My car had both the BRAKES light and the ABS light on. I inspected the brakes and checked for engine leaks before taking my car to the dealer. No leaks anywhere. The dealer diagnosed my car and wanted about $3,500 to replace parts and fix my brakes. They agreed with me, no leaks were found, however apparently it was an internal leak that I could not see. My brother recommended Sam from SAM's Auto Repair in San Antonio, TX because he is the best mechanic and he is honest. Sam diagnosed the problem. First, he quickly figured out part of the issue was that I had replaced the battery but the wrong kind. Sam suggested a plan and would do one step at a time to see if it fixes the problem and save the customer money: 1. Get original battery from dealer $250 (minus $50 for the core battery, which Sam provided for me, so $200 total). 2. Flush out the brake system and reset computer $300. 3. Replace parts if needed $1,000 total. Step 2 fixed my problem. So for I got my car fixed for $300 plus the $200 battery vs $3,500 at the dealer. The dealer just wanted to replace the expensive ABS system parts and charge for labor. The dealer said nothing about replacing the battery. Sam also suggested that if the problem came back then he would replace the part for less than $1,000 since he already performed step 2. I highly recommend Sam, an honest mechanic. I towed my car from Dallas, TX just to get my car fixed and I will do it again next time I have car issues. read more

The BEST service you can get!! Sam deserves a lot more credit than what can be put into words in a review. He's honest, trustworthy, and experienced!! I found Sam (like some of you may be doing) through his Google reviews. My 2007 Prius red triangle came on suddenly while I was leaving work and within 2 minutes, I was unable to drive my car. After I turned it off and back on, I was able to drive it to North Park Toyota on 410. Long story short, they wanted to charge $1200 to fix an "issue." They also needed to order a part. I looked up local Hybrid shops and found Sam with over 180+ 5 Star reviews. I called Sam, he said he had the part and would charge less than half if that was the issue (even on the phone he knew that "issue" shouldn't be what cause my car to stop driving). I picked up my car from North Park and risked driving it to Sam's. With his expertise, he drove the car, listened to how the car drove all while monitoring the computer and explained possible issues to me while I was in the car with him. He went above and beyond caring and addressing the issue. He was able to solve the issue, advise me on further improving my car, charged me under $500, and till this day (about 5 months later) my car is running without any issues!! I'll continue to go to Sam's until he retires (and cry when he does). So if you want someone worth your time, trust (and money) - Go to Sam's!! read more

I barely write reviews but when I do, it is when a service truly impresses me Sam's Auto Shop delivers an exceptional and honest service. We moved down to SA not too long ago. Our car was a hybrid and we were in search of a good mechanic especially for hybrids. And we found Sam. When we first went there my goals when I look for a mechanic were: -reasonable price -quality car service -honest feedback Sam surpasses all of them. He is the owner of the shop and he personally works on your car. He has the equipment and technology too. We don't mind driving 15 miles to go to his shop. He tells you exactly what's wrong with your car, and said that in 3-6 months the car won't be operational and he gave us the option to fix it from the bottom up or the other option to just buy a new car. He even said it's not worth it if the price you pay to fix it will be higher than the price we paid for the car. This is when we know he was an honest businessman. He didn't even try to sell one of his cars to us. We know for the years to come he will be the mechanic shop that we will go to. Now we got a new car but we are still going to him even if it's not a hybrid. He answers all the questions no matter how many I asked. He gives straightforward answers. I wish more people know about his shop. I will continue to spread the word to my extended families and friends. He deserves all the recognition. read more

Took my Lexus RX400 Hybrid to Sam's Auto Repair after having my car detailed...The car wash sprayed w/ a cleanser in the back seat area where the hybrid battery sits...The cleaning product entered the hybrid battery causing it to shut down..Not being able to drive it, my vehicle was towed to Sam Auto repair. Keeping my fingers crossed, I waited for Sam to tell me about the battery he said he could not promise anything, but would try to clean and salvage the battery...Sam worked diligently for days by cleaning and drying out the battery and replacing a few parts. He really gave the car so much of his time & attention...Sam is like that doctor that goes beyond to find a cure not just a bandaid and 2 aspirins... My car is working great again with out the burden of the cost of new battery price...We are fortunate to have found his shop...Sam is a kind hard working man , and on more than one occasion I have see him help those that do not have the money by replacing body parts from other salvage vehicles to keep their vehicles running safe.Sam has gained all our trust and gratitude , that now 1/2 my family and friends have brought hybrid vehicles knowing he is around.. Sam is like a 1st responder, he keep our cars safe to drive our families in..God bless him read more

The owner did an amazing job at repairing/working on my Toyota Prius. He went above and beyond what he had to do. He checked my car out first to find out what was wrong at no charge. Once he figured out what needed to be repaired he was fast and punctual at calling me back and starting the repairs on it. He gave me a very fair price on fixing my car. Really a great deal on fixing it, especially compared to the amount of work he put into my vehicle. The best price I could find after calling atleast 7 other places. I could tell by the service that Sam did to my vehicle and by how he displayed himself that he is very honest, trustworthy and extremely hard-working. He takes pride in his work. And my car was very safe there, I left it over the weekend(he even worked on his day off to fix it). His shop has security set up to where your vehicle is very safe if left over night. I would refer this gentleman to anyone that owns a Prius. He is very knowledgeable in Prius vehicles and knows what he is doing. This is a mechanic you can trust with your car read more

