I brough tmy car in for their "free oil change" They tried to tell me that both axles needed to be replaced, I thought to myself that's weird, they are both brand new and less than 6 months old, So I took ti back to the shops that installed the axles, one shop replaced a CV boot band, and the other shop gave the other side a clean bill of health. This place also wrote up an additional 3 thousand dollars of worth of "repairs" that needed to be done. Since then two other shops have done 50 point inspections to verify if any of this was true, None of the repairs they recommended were mentioned by the other shops. Ace did find that my brake fluid was dirty and needed to be flushed, which was not even caught by the Suburb "repairs" list. For being a Subaru only spot, you think they would have better business practices. I have the original write up from Subrub with $4,000 of unnecessary repairs and the inspections from Jeffs and Ace to back up my claims. If they recommend a major repair go get a second opinion, maybe they are just overly cautious, my car has 230k on it, and I spend almost 9k on it last year, new axles, water pump, timing belt, o2 sensors, bearing, hubs, ect. So to get another 4 grand in repairs I was SHOCKED. My car is on its last legs but no need to stiff me out of another 4 grand. read more

Suburb Service - A list of unnecessary repairs. - Auto Repair Near Me - Lake Forest Park, Washington

See all

I took my Subaru all the way from Ballard to have an electrical problem checked. I was pretty sure what it was, and I turned out to be correct. They found some other things to work on, and refused to troubleshoot electrical problems because I had an aftermarket battery installed that didn't look like the original. Took it to my local auto body place and they fixed the problem quickly and cheaply. They might be ok for very standard maintenance, but they know nothing about electrical problems. read more

I have always been treated with the utmost respect and provided with excellent customer service when I walk in the door or call Suburb Service. They have earned my TRUST and RESPECT. Deb knows Subaru's and can identify problems, she's been doing it for a while and it shows that she knows what she is talking about. I had a problem with my 2013 Subaru with 150K. She asked me a few questions and was able to get my car in right away for diagnosis. After the diagnosis was determined and photos provided to show what was going on, were discussed including the benefits and the drawbacks to repair my car and the timeframes. Deb worked on getting me the best solution at the best price, also a loaner car while the replacement engine work was being completed. She kept me informed with updates, and her concerns about taking my car without an optimal test drive given the driving conditions I do back and forth across the mountains. I talked to her about replacing my headlights with LED light bulbs and she explained LED lights and why my car was not able to use them safely and suggested an alternative to buy and lightbulbs to use. I sometimes drive on dark roads in the country with lot of danger from deer and elk at night when its dark. I was looking for an excellent lighting alternative for driving safety. My car now is like brand new with these headlights she suggested. I feel much safer and the cost was very reasonable. My car, at 11 1/2 years old, now drives like I just drove it off the showroom floor again! I am very grateful for their expertise in Subaru's! ***These repairs made at Suburb Service were much easier on my wallet than the expense of buying a new or used car that may have its own problems!*** read more

Have been consistently going into this repair shop for maintenance. A few weeks after a scheduled maintenance brakes started displaying screeching noises. The diagnosis after bringing the car back in was a busted wheel bearing + 3 other wheel bearings that were failing / about to fail. Got a second opinion from the dealership regarding the situation and ended up not having to replace the 3 other wheel bearings that were supposedly about to fail. Recommend getting a second opinion for major repairs. read more

Bad communication and time estimation. Subaru Service did a job on my 1995 Legacy (with less than 67,000 miles on it) to fix an oil leak. When I scheduled the work they estimated 5 days. It took three weeks to get my car back! While that was incredibly inconvenient what really bothered me was the lack of communication. As they continually missed the dates they set, they never reached out to me to explain the delays, I always had to contact them. When I finally stood up for myself they got very defensive and unprofessional. I am a reasonable and patient person but this was ridiculous. I thought I was going to experts but they truly let me down. I will not return and will warn my fellow Subaru owners not to use their services. read more

I found this repair shop a couple years ago and it's the best service department for a Subaru that I can think of. I've tried a couple of them and this was the best you can't go wrong. They're super super good and very nice. read more

