I am extremely disappointed with my experience at Precision People's Car Repair. I brought my vehicle in specifically because the right turn signal was not working. Before taking it to the shop, I had already replaced the bulbs myself, and when that did not solve the problem, I suspected an electrical issue. I explained this clearly when I dropped the car off and specifically asked them to diagnose the electrical problem related to the turn signal. When I arrived, Brian informed me that every vehicle receives a diagnostic inspection. That seemed reasonable, especially if it would lead to identifying and repairing the turn signal issue. I dropped my car off at 9:30 a.m. on May 22 and did not receive a call until approximately 30 minutes before closing. When I arrived to pick it up, I was charged $250 for a diagnostic report. To my surprise, the report did not identify the turn signal issue at all--the very reason I brought the vehicle in. I was told there was no electrical problem and that the turn signal simply needed new bulbs. This was frustrating because I had already replaced the bulbs and had specifically informed them of that fact. I then learned that they had not removed any components necessary to thoroughly inspect the front turn signal wiring because doing so would require additional labor charges. My concern is not that additional labor may have been required. My concern is that no one contacted me during the day to explain that a proper diagnosis of the issue would require additional work and authorization. Instead, I was presented with a $250 bill at the end of the day and left with the same unresolved problem I arrived with. Fortunately, my regular mechanic eventually returned my call. I took the vehicle to him, and he quickly found the actual issue: an electrical fault behind the front right wheel well. The repair cost me $150 and immediately fixed the turn signal. Afterward, I called Brian and explained what had happened. He told me he would discuss the matter with the owner and call me back regarding a resolution. As of today, I have never received that call. I understand that diagnostics take time and that not every problem is immediately obvious. However, charging a customer $250 while failing to investigate the specific issue they requested, incorrectly concluding there was no electrical problem, and then failing to follow up after promising to do so is unacceptable. Based on my experience, I cannot recommend Precision People's Car Repair. read more

AVOID. My plug-in hybrid was having charging issues, so I took it to Precision People's. BIG MISTAKE. First red flag: They wanted to charge me to change the brake fluid and head gaskets. I'm not exactly a master mechanic, but I'm pretty sure those things have nothing to do with charging a plug-in hybrid, so I said no thank you to those suggestions. Second red flag: After charging me $350 to "diagnose" the charging issue, they tell me the problem is the charging cord is broken (the portable cord in the trunk for 3-prong outlets), and they want to charge me to replace it. I tell them that can't possibly be the problem because I don't use that cord to charge the car. So they come back with a different problem. Actually, a couple different problems. The explanation keeps shifting, and they're being rather... vague. Finally, they settle on a broken charging port harness. Their estimate is that it's going to cost thousands of dollars to fix it, and by the way, they add, it might end up costing more than their estimate. I'm getting the feeling something ain't right, so I talk to another mechanic about it. When I mention Precision People's and their fishy diagnosis, he chuckles and tells me, "Trust your instincts" (exact quote). So I take it to the Ford dealer, who charges $250 (less than Precision People's) to diagnose the problem. Turns out it's not the charging port harness at all. It's a completely different part, and the dealer's estimate is $500 to fix it. I show them the paperwork from Precision People's, and they tell me in no uncertain terms that Precision People's doesn't know what they're doing. I send the dealer's diagnosis paperwork to Luis at Precision People's, and Luis emails me back. He claims it's actually the Ford dealer who has it wrong. He says (I'm quoting exactly): "These types of faults can be particularly challenging to identify, even for experienced hybrid and electrical specialists like ourselves." So I have Ford fix it. And they do. It cost exactly $499.91, and now the car charges properly. I email Luis at Precision People's to tell him the Ford dealer fixed it, and that the car's charging fine now. I attach a copy of the dealer's paperwork with my receipt showing what I paid for the repair. I ask Luis to refund me the money he charged me for his bogus diagnosis, and I point out that they were going to charge me thousands of dollars to "fix" something that wasn't wrong. Luis refuses to refund me the money they charged me for the bogus diagnosis. According to Luis (again, exact quote): "I'm sorry we aren't able to refund any diagnostic testing charges. You paid for a block of testing time and that is what we provided." So, when you pay Precision People's a chunk of money to diagnose your car, you should know that you are not actually paying them to give you a correct diagnosis. Instead, you are paying them for the privilege of having your car in their shop for a day or two. They don't think they actually have to give you a correct diagnosis, and they might want to charge you thousands of dollars to "fix" something that isn't wrong. EDIT: Luis responds (exact quote): "Diagnoses can evolve as more evidence is uncovered." Luis, I don't want the diagnosis to "evolve as more evidence is uncovered." It's a car repair, not a murder investigation. I want the mechanic to get it right the first time, like the dealer did. You guys ordered the charging port harness; you charged me a $466 deposit, and it was going to take two weeks to get one. I had to tell you to cancel the order, remember? What if I hadn't gone to Ford? At what point in your evolving diagnosis would you have finally discovered that wasn't the problem? You're right about one thing: Diagnosing these cars is hard. That's why an honest mechanic would have said, "We're not qualified to diagnose this; I recommend you take it somewhere else." read more