I first found this place when I helped mechanic reviews and this place had 5 stars. I loved hearing how much everyone respected the owner. So I had my car towed here and he didn't charge me to look at it and once it was determined my engine was locked up, instead of trying charge me big bucks to fix the engine on my old car, he advised to me to get a new one. I was lucky and another clients car he was working on had told him he was selling then car so he reached out to him for me and I had another car by the end of the day. It was a Prius which I've never driven before and he was very knowledgeable about Priuses and even took me on a test drive to educate me on how to drive them. Since then I've brought my car to him for any issues big or small that still needed to be done since I bought it, that the old owner told me about and his pricing was fair and he was quick to repair them as well. He's very friendly and accommodating and has gone out of his way to be helpful to me. I will always bring my car to him and I suggest you all do too! read more

I let a "friend" use my 2013 Prius, which turned into a longer period than I had intended. She refused my offer to pay for an oil change, saying she'd do it herself. She didn't. She ran the engine dry and blew the engine. My decent-looking car that I loaned to her was returned looking like crap, parts dented and broken, filthy interior, and blown engine. I was crushed. I looked for a non-dealer hybrid engine specialist. Sam had good reviews, so I chose him. His small lot is filled almost entirely with Priuses (Prii?) and other hybrids, though he does work on standard engines. He rebuilt the engine, "tuned up" the hybrid batteries, and did a lot of other work on my car. It's still filthy inside (my next project) but it runs like it did when she took it. Sam doesn't take credit cards, but he worked with me. He charged half of what a dealership would have for the work he did. He also gave me some advice and tips for keeping my hybrid in top shape. Even though I live 60 miles away, I may bring our other vehicle to Sam to work on! read more

Great, honest, professional and reliable work!! Sam is a great mechanic and a great person!! I have taken my vehicles to Sam for over 2 1/2 years and he always does the best work and is always fair. He goes above and beyond to explain and help you out. He figures out the vehicle problem, explains it and make sure that you are happy with the plan of action and works with you regarding cost. He's always been more honest and more accurate than any mechanic I've paid to do work for me. Additionally, on one occasion my son got his tail light busted, I didn't want to make an insurance claim since he is only 18 and didn't wanna chance my insurance rate skyrocketing so I called Sam to ask for his advice. He graciously gave me a tail light for the vehicle free of charge from a vehicle of his own that was going to be salvaged. That's a genuinely kind hearted mechanic & great person! My adults kids and I will continue giving Sam our business. read more

This is my very first review on Yelp and I created an account just to write this review. I am not a fan of writing reviews but because Sam has shown me his quality work and service I am propelled to write one. The first, the most foremost, and the most important value in my life is, honesty. Sam upholds that value: honesty. He has a wealth of knowledge about cars and I have no knowledge about cars but he does not take advantage of that. He delivers timely service. The other big branded auto shop's charged me more than $100 each visit for little issues. Even an air filter change was $45! When I could have bought the $15 air filter myself and install it on my own. He is not that kind of mechanic that purposely break things in your car so that you can keep coming back to get it fixed. Or a mechanic that tries to tell you that there is more problem than there already is. I am lucky to find a great mechanic. I am now a loyal customer. read more

I own a 2010 Prius model C and just before it hit 150k miles the battery choked. I normally take the car for repairs at Red Mccombs Toyota but they wanted to charge me over 5k for service and a new battery! I feel extremely lucky that I continued calling around and found Sam! Not only does this man know hybrids but he really understands what to do to maintain the car to make it last for years to come. Sam has been my go-to for all of my needs! He has replaced my battery, took care of an oil change, replaced a headlight and fixed the covering under the car that kept coming loose. I can't thank you enough for your affordable prices for all of the services I needed to keep my car running smooth. All of these services were needed at the end of 2019 and I'm happy to report the car is running great! Thank you for educating me on how to maintain the car and happy to find my hybrid mechanic for life! read more

I have a toyota Prius and been having trouble with the battery and A/C compressor, and I took my car first at Auto Group Service on hwy 281 and brook hollow, and they really ripped me off ($2,500) and charged me as a new battery which after a year the battery was running very poorly and the car started with problems. My friend told me about Sam and I took my car to Sam and he was amazing he actually took the battery that Auto Group sold me as new it was a refurbish and that is why I had problems again with the battery. Sam really took care of my Prius and left it as new, the A/C is perfect the battery is running great. Sam goes the extra mile to help, he actually change the car key battery and put gas in my car and help me replace my battery at an affordable price. I highly recommend Sam for your Hybrid he is very knowledgeable about this type of cars. Thanks Sam! read more