I have been going here for oil changes for years and recently came in for a noisy belt. They were quick and got me in early. The noise was fixed and they accidentally started an oil change but did not charge me for it. As usual 10/10 service. read more

This place being conveniently located right across the street I called in looking for help with my Subaru WRX having electrical issues. I was not able to self diagnose it and it now being stuck in the garage this seems like a good to place because after all "all we do is Subaru". I was quickly shut down when I asked is your car modified. No questions about what was modified just "is it modified ". I mentioned my exhaust is modified but again was reminded "we do not work on modified Subarus ". So I called my girlfriends a Japanese Auto Care in Lynnwood and they took care of the problem no questions asked. It ended up being a faulty positive terminal connector. Two stars for the convenient location, one star a misleading sign and another one star for being squares. read more

I've been here multiple times now with two different Subarus and I've always appreciated their great service. Friendly and personable staff. Free loaner car! They may not be the cheapest but they give it to you straight and don't convince you to sell your car when there's a big repair (like other places I've been to). They are totally worth the money though, they check everything even when you're just their for an oil change. I highly recommend this place if you love your Subaru as much as I do! read more

I came in for an oil change today and as always, the staff here are top notch and make you feel welcome as soon as you arrive. Debbie and team are very knowlegeable and on top of my car's maintenance needs. It is very easy to schedule appointments online and they are proactive in follow up. I always will go to Suburb service for my Subaru repairs. Thank you! read more

We have a 2005 Subaru and after hearing from a jiffy lube place that there was rust in our antifreeze, we made an appointment for a radiator flush plus tune up to make sure we had a safe car for a long road trip. I mentioned this explicitly when dropping the car off and was a little surprised when I was told to simply watch the fluids and that that would be enough. Halfway through our road trip the radiator gave out. Steam cloud, mid-intersection, chaos -- the classic story. Thank God we were in a city and not out in the country somewhere. We were also fortunate to find a reputable mechanic who pointed out major cracks in the tubes and the overall abysmal condition of the radiator. We paid $1000 to Suburb Service for a tune up to avoid this stress, and here we were spending our vacation getting our car fixed, stressing out, and paying another $1000. Today I got a text from Suburb Service checking in on us. I shared our experience and disappointment. While the customer service rep expressed sympathy, she also cut herself off from an opportunity to exhibit true customer service with a nonchalant 'well, it is an old car', implying that they could have done nothing...which is what they did. Reliable and forthright mechanics are hard to find -- if you're looking for one, look elsewhere. read more

Alright, so I have a couple year old Subaru that I keep in as good of shape as possible. One day, my Check Engine Light came on. I really didn't think it would be much of a big deal since I know that they come on for some pretty menial things. I called up Suburb first asking for a quote on how much it would cost to check for the code of the failure. I was expecting something reasonable, but they said it would be 70 some odd dollars. What!? I didn't ask them to fix the problem, I just wanted to know what it was. I went to Schucks Auto Parts to see if they had the hand held computer to check the CEL. All they needed was my driver's license and that was it, free of charge. Turns out it was a small emission leak, to which could be fixed by rechecking the gas cap and making sure it was tight. Nearly $80 for that!? All in all it literally took me, ~5 minutes. That's an incredible per hour rate to have them check it for me. I wish they didn't make it sound like some professional had to do it, rather just tell me that I could do it myself and if need be take it in to them to have it diagnosed. However, I did have a question one time about resetting my alarm system after changing my battery. They did help me by printing off the reset steps so that they didn't have to charge me $40 to do it themselves. Again, it was less than 2 minutes before I had my alarm going again. I appreciate their help in that respect, but they still would've charged me $40 for them to walk out to my car and do it. I would just make sure that you call around to get a quote before you commit to taking you're Subaru into these guys. read more

My 2003 WRX needed some lookin' at, so I take it to these guys to do just that. There was a $46 inspection fee, I figure Meh, why not, so I go ahead and have them check it out. They confirmed my suspicion - wheel bearing going bad. Oh noes! So they give me a quote that gives me pause for sure: $650 plus tax, plus extra time because I have after market suspension parts. I take it to another AWD specialist, who quotes me $350 solid with a 3 hour turnaround time, confirming that after market suspension parts have no effect on a wheel bearing replacement. Even the Subaru dealership quoted me $200 less than these guys! Wow! I definitely won't be returning here for my subaru repairs. Mediocre to sub-par customer treatment by the front desk crew, as well. I did feel a little bit like I was disturbing their otherwise important tasks of..... (insert something important here) read more

