My annoying 2010 Toyota Prius gave me the "Check Hybrid System", so I got scared and started googling "Cheap Hybrid Battery Prius Fix" and I ended up getting forwarded to a bunch of places online. They were all pretty expensive. After googling, yelping and going on craigslist for hours, I stumbled upon "Sam Auto Hybrid" there website looked pretty basic and sort of sketchy, so I ended up calling cause they yelp and google ad said $600 fix and don't miss school or work. I can't afford to miss work, cause I have to make that bread and butter for the family and my wife. So after calling everywhere, these guys were the least pricey. I needed to save as much as possible. So I bit the bullet and prayed for the best! Eventually, after calling them over the phone, some guy named "Mike answered" and he has a very thick accent so it's sort of hard to understand him. But since they had a pretty sketchy looking website and craigslist ads all over, but the price was cheap, I asked him to send me a video of their shop and location to make sure I wouldn't drive from San Diego to Costa Mesa and go missing. He answered, and offered to Facetime Videochat with me, he showed me all the shop. These guys are middle eastern arabic entrepreneurs who know their stuff! I ended up driving to their shop and it was scary looking and I felt a little lost. There are a few other auto mechanic shops in the area, so make sure to find the one with a bunch of Priuses in the corner with the name "Sam Auto Hybrid". So they said they'll fix it within the day. I ended up eating some Japanese Ramen 1 block away at the Mitsua Japanese Grocery store. So I probably hung out there for about 45 minutes to 1 hour and they did a quick diagnosis and told me there was a serious inverter problem or something like that. I have no idea what that is. They asked if the car had ever been in an accident, but since I bought it used. I didnt realize there were paint marks on it from apparently a previous accident that WASN'T reported to CarFax! Whaahahahat! So crazy! So I'm glad they told me this. Anyway he said it would be pretty expensive so he recommended to call my insurance. I gave him my policy and All State phone number and he called them. Omgosh I pretty much paid almost nothing, I have no idea what he did, but he explained the car had been in an accident before that apparently the previous owner didn't report, so he fixed that stuff. And my battery that would've costed like a LOT. So regardless whether it's through insurance or $600-$800 bucks, this guy is awesome! AHHH! Yess.. Anyway sorry for the long review, just wanted to explain my skepticism and true experience. It'll be so funny cause everything I'm saying is so accurate! I love it here. Always do your research, but for me this place has definitely been awesome and a great experience! If for some reason you can't find the owner's number, here it is! Michael - 949-394-1021 Thanks for reading and Good luck! read more

I rarely write reviews this long, but Sam Auto Hybrid absolutely earned it. My 2015 Prius turned into an absolute nightmare situation after I brought it to a close friend of mine for a head gasket repair. During the repair, the power control module was accidentally blown and nobody could figure out why. The car ended up going to multiple mechanics, including a Toyota dealership, and after over 2.5 months nobody could get the car fixed. Finally, the original mechanic sent the car to Sam Auto Hybrid in Costa Mesa. Angel and his team had the car diagnosed and back up and running within about a week. The repair ended up costing $2,200, which the original mechanic paid directly to them. Unfortunately, when I picked the car up, something still felt wrong while driving it. I thought the engine had no power because of everything that had happened with the PCM repair. It turns out the brakes were actually locked up, which ended up destroying my brand new rotors and brakes. I brought the car back to Sam Auto assuming something from the PCM repair had caused it. Angel and his team spent FOUR HOURS diagnosing the issue and discovered that someone from another shop had adjusted the linkage in my brake booster assembly and caused the brakes to lock up. Sam Auto had nothing to do with that prior repair, yet they still took the time to properly diagnose it and didn't charge me a penny for the diagnosis. That level of honesty is extremely rare in the auto industry. Angel even offered to replace the damaged rotors and brakes, but since the parts were still under warranty, the original mechanic handled replacing them. The next day I realized my rear window stopped working, so I brought the car back again. Angel quickly tracked it down to a blown fuse, replaced it, and had me back on the road within minutes. After months of stress and multiple shops not being able to figure this car out, Angel and the team at Sam Auto were the ones who finally got everything sorted out properly. Professional, honest, patient, and extremely knowledgeable. I'm grateful for their help and highly recommend them to anyone with a hybrid vehicle. read more