Our Toyota Prius had a serious wire sort circuit due to a loose broken headlamp bulb. It was a minor issue that caused a major problem. The entire wiring system in the Prius had to be replaced, No mechanic was willing to do the job because it was a hybrid car and most shops do not work on hybrids. But, we saw Sam's Auto Repair shop in San Antonio and Sam was willing to do the job. Sam was very professional in all his work and his experience was very evident. We have been driving the Prius for 2 years now since the repair and have had no problems. Sam's Auto Repair did an excellent job on the Prius. It's good to know that he is a good hybrid car mechanic as well as a good mechanic in general. I highly recommend Sam's Auto Repair on Laredo Ave. in San Antonio, thank you Sam for being professional as well as a good mechanic that showed concern and honesty. read more

I brought my Toyota Prius Hybrid to Sam's Auto Repair expecting to need a new hybrid battery which the dealership had said I needed. ($3500 fix) I talked to Sam about replacing my battery and it was going to be 1/3 the cost that dealership quoted me! Sam called me in 30 minutes after it arrived and had fixed the problem for $150. It was a component that got shorted. He showed me the damaged part when I came to pick it up and totally won my trust....my car has been perfect! To think I would have spent that kind of money unnecessarily at the dealership sickens me. If I do ever need new hybrid batteries I will be returning to Sam's Auto Repair. They are great and offer a warranty as well. I was recommended to Sam as the best Hybrid repairman in the area and I will second that recommendation. I had to have my car towed from Austin and it was so worth it!!! read more

My Prius had a problem with its hybrid battery and would not start. I took the Prius to a couple places but all of them told me that they did not have experience or the necessary tools to fix it. The hybrid battery for Prius is one of the most expensive parts of the vehicle. I heard about Sam's Auto Repair from my uncle who had done work on his cars in the past and highly recommended them to me. I called Sam and within a week my Prius was up and running again after being without a car for a month. Sam very clearly explained the problems and got my go ahead to proceed with the repairs. It was obvious that he was very experienced. I would highly recommend Sam's Auto Repair because they really know their stuff and are honest and hardworking. You will not be disappointed! read more

Sam is awesome! He did two separate repairs on our 2008 Prius and has kept us on the road. He knows so much about hybrid system's and thoroughly explains how things work. Our car had been in a car accident but we weren't ready to let it go. Sam first replaced the inverter cooling pump and gave us sound advice on how to maintain our car. The cost for the repair was affordable and complete within two hours and with Toyota parts! The second repair was to the inverter itself. This time, my vehicle was towed in after hours and Sam was at the shop passed business hours to receive the car and run a diagnostic. He was able to replace the entire inverter with a genuine part and within my budget in less than a day. Highly recommend taking your hybrid to him. read more

I was having a hard time financially due to COVID. I had just paid my property taxes and wouldn't you know I was driving home from work and a car cut me off. I had to slam on my breaks and lo and behold my ABS brakes went out. I lost traction and thought I was going to die. My brake light and ABS light came on in my Prius. I took it to a mechanic by my house and they didn't work on hybrid's but the owners son referred me to Sam's Auto Repair. This was a godsend. He went above and beyond and actually fixed my brakes at a fraction of the price anyone else would have charged. He was friendly and knowledgeable and I will not take my car anywhere else. I highly recommend him. He goes over and beyond and you won't go wrong if you go to this man. read more

I have been going back to Sam for about 5 years & will not go to another repair shop. He is highly trusted & will explain EVERYTHING to you upfront. Where the dealership wants to charge you an arm & a leg while trying to fix things that AREN'T wrong; Sam will give you the upfront TRUTH & a GREAT price that has NO HIDDEN CHARGES. He guarantees ALL his work & it is ALWAYS done right the FIRST time. He has gone ABOVE & BEYOND for me & my company more times than I can count. I have grown to trust Sam with ALL my auto needs & wont be going anywhere else EVER!! Prices are always right and the work is completed in the time he says it will take. I tell all my friends, family & coworkers to go to Sam!!! He will NOT steer you wrong! read more

I wish I could give Sam's Auto Shop 10 stars! Sam is highly knowledgeable and experienced with working on Hybrid cars. I called him about my Prius C and he didn't hesitate to take a look at it that same day. He explained everything to me in detail so I knew exactly what steps he was going to take to fix my car. I really appreciated him taking the time to educate me on what was wrong with my car and what needed to be done to repair it. No mechanic has ever done that for me. Not only is he a great mechanic, he's a good person. He's honest, kind, and will not take advantage of you. I will be recommending him to everyone. I am grateful for Sam and very happy that I finally have a mechanic I can trust. read more

My 2012 Prius V needed a new engine after 188,000 miles. Sam replaced the engine and took care of all other needed maintenance at a price well below the dealer's. After talking to Sam and reading posts in Prius Chat, I realized that I probably wouldn't have needed to replace the engine if I had been taking the car to Sam all along. There were tune-up items the dealer DIDN'T suggest, which would have kept the valves clean and the engine running smoothly. Instead, they recommended overpriced, unnecessary "repairs." Sam is the most knowledgeable and honest mechanic I've ever dealt with. I highly recommend a visit to Sam before you hand over $$$$ to your local dealer. Highly recommend. read more