The folks here are finest kind - friendly, efficient, honest. The work is always top notch, and finished when they say it will be. Early morning (7-9) weekday oil changes with no waiting, loaners, and they go the extra mile! read more

I love this place. Extremely efficient, communicative, prompt, friendly, personal - I cannot say enough nice things about this place. Did some repairs on my car - they gave me free oil change credits for the next two years! Standard type of service for this place! I knew I loved this place but I never knew how much until I recently was forced to schedule an airbag replacement due to a recall for my Subaru and experienced the complete disorganization, chaos, delays, poor communication and missed deadlines/promises of Carter Subauru of Shoreline. This place is the best car repair and maintenance place I have ever dealt with in my life (Carter Subaru of Shoreline is hands down the worst.) read more

Took my poor Subi forester here after many headaches from others. They inspected the first time, proposed the obvious (can seal), not so obvious but needed (timing belt, water pump.. etc). Several weeks later my radiator cracked and took it to them for repair. We did the necessary (radiator, can seal) and not no necessary (water pump, timing belt etc). They also suggests temp control module (80.00), as this was damaged when overheating occurred. 2100 dollars later, engine is the same, although no cam leak (yet), and temperature gauge still does not work. They said engine needs removed and gauge at cluster and wiring harness needs replaced (engine removed) for 2400.00. they informed me of this when it was pay time, and didn't even blink an eye. Funny, I never see mechanics there, only the mom and daughter team w the crazy dyed hair dos. Would I recommend... No way, especially since they didn't even change the oil after all that work. Check Yelp, they have best reviews ever and are true! read more

Have been wanting to take my Subaru to this place for awhile. I just never got around to it because let's face it, Subaru's don't break down very often :-) Anyway, I had a couple of minor problems. A check engine light that the code reader said was an air sensor, also a wiper switch problem. They quoted me $660 for the sensor & $640 for the wiper switch. I took the car back, not having them do the work. Got home and sprayed some electronic cleaner on the sensor that cost $7. Then pulled apart the switch and cleaned the contacts on the wiper controller arm. Took me 1 hour of my time plus the cost of the can of electronic cleaner. Everything works great! This place way overcharges for parts & labor. Buyer Beware! read more

I was really hoping to not have to write this type of review, but it has to be done. I went to Suburb Service since I live close by and needed my front brakes replaced, a quick check up, and a headlight replaced. I was called in the afternoon and told the work was done and all was good except they found my rear brakes needed to be replaced too. I told them great, what will the total be for all the work, and they said about $900!! My front brakes had alone cost almost $400! And that was after the %10 discount they had running this month. After I hung up, and the shock wore off, I called back right away to ask them not to replace the rear brakes because it was just too expensive. I also asked for them to itemize the work so I could understand the costs. Turns out, these guys don't replace just the brake pads for a brake job, they go and replace BOTH rotors and the brake pads. That would be fine and good if the rotors NEEDED it, but they didn't!! AND, it would help if they tell you this upfront, which they hadn't, they said it was a standard practice, they do for ALL brake jobs. I called around to Carter Subaru and the guys at My Mechanic and both spots said that Subaru's don't need their rotors replaced everytime, only when they are getting worn down to where they can't be "turned" (basically sanded) anymore. Duh, I'd already known that, but after getting this info from two other car repair spots, I felt totally cheated. Sooo, two other little but annoying things I have to add. I had my oil changed at Suburb Service in Feb, and for some reason I was overcharged. They caught it (which was awesome) and asked if I wanted a credit on my account or if I wanted a check in the mail. I just said I'd keep the credit since I thought I'd be back again soon. When I asked about the credit while paying for my brakes, they said they couldn't find any record of it even though the woman helping me said it sounded familiar to her. Hmm... Another $10-20 dollars down the drain. And lastly, when they ran the bill on the work they did, all $497.67 of it before tax, I asked about the %10 discount and they told me it was for only $500 or more. You'd think they'd show some customer service at this point, me being $2 and some odd cents off the $500 mark, but no. The good things I can say about the place is they were very friendly and helpful with my daughter while I was switching my daughter's carseat into the loaner in the morning. And in the afternoon when I picked it up again they were nice and especially sweet with my daughter. I REALLY, really wanted to like this spot, women owned and all, and close to my house, but after paying $170 total for my rear brakes to be done at the awesome guys at My Mechanic, I couldn't even consider going back. Sorry ladies. read more

