all the way. I urge you to call any one else. Use any one else. Brian Mclee is NOT trustworthy. Simple as that. read more

Our car broke down when we were 100 miles away from home and we had to find someone in the area (Olympia). These guys towed the car for free and did outstanding job as quickly as they could. They came with the most competitive price as I called 5-6 shops. We did a few other things on the car as they were overdue, changed the tires, which they beat Costco price! Changed Serpentine belt which they beat Midas by half the price. Thank you! Plamen and Stephanie read more

I have used McLees in the past 15+ years for all my vehicles, and I have given him a lot of flexibility and a lot of business. Complete brake repair (K2500) were done twice by McLees. The first rear brakes failed. The Second complete brake repair was performed by McLees. The rear brakes failed and McLees repaired the rear brakes a second time. The second rear brakes failed and McLees would not warranty the rear brakes, wanting more money for the same rear brakes. I took the truck to Schwab. Schwab repaired the K2500 rear brakes, with a warranty! I have not had another problem with the rear brakes. We agreed on an 850 quote for swapping auto body parts in August 2016 at their leisure. I was driving the car regularly and it was running great and the interior was DRY and clean when dropped off. When I was notified the parts swap for the body repair was complete and asked to pick up the car in May 2017 the repair quote price had doubled. In addition, the car was not running like when it was droped off and it was wet and moldy inside. To add insult to injury, He is now threatening me for impounding fees and collections over the dispute. For the above reasons, I CAN NOT Recommend McLees at this point. read more

Their service is top of the line. They are honest and quick to repair my car. When I could not find someone to tow me on a holiday, they came immediately. Friendly service. Highly recommend them. Good service. read more

I would be very careful bringing your car here . I called them to have my car looked at for overheating . The owner seemed very nice at first and said he would tow my car for free with repair . He didn't tell me there were costs If I chose to bring it somewhere else, which is common to do when all you're initially wanting is an estimate . He was not upfront with me about towing costs from the get go. When he called to give me a quote , I called around town and found a price that works better for me . When I called to tell him I was considering other options , he aggressively told me I owed him 90 dollars for an accessment fee . He NEVER mentioned this fee to me upon ageeing to have my car looked at . I have been to many mechanics in my life , and have always been informed of any fees beforehand . I decided to go get my car. When I walked in , he insisted I owed him the 90 dollars plus Almost 200 for the tow. When I told him he said it was free, he yelled 'only with repair '. I understand needing to charge for a tow. What I don't understand is not being upfront about costs from the beginning . I also found out from his website he offers a free estimate on repairs and he charged me 90 for that .I find this to be dishonest behavior and I feel taken advantage of as a consumer . I also feel once someone has not been upfront over one thing , how do I know they will be about other things ? I have been told by another mechanic my problem is not the head gasket at all. read more

I LOVE MCLEES!!! Best shop around hands down. Girlfriends and I headed out of town for a camping trip in my new-to-me 1984 Class C Motorhome when it began to overheat. The great guys at McLees had us back on the road in an hour and a half. They really are fair, quick and super knowledgeable. Also kind!!!! read more

I have had the very worst experience ever in my 40 years of automotive dealings. They never provided a written estimate, continued to up the cost of their work and when all was said and done they expected twice the amount they initially claimed the cost would be. If you like to be treated like that, then this is your shop! I guarantee they can and will do it to you. They claim to be a machine shop...bull. They contract it all out and have no control. Be warned. read more

We got taken by McLees Automotive, Boston Harbor Road, Olympia. After getting a new engine installed, by McLees, I had to take it back 3 times, to have them fix their mistakes. Then to top it off, they purposely put a Clamp on the Evac hose, so that gas would not properly go into the gas tank, also causing the vehicle to not start automatically, which triggered the engine light to come on. So, I took it to a different, reliable mechanic, they pulled the Clamp off the hose and all works well now. McLees wanted to charge me $90 to remove the Clamp that they had purposely put on; most likely to drum up more business. Don't get screwed like I did. Take your vehicle somewhere else. Side Note: They literally took 3 weeks to install the engine. Several Years Ago, I had an engine put into my 4-Runner, with a reliable mechanic, it only took 3 days. read more

I have always received excellent service from McLee's. I have been happy with the work they have done & prices.

Nice to weird haired people with art trucks! If you're more salt of the earth, you have no idea how rare that can be, but it means they'll probably be nice to everyone. :) We had the additional issue of the truck being older model and while not quite obscure, not a species with which everyone is familiar. Heck when I was calling around to places for estimates and parts initially, two places told me the Nissan D21 hardbody "did not exist". The gents at McLee's not only knew exactly what I was referring to, they were polite and reasonable no matter which of us called. I was so floored by being treated like an intelligent adult [I am used to being demeaned by mechanics as I have a very young, effeminate voice] I insisted we use them and am so happy we did. They rebuilt the transmission completely, stuck to the original estimates, and held onto it without additional charges - no lot fee!!!! - while we scraped up the payment. If you didn't follow that, let me clarify: they did the work for 1/3 down and then just kept the truck until we could pay off the rest. That part is also important for me; I eschew the credit system and am a cash sorta person. HIGHLY recommended, and I cannot say that for certain other mechanics who will do transmissions in the Olympia area. Who shall remain nameless. Cough cough grr cough. McLee's rocks. :D read more

This place is great! They really care about customer service. I've been taking my car to mclees automotive for about 2 years and they've always gone out of their way to be accommodating to you! As one of the bazillion people who know close to nothing about cars (still convinced they might be magic) I know what its like to have that fear of not knowing if your mechanic is going to take advantage of your ignorance and charge 600% what they should. Here I have no fears of being grossly over charged. They tell you before hand parts and labor and give you your hypothetical worse case scenario cost. Which is great! They are very transparent which is important and it's a local family run business. The owner personally gave me a ride home when I left my car at his shop...and guess what...he picked me up when the job was finished. I believe they also offer a free tow within a certain distance. Any who this is now a ramble. This place is very awesome. Go here for your automotive issues! You'll leave feeling fairly treated read more

I moved to the area 2 years ago and began doing business with MeLees Automotive at that time. They are great: knowledgable, professional, dependable, accommodating to my schedule and helpful when I'm standed. They guarantee their work. Every time my vehicle needed repairs they were right there to help. Their prices are very reasonable and I highly recommend them read more

I was in a hit and run auto accident just a couple days before thanksgiving at 6:30 at night. My husband called McLees Automotive and they did NOT say they were closing soon and could help us later. On the contrary, they wanted to come pick up the car immediately. Wanted to know if we needed a ride anywhere, just so very thoughtful and considerate. My insurance wanted me to go to someone they had a "relationship" with. I choose McLees Automotive they picked up my car and stared work PRIOR to the insurance check coming in. They offered a loner car if my insurance was going to cut me off prior to the work being completed. I can NOT ever recall being treated with such care anywhere else not even at dealerships where I have purchased my vehicle. Did I mention McLees shop had been run into by a truck on the day I got hit. They never skipped a beat- just focused on my issues. I will never take my car or truck anywhere else. Thank you guys! Lifesavers! I just can't say enough about how they made my situation ( being smashed into by another car and then that car proceeding to take off ) go from feeling scared and upset to feeling safe and hopeful. Best broken up car experience EVER! Rebecca W read more

The service was very good, and other than my car not being ready until the following day due to tires that need patching due to nails I was very pleased with the service and personnel. read more