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Took our 3 cars in for a smog. Luis was professional, honest, and helpful throughout the process. Quick turnaround and great customer service. Highly recommend and will definitely be returning. read more

So expensive! Something felt different. I guess there are new owners. They were nice but definitely more $$ read more

I had my 72 VW Bug worked on. They kept in excellent contact regarding the needs of the car and provided clear and fair estimates online to approve the work. Everything turned out amazing and they even drove the car to Fairfield for me to garage it since I'm not a fan of driving it on the freeway! Excellent service. Good value and nice guys! read more

If you don't mind being scammed, this is your place. Was charged $600 for a regular car battery replacement. $400 of the cost was due to a diagnostic which was not needed because I told them I just needed a battery. Shameful! read more

I went in only for an estimate, but they tried to charge me $490 for it even after Geico already paid them. The receipt said "noise," which I never asked for. They got mad because I couldn't afford the repair and tried to overcharge me. Very dishonest and unprofessional read more

I brought my car in for a window repair and was hoping to use the warranty I have on my car. They said they work with these companies however my policy would not cover how much their charges would be. The diagnostic alone was over 200$ so I decided to try to find a shop that hopefully charged less so that could use the warranty I paid for. I informed them of this and that I would pick up my car that afternoon when my husband could give me a ride. I got in my car the next day to find they never put my door panels back together. Apparently it would cost me extra for this. I've never had a shop take your car apart to diagnose the work but when ou decide to take your car elsewhere they will charge you nore to put it back together. They also suggested, when i called to ask why this happened, that it was possibly done as a favor to the next person who does the work and that being that I wasn't going through them for the work that possibly wasn't financially capable of paying the excess of having them put it back together again. The customer service was at a bar so low I really was shocked at it. I rever really write reviews but just thought people should have a heads up since I wasn't given that heads up when I came to get my car and just found my door panels in the trunk. read more

Precision People's Car Repair - The door panels they wouldn't put back together - Auto Repair Near Me - Berkeley, California

I came into the shop with a list of repairs I was told my car would need. Luis careful and honestly checked my car and clarified the work that was truly needed. I do not know much about cars, but Luis was able to provide me with a better understanding on the work he would be performing on my car. I've been to plenty of shops where they simply want to sell you everything they can, but not here. Luis was honest and completed the work in the time frame that was given. I have recommended this shop many times because shops like this aren't around anymore. Great shop great prices on their work as well, Thank you Luis. read more

I dropped my Sprinter van at Precision People auto repair shop on a Wednesday in March 2024 and agreed to a 2 hour diagnostic to address a check engine light. Few days later, I was asked (via text) to agree to an additional 5 hours of diagnostic leading to the EGR valve replacement. I got a call on the following Friday (10 days later) that the Van is ready and I picked it up late afternoon that day. When paying the $1998.62 bill, I asked Luis if the van had enough radiator fluid which he said yes they topped it off. I drove it from REI back to the shop and while I was watching Luis adding the radiator fluid 3 times in a row and spilling a bunch of it in the motor compartment and the shop floor every time, I noticed the dip stick is laying on top the engine and pointed it out to him and then noticed the air filter cover lock pins were not closed either. When the weather warmed up few days later, I discovered the air conditioner no longer works. I also see many unwrapped wire looms which were not properly put back together. I hope they have not zapped any other devices or systems in my van. I have never been charged such exorbitant diagnostic fee while at the same time having my air conditioner destroyed (do far!). I am documenting this hoping bad service eventually catches up with bad actors. read more

The car repair itself was great--my car is running perfectly, and the mechanics were knowledgeable and thorough. However, the timeline was much longer than quoted, and not communicated to me except when I called to check on the progress which was frustrating. On top of that, the customer service was poor. The woman behind the counter sat eating an ice cream bar without acknowledging me at all, which felt unprofessional and left a negative impression despite the quality of the repair work. Still giving 5-stars for the 50 years of service and reputation. read more

I used to go here with my previous car, but hadn't with my current one for various stupid reasons. I recently needed routine maintenance and took my car here. They were responsive, fast, and reasonably-priced. It's hard to imagine, but IMO Luis is even easier to work with than Ken was, and Ken was amazing. Y'all need to take your cars here for service. I'm done going anywhere else. read more

They seem to think that fixing your car is doing you a favor, despite high prices. They do decent work, though.