Been taking my Subaru Wagons here for years. Friendly service. Fair prices. Down home feel goodness. I've had no complaints thus far and will continue taking my car here for services. read more

So I just wrote a review for USA Auto Glass which is located right next to Suburb Service, an independent Subaru Repair Shop. As I was waiting for USA Auto Glass to open at 9, the industrious folks here were already open and stopped by my car to see if I was there to see them. After a brief conversation about how I was waiting for the other shop to open up, the Suburb Service lady went on her way. As I sat in my beloved 2002 WRX, I thought, man I should see if they can do anything about the underskirt of my car that is starting to drag along the ground. With nothing but time on my hands, I got out of my car and went into their office to ask how much would it cost to repair or replace the part? Well, long story short they gave me a very detailed explanation about how Jiffy Lube's and other oil change places don't remove that skirt and motor oil will eventually drip on the skirt and cause it to sag and eventually tear. As my eyes glazed over from all the details, I brought myself back to consciousness and asked the dreaded question..."So how much does it cost to fix or replace"? $100 or so was their answer. Right...that's not including labor...As I was looking at spending somewhere between $200 - $700 for repairs to my windows, I was a little hesitant. The nice people at Suburb Service probably sensed my reluctance and told me that they offer FREE oil changes for first time customers. Free you say? Also when they change the oil, they completely remove the skirt and replace it so if I wanted to, I wouldn't be charged the labor cost of installing the underskirt. Quite incidentally I was due for an oil change. At this point it was a win win. So I arranged it so that once the auto glass people were done they would hand the keys over to the good folks at Suburb Service and have everything done and waiting for me by 4:30. The people here are very friendly and knowledgeable. Unfortunately they found a few things wrong with my car and gave me a written estimate. No BS or anything like that, just a warning that I would need to take care of it, no pressure to do it with them. I will from now on be going to Suburb Service for all oil changes and car maintenance. If you own a Subaru, do yourself a favor and check these guys out. They specialize in Subaru and are so much cheaper than a dealership. read more

Brought my car in to have the AC worked on. A couple days later I noticed bolts were sitting loosely in the well under my windshield wipers and my check engine light turned on. Had to take the car back to have the bolts put back in. Never received an apology, instead they said it was because my model Subaru is unusual and "they don't make that mistake with other models." Then they wanted to charge $107 to tell me what was causing the check engine light to turn on. All they do for that money is plug a computer into your car and read the screen. Other places do this for free, particularly when there has been such a huge customer service failure already. read more

As a long time customer it was only right to finally write a review about my experiences here: I have been going to this location for several years now. My commute from the Central District is well worth the drive each time because of their speedy and thorough services. Already I've been back for my 100k/130k as well as a clutch replacement for my '06 Impreza hatchback. There is a mental checklist I always go by whenever I try out a new place for any type of service. Transparency, customer service, and pricing are all things I look for specifically. Transparency - I believe that a lot of shops withhold information or up-sell you on repairs that don't need immediate servicing. Suburb Services makes sure to call right away when they find anything worthwhile for repairs (...no BS) and give you a timeline of exactly all the things they have changed or are planning to change with your permission. Ultimately you are the owner of your car and they make sure you make the final decision with full understanding of what is going on. Customer Service - These guys are very straightforward with explaining all potential concerns and how the repairs would affect your car's overall performance. Friendly and always calling in a timely manner, overall I always got a good vibe each time I spoke to them. Did I mention they have loaner cars if you need to leave your whip in the shop for a few days? For FREE too? Just fill up the gas you use and get temporary full-coverage on the days you are using the loaner. Very clutch! (Pun intended lol) Pricing - Okay... here's the fun part where everyone freaks out when it comes to auto-repairs. First, realize how much you pay on repairs on the long run and how much DO YOU really love your Subaru? As one of the only type of cars to run consistently tried and true (next to Toyota) even past 250k you gotta pay out to really get the most out of your experience. Repairs are not cheap but Suburb Services' pricing is very fair and reasonable. Pay the right amount and drive away confident! I think it makes more sense to pay a few dollars more for a guaranteed excellent service and it still less than what you pay at the dealership. Subaru specific repairs require Subaru specific professionals! The engine style of Subaru's require a special type of TLC and may not be as cheap as a Honda Civic repair but then again this is why your car will last twice as long if it is taken care of well. Pricing here makes sense! Check the monthly offers on their social media accounts if you are looking for deals too. 5 of out 5 because I am biased AF and I love my Subaru. I don't know of any other Subaru specific repair shop anywhere in the city other than the dealership or this place, you can make the best obvious choice I hope. read more