WARNING! AVOID this PLACE! If you already had a bad experience with this business please contact me to attitudeis100@hotmailcom? Let's filing a LAWSUIT against this THIEF? All the good reviews from this business seems to be FAKE from family and friends! BE CAREFUL, The owner Kourosh is VERY HUNGER OF MONEY, RUDE & MEAN and NOT a Honest person! He advertise a low price on Craigslist, just to hooked you up! But once you are there in his business, they are going to RIP YOU OFF! I had the worst experience ever in my lifetime! Last week, when I took my car in the morning to replace the Hybrid Battery in my car, the owner Kockroach and I we agreed an amount of money and when I returned in the afternoon to get my car, he charged me a way more money and He refused to give me the guarantee! They told me that: if you are thinking to return to get the guarantee! YOU MUST BE CRAZY!!! His Employee Angel, he drove me to my place in the morning and He did the job in my car, He told me that he has NOT experience and he is NOT CERTIFIED to fix Hybrid Batteries, he said that he just started to work for Kourosh for about 3 months ago, and He is just learning how to install the hybrid batteries and everything related with the electrical area! When I paid, to them, they took a picture of my credit car from both sides and kept all my card information! In addition to all that, Kourosh and his other employee they both were VERBALLY & PHYSICAL ABUSIVE and DISCRIMINATORY against me! KEEP AWAY FROM THIS PLACE!!! read more

Here's the short answer: If you're looking to have your hybrid car serviced here, I HIGHLY recommend having it serviced at Sam Auto Hybrid. This place is AMAZING. I created a Yelp review just to review this place. It's legit. It's awesome. It's everything you're looking for in terms of having your hybrid car repaired. I highly appreciate the transparency in their pricing, and it's one of the most competitive in the market. Additionally, their customer service almost felt white glove and I know I'm definitely coming back here for any hybrid related issues with my car. Angel was the kind individual who helped me in the process of replacing my engine for my Lexus CT200H. He was gracious enough to COME TO MY HOUSE to pick up my car, lend me the company loaner; by the second day he had replaced the entire engine in my car. All throughout the process, he sent me photos of the progress they were repairing. During my interaction with the rest of the team there, all I felt was the warmth one would receive exclusively from a family run business. By the time I left with my keys in my hand, everybody was smiling and waving and saying bye to me as a I left their shop (you rarely get that sort of kindness from A to B in a customer journey). Overall this place is crazy awesome and exceeded any expectations I had for what I first assumed would be a stressful process. They made the journey smooth and I can't recommend them enough. An immense thank you to the Sam Auto Hybrid team! read more

A friend suggested Sam's Auto because he had done business with them before. His high recommendation brought high expectations... and Sam's Auto has delivered beyond those expectations. This place specializes in Prius Hybrids, but I've seen them also work on a variety of other makes and models. The vehicle I purchased was an older Prius (2008 with 200k+ miles), and the shop included a limited warranty with the purchase. It's been nearly a month and they've graciously fixed a couple of small items without issue nor hesitation. Such service not only makes me feel confident in the vehicle, but also the relationship I intend to keep with the shop moving forward with this and other vehicles. I had an aftermarket metal plate installed at another Prius shop near my residence due to the high volume of catalytic converter thefts (I didn't have time to bring it to Sam's), and that shop was informing me of what a good vehicle I was sold by Sam's. That shop had heard of Sam's but had not the opportunity to inspect a vehicle of theirs. He was letting me know about the new items that Sam's had replaced on the car before selling it to me and other details only a mechanic for this type of vehicle would know. Thank you Kourosh, Mustafa, and Angel for your expertise and professionalism! read more

I recently took my Nissan Rogue hybrid to Sam Auto Hybrid mechanic for an oil change service, and I was thoroughly impressed with the quality of the service I received. Firstly, the mechanic (Angel) was very knowledgeable and took the time to explain the specific oil requirements for my hybrid vehicle. Thanks to their expertise, they were able to recommend the ideal oil type and viscosity for the Nissan Rogue hybrid's engine. During the actual oil change service, the mechanic was very thorough and efficient. They not only drained the existing oil completely, but they also replaced the oil filter and checked the fluid levels of the vehicle's various systems. I was also pleased to see that the mechanic used only high-quality synthetic oil to ensure that my engine was well-protected and would continue to perform at its best. The oil was also backed up by a manufacturer's warranty, which just added to my peace of mind. Overall, I can highly recommend this particular mechanic for anyone looking for a top-notch oil change service for their Nissan Rogue hybrid. They were knowledgeable, meticulous, and used only the highest-quality materials, ensuring that my car was running at its best when I pulled off their lot. read more

One of the standout features of Sam Auto Hybrid is their commitment to using only the highest quality parts and materials in their repairs. They understand that hybrid vehicles require specialized components, and they work closely with leading manufacturers to source the best parts for each job. This ensures that your vehicle is repaired to the highest possible standard and is operating at peak performance. In addition to their technical expertise and dedication to quality, Sam Auto Hybrid also provides exceptional customer service. The team at the front desk takes the time to listen to their customers' concerns and ensure that customers fully understand the mechanic's repair process. They also provide detailed and transparent pricing information, so you know exactly what to expect before any work is done. Overall, Sam Auto Hybrid is the ideal choice for anyone in need of hybrid vehicle repair. Their technical expertise, commitment to quality, and exceptional customer service make them stand out from the competition. So if you're in need of hybrid vehicle repairs, look no further than Sam Auto Hybrid. read more

