We have had a great experience with this place. Our 2006 Volvo was leaking oil. A friend has suggested to let Peterson Auto take a look. The first time we went to the shop, we were very impressed with the place. The waiting area is very inviting, everyone is very courteous, and they are very knowledgeable about cars, especially about European cars! We scheduled our appointment and they have fixed the oil leaking with a very reasonable price. read more

For those amongst in love with our SAAD and Volvos. STAY AWAY from Petersen Automative. Tyler is in love with Ian. Ian works the front desk and when you first meet him, you'll know. Not only does he lack customer service skills, he lacks social skills. He's a slob. Tyler will (like clockwork) disappear and leave you with his pathetic friend to price gouge you. There's many SAAB & Volvo mechanics out there whom truly believe in the love We hold for our Made in Sweden cars. I hope you find them... read more

Brought my Saab convertible to them to repair, and they were unable to fix it - and then they stole the back seat bench from the car. See Skokie Police Report # 25-04778 read more

Petersen Automotive - They tried to deny it was there when I brought it in. FFS - Auto Repair Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

Had a Saab 9000 CSE swap to Aero and runs great. These guys take pride in what they do. That last statement was from 2021. Today August 30th 2023. I hD my turbo checked and some other hosed replaced. The workmanship of the entire establishment was super. They won't let you down. read more

One of the best Saab specialists and they are true enthusiasts! So lucky to have in the Chicago area. read more

Petersen Automotive - Auto Repair Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

Superb service, great expert repair, very reasonable prices. The mechanics at Petersen fixed my '93 Saab 900 when no one else in Chicago knew what was wrong with it. Ian and Tyler were both great: SO helpful and considerate. They even took my car to the body shop for a necessary repair and had a loaner car for me to borrow. I can't say enough great things about Petersen. These guys love Saabs and are true experts. I'll never take my car anywhere else! read more

If you own a Saab, especially the older models (mine is a '91), this is the only place to take. Great service, reasonable prices, deep knowledge of the cars. read more

I've been going to Petersen Automotive for over ten years. They are very knowledgeable in servicing SAABs, they treat your car as if it was their own. I highly recommend Petersen Automotive. read more

Great and very professional service. They were quick and experienced technicians HIGHLY RECOMMEND will definitely be a customer for life read more

Tyler and his crew are the real deal - straightforward, friendly and honest. They take their time with you and don't rush you in and out or give you the runaround. They do high quality work and communicate openly about the status of your car. Quick anecdote about their character: recently, Tyler replaced a part during repairs and afterwards found it online cheaper than he got it for through his wholesaler. Because he didn't want to overcharge me, he refunded me the cost of the part. I didn't ask for or request this - they did this completely unprompted. That's just how honest Petersen is. read more

Petersen Automotive - Auto Repair Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

Update 2022 ... Ownership changed hands a few years ago. Was great for first year or two; not so great as of 2022 with newer, inexperienced staff that aren't geared for customer service and reliable communication. As I went through my hit list after the last service, I was told "X" was done, only to later find out "X" was NOT done. There was labor time charged for something not on my hit list that they didn't call to request my authorization for (which had always been the case on past service visits), that apparently led to turning the interior inside out from the glove box to the trunk - unnecessarily as it turned out. And a recommendation for preventive maintenance that made another trusted mechanic ask 'who told you that?' when he took a look. read more

We have been going to Petersen Automotive for over 15 years. Started with our Saab but they also service our Volvo and Subaru. A hidden gem in Skokie. read more

My first visit to address an oil leak was exactly what I've been looking for in an Indy Mechanic. An honest, passionate, Saab expert (35 years of experience), who charges fairly. What I thought would be an expensive, 1/2 day visit turned out to be a 30 minute, low cost repair. Chuck also checked my brake pad life without any fuss and sent me on my way. I'll be back to keep my 2001 9-3 Viggen Convertible purring like a fighter jet. read more

So I've only been in Chicago a short time but my Saab needed an oil change. Back in Boston, my mech does nothing but work on Saabs so I wanted to find someone similar out here. I am very thankful I was able to find Peterson through SaabCentral. I made an appt and got in like 10 mins after they opened so my 9-5 was taken in quickly and given a ridiculously thorough going over. They even checked all the turn signals. I was in and out in about a half hour but you won't be bored because there are 2 very friendly dogs that will keep you company. The only bad thing is that the 30 minute drive (according to GoogleMaps) took more like an hour+ but that's to be expected in a state where people drive 20mph slower than the speed limit! read more

They serviced my 2010 GMC Acadia. There were several issues with the suspension, brakes and motor mounts that required their attention. They are thorough with their diagnostics, offer fair and competitive pricing and the repairs were done with quality parts and precision. Additionally, they were very courteous and truthful in their approach. Car rides like new. read more

We have been bringing our 2006 Saab 93 to the guys at Peterson since 2010. Not only are the honest but they charge fair prices and they get work done quickly. Over the years we have gotten quotes from other people but we always come back and have the work done at Peterson, their prices can't be beat. read more