Super friendly and honest service. Been coming for years and I'll keep coming back. Definitely would highly recommend. Only downside is that they are closed on the weekends. read more

I brought my car here to have them mount, balance, and install new wheels, tires, valve, and tmps sensor, because they were cheaper and a local Subaru shop. On the day I brought my car in, initial greeting was "what do you want?" And at pick up, I got "Well this was a waste of our time". They are not very friendly people. As for the service of the vehicle, the couldn't even install the valve stem. They called me mid day and claimed I purchased the wrong size TPMS sensor and said the sensor does not fit in the "TPMS hole" on the wheel. Absolutely does not make sense to me. they claimed I need to purchase new ones from the dealership ($120/piece) and then reschedule with them again to do it. But the problem they were describing was the valve stem, not fitting in the valve stem hole on the wheel, a valve stem assembly only costs $6/piece. Then they told me that the TPMS Sensor and valve stem is one unit and can't be purchased separately and aren't interchangeable. At that point, I had to cancel the service request because I did not want them working on my car, when they were giving me incorrect information and argued that I'm wrong for trying to correct them. Picked up my car, took it to Les Schwab and they performed the mount, balance, and install of the new wheels, tires, valve, and tmps sensor flawlessly, without any issues, and with all the same parts I provided to Suburb Service. I would highly recommend paying a little more and taking your car some where else where there are more knowledgeable and friendlier staff. DO NOT TAKE YOUR VEHICLE TO SUBURB SERVICE! you get what you pay for. read more

I have been coming here ever since I bought my 97 Subaru Legacy about 5 years ago. They have helped keep this beast running in good shape. They are straightforward, timely, communicate well -- and they do great work for a reasonable price. read more

Excellent first time experience here, office staff was friendly and highly knowledgeable. The routine service was complete in a timely and professional manner. Will be seeing these folks again in another 3k Miles! read more

I was driving to the mountain and my tires pressure light came on. I was so nervous and just pulled into this service station. I don't even have a subaru! They were so kind and filled up my tires. They totally saved my butt and my ski trip!!! They were SOOOO nice about it!! I'm so happy with them and recommend them for sure!!! read more

I had a burning smell in my car and I couldn't figure out what it was. Most Subaru dealerships wouldn't squeeze me in and only had appointments a month out. The team at Suburb took my car in the next day during their oil change hours and took a look. They gave great advise and ultimately helped me find a solution. Definitely coming back, nice people and quick service. read more

I got my 60k service done here and I was VERY impressed. Fast, reasonably priced and awesome customer service on what was going on with my car throughout the time it was there. Thank you suburb service!! I will be back for my next service! read more

I had front and back brakes done at Chucks Auto Repair in Maple Leaf neighborhood on Roosevelt in October 2017 because of squeaking. January 2018 they had to redo the front brakes because my steering wheel was shaking and I was under warranty. At that time, Chucks wanted to also charge several hundred dollars to repair "something else" that might be contributing to the brake problem. The explanation was vague and obscure, and Chucks admitted this additional repair may or may not correct the brakes - so I opted not to do it. Besides, what are the odds the brakes would go south again? So Chucks redid the front brakes (Jan 2018) but said they were no longer under warranty because I didn't opt for the additional repair! Hmmmm... April 2018 my steering wheel started shaking again. I went to Suburb who REPLACED my front brakes - versus just re-surfacing them - and for 30% less than Chucks. Until Suburb explained the brake resurface versus replacement process in detail, I did not know that Chucks was just resurfacing them. Whereas Suburb replaced them! Suburb gave me a loaner car for free and was done in 5 hours. I am so happy to find a place I can trust!! read more

