I've been taking my cars to Reliable Auto Repair for about 10 years, and Michael Jidkov has always been the person I've worked with. I actually didn't realize until today, when he gave me his business card, that he was the owner. I brought my Honda Odyssey in around 12:30 today for a repair. Michael went over what needed to be done now versus things that could wait, which I really appreciated since it's an older vehicle and I don't want to replace everything just because of its age. They replaced the axle and seal and had the van ready for me about two hours later. That was a huge help because I needed it back for the weekend. I've been going here for years because Michael is straightforward, practical, and easy to work with. Today was another good experience. read more

I highly recommend Michael and the team at Reliable Auto Repair. My headlight bulb went out last night and needed someone open early enough so I could go to work after. I asked Michael for a quote over the phone and he told me there would be no charge to change the headlight bulb, since I already bought the bulb from O'reilly and is a quick fix. I appreciated Michael's honesty and respected the fact that he didn't charge when he could have easily made a quick buck off of me, who's clueless about cars and would have paid whatever as long as the problem was solved. read more

Took my car in to replace the rear transmission seal and work needed on my clutch. I am extremely happy with the quality of service i received. As a woman, I am happy to see there are still honest mechanics that take pride in their work and not just out to take advantage of people. Thank you Michael I look forward to having you work on my Avalanche next. read more

Reliable Auto Repair - Auto Repair Near Me - San Jose, California

Great service! They got my truck done super fast! I will definitely go to them again!

I met Michael this morning a few minutes after 8am, because I was in need of a smog test for my 8 yr old Honda CRV...I was impressed with his organizational skills, the way he spoke to customers on the phone and those of us waiting for service. He spoke with everyone in the order in which we sat in the waiting room chairs. He knew when someone new had added to the group, honoring those that held their places in the chairs first. Michael knew many of the 5 or 6 customers that preceded me, speaking with them about their interests over and above their appointment. When it was my turn, and I spoke to my need, even without an appointment, he assured me I'd be out within 25 minutes. He was not only organized, polite and knowledgeable, he was honest. I can highly recommend Reliable Auto Repair. The lady sitting in the first to arrive chair next to me, told me she has been having her car serviced for as long as she can remember...she even knew other family members of Michael as a result of being a patron of the business. read more

These guys always get my car right! If I could bring it here for everything, I absolutely would. I truly love this place. Michael never lets me down--he always takes the time to answer all my questions, no matter how small, and he always makes me feel welcome. If you're looking for quality work, skill, and honest service, this is the place to go. read more

Reliable Auto Repair - Waiting area! - Auto Repair Near Me - San Jose, California

Did a thorough inspection of the car during an oil change and made recommendations. However, brought it to another mechanic for a second opinion and they said some of the suggestions did not need to be done. They also seemed very expensive. read more

I found Reliable Auto Repair after searching for a shop that had a positive reviews about not taking advantage of women. I'm so glad I took my car here! My entire experience was seamless. It was easy to make an appointment on their website, and I was able to leave my car the same day. After a few short hours, they diagnosed my problems and emailed me an itemized list that included photos, explanation of the issues, their determination of whether each recommended repair was critical or non-critical, and detailed pricing. I was able to take my time going over all the details on my own and either call them or use their website to accept or decline specific services. I felt zero pressure in my decision-making, and the shop respected my choices without judgment. I received estimated times for phone call updates and repair completion, and I'd suggest people build in some extra time on top of that and give the shop grace in case some things take longer than expected. They were always friendly when I checked in for an update, which I appreciated! Everything was such a good experience, from the ease of using their site to the way they treat their customers. read more

Michael and the team at Reliable are easy to work with and trustworthy. They diagnosed and prioritized a detailed list of things to fix and didn't try to upsell, but were realistic about what needed to get fixed and worked with me to fix them in a time frame that fit what I needed to get out of the car. read more

I had to replace my battery at Autozone, and the dude at Autozone told me I had to get my alternator replaced ASAP. I took it to this location and Michael quickly and easily got my car diagnosed and let me know there was no actual problem. I was in and out in 5 minutes and he didn't charge me a single cent. Great and honest service! Will come back if I have any car issues for sure! read more

Very efficient and professional and Michael is " on top of it" He's amazing!! I will take my car back there for everything! Lynne Darang read more