Technically smart, outstanding service in a friendly environment. My 2000 9-5 Saab loves Petersen Automotive as the answer to all its problems--the family doctor, priced economically with rapid response. I am a very satisfied long time customer. Kudos to Chuck and Borhan for being a great company to work with. joni johnson, read more

Highly recommend heading out to Petersen even if you are in the city. Very good pricing and high level of service. They walk you through everything and give you options. There is never a sales or up-selling feeling. You tell them what you need and they do it. If they find something wrong they'll be honest about the severity of it, if there are other options, and even let you bring in your own used parts. I had several services done outside of oil changes. I have a 2000 9-5 so it has needed a few major mileage services done. I also had an exhaust system redone where I found my own used parts. I had shock and break work done as well. Never had to go back for any second repairs. They know what they are doing and have been doing it a long time. They also gave me a ride to and from the train station (I worked in the loop) which I very much appreciated. With Saab going out of business I hear he may start servicing other types of cars. So give them a call and see what they can do for you. Price and service kept me going back. D- read more

I brought my car here on a recommendation from a neighbor. Great service! Very fair pricing! Knowledgeable mechanics and they don't try to oversell you or take advantage of my / your lack of knowledge of the inter-workings of your car. Great spot and trust worthy people. read more

I will ONLY go here for my Saab repairs! Very cool and nice the people who work there and place. Very professional and courteous.

I love these guys as much as anyone can really love a mechanic. After all, they deprive you of the use of your car. They can also be the bearer of bad news when something you hadn't or couldn't notice needs to be fixed. They are really a "5 Star" business. The only reason I didn't give them 5 stars is because I scrolled down and saw nothing BUT 5 star reviews. I just wanted to be different. Nobody is THAT perfect. Their prices are steep, but competitive for an independent mechanic. Anyone driving a car that stopped being manufactured in 2010 (i.e. a Saab, their specialty) doesn't drive it to get oil changes at Jiffy Lube (not that there's anything wrong with that). Like most other reviews mention, Chuck and Borhan absolutely know their #$&*^@ about cars and will be absolutely honest with you, sometimes to a fault. Chuck can be a little hard to figure out, but he is a man of few words, and underneath the dry exterior he is a great guy. I take back what I said above. They only get 4 stars because Chuck needs to get a another dog. Oh, and they snuck a license plate frame on my back plate. I hate those things. But for them, I left it on. read more

This place is a rare find - a repair shop that is honest and doesn't treat the customer like an annoyance. I came in late in the day for an issue with my Saab's OBD, causing it to fail the emissions test. I didn't have an appointment but Chuck fixed it right away at a fair price. They are very friendly and knowledgeable here and I'll definitely be back. read more

So I just wanted to take a minute and write this review. The low beam headlight on my Saab went out last night, and as you probably know it's illegal to drive with a light out. This morning I took a drive to Petersen and showed up promptly at 8am when they opened. Chuck was there, brought my car right in without an appointment, and got the light fixed in about 20 minutes. These guys are totally legit, and awesome. They won't charge you needlessly for repairs, and are always available via phone for quick consults as well. I've had nothing but great experiences with them, and wanted to take a minute this morning to let everyone on Yelp know how awesome they are. read more

sadly, not what they used to be with chuck and in the early days with tyler. hard to tell who is running the joint now - it was the accountability, feedback and relationships along with the quality and reasonableness of the services that made this place special. that's history in my experience. still, saab experts are in short supply. not sure tyler even works here anymore - it's mysterious. i called a few times to service my volvo and saab earlier this year but lost my confidence in them. volvo went to fields and saab was passed on to a new owner. read more

I have taken my SAABS to Peterson since 2002. All the compliments in these reviews are well deserved, Their service goes beyond fixing my car. Last week my serpentine belt broke. I had the car towed in and they replaced it and charged the battery and topped the anti freeze which had boiled over. The bill was around $230. They said they had replaced the belt last year so there would be NO CHARGE. I have never heard of any mechanics ever doing that. If you have not taken your car there, do yourself a favor and start now. They go above and beyond. read more

I love this shop. These reviews are the real deal. They really are honest, dependable and do great work. I am glad that I found them by happenstance (they were the shop that was listed to accept a tire shipment and install of online-ordered tires). Parking is a bit tough at the shop, but otherwise, top-notch! read more

This place is off the beaten path and a lucky find for me. I wandered in because the name Petersen was the name of a former trustworthy mechanic (turns out to be a different mechanic that also worked on Saabs but is retired and closed his shop). This Petersen has turned out to be a trustworthy mechanic. Although, his specialty is Saabs and Subarus, Chuck knows his way around any car. As a woman, that has visited good and bad mechanics, the bullshit meter tells me no bull shit, he is fair and honest. He fixes what needs to be fixed, and talks through the options with me in a way that I am comfortable to ask questions and not feel judged for not knowing. Sometimes he even fixes little things without charge. I met one of his other customers today that drives an hour round trip to bring his cars to Petersen and has been doing so for years. Good luck read more

