I've been going to Sterling for years, have spent thousands, have been reasonably satisfied. I do believe these are nice folks. Unfortunately, I've had a really distasteful experience just recently and am therefore going elsewhere for my future auto service needs. I called to schedule a service appointment requesting three items be addressed: install new headlight assembly (with the new part that I provided), fix front passenger door lock that had stopped working (actuator replacement), and oil change, and I was given a quote for this work. During the work, they called me and told me that I also needed a new PCV valve, which would add $173.39 to the cost, which I approved. When I went to pick up my vehicle, they hadn't addressed the door lock issue at all and said that they could offer me a quote for that. However, they had already quoted me for that, which is why my vehicle was there to begin with! In the end, they charged me the full amount without having replaced the actuator. As I look at other reviews, I see I'm not the first to have had this experience with Sterling. Lastly, when I called around about getting the door lock fixed elsewhere, it was much cheaper than the additional amount they were wanting. If you are going to go with Sterling, I would highly recommend you get *everything* in writing, even if the conversation on the phone is as clear as day. Otherwise, all you're going to hear is "oops, sorry for your misunderstanding." read more

I have taken my car as well as used cars I was hoping to buy to them. They've helped me over the phone trying to diagnose the problem before bringing it in and have always been super kind! When they do give me the diagnostic, they walk my through what the saw on the car as best they can. I have appreciated their flexibility, eagerness to help me, and overall treatment (especially as a women)! Special shout out to Pat, Sterling, and Zoe! read more

Really great guys, do a thorough honest job! Brought a truck in for a pre-buy inspection and they gave me a in depth run down of what they found, their fears, and how much each repair would cost me. I live in seattle and they knew that if I got the truck any future repairs would not be done there, they just genuinely wanted to make sure I got a good truck and was not sold a lemon. read more

I've had my car here a few times and they always do really good work. I never feel like I'm being upsold or spoken down to. I've had pretty bad experiences with repair shops in the past (especially as a woman) and it's really refreshing to find a place I can trust. Definitely would recommend these guys for anything you need. read more

It's always so stressful when there is an unknown issue with car. And often times, it's very difficult to find an honest auto shop. Thankfully, we met Sterling and we highly recommend this place to everyone!! My younger brother is graduating this Saturday and he has three important job interviews tomorrow. The engine didn't start this morning, so we had to tow the car. We were informed that the car will be ready by Friday. We called in again and explained about our situation to the owner. He was super nice and understanding. He told us that he will prioritize our car and the car will be ready by 5 p.m. today. We don't know how we can thank him enough. We are very thankful for his kindness. Thank you so much! And more importantly, his price is very good. He offered us the best price of the battery and he kept the labor fee low. He also told us that he will run a full inspection of the car before we pick it up although it is a super rush order. He said he never let a car leave his shop before he is confident that everything is okay. This shop is very trustworthy! :) & he gives student discount! read more

Had a running board damaged on my Silverado while on a trailer trip in Bellingham. A Campus Police Officer at Western Washington U recommended Sterling, said they were an honest shop. We had been on the road for over a month and had no resources to repair the damage. Sterling was swamped when we stopped by, and I held no hope for a fix, but Mr. Sterling said to sit for a bit and he would see what he could do. Soon two of them were under my truck removing the damage board. Damon did the dirty work and I shortly I had the broken piece in my truck. He is a ratchet drill wizard! I went inside to settle, but Mr. Sterling just said to "pass it on". I will and I will not soon forget a great shop with great folk. If I ever break down in Bellingham, you are my guys! read more

Because I had a great experience I went there again. The quotes that I received were nothing short of absurd. I know it's hard to believe, but I got my car running at less than 1/5 of what was quoted, at another place. I would never go back there again, and am fortunate that I didnt get sucked in by my first experience. To be fair, I didn't interact with Sterling the owner this time around. read more

I was in a pinch for sure limped in on a tire losing air fast with a company vehicle without a spare. Now they don't do tire here however after some brainstorming and one guys personal emergency repair kit they got me fixed up until I could get to a tire shop! I owed them big but their only request was that it be paid forward! Praying I don't forget this act of kindness and get the opportunity soon. read more

Sterling Automotive B'Ham, tremendous organization. Son in college, broken down, they took care of us. Pat and Sterling are good folks. This is a automobile service company you can really trust to get the work done at a competitive price point. Thank you guys read more

After the repair was done, I had to knock a few stars off of my initial review as I did not believe that all of the issues I wanted them to address, were addressed. Sorry, Sterling Automotive, I will be taking my business back to Bellingham Automotive. read more