Change in ownership or management has led this place to go from great to terrible. I brought my Toyota Tacoma in after it failed the smog test. It failed again and asked them to remedy this without further fee in a few emails. No go. I would recommend some other place read more

No rating re their work. As far as I can tell, no problems. I object though to the fact that they deliberately misled me to think I had an appointment with them when in fact, it was with another car company with whom they apparently share a building. It is something that could happen so easily that customers should be warned to check the name of the company where you leave your car - Is it Precision People's or Autometrics? Because I am sure this was a deliberate ruse to lead me into thinking that I had an appointment with Precision and not Autometrics, I will not return to People's for service again. read more

I have two Sprinter Vans. A 2005 and a 2006. I bring them here as the only shop that I am aware of in the SF/Oakland area that knows and works on T1 Sprinters. It is important to trust people who really know T1 Sprinters, and not any mechanic who THINKS they do cuz they work on cars! I brought my vans here when Ken and Lydia owned the place and still do now that his main mechanic took over as owner after Ken retired. They are honest, thorough and great mechanics and diagnosticians. I would give them 10 stars if that was possible. read more

Luis helped me with my overhead console clip's problem. He is friendly, quick and he patiently taught me how to properly mount/unmount the console, and he offered to help me using proper tools to source power for my dashcam (instead of me just loosely attaching jumper wires). Pricing is very friendly too. Luis only charged me a small amount since it was a simple work. I am very grateful for his help. Definitely will come back if anything happens again. read more

Precision People's Car Repair - Auto Repair Near Me - Berkeley, California

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If I could give this repair shop 6/5 stars, I would. I was trying to back to LA after a Bay Area memorial service for my father, and my car broke down as soon as I got off the Bay Bridge. I had my 70 year old aunt, child, and dog in the car with me. I called Precision while waiting for 3 hours for my tow truck (that's a different yelp review), told Luis that I thought it might be my alternator, and he told me he would order the part and have it waiting for me when I arrived. He said he would do his best to get me back to LA that evening, even if it required staying a little late. I was floored by his helpful attitude, and calming demeanor. When I finally arrived at Precision, I was amazed at how clean and orderly the shop was. This is not your average greasy, oil stained, disheveled looking mechanic shop. The pride that they take in the appearance of their shop made me immediately feel comfortable having work done on my car here. Luis solidified that feeling. He is incredibly kind and calm, and does not have the stereotypical gruffness that I have experienced with nearly every other mechanic I have ever dealt with. This was really the approach that I needed during such a stressful moment. The problem with my car unfortunately was not my alternator, and required that I leave the car overnight. Precision quickly did the required work on my car the next morning, and it feels better than it has in years. Luis and his guys went above and beyond, by checking out other potential hazards with my vehicle that could/would need maintenance in the future. He did not try to upsell me-- he just made me aware of some of the issues that I am not necessarily equipped to identify until it's too late. He did this knowing that when I choose to address these issues, it will likely not be at his shop, but instead with my home mechanic since I live 300 miles away. Nevertheless, he still took the time to provide a thorough inspection of my car, and make me aware. I found this service incredibly complete and thoughtful. It is nerve-racking to get repairs done at a shop so far away from home, but I feel so confident in the work that was done on my car and the service I received. Also, all the communication is modern and efficient: text updates, digital estimates and receipts. Precision is even better than my home mechanic. (Yikes!!!) Thank you Luis and company! You got me and my family home safely, and turned what could have been a disastrous end to a solemn weekend into something quite pleasant and memorable! And truly, my car feels amazing! read more

This shop was amazing today! I am 800 miles from home and had an issue with my vehicle. The mechanics were awesome!! They got me right in to diagnose the issue. Just so happen, my wheel bearings had failed on the driver side. They took good care of me, fixed the problem, and I am able to get back home tomorrow. I cannot Thank You enough! read more

Went for my first time today to work on my 2014 Chevy Volt. The folks were so incredibly quick, kind, respectful and fair to me. I am now only going here for my car needs. Serious. These guys were the absolute best. Happy! read more