Called these Jokers up looking for someone qualified to do a transmission swap for my Subaru SVX Alcyone. These cars are notorious for having transmission problems because of the heat build up due to the close tolerances in the transmission and rebuilding them seems not a great idea since they are faulty design. I have done a little research on this transmission swap and although there is minor modification to the drive line (2 inch extension) and a few other small details, it is a pretty straight forward job that any qualified mechanic could do. Considering the fact that this company claims to be Subaru Experts i thought they might be able to help me get the job done. The lady who answered the phone was quick to inform me that they have not and will not do this job. I never heard of a Repair shop that SPECIALIZED in a automobile brand but refused to do repairs on that brand. Considering that the SVX was Subaru's flagship car in the 90's with a sticker price of over $40,000, Any shop that claims to be the Experts on the subject should be able to handle the job. If these folks dont have the kind of skills required to do a repair that is not in the repair manual, I would not trust them to do any repairs at all. I called a friend who has a similar car to mine and was referred to East Valley Auto Repair in Kent and when i explained my situation to them i was told that as a company SPECIALIZING in SUBARU they do 6-10 transmission swaps a year on these kool old cars. I was given a basic quote of around 10-12 hours and then told it would be Thursday before they could get started. The level of professionalism that was so sadly lacking at this local repair shop was definitely displayed by East Valley Auto Repair. Maybe hiring someone capable of thinking outside the box to answer the phone could benefit them greatly. read more

I am a long time Subaru owner and have driven past Suburb Service Inc. in Lake City many times remembering the sign that says "all we do is Subarus". I tucked that away in my mind thinking that someday, if I need some work done, I would call them because they must love Subarus like I do :-). Well, the day finally came and I gave them a call. First of all, I am a self-taught mechanical sort of guy who can do small things like change alternators, batteries, starter motors, belts, oil, thermostats on radiators, brake jobs and that sort of stuff. So, I know a little about cars and especially Subarus having owned 3 of them in my lifetime. I was having trouble with the heating in my 1998 Legacy Outback where when I was stopped it would blow cold air and when I was driving it would blow hot air. It seemed like something was going wrong with the radiator thermostat where the coolant wasn't flowing properly. This year/model car has a well-known factory defect with the head gasket and, while I didn't want this to be the problem, I wanted to talk with someone that could hear all of the symptoms, give me suggestions and possibly do the work if I couldn't do it myself. When I called Suburb Service Inc. before I could get 10 words out about what I was experiencing, they went strait for the "internal head gasket failure". The lady would not let me tell her anything about what else I thought it might be and didn't want to hear anymore about the detailed analysis that I had already done (I am a software engineer by trade and understand how to scientifically go about testing something - in fact, I had written down my whole experience and testing that I had done prior to calling so that I could easily articulate what was going on). She wanted nothing to do with it and told me very curtly that it was more than likely "internal head gasket failure" and that the first appointment to get in and take a look at it was a week in the future! Not a good customer service experience at all. Disappointed with that experience over the phone cost them a $4000 job from me if it indeed turns out to be the head gasket. I called another repair shop that same night and they spoke with me for 20 minutes (not expected) and listened to everything I had to say. They also mentioned that it could be the "internal head gasket failure" but that it could definitely be something else going on with the cooling system. They were very friendly, helpful, insightful and most of all, they listened to me! I took the car there today and for $60 they diagnosed the problem. It unfortunately turned out to be the head gasket but, I am giving the job to them because of their extraordinary customer service. read more

I think these people do decent work at a reasonable price - and it's convenient. However, I don't get the "attitude" from the women in the office. It's as if they are doing a parody of surly front-office workers who just don't give a damn whether they get your business or not. read more

