Picked up my car after-hours. Discovered they'd sucked the brake fluid reservoir dry, resulting in a lot of air in the hydraulic lines. I had asked that they check the brake lines for a slow leak, but declined their offer to do any work on the matter. They apparently had started on draining the lines before calling. They charged $699 to replace a radiator hose. read more

Quick and friendly. Across the street from the DMV. Price was reasonable so I got an oil change and tire rotation at the same time. Got there around 9:30 AM and no wait. read more

*Poor Customer focus* Aggressive staff The repair took almost 3 days, with excuses about a new part received "damaged". Despite paying their overcharge prices, I discovered a dent near the lifting point on the driver's side and broken plastic clips on some engine lines. When I politely brought it up, the staff became aggressive, trying to shift blame rather than addressing the issue. The combination of service, delays, poor work quality, and unacceptable customer service makes me strongly advise against using this shop. read more

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This review is only for the state inspection service, I haven't gotten anything else done there. The employee at the desk was very friendly. Since it's only an inspection there's not much to talk about, but I took off a star because it took about an hour and a half when they said 30 minutes, and my old inspection sticker was left crumpled up on my floor mat. Neither of those are huge deals but not the greatest customer service. Would come back for state inspection again read more

Easy and efficient vehicle safety inspection experience! Came here to get my annual vehicle safety inspection. For me, I tend to consider multiple things when deciding where to get my safety inspection. Specifically, proximity to where I live, where I work, how long it might take, if they will recommend further maintenance, price, etc. I went to this business for the first time due to proximity and generally good reviews. I dropped the car off and received a call about 30 minutes later that it was ready. It costs $20 (cash only). I will likely be coming back here for my annual safety inspection as long as I live in the neighborhood. read more

Came in on a Saturday morning for an emissions and inspection test and it was very efficient. The owner was incredibly kind and welcoming. This is a family owned business that I will definitely come back to! read more

Dropped in for an annual car inspection mid-morning, and they were finishing up one car before me. I only waited about 20 minutes and then my inspection was performed quickly and efficiently. I own an old car and other neighborhood places try to upsell repairs, but there was none of that pressure here. Passed inspection and out the door. Small but pleasant lobby to wait in out of the weather. Friendly staff. Very convenient to my neighborhood and VA Square Metro. Pop over to the Giant grocery while you wait. Bring cash-only to pay for your inspection. read more

Got my Safety inspection here and the staff is super friendly and they were very fast, highly recommend.

Horrible absolutely horrible customer service they took our money. We spent almost $400 for them to do a diagnostic check. The lights were completely fixed after a week of driving it at all came back when talking to this man on the phone which supposedly was the owner he tried every trick in In the book to tell us that he didn't know us for a diagnostic and refused to fix our car or give us a refund. Please do not take your car here they are scammers. We will definitely be filing a civil issue and reporting them. read more

Such a wonderful, family-owned business! Went in today for my Virginia Safety inspection, and was immediately greeted with a warm welcome. To my surprise, so was my dog, Bernie. I really appreciated how quickly and efficiently the test was completed, and Bernie really appreciated the attention and pets from the friendly owners. Thank you again for the wonderful and super convenient service! read more

WOW! An easy five stars rating. This place was super fast (only 15 minutes TOTAL from the moment I gave my keys) for my VA Emissions test, reasonably priced, didn't tell me I needed a whole bunch of unnecessary repairs to my car (like almost everywhere else I've ever gone has), And the receptionist who helped me was friendly, down to earth, perceptive, fun, and caring. She/they brought out my water bottle to my car for me when I forgot it inside! I am So pleased with this service and will definitely be back!! read more

Service keeps getting better! I have been bringing my car here since I moved to Arlington, VA and have nothing but good things to say. Even during COVID they are still keeping up. Little or bigger things, they have been there to help me out. Staff is as friendly as ever. They seem to enjoy working here which reflects in their quality of work! read more

Been coming to Pham's for a few years now. Trustworthy and reliable which is all that you want in a shop.