The store has gone way downhill since the new owners took over. The employees I dealt with were both rude and unprofessional. The quote they gave was slightly over double what I was quoted and ended up paying at another store. They also tried to add a whole bunch of additional parts and repairs that I knew weren't needed. This is the kind of place that gives mechanics bad names. I'd stay well clear of them. Go to a competitor and get your vehicle fixed correctly the first time with no hassle or delays and save a whole lot of money while you do it. read more

Brought my car in because it was making a loud grinding noise. They were able to diagnose it quickly and determined it was my water pump that had gone bad. They were able to schedule me for a same day appointment and got my car back and running smooth later that evening! Definitely will come back and recommend to friends and family! read more

High quality service! Highly recommend! Luis is very knowledgeable and professional! Thanks again!

I am usually intimidated by car repair shops, and therefore hesitant to go in and get my car checked. I was recommended by a friend of a friend to come try this place out. I was skeptical at first, but called to make an appointment anyways. Right when I pulled into the shop a tech saw I was confused and nicely informed me to check in straight ahead. I was able to explain my car troubles without being judged, and I was assured that they could take care of it. I was really impressed with the quotes and communication throughout the process of it all. They were able to take care of my car's needs within a reasonable time frame, and were super friendly and helpful!! I will be back and recommending my friends to this place as well! read more

Precision people has served my family for generations. The previous owner, Ken surpassed all expectations we had about a change by introducing Luis the new owner and his incredible team. Everyone in the shop is friendly, patient, and their prices are affordable. They always have the best recommendations and get my car fixed quickly. Hands down the best repair shop! read more

Day 1: Diagnosed to fix the abs sensor and a transmission switch Day 2: Problems fixed, but told me to fix specifically 3 tires and now some weird sound was coming from where they did the first diagnosis. Day 3: Had tires fixed and told me either some sway bar needed replacing and new brakes needed. I asked which piece would most likely be the cause of the problem, alright fine. Had sway bar fixed. Day 4: Screeching sound from car got worse and now I had a puncture in the tire where they first did the diagnosis and my steering wheel is locking up when turning?!? Day 5: Went to another shop and they fixed the sound, my brakes, and steering issue in 1 day. No more problems. Final Review: " TECH 42 "whoever that is turned my experience into a nightmare. Terrible. Precision turned out to be poor decision. read more

The previous owner was great. I liked Kent and he has done good work and given good advise. There are new owners now. They seem very busy and have a large crew of workers. I met the new owner. He seems very nice and professional. I dropped off my car to get some minor work done. The estimate came back wildly high. There were parts to be replaced that I know are not needing replacement. The parts that did need to be replaced were all at least double the cost of the same parts at the auto parts store. Very disappointed. read more

Best shop in the East bay. From the workers to the owner. Seems like a really close team.

The best mechanical and honest shop to service your vehicle's, and they accommodate you & value time & Service . We service our vehicles with Luis the owner & his help are very honest . Jeannie & Lenny read more

Precision is great. I've been bringing my cars here for 20+ years and the service has been and remains consistently top quality. They're great mechanics, great communicators, totally fair and totally trustworthy. I highly recommend Precision. read more

I was really scared to go to a shop as a woman as many places will up charge and rip you off. This places was recommended to me by a friend and they were quick and easy. My car was in bad shape and I'm back to driving a few days after dropping it off. They have online services which you can authorize or refuse, their breakdowns are super simple and they are very accommodating. Luis was very kind and helpful with any of the questions I had. 11/10 service. read more

I can't even begin to express how much I love Precision. They are respectful, honest, fast, and just plain reliable. I'm so happy I found them - I will not be taking my van anywhere else. I trusted every moment my van was there, and they went above and beyond to help me. Also a major plus that they will openly express that they are accepting of and believe in equality for all. I highly recommend them! read more

Took my recently purchased used car to Luis and team to see if I bought a lemon. He put my mind at ease and told me the few important things that needed to be done. He arranged to do the brakes that same day and charged me a very fair price. Precision Peoples Car Repair will be my shop for this SUV and for another car I own. Next time I'll bring him the car BEFORE I buy it. read more

This is a class act, and a business with heart. I can't say enough about their top-shelf mechanical expertise AND their kind customer service. Luis, the owner, runs a tight shop that lives up to this business's name. If you're looking for PRECISION from a car repair shop that puts good service for the PEOPLE over profit...look no further!! read more