My car made a high pitch whirling sound and died on me when I came to a stop sign. The battery light came on briefly, so I turned off the A/C and radio, and I was fortunately able to start and drive my car to Sterling's shop. All 3 stalls had cars being repaired, and there were a variety of cars parked just outside probably waiting their turn. I was happy to see Toyotas, Mazdas and a PT Cruizer indicating that the mechanics here can handle a wide array of problems regardless of car manufacturer. Upon entering the business office, I was promptly greeted by Sterling himself. He was friendly, jovial, polite and professional. After introductions and the obligatory customer explanation of sound effects and suspected problem, Sterling stepped outside to inspect my car. My A/C compressor did indeed need replacement. He looked up the cost of labor, parts and tax and gave me a fair estimate. He also explained that it was something I could go without replacing if I didn't want to incur the expense and didn't mind surviving the summer heat without A/C. The work would take a day to complete once parts had been ordered and received. While he was looking under the car hood, I also asked him about replacing the plastic piece where the windshield wiper hoses connect. He didn't have my car's exact part, but he quickly found a generic piece that allowed the hoses and fluid to do their part, and he offered this service at no charge. I was delighted at the superior customer service, and I will definitely be back to do any major repair that my car requires for operation. read more

Went to Sterling to fix my Grandmothers '99 Escort. Went in told them the complaint, they worked on it for 3 hours and charged me nearly $500. Drove it off, got one block and it was the same issue again. I went right back, spoke to the technician and told him he needed to look at it again. He went to the manager said what I said. The manager gave him 5 minutes to look at the car, then they shooed me away, driving off with my original issue unresolved and my Grandmother $500 dollars poorer. AVOID Sterling. read more

Sterling is the best! My 2000 Honda Accord was acting up last year and after hours of troubleshooting with my Dad, we still couldn't figure it out. I called AAA and they recommended Sterling! I had my car towed over to Pasco street, dropped the key in the box and left him a voicemail. The next morning I got a call. In well under 24 hours they had diagnosed my car and recommended that I take it down to Honda for further service. I was expecting a charge for the diagnostics but when I arrived at Sterling Automotive ready to pay, he handed me my keys and sent me on my way without any charge. I was shocked!! As a woman, I have been warned many times not to trust mechanics but Sterling Automotive is such an honest business. I have brought my business back time and time again! Thanks Sterling! read more

I was having a brake issue with my vehicle. Sterling was so helpful in resolving my issue. I highly recommend Sterling automotive!

Updating to share my experience: Was getting nervous (again) because I had dropped my car off expecting it to be done the next morning but didn't get a call. I went in to check on it and they said it still hadn't even been inspected yet so they would give me a call that day at 4:30. Didn't get a call so called them back this afternoon and they said it was done, phew. They apologized for not calling because it had been a busy day. I still didn't know how to feel because I didn't know what was wrong with my car, what work they had done on my car, and most importantly how much it would cost. Thankfully, all ended well! I got a free break inspection (coupon) and they found that there was just a rock stuck in my brakes. Left there with no charges! YAY, happy Friday y'all Minus the communication issue and keeping my car there for 2 days, it was still very friendly service! read more

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Sterling Automotive is stellar! I am thrilled to have found a local mechanic who operates with integrity and genuinely cares about the customer. I first called the shop and spoke with Biagio. I explained the whole saga of repairs I'd attempted myself (it was a rather convoluted tale), and Biagio listened carefully. He asked a few questions, seemed to understand exactly what I was talking about, and suggested possible other things to try before bringing the car in. After I did bring the car in, the owner Sterling called to follow up and confirm pricing with me. Biagio had already filled him in regarding what had occurred, so it was a huge relief not having to repeat everything. Sterling congratulated me on my efforts thus far with the vehicle, and emphasized he would keep the costs as low as possible. My car was fixed quickly. True to his word, Sterling charged me a very fair price for the repair. Both he and Biagio were delightful to deal with, and the whole experience was 100% positive. I have now told all of my coworkers, family and friends about Sterling Automotive. read more

I've been in to Sterling once a few years ago and they helped with a very minor issue for no cost! Not something you can say about a lot of spots:) they offer a really great student discount. I distinctly remember coming out of that encounter giving Sterling a big hug! That being said I DID give them a call a few days ago about some brake problems I was having. They were completely booked out for the week and it sounded super busy on their end but they took the time to listen to my issue, suggest what the problem may be, then said if I couldn't find a shop to do the repairs by the time I needed to be able to drive out of town then they'd squeeze me in - definitely super amazing service you can only get from a local shop. I ended up finding another great spot to take care of my car issue but I 100% would have been happy with Sterling if I hadn't found another spot. I recommend you go with Sterling Automotive, especially if you are a student! I didn't ask about giving a student discount for AmeriCorps members but my hunch is that they'd have no problem doing so:) read more

My lug nuts were not tightened by a different shop, but Sterling diagnosed the problem and got us back on the road for no charge.