This is a short review of my dealings with Reliable Auto Repair. We have taken one of our vehicles to Reliable for three items/visits. 1) Decarbonization to help eliminate a rough idle and misfire issue. 2) Normal brake pad replacement. 3) Cam reseal to fix a small, but growing oil leak. All three items were done on time in one day each. Michael (not sure if he is the owner) was very upfront about what they would do and answered our questions. Pricewise they were overall comparable (higher on some items and lower on others relative to a few competitors I checked). However, if you are a Costco member you can get a 15% discount at Reliable. They also texted a day or two later to ensure all was good. Scheduling was also fairly flexible. Overall, I am happy with their service and will recommend Reliable Auto Repair to friends if they are in need of automotive repair. read more

Michael and his team did a stellar job on my car. Appreciate that he takes the time to thoroughly explain the nature of the needed repairs and answer any and all questions with zero pressure. I will absolutely be back. read more

I've never given a 1-star review before, but this experience deserves it. I took my car in because of an odd noise. Being new to the Bay Area, I asked a coworker for a recommendation and chose this shop based on their positive reviews. We called ahead, dropped the car off, and were told they'd provide an itemized list after diagnosing the issue. They later called to say they couldn't replicate the noise once which seemed strange. They then sent an itemized list full of unrelated, unnecessary repairs that would have cost more than the car itself. On top of that, they charged $150 for a "diagnosis" despite not identifying the noise. I understand paying for their time, but given they couldn't find the problem, some flexibility or empathy would have gone a long way. Instead, they insisted on the full charge. The worst part: as soon as we drove the car literally a foot out of their lot, the exact noise happened again loudly. The mechanic heard it, glanced at us, and just walked away. That was the moment we realized they didn't care. After talking with friends, it's clear no trusted mechanic would treat customers this way. I would not recommend this shop. read more

I needed front brakes and rotors so I took my car to Reliable Auto Repair. Being female you always worry that you'll be told you need more repairs than are really necessary. They are very honest and definitely reliable! My brakes and rotors were replaced the same day at a very reasonable price! I drive down to Southern California twice a year and knowing my care was repaired at Reliable Auto I know I don't have to worry about making the trip. Thank you to Michael and all of his team read more

Reliable Auto Repair was able to fix my car's battery issues that two other shops could not figure out. My battery was draining and had a corroded negative battery cable. Michael's team was able to figure out the issue immediately when I had taken my car to two other mechanics over a 5 week period costing me extra money and time. Michael returned my calls and was honest with me from the beginning. Thank you Reliable Auto Repair. read more

Was awesome! Was willing to call my third party car insurance to get my left axel repair done. Save me money!

I'm a chronic procrastinator when it comes to anything car-related because it genuinely gives me so much anxiety. But visiting Reliable Auto Repair completely changed that. Michael is AMAZING. He truly cares about both you and the health of your vehicle. He even checked things I hadn't asked about and gave me fair, honest pricing. After my first visit, I immediately called my mom to tell her we would be bringing all of our future car repairs to Michael and his team. 10 out of 10, I will definitely be back. read more

I found Reliable Auto Repair through Costco as a referral when I was changing my tires. They recommended Reliable as an auto shop when I needed help with oil leakage from my car. Michael and Eric were very professional and were present and patient while discussing possible causes for the leak. I also appreciated that they reached out after a few days to check in. I have been going to them for my car's care ever since. read more

Great service! Took 2 cars here for break repair and customer service and work was done very well! Michael was very responsive and easy to work with. Will be back! read more

Great service and friendly staff. Michael and team will explain everything to you and get it done quickly. Wouldn't trust any other shop now that I have been with them for over 4 years now. read more

Michael and Team were great. They were professional and fair. Their customer service was next level. He explained everything and provided regular updates. I originally had my car in for repair at the dealership which was disrespectful to my wife and I. They seemed to want to over charge for anything and everything. I contacted Reliable for a competitive quote and was super happy I did. I had my car towed from the dealership to Michael and Team at Reliable. The repair was fast. The shop is top notch, clean and organized. I will definitely be back and recommend Reliable to my friends and family! read more

I decided to write up a Yelp review here because I saw some low stars as of recent. I've been taking my vehicles here for years now. They have worked on the following vehicles for my family: 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass 2011 Honda Civic 2005 Toyota Tacoma 2010 Mercedes GLK 2017 BMW M240i 2017 BMW M4 They do good work at fair prices, do not try to upsell, do not tinker with your car to get more business or more money, do not take advantage of your lack of knowledge with cars. They are reliable, and I feel safe bringing my vehicle there for maintenance needs. Thanks to Michael and staff for your service this past decade and more. read more