I couldn't have been happier with this place. I took my car there after being told by the dealership that I needed a whole new transmission and rear brakes which would have set me back about $10,000. Candy and her guys took a closer look at things and figured out that it was only a component of the transmission that needed to be fixed. She explained everything to me in easy to understand terms, let me make my own informed decisions and repaired my car for $7000 less than what I was quoted at the dealership. They were timely and thoughtful- they threw in a complementary oil change on top of the repairs! I also was able to coordinate with the business next-door to get my windshield replaced concurrently. Wonderful service, would not hesitate to recommend them to anybody! read more

I wish I had read the reviews posted here before taking my car to this company. The comments about being snapped at, and treated disrespectfully are all believable at this point. Let's begin. I love my subaru and have found it to be one of the most enjoyable cars to work on. (huge engine bay, interchangeable parts between models, straight-forward design) That being said, some jobs are out of my hands due to the fact that I don't have an engine hoist, car lift, or space to do large jobs. I took my car here initially for a once over to give me some piece of mind that nothing was going to fail in the immediate future. My first interaction was pleasant enough, although expensive for what you get. I explained my concerns and asked for what their opinions were. They seemed knowledgable, so I wrote a very good review for what I had received. I even went as far as referring a friend to have his car looked at. He did and also dealt with the superiority complex of the staff. I gave them a pass, as I figured his inexperience might have shown and been a cause of frustration to them. Fast-forward two months and my clutch finally gave up, and left me stranded. I had the car towed to Suburb Service thinking they would take care of me. I was quoted $950+ tax for a clutch replacement. As I had no way to take the car anywhere else, I agreed. I had a few parts that would have helped bring the price down, although I couldn't verify how long they would have lasted (which I explained very thoroughly when dropping them off, and that I understood a warranty would not be issued if they were used.) We went ahead with using all new parts. Then I was informed that I should use a sleeve kit that helps the actuation of the clutch pedal on my Legacy. I knew this was something I wanted to do, so I agreed. There's another $150 dollars. I expected a call to let me know the status of the car and instead received a call informing me that the slave cylinder might not be reusable, I insisted that it was only a few months old. They then told me that they were able to make it work. I went to pick the car up and pay the remainder of the bill which had changed another $20 dollars. I was frustrated at the fact that this repair kept creeping up in cost. Each time I was spoken with on the phone I was met with short answers and what I felt was bad attitudes (considering how much money I was giving them.) I was sent an email asking for a review. I was left with a very bitter taste in my mouth from this whole experience. I left a review on their website stating why I would not be returning again, mostly due to poor customer service. I figured that this would be the end of it. Wrong. I received an email from the owner (whom I had not had a unpleasant interaction with) in which she blamed me for the failure of my clutch, asked if I was angry because she "wouldn't use used parts and give me a warranty" (never asked for that), asked if I was angry because I had dropped valve guides due to poor fuel and lack of maintenance (never brought that up in my review, they had pointed this out to me and I was very frustrated due to having had head work done within the year at another shop, this was just an attacking point for her), then went on to state that I was never treated poorly and she had the video tape from the shop/office to prove it. Then at the very end stated that "If you have issues with me or my business than you should be MAN enough to come to me and speak about it". I am very non confrontational, especially in a room full of employees that I assume will jump down my throat if I were to be. I'm sorry but when your customer service is being questioned, wouldn't you handle it a little more carefully? Having spent the majority of my adult life in the customer service industry I was appalled at the fact that I was being attacked over an honest review (which was replied to on their site and basically called me a liar and stated incorrect facts to back their claim up.) Sorry if this is difficult to read, I wanted to make sure I fit everything in. Like someone said prior to this, If you are being treated well it's probably due to the fact that you are blindly letting them charge you whatever they want. If you show any sign of knowing what you're talking about (whether you do or not) they will most likely view you as a threat and treat you differently. I will be going straight to the dealership for any large repairs from here on out, yeah I'll pay a premium for it, but at least if you have an issue with anyone you can talk to a manager that cares about professionalism. read more

My brakes was in bad shape. Breaking wasn't smooth any longer, so I decided to use the people my brother normally uses when his car isn't working