You just don't find guys like this anymore. They tell you everything before doing anything. Gave us coupons we did not have; a student discount for my 3 year old... They have saved my butt more than a couple times in the few months I've known them. Sterling and his staff demand respect with knowledge, understanding and straight talk. Friendly and fast. Thanks for the mug btw. read more

It's always difficult to find an automotive shop that actually is there to help the customer. How many of you have dropped your car off for one issue just for more things to start going wrong "randomly" over the course of the next couple weeks. Or even better, an oil change which turns into $300 worth of additives you "really need" and a new fantastic oil that is going to quadruple your gas mileage! How amazing!.. not.. Well Sterling and his shop are not there to scam you or rip you off, they genuinely care about their customers. I brought a truck in for making a high pitch squeal I was guessing was the serpentine belt or a pulley and I just don't have the tools to repair it myself. I met Sterling at the front and he was kind and very personable. I brought him out to the truck and he explained that he could replace all that stuff or I could do something very simple myself to fix it since it was probably transmission fluid that just hardened on the belt. I spent 3 dollars at Autozone and he was absolutely right about the problem; it went away immediately! Although they did not do any work on the vehicle, I trust Sterling for giving that advice without trying to make a buck off me. He's not a salesman, as must mechanics these days tend to be, and I'll definitely be coming back to him for any future issues! read more

Just flat out been over charge and when I brought it to there attention try to make me turn out to be the bad guy. of course the owner is going to say sorry you had a bad experience but won't give me your money back doing a whole lot of test that was not ask for but made me pay for it anyway it was not agreed upon for any testing but they got my money. just don't let them get yours! just wondering when he writes your response to this will he man up and give me my money back probably not just going to Scammed out of my money read more

I found Sterling using my AAA app to find an approved mechanic, and have been coming here ever since. -They're always incredibly polite, never rude or condescending. -They'll explain exactly what's going on with your car, answer questions you have, and quote you a price including tax before taking any action. -They will give your car a complete checkup for free, and if you're having issues will diagnose for free. -I had a dealer tell me I needed almost a thousand dollars worth of repairs, but Sterling told me one of those repairs would be unnecessary, and in the end I only paid about $500. Honestly, I take my car to the dealer because they have the cheapest oil changes in town, and after they do their 17-point inspection and report anything they think needs to be fixed, I call Sterling. Every time, the quote is much less than what the dealer told me, and I get to work with much more polite, professional people. read more

This place is great. Everyone is so honest and they really do try and work within your budget. They are knowledgeable and accommodating. Ask to speak to Sterling. He will give you the news on your vehicle straight up. I took my boss's car in there and they could have charged me anything. Instead they gave me sound advice. Fix this part now, you can wait 6 months for this part, go to this place for tires... Truly honest advice. I really appreciated it. read more

Sincerely above and beyond expectations. BEYOND. I called Sterling Automotive in a crisis. I'm driving down Lakeway and my clutch hits the floor and takes a little nap down there. With the kind help of strangers, I got enough pressure in the line to get my car to Sterling. They took my car in the morning, my expectation for completion was two days and I had a phone call within 4 hours!!! WOW! The crew diagnosed a few other issues that were building and educated me on how to maintain and prevent further damage in the area. I have all the trust in the world for this company. I am fortunate to say I've found a shop that I can TRUST! Take your car here, take it there now. read more

Taking the time today to write some positive reviews for great service I've received over the last couple years. These guys were straight forward, honest, and made referrals to other similar automotive specialists in town. nice work gents. read more

Sterling is a kind and honest man. He went out of his way to help my WWU daughter. We live in Colorado and it's a relief to have a reputable mechanic who can help a young person in need. read more

My car was leaking oil and sterling talked me through the process on the phone, and when I couldn't figure it out he drove to my house and figured out the issue for free! other auto shops just told me they had a long wait time and offered no help. read more

Sterling is pretty honest, and he does good work. He's more than helpful for the do-it-yourself-er type. I've called him and he's walked me though what to do in a few situations. If I can't do it myself, the 15% student discount is nice, too. He also lets you bring in your own parts to do the job--which, if you order them off eBay, can save you some serious dough. Good location, and usually a good turn-around. Can't complain. read more

I can't say enough about how happy I am to bring my car here. They do great work and are always done friendly and honest! I always know my car will get the best care here! read more

Stopped here the other day to get a free scan on my check engine light. Was called a "princess". I recommend Sterling if you want to get your classic dose of misogyny from a mechanic. read more