Great place to get a quick emissions inspection! Fast, good value, and nice people! Great small business. read more

Pham's Car Care Center - Sign. - Auto Repair Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

We went there for the mandatory safety inspection, and were told we need our brake rotors replaced ($360 + tax). We took the car to another place and they told us the rotors are fine ($0). The mechanic at the second place stopped in the middle of the inspection to ask me "they told you you need to replace the rotors?" as if the idea doesn't make any sense. OK, so they were honest and said the rotors are not worn down too much, but they also said that they need to fail us (and give us the rejected sticker of shame) because the rotors are rusty. The brakes don't pulse or make any sounds, however. And a quick google search finds some people saying it's fine to have rusty rotors --- it happens if you don't drive that often. Anyway, I'm not a mechanic, but we went to two mechanics, and I won't be going back to this one. read more

Pham's Car Care Center - Left inspection: rejection by Pham. Right inspection: pass by another place (same day). Saved $360! Wish I skipped the stress =( - Auto Repair Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Pham's somehow got my google.review deleted so I am posting it here for visibility. In addition, Pham's called my brother in law, Bryan and threatened to sue me and call the state troopers after I wrote this review. I recently gave my car to my sister in VA. It is an older car, however It had just had its 90k mileage tune up, and PA state inspection. I know some people are angry when their car doesn't pass inspection, because of problems, however this car is in fantastic condition and maintained regularly. She took it here to get a VA state inspection and oil change. The oil change was fine, however they claimed the steering rack is leaking power steering fluid and we need to replace the entire thing. We also needed a headlight replaced (which we were aware of). Knowing that I just got the car inspected in PA and work done, plus another review that mentions a similar situation, we decided to get a second opinion. I am so glad that we did because instead of over $1500 in repairs to replace the power steering, "defog" one headlight, and replace the other headlight, we got the car inspected and headlight fixed for just over $200. If you bring your car in for inspection and they say it needs major repairs, I would consider a consider a second opinion. read more

I've been getting my car serviced for years and this was the worst customer service I ever received. Never felt so disrespected. When they should have been concerned about getting my business, they were too busy chasing people out their parking lot. Take your business literally anywhere else. read more

Had a super easy, efficient experience with Pham's for my VA State Safety Inspection! I'm new to car ownership and the team at Pham's explained the safety inspection process over the phone and fit me in with 15 mins to go before closing. They were upfront with pricing and made sure to tell me to bring cash if I only needed the inspection! I was so appreciative of their service and will be recommending them to all my driving friends in the area! read more

After bringing me and my GFs car here last weekend, I came away with two impressions... quick service, but unprofessional environment We brought our cars in for state inspections. The services was fairly fast -- i.e., we arrived at 8am on Saturday and were all done in about 30 minutes. Minutes earlier, Arlington Auto Care had told us the wait would be 2 hours, so I'm glad we got this wrapped up so quickly. However... 1. We experienced a fair amount of sarcasm from the lady at the front desk. I'm pretty sure she was one of the owners. I felt like a nuisance and a numbskull every time I asked a question. 2. The owners (a married couple, I think) seemed to be in the middle of a lowkey dispute the entire time we were there. A little awkward. 3. The owners allowed their kids to climb all over the waiting area which just seemed unprofessional. It was like sitting uninvited in someone's living room or something. I still have some routine maintenance that I need to get completed, but I'm seeking a more professional and comfortable experience elsewhere. read more

Did a quick and hassle free state inspection in 15 minutes for my Toyota Prius. Thank you! read more

I'm a big fan of Pham's so far. They fixed my windshield wiper transmission a few months back and made sure to call and give me an update on what they were going to do/try before they did it and what my options were (one cheaper option they would try first, then if that wouldn't work, would have to replace entirely; thankfully the cheaper option worked!). I appreciated them getting in contact and keeping me updated. Today, I went to get my safety inspection right as they opened at 8 a.m. and was done in about 30 mins. Friendly, easy, efficient -- just what I was looking for on a Saturday morning. Keep in mind, they do safety/emissions inspections for cash only so would be good to come prepared (though there's an ATM next door at 7-11 and across the street there's a PNC in the Giant). My other services I was able to pay with credit card. read more