I am not a car guy, so I often don't know when something requires an expert versus just buying a part and installing it myself. So, when I messaged Precision with what I assumed required a repair quote, I was thrilled that Ken quickly replied with a simple solution that I could do on my own. No money changed hands but he just won a loyal customer the next time I really need to bring in my car. read more

I called due to some engine issues on an old 1996 e350 Ford box vav. Louis helped me and took care of me the whole time. Kept me informed on what was going on and even took the time out to talk to my boss on what was taking place. He ultimately finished the job and got me back on the road the same day. Everyone who worked there was ver friendly and accommodating. I highly recommend Precision for all your auto needs! Thank you so much Louis!! read more

Just tried to set up an appointment with Ken who was a dick on the phone. Taking my business elsewhere.

Ken and Amit took the time to listen to my concerns. Both separately rode with me to confirm their understanding. After closer inspection, the noise in question was deemed the result of normal suspension wear-and-tear. On PPCR's recommendation an expensive shock/strut replacement project was deferred. I gladly paid for their time to hear my concerns an confirm my car is safe to drive. PPCR is my new trusted mechanic and I'll be back next time I have an issue. read more

I love this place. Never push for anything but what is needed at the time. Great stories. A Berkeley institution. Talented repair techs and everyone is very nice. I highly recommend. read more

This shop has been working on my families vehicles for 30 plus years. I thought taking my 2008 Acura TL to get inspected there that I just purchased was a good idea during the two day cooling off period. Turns out, they neglected to tell me about the blue bolts on the transmission, that it had been replaced. They neglected to see an obvious ground wire unplugged. That screws on, so no way it came off on its own. It had codes, yet they said it had no codes, it's clear to me they didn't even scan the vehicle. The biggest thing, they left out and neglected to tell me about subframe bolts missing between the subframe and the vehicle. The subframe bolts are the first thing I saw once I got the car home to Colorado where I live now for 5 years and was able to get it on a lift at my friends shop. Also, to top it all off when I got my car back the Navigation didn't work and the Snap On Solus scanner my good friend with a shop in Colorado used, says he's fairly sure precision broke my navigation and unplugged something. The navigation worked the second I dropped the car off. When I picked it up from Rei lot where they park customer cars, as soon as I got into the vehicle in Berkeley, the nav was broken and no longer worked. Before I knew about the sub frame bolt issue I had tried to reason with Ken the owner about figuring out or fixing that they broke my navigation and now that I know about the subframe bolts and the fact that the car wasn't even scanned it's really disconcerting about my safety that I drove this car 1300 miles home with my 60+ year old Father. Now, Ken did mention a few good things like my radiator cap and gas cap gaskets were cracked. It sure seems like they just did a very basic inspection. And broke some things are neglected to tell me about things crucial to my safety like subframe bolts. Ken, you've lost my families business. And my parents and I are extremely dissatisfied and disappointed. Also, I don't really appreciate how condescending and rude you were when I was there and how you talk down to me as a customer. For you guys to miss the things you that you missed like missing subframe bolts is really inexcusable, also tried to reason with you about the navigation and you still claim many phone calls later that you guys didn't do anything. If you guys won't cop to it about the navigation, I saw no reason to try and reason with you about the other stuff that you guys missed, like beating a dead horse. Shame on your techs Ken Shapiro and your lack of oversight with your techs and business. You should retire already Ken. I will also be reporting you to the California bureau of automotive repair for neglecting to tell me that something crucial to my safety like subframe bolts were missing in an inspection and that everything is checked off on the under car part of the inspection sheet. And last but not least, I have it written on my inspection sheet that you said to replace my serpentine belt and that your techs are really picky, I have a couple thousand miles on the same serpentine belt with absolutely no issues or loss of tension and you guys missed all that other stuff so your techs aren't picky, they are in fact carless and stupid to neglect the things they did and break my Nav. Do yourself a favor everyone. Go somewhere else. I would not have bought the car that I have now the 2008 Acura TL if they had done a proper inspection I would've returned the car where I bought it during the 2 day cooling off period. I'm currently making a claim with Wells Fargo my bank to get my $168 inspection fee back. RESPONSE to your REPLY. You guys not once offered to remedy the situation or have me come back in. All I got from Ken was, we didn't do anything to your navigation or anything else and have a nice trip home pretty much. Don't lie to save face. You guys screwed up. And you lie to save face when we both know, no one offered to remedy the situation. Complete pack of lies. I would have for sure taken you guys up on remedying the situation. Ridiculous for you lie after the fact. read more

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