Whenever I find a business (in any industry) who delivers quality customer service and honest input when it comes to questions or concerns, I am faithful to that place until I no longer live in the area. With that being said, Sterling Automotive bailed me out of a jam with my windows being stuck down. No appointment, they diagnosed the issue and were swift with a fix. Stoked to say they've found a life long customer with me. Cheers *****/***** read more

Scenario: Finals week at WWU, daughter moving out of dorm in between finals and gets first load to storage unit, car won't start. Mom lives 5 hours away (on a good day) from said panicked daughter, and gets the dreaded 'Daughter in Distress' call. Mom immediately goes to Yelp to find an auto shop in a town she's not familiar with to help her daughter. She calls the first one she finds with good reviews and gets Sterling on the line. Sterling was extremely patient and helpful to the now panicked, somewhat pushy mother . Mother explains situation, expresses her need for immediate resolution of the issue because her daughter needs to get home the following day to prepare for a trip to Europe that is taking place 3 days from then. Sterling was very helpful and understanding and pushed her car to the front of the pack! Next day , car is ready to go-new starter in place..and mom and daughter are two happy gals!! Thank you so much for all your help. My daughter will be back to town this fall for some other car repairs and you are the one I will surely call on! read more

A few weeks ago, my car started to have some issues, refusing to rev past 2000 RPMs. I took it in to Sterling, remembering how much my college friends relied on him when they were broke and desperate. Sterling ended up keeping my car for three days and ran the engine while it was hooked up to his "diagnostic equipment" but was unable to diagnose the issue. Not only did he charge me $100 for zero resolution, but when I went to pick up my car, he took my keys from my hand as I was putting my car key back on the ring, stating "I don't want you to ruin your nails." Bro, I don't even wear nail polish. The week after, I took my car to the Kia dealership, where they were able to diagnose the issue in a matter of hours-- O2 sensor, PCV valve, and spark plugs (why weren't these things checked by Sterling and his mechanics?). My boyfriend and I were able to perform the necessary repairs for just over a couple hundred dollars, and now my car is running just fine. That said, I won't be wasting my money at Sterling's shop again. I found him to be condescending in his communication with me, and I am deeply disappointed that he didn't do his due diligence to diagnose my car's problem. read more

If anything is wrong with your car, I would 100% recommend you take it here. This is an honest company that is also used to working with college students, and they will take care of you. They value customer satisfaction and making sure your car is okay over getting paid time after time . I've had some good friends with similar great experiences at sterling and for myself, unfortunately for myself they weren't able to fix my car due to the damage but they still were a great help. I took my car there because I didn't realize someone had stolen my catalytic converters. They looked at my car, told me what was wrong, told me what my options were to fix it and what that would look like financially, and recommended me a shop that would be able to do the work needed to fix it. Great company. read more

I think they are fair, super friendly and I appreciate there service! I will continue to use them in the future for any auto issues that occur read more

Great service- Sterling is one of the few people in the car business I have met who is extremely upfront and honest. He took a look at my Nissan Murano and gave me an genuine and realistic idea of what it needed. I really appreciate how much integrity Sterling Automotive has. Please take your car here! read more

I literally had the best auto repair shop experience ever. They gave my car the most thorough inspection for free. Pointed out some issues but made sure I knew they weren't in any way dire and could totally be held off if I wanted, did not feel slightly pushed to buy things. If you're ever in the Bellingham area and need a car repair Sterling's auto is the place to go! Special thanks to Brett for making sure I had all the info I needed. read more

This is probably the only automotive shop that has not tried to take advantage of the fact that I am a woman who knows very little about cars. They are very honest and straight forward and don't try to up-sell you on things you don't need. Several months ago, my car died in a coffee drive through due to an overheating battery that melted some fuses and I was towed to Sterling Automotive. Sterling was very friendly and had me all fixed up with a new battery in a couple of hours. He also gave a pretty sweet coffee mug. Unfortunately, today I got in my car and it wouldn't start. Triple A came and checked it out and found that my new battery had a faulty cell. I drove straight to the shop and they installed a new battery for me at no charge and I was out and about in less than hour. Defiantly headed back if I have anymore car troubles! read more

My son needed an idle control valve and a timing belt so he could drive his old Honda home from WWU. The first quote that we got was a bit high (considering the value of the car), but Sterling was willing to work with us to bring it down to a manageable level. In addition, he was able to get move us up in the queue and get my son on the road sooner than we originally thought. It's been almost 2 months, and it's still running flawlessly. Thanks, Sterling!! read more

Just spoke with Sterling on the phone. I'm still in shock of how kind he was. He spent a good 13 minutes talking to me and giving me genuine advice on how to deal with my car problems. I wish I lived in Bellingham just so I'd be able to take my business to him. If everyone was kind and caring as he was the world of auto repairs would be a better place. read more