The Persian-owned car mechanic shop that I recently visited provided an exceptionally smooth and efficient process from start to finish. As soon as I walked in, the staff greeted me warmly and showed exemplary professionalism throughout my visit. The mechanic who worked on my car was not only knowledgeable but also very friendly and approachable. They patiently explained the issues with my vehicle in great detail, ensuring that I had a clear understanding of what needed to be done. What I really appreciated about this Persian-run shop was their exceptional communication skills. They kept me informed every step of the way, providing regular updates on the progress of the repairs. In addition to their expertise and customer service, they went above and beyond by cleaning my car inside and out, ensuring that it was not only running well but also looking its best. Overall, the experience at this Persian-owned car mechanic was fantastic. I highly recommend them for their quality auto repair services and outstanding customer care. Thank you to the whole team for your kindness and dedication! read more

I have been driving my hybrid Toyota for 7 years and I love my car , tow weeks ago my car unexpectedly stop and I was Frustrated, one local mechanic inspect my car and gave me bad news , the problem was Hybrid battery , I called the dealership and they were not friendly and they gave me a huge price beyond my believe, and they told me I have to tow the car , fortunately the mechanic gave me a phone no of a repair shop named: SaM auto ,I called the place and someone with not very good English talk to me and kindly told me no problem , in 25 minutes some young guy came with a battery and in couple's of minutes change mine and said I have to take the car to the shop and will be ready Tomorrow afternoon and the price he told me was not even close to dealer , he even gave me a ride home , it has been tow weeks I am driving my car and I am so impressed by professional job and politeness of people working in this shop , I highly recommend this place specially the head mechanic by the name of Angle is amazing. read more

My Prius gave me the red triangle of death and I was devastated! I thought I would have to spend thousands of dollars to replace my hybrid battery and be out of a car for days... until I called Sam Auto. Their staff was very knowledgeable and knew exactly what was wrong. They quoted me a price less than half of what I was getting from others nearby and they included a 2-year warranty. I was in and out of there in LESS THAN 1-HOUR!! Also, I let them know that I had trouble unscrewing my oil filter last time I changed my oil, and I asked if that was bad for my car. They offered to give me a new oil filter and install it for me FOR FREE! Oh and by the way, while I was waiting, they were so hospitable. They offered me home cooked food that one of their moms made earlier, they offered me beverages and just made me feel at home. I've never had an experience this good at any establishment, let alone a mechanic shop! I wish I could give 6 stars! read more

i've been visiting this shop on a regular basis since early 2023. I bring my Prius in every 3k miles for an oil change (quick). Aside from regular maintenance, i've had several mechanical repairs/services done such as: - ABS system - brakes / brake pump replacement - CV axel replacement - catalytic converter security - cracked oil pan replacement - shock/struts replacement the lead mechanic Mr. Angel has always been a pleasure to work with, a mechanic you can TRUST. any job big or small you can bet he'll get it done right and at a fair price. Recently, my ABS actuator had failed, Angel took 10 minutes out of packed shop to diagnose my vehicle. On this occasion they had to keep my car overnight and were generous enough to provide a loaner vehicle. Sam and Kouroush are super friendly and accommodating as well. the staff here at SAH are A+ and truly care about their clients. I will always choose SAM Auto Hybrid for my Prius/hybrid needs. read more

Damn. I really hate leaving negative reviews. I paid these guys to install a Prius hybrid battery on Jan 25 and all was good.....until it wasn't. The battery no longer holds a charge and all my instrument lights are on, which is exactly what it did before they installed their battery. I contacted them and they claim it's my instrument cluster and they will be happy to diagnose if I have the car towed 100+ miles to them. I tried to call/text again today and they won't take my calls. These guys were happy to drive to my house and install a crappy battery, but honoring their 1 year/12k warranty is another issue. Such a bummer. I really wanted to leave them a good review, but feel like I've been taken advantage of and am out $$$. read more

We are a retired American couple living in Mexico between Rosarito and Ensenada. The Hybrid battery on our 2005 Prius went out. The least expensive used battery here was over $3,000. We called Michael at Sam's Auto Hybrid. Michael sent Ray, one of his technicians down the next day and replaced it for less than a $1000.00! Ray took the time to explain everything he was doing and even gave us some tips on how to keep our hybrid battery healthy. There are many retired Americans down here with hybrids and now we have found someone to recommend. Thanks Ray for your prompt and professional service. We really appreciate all you did for us. Also, thanks Michael for going the extra mile to help us. You guys are the best. Hugh L read more