Went to Pham for a state safety inspection. They were courteous and worked quickly to finish the inspection. They failed me due to a loose upper control arm (front, driver's side). I asked how much it would be to fix, and was quoted $605. I told them thanks, but I wanted a second opinion. My father recommended a mechanic he knew and trusted. He completed the same repair with an oil change and a new inspection for $230. He told me the part cost him $40. The labor took only a few hours. Regardless of how kind and efficient they were, a ~$400 up charge is unacceptable. read more

For the first time in my car's history, it needed maintenance - the headlights went kaput at the same time while driving around in the dark! I was intimidated by the prospect of finding a mechanic on such short notice, when my roommate recommended Pham's. He went to high school with the woman who works at the front desk, and has taken his car there for years. So I dropped off my car in the morning, asked them to fix the headlights, change the oil, and do a general inspection for any other issues. They called me up a mere 20 minutes later with the diagnosis, the estimated price (including labor and prices), and the news that they could get this done within the next few hours. Awesome!! When I picked up my car this morning, they gave me a detailed invoice that explained exactly what parts were bought and how much each part cost, broke down each labor by time and labor rate (e.g. oil change - time: 0.13; labor rate: $85.00; labor costs: $11.20). I checked around online and the prices seem fair. I don't know much about cars, so it was great to have such a detailed description of what the heck they did. I felt very comfortable dealing with them and appreciated the speed and fine work. They even let me know that I'll need new tires in the next couple months; I will definitely go to them for this and other future repairs! read more

I brought my car in for an inspection and some maintenance after learning my usual shop doesn't do VA state inspections. They did a very quick job, and the actual price was very close to what they told me it should come to (within a couple bucks). Overall, I was very pleased at the speed of the service, but I'll have to reserve judgment completely until I have my usual mechanic take a look at my car the next time ^_^. I'm just slow to warm up to mechanics, is all! I'll be back, as they are extremely convenient (right off the Orange Line at either Clarendon or VA Square), and they were reasonably friendly. Also: an adorable little dog ("Roxy") was hanging out in the shop with the owners when I was there. Cute little dogs = definite plus in my book! read more

I took my car to Pham's for the first time on Friday morning for an oil change. Service was fast, friendly, and seemed to be honest. That's a lot coming from me. I do not trust car people at all. They seemed to have nothing to hide at Pham's though. My shaydar (shady radar) didn't detect anything. I have a cracked transmission case, so I asked them to check my fluid levels before I took the ride home to Philly for the weekend. I was expecting them to come back and tell me some bullshit about me needing to replace something right then and there. But nope, he just confirmed that it was cracked and fluid levels were already ok. Nice and honest. That's been hard for me to find for a while in a car place. I WILL be bringing my car here for all it's maintenance from now on. I'm still paranoid when it comes to this type of thing, but we'll see. read more

Please under no circumstances go to Pham's Car Care Center. I created this account just so I could prevent others from making the mistakes I made. A year ago I had just moved to Virginia and needed an inspection. I spent $1300 (first VA inspection so I figured it would need some work) and eventually passed the inspection, the work included the hand brake). A couple days ago I dropped off my Volvo for another inspection, I had only driven about 1500 miles since last year so I figured it would be an easy pass. I came back to find that there were three issues and it would take at least $750 worth of work (including more work on the handbrake), I was floored. Angry, I went and got a second opinion from Japanese Auto Services about a half mile away (I had body work done on my driver side door a few months ago and they did great work and gave me a great price). After immediately putting the car on the lift, the very friendly workers said that everything was fine, all I needed was a new front right wheel. Fifty dollars and a new tire later, I passed the inspection. Unfortunately I don't have the time to go through the stages of reporting Pham's for violations, but I hope this post is enough to divert people away from Pham's. I highly suggest Japanese Auto Services as an alternative. The owner's main philosophy seems to be not screwing anyone, I was skeptical at first like anyone, and am usually very cynical, but I think I actually believe him. I hope this steers enough people away that Pham's is forced to change their business practices. read more