Just bought my first car ('98 saab 9000 cse stick one owner) and was not holding my breath that the car would need some maintenance and things checked out. Per the earlier reviews, I was hoping to interact with Borhan but alas I got Chuck. The review about him running "hot or cold" is dead on. (Note, the review of him running "hot" or "cold" is listed on google maps reviews of the place) I dropped off my car with a list of things I wanted done along with the parts. They were completely cool with me bring my own oil, filters, and other parts (i was hoping to do the small stuff myself but just never had the time and therefore I dropped it off with them). Chuck was very curt and to the point as we went over my vehicle but not rude, just cold. Definitely came off as a guy who'd think to himself you were an idiot if you said something wrong. But that was just how I read him. The car was done earlier than they promised by about three hours so that was nice. They do seem to be very methodical as they made a list of things that still needed to be checked out. They also do call about notifying about issues they have discovered before they just go ahead and work on them - VERY appreciated. Worst part about the place? The labor rate. It was 105.00 an hour (OUCH). I know they're specialists with Saabs, but that did seem a bit high for me. On the other hand, the labor for the oil change (minus parts) was 25.00 bucks. Which means they did it in about a little over 15 minutes, which is pretty fast. So at least they don't dither around and take forever for simple maintenance especially when the labor rate is that high. At the end when I came by to pick up the car, Chuck seemed to be less robotic/calculating. I think I even noticed a smile at one point as talked about Saabs at the counter. They have some dogs that chill around there that are super chill and calm. They're located about five minutes west of I-94 north. I have a bunch of more things I want to do to my car (timing chain change, serpetine belt replacement, etc) and I plan on bringing it back there. read more

Best place for Saab repair work in the area, hands down. They are responsive, honest, and thorough. It's about an 8-mile drive for me, but I would have gone as far as 15 miles. Yes, Chuck, who you will usually deal with, does not have much of a bedside manner, but honesty and fairness are the most important to me. I think of him as that uncle in your family that seems a little gruff, but is a good guy at heart. They have single-handedly kept my 1997 Saab running without bankrupting me. read more

I've been going to Petersen automotive for many years. These guys do great work.

I only come here just to get my tires installed. The staff has been nothing but straight forward and extremely helpful. They will only fix what is absolutely necessary and not try to sell you additional services you don't need. The prices are fair and they are really efficient. I don't drive a SAAB, but I'd definitely come here if I needed anything done. read more

Yet again you bring moms 1991 baby back to life. I cannot speak highly enough about this place. They have worked on moms convertible since 1991 and since then we have never been disappointed. The car is going to be shipped to Florida for the winter and mom is so excited to put the top down and finally put some miles on it knowing it is all ready to go because of Chuck and Borhon. Thank you again guys For all you do. I'm still in the automotive industry and trust you 100% ! Happy New Year! read more

Got a used 2008 Saab Aero and first thing I did was take it to these guys for a complete inspection. I was afraid there was a problem with Transmission but after testing it they assured me there wasn't any problem with transmission so I was relieved. The place felt simple and these guys where honest and straightforward. I'm glad I have somone like them to take care of my Saab. read more

Peterson Automotive are "as good as it gets." The owners are courteous and professional, and have been willing to address my Saab problems promptly as they occurred. In one case, they performed a critical repair on a same-day basis. In another instance, they saved me a good deal of money on a problem they solved through repair rather than replacement. Peterson Automotive is a rarity: honest, courteous, capable to the highest degree. My only question is, "will they run for President?" read more

I love my saab, but it can be really expensive to maintain. After shopping around for a place that would be cost-effective and reliable, we tried Peterson Automotive and do not regret it. We got really good service and the work was impeccable. We changed tires, rear brakes and work on the suspension and exhaust and love the way it drives now. They delivered when they said they would and were up front about costs. I am definitely sticking to them. read more

the most horrible people. If you know anything about your own car they are rude rude rude. If you dont know anything about your own car they take you for your money. DO NOT GO TO THIS PLACE THEY ARE TERRIBLE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

Well, I'm on my third Saab and still a Peterson regular. Over 5-6 visits, service is consistently thorough and priced well below dealer's rates (if there were any more Saab dealers!) read more

My dad went here in the 70's and 80's with his 99 GLE, when I got the Saab bug I started bring mine here. They really care about keeping these quirky beasts on the road at a fair price. I've had many examples where they've found things that needed to be fixed that I didn't know about and they found the most cost effective way to get the job done. Highly recommended! read more

Well that was easy. No muss, no fuss, had the car half a day, two new control arms. A third the cost of the dealership. 2004 Toyota Camry - I know they're known as SAAB mechanics, but given SAAB's status, they're branching out. A friend recommended them and I will too! read more

Our family has been a customer of Petersen Automotive for over 30 years. The new owner Tyler Nay is carrying on in a long tradition of highly professional, fair and honest service. read more