Reliable Auto Repair - Auto Repair Near Me - San Jose, California

OVERALL ASSESSMENT I was attracted to this shop almost solely based on the positive Yelp reviews, however, my direct experiences with this shop are such that I would not use or recommend them. WORKMANSHIP/QUALITY My purpose for using this shop was to replace my engine - a 12-hour job. Prior to the work, my vehicle, a Ford F-150, had no oil leaks whatsoever. As the attached photo taken after work completion shows, my F-150 was delivered back to me with a major transmission oil leak. The amount of oil leaked formed a puddle several feet wide. I contacted the owner, described the problem, took the F-150 back and showed him the photograph of the oil puddle. After leaving my truck with them for a day, the owner told me they looked and couldn't find the leak, despite visible oil wetting on the transmission. The owner told me directly that they had rechecked the dipstick tube, one of the main sources of transmission oil leaks. They wiped the oil off and sent me home even after I expressed doubt that the truck should be driven. The next day, the oil puddle got larger. The pan was wet again with transmission oil. Another mechanic (not Reliable Auto) looked at it and in one GLANCE could see that the transmission oil dipstick tube was not installed properly and upon removal it was clear that the sealing O-Ring had been damaged during Reliable' s engine installation. This was either a negligent and careless miss by Reliable Auto, or they never checked it as they claimed. The leak was obvious and a photo of the damaged O-Ring is attached. It was also discovered, that the transmission oil level was far below minimum after the truck was brought back. COMMUNICATION The communication style of the owner was an issue. I found him to be short, and seemingly annoyed by questions. It never felt comfortable talking with him. He is constantly doing phone and, on every visit, I felt rushed and as if I was bothering him to ask questions. CUSTOMER SERVICE I tipped his mechanic $80 and always maintained a cordial demeanor. Despite that, the place had an unfriendly air. Appointments were consistently about a week out. I believe this shop is capable of doing good work, but whether due to their need to get cars in and out quickly, carelessness, integrity issues, or internal miscommunication they've lost my trust. I will never find fault with any business that makes a mistake. Stridently sending me home with a major oil leak against my voiced concern -- that was not a "reliable" repair mindset. My advice is to check their work if you use them. read more

Reliable Auto Repair - Oil tube installed incorrectly and O-Ring dame causing leak - Auto Repair Near Me - San Jose, California

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The only place I will trust to work on my car! They are honest, great price, quick service and I never have any issues after repair. They even give a list with their prices but never even bug you to do the issues completely leave it up to you. They just warn you what may be coming down the road or recommended. Also to top it off Micheal and Eric are amazing!! Friendly and always willing to help with advice. There were even times they told me to just wait to smog if your low on money to fix car right now car will not break down (can't remember what was wrong long ago but that's how amazing they are ) not there just to drain you of money as I said very honest and friendly. All my family and friends go and were recommended to them by me and agree no one else they trust to repair their car and are happy satisfied customers. I highly recommend reliable. Best auto repair place ever!!! read more

I think every woman should take their cars here. They don't try to get over on you. Trust worthy is an understatement! They explain everything that is wrong an suggest what's most important to fix first so that you aren't spending every single dime you have and can get around safely. They've been servicing my families cars for yearssss, excellent customer service and very fast with repairs as well. Thank you guys, keep up the awesome work read more

I went in to get my rear brakes done! I called on Friday and spoke with Michael he set me up with an appointment on Saturday at 7:30 a.m. and my car was done same day by 11:30 a.m. Exceptional service and pricing! Michael is great! read more

Let me start by saying Michael and Eric are amazing. They are both very helpful, insightful, honest and genuinely kind. I cannot recommend this place enough. Last but not least, the technician JG always services my car. He is an absolute professional!! read more

I would highly recommend taking your car for any type of repairs to reliable Auto repair...... Michael and Eric are amazing. They finished my truck and it's running great again! Thank you Reliable Auto Repair. We will be back. Renee Hampton read more

This is the place... You'll see other reviews on here about honesty, professionalism, and most importantly, FAIR pricing! I can personally vouch for each of these. I've been taking my car here for over 10 years, and have recommended my Mom, girlfriend, and many of my personal training clientele to this shop SOLELY on the fact that Mike won't take advantage of female clientele, the inexperienced, or young new drivers (which is a typical experience for these demographics). He has personally taken care of the following jobs over the years: -Brake/Rotor Replacements -Air Conditioning Condenser -Aftermarket Backup Camera w/ Bluetooth Monitor on an old old Avalon (Came out slick) -Cracked Headlights/ Bulb Replacements -MULTIPLE Nails in Tires haha -Probably a lot of other things I can't remember since I refuse to let anyone else TOUCH my car. He's the man! You'll be happy with your result. Cheers! read more