I drive a BMW 330i (ZHP), and it's very hard to find a reliable shop that knows my car inside out. I've used a few so-called BMW "experts" in the past, but the service was below my expectations. My BMW had a faulty headlamp ballast that I couldn't fix myself. I had a good experience with Pham's last year when they fixed my Honda, so I decided to take my BMW in for a quick consultation. I was pleasantly surprised at Michael's knowledge of my car, and his assessment of the problem was right on. Now I did end up spending a little more than I had expected, but you have to understand that not all mechanics out there are trying to get your money. If a mechanic recommends a preventive maintenance or repair, its mostly in your car's best interests, you have to use your own judgement with each shop though. In my case, although the problem was specifically with the ballast, Michael also recommended that I replace two other corroded parts. I was happy to spend the extra money now as it would save me the time, money and headache to replace the entire headlamp assembly in the future. Michael and Thy took excellent care of my BMW! They run a fair and efficient small shop and have never tried to have me spend more than necessary to properly maintain my car(s). I know I'll never return to a BMW stealership for service as long as I'm in the area. read more

Such a courteous and helpful staff! I was visiting a friend in the Arlington area recently and had some issues with my car. She said she went there when she had her own car issues so she took me over, and they were so helpful! Needless to say I know nothing about cars and they were really good with the questions that I had! Highly recommend for anyone who lives in the area (and even those who don't)! read more

You definitely need to take your vehicle here! They are a family run business you can trust. I had a couple issues with my SUV that I had to have fixed so I could register my SUV in Virginia. I had a slow gas leak that was keeping my engine light on and wouldn't let me pass inspection unless fixed. They started off trying to fix the issue by replacing the gas cap hoping that would solve the problem and I would leave out of their with not to much damage to my wallet. Unfortunately that didn't solve the issue, and they had to proceed with a full test to find where the gas leak was coming from. For me though it was nice to know they tried to diagnose the problem on the inexpensive side first before proceeding with the full blown test. After doing the test they were able to find the gas leak and they fixed it right away. They also cut me a break on the labor charge since it was going to cost me more then they I initially expected While they had my car they noticed that the battery was very low and the terminals were corroded. They asked me if I wanted to replace the battery and I said sure, and in the processes they noticed I had a ground wire that wasn't connected correctly and they fixed it FREE of charge. What happen next would wind up saving me a ton of money in the long run. I had a side issue that my odometer wasn't working and I had told Thy that I had gotten quotes from another auto service company where I used to live that they would have to replace the whole instrument cluster display and have to keep my SUV for several days because they would have to remove the current instrument display, return it to the dealer and replace it with a new one. Which they explained was a policy to prevent odometer fraud,and would have cost me about $500. Well to my delight when Pham's fixed the ground wire my odometer reading was fixed and I found out for the first time what the actual mileage was on my SUV. This was AWESOME because now I wouldn't have to register my vehicle in Virginia not knowing what the actual mileage which is permanent once they enter it into the database at the VA DMV, This simple fix and great detective work by Pham's would definitely help with the resell value when ever I sell my SUV in the future. You would think the great service stopped there, but it didn't. I had rented a car for a day in anticipation of my SUV having to be there at least a day or two. Well, I had my rent a car towed the night before and Thy felt so bad that she let me borrow her own vehicle until the car was fixed so that wouldn't happen to me again. Overall my experience at Pham's was wonderful! They treated me like part of their family in more ways than one :) and they communicated with me very thoroughly every step of the way until I was satisfied with the results. I would recommend bringing your vehicle to Pham's for anything you need done. They are certainly well qualified and well versed in delivery exceptional customer service! read more

This place is great. The staff were very friendly and knowledgable which made me feel comfortable. It's a family business that's keeping their customers happy by doing phenomenal work. When my car was on it's last legs, I went to Pham's a few times and every time they were on point. They were always professional and polite as they speedily fixed the issues my car would be suffering on that occasion. Unfortunately, my old car continued to developing new problems so they recommended that I retire the old girl and get a new one. I appreciated their candor and have since acquired a new car. Now I only need to see them for regular oil changes. read more

I came in with my car (2005 Lexus) for a basic va state inspection and oil change, they failed my car with approx $2500 worth of repairs including a power steering leak, motor rod mount replacement, random light fixes that previous inspections have never commented on. Huge red flag that other reviews of older, non-VA vehicles have failed inspection at this shop for similar issues. I'm aware that my car has an engine oil gasket cover leak issue, but none of these problems had been on my radar prior to the inspection, and I'd recently gotten my car inspected and repaired two months ago. No symptoms of power steering issues, etc. Drove the car back home and stress-called other locations to ask for quotes for these problems, several gave me prices 500+ cheaper, even with most up to spec parts. Ended up cleaning my headlights by myself (one of the light fixes) and took my car to another mechanic for the va inspection, it passed in 20 minutes. Will not be coming back, I understand this is a family business but the level of honesty here is questionable and caused unwarranted anxiety + extra time off work. Do not come here with your older, ovehicle. read more

I need to say from the outset that based on the reviews on this site, I was expecting (and hoping for) a much better experience. At this time, based entirely on my own experience, my trust level in this business is pretty much zero. Here's why. I took my car to this place for three things: 1. Oil Change 2. Safety Inspection 3. A screeching noise coming from the engine. This place only does full synthetic oil change, and does not use your oil or your filter. That is a minor issue, since I would prefer to use my own oil and filter, since that way I know what is going into my car. But I agreed to their oil and filter, since it is only $10 more to go with their oil and filter. Also, I am looking for a new, honest and more convenient car shop, and I thought this may be it. Anyway, second issue was the safety inspection. The shop claimed that my front brake and rotors did not pass inspection and needed to be changed. I can't say for sure if that is correct or not, since I never got back my old parts. It does raise my suspicions though. Then the screeching noise I am told is coming from a faulty compressor, which can only be fixed by replacing the whole air conditioning system, costing me $1200. They did say I did not need to do this right away, so that was good. The AC is working fine and cooling as usual, so again I am not convinced. After I got my car back, having new brakes and rotors (which didn't feel any different to me at all, honestly). I expect to see significant difference between brakes and rotors that do not pass inspection to those that are brand new. I did not experience absolutely any difference like I did couple of times earlier I have had the same service done. I also started noticing that every time I stopped at a light, there was a very high vibration coming from the front hood. I took it back the next day and the guy discovered that the bar to hold up the hood had just been placed on the battery. It actually goes into a notch that is there for this very purpose on all cars. The guy tried to blame it on the bar saying there is no other way to put it, until I showed him the most common way to make sure the bar stays put and does not vibrate. The last and final straw is an issue with the engine rpm and noise. Ever since I got the car back from this shop, the engine has been running on high rpm's, like 2500 to 3000 or more when running (it usually runs 1000 to 1500 at the same speed unless I have the accelerator pressed all the way down.) At idle it is running 1000 rpm's, whereas usually it is 500 or lower. When I went back to talk to them, I was told they did not touch anything in the engine, but I remember I had asked them about the screeching noise in the engine to begin with. So if they did nothing with the engine, then how did they diagnose the screeching noise? And even if they did, that screeching noise is no longer there, which tells me they did something. Since according to them the noise is due to a faulty compressor and they did nothing to the compressor - how did the noise disappear by itself? Did the faulty compressor fix itself? And what about the high rpm's? I asked them if they can diagnose and tell me why the car was running such high rpm's with a high pitched noise, and they said it was normal. Oh Hell NO! This is not normal! If a car mechanic starts to tell you something about your car is normal, which you have been driving around for 7 years, then there is something they are trying to hide. It may be something they did to the car, maybe and maybe not, or they just don't have an idea what the issue is. Which means they are trying to get out of their responsibility with something they broke, or they are trying to avoid taking responsibility for something they don't know how to fix. Either way, as far as I am concerned, at this time my trust in this place is zero. read more

This is a really good family operation filled with really good, conscientious people. The father is the head mechanic but his son Michael has gradually been taking over the business. Service is great and they do great work at a reasonable cost. We've been coming here for over 10 years and they've always done good work. They're very knowledgeable and can pretty much do anything with your car that you need. They even once ordered and installed a hitch on my van for me and they do all my tires. These guys are very honest and I never feel like I'm being ripped off. They also save you money by looking for lower cost alternatives and will often present a variety of options at different price points. One time a battery failed on me and they switched it out for free because it was still under warranty -- a fact I hadn't realized myself! Our cars have never broken down as Pham's takes good care of them. We inherited a used car from someone who had lots of problems with their car. However, the car hasn't had any issues ever since we started taking it to Pham's!! read more