Reliable Auto Repair - Auto Repair Near Me - San Jose, California

I wrote my first review in 2010. So I thought it was time to update my review again in 2024. I can still say they are 5-Stars and I am 100% pleased with Reliable Auto. I still take all of my cars there and the service I receive is always excellent with reasonable pricing. I trust them 100%. Do they make an occasional mistake? Sure, but doesn't everyone? They will always do what is right to correct a mistake and I still recommend Reliable Auto to all of my friends. Be aware that more people are learning how great they are, so you now need to make an appointment, whereas, years ago I used to be able to drop off my car the next day. Terrific family-owned business! read more

I have been bringing my trucks to RELIABLE, AUTO for a while and Michael, the manager is very knowledgeable and very professional. I brought a truck in just recently that we could not figure out what the problem was for months. It's my employees truck and I recommended him to just bring it into RELIABLE AUTO. They could've milked us for $$$, but instead they were very honest which is hard to find in a mechanic. It turned out to be a couple sensors and it was only $400 and the truck is back on the road running great! I couldn't be happier. This shop is the real deal read more

Michael did a thorough check of my car when I brought it due to a radiator and valve cover gasket need for repairs and also loud idle noise. He fixed all 3 problems for $1057.84. I was also given a list of other needs in the future but weren't urgently needed. I was referred to him by a friend who has been pleased by his work on her car. I also asked him advice about how much time I had before deciding on a newer car and he said it would be nice to have a new car but it wasn't something I had to do right away. I was relieved to hear that. read more

I just lost my long time auto repair person to retirement. RELIABLE AUTO REPAIR to the RESCUE! I began with an oil change to see how they did. SCORE 100!!! During the oil change they THOROUGHLY went through EVERYTHING on my truck...with photos to SHOW the problem areas. I scheduled an appt to have the major problem spots repaired...and WAS NOT DISSAPPOINTED! Ball joints, Tie Rods, Steering Rack, Sway bar links along with battery, air filter and wheel alignment were all done. I do not think another mechanic would have provided photos to SHOW ME how bad these things were on my truck. But RELIABLE AUTO REPAIR did. Michael the upfront customer relation person is THOROUGH and KNOWLEDGEABLE. Hector the mechanic did both my oil change and the big job. Now my 2001 Toyota Tacoma runs like a NEW TRUCK! Yes, I miss my old long time mechanic...but RELIABLE AUTO REPAIR to the RESCUE! I highly recommend this shop....I trust them...which is HUGE! read more

These guys are great! I had an oil drain plug that was stuck because a previous mechanic had over torqued it. Terry and his team were able to get it out without stripping the threads. These guys are very professional, friendly attitude, and great customer service. Definitely recommend these guys. read more

Hi my name is Alonzo, I have a vehicle with frame damage, understand that shop could not fix but was charged $150 just to tell me. There was no parts or labor done at all Charged $150 to tell me what's wrong with my car that's it!! read more

Requested a diagnostic for some issues my car was having. Brought my car around 10:45am and was told the car should be done by noon. I always give extra time just in case and showed up at 3pm to see how much longer it would take when I was told the car wouldn't get seen until the next day. Sorry but not giving my business to a place that doesn't exercise honesty. It takes zero effort to tell people the truth. And even worse, when was I going to be notified? I had to drive over there myself to find out this information. Not very reliable read more

We've been here twice because what they were charging us at the dealership for changing a head light was ridiculous. Reliable came in to save the day with their unbeatable prices and fast service!! Eric at the front desk as well as staff are all very helpful. Thanks Reliable!! read more

I've found Michael and crew to be reliable, honest, and reasonably priced. I feel they, like some other auto repair shops, don't "find" or recommend unneeded work. read more

Had been going to the dealer for routine maintenance, but just couldn't justify it anymore after they wanted to gouge me for my most recent visit. Saw that this place was offering free quotes, so I reached out to them to compare. Boy, it was night and day compared the the stealership! Not only that, but they were done with my car relatively quickly (8am drop-off; done within 2 hrs with people ahead of me). I also appreciated how they were looking out for me and made sure the maintenance I was requesting was actually necessary. It looks like they can get pretty busy (unlikely to get same-day appointments), so make sure to schedule in advance if you are planning to have some routine maintenance performed. Definitely will come back for my future car-related needs in the future! read more