I've been taking my car here for a year now. They are efficient, transparent, and communicative. They keep you in the loop as your car progresses through diagnosis and repair and are up front about how necessary it is to get various repairs done so there are no surprises. They are happy to walk you through everything they find and show you what issues they're seeing on your car, which is a courtesy I really appreciate. It looks like some people find the front desk staff a little cold, but I take it as just being very focused on keeping the shop running. Which, by the way, means faster turn-around for you as the customer. I like that they are straightforward and organized. If I want someone cracking bad jokes and trying to make me smile, I'll take some Valium and go to Trader Joe's. Also, to the person who didn't appreciate feeling like they knew nothing about cars - duhh, the reason you're here is that you know less about cars than they do. There are other shops that are closer to my home and I'm told are cheaper, but I continue coming here because of the quality of service that I've experienced here. I have nothing but positive experiences and things to say about Pham's. read more

I have lived in the DC area for almost 3 years and I have religiously had my Prius's service/maintenance done at the Toyota Dealership- until now. The dealership told me I needed to have almost $2000.00 worth of repairs done to my car. A friend recommended that I check out Pham's Car Care Center because they were honest, friendly and they provided the best prices in town. On his recommendation I took my car in and now my days of dealing with the dealership are over. From the moment I walked in I felt at ease and like I was being taken care of by my family. I also liked that they are close to the a metro station so I did not have to take time off from work. They called me later that morning and informed me that many of the items on the list needed to be fixed, but the best news was that the water pump was not broken (Toyota quoted me $700 to replace this). When I picked my car up, it was ready when they said it would be and best of all the final bill was considerably cheaper (with the money I saved I am now going on vacation for a week). I highly recommend checking out Pham's Car Care Center for your car needs. read more

Do not trust this car center! I took my car to Pham's for a VA Inspection. They failed the inspection and told me there was my steering rack was leaking fluid badly. They told me in order to pass inspection I would need a whole new steering rack! My trusted mechanic took a look and found the rack was barely seeping any fluid. This place is trying to rip you off! read more

In and out in less than 20 minutes for an emissions test. It cost $28 (and we just moved here so we're not too sure if that's average). Overall really good experience in a convenient location. Notes: easy to find, parking lot available, walk-ins only. read more

In and out like a breeze. Super friendly people and great service. An absolutely awesome experience. Thank you!!!

Highly recommended! Surprisingly Arlington has a number of car repair shops that are sketchy or a rip off. Phams however is different. I've been coming here for years and am finally getting around to writing a review. It is a family run business that's been doing work for probably 25 years or more. The biggest reason I recommend this place is because they are honest and helpful. The last time I was there for an oil change the owner found I had a bad filter of some sort (I can't for the life of me remember which part) and when I picked it up he told me he had replaced it free of charge, and most places would have overcharged me for the part and labor. The part wasn't super expensive and I'm sure they don't always do things for free, but the fact that just helped me out for being a good customer was awesome. There are a number of other small things they've done for me as favors as well as serious work on my car. They also do emissions and safety, so it's super convenient. They will not tell you you need a part or repair on something you do not just to get money. When you find an honest place you stay there. I've since moved to Maryland and just drove 1.5 hours to get my car checked by phams before a cross country drive. They finished an oil change, tire rotation, and the usual checks in about an hour, very fast and totally worth the drive. Definitely go heres, it's the best place in Arlington hands down. read more

I'm very pleased with the service I received at Pham's. I came here at a spur of the moment decision when I realized the place I went to for a repair last time didn't do VA state inspections (which Pham's does). I rolled the dice and asked them to do a minor electrical repair with my door lock in addition to the inspections and an auto change. While the job took a day longer than I expected, they kept me informed by phone and were very courteous. The pricing was fair and they seem to have fixed the door issue easily. No complaints, and couldn't have asked for anything more. I'll definitely consider going back next time I need a repair (hopefully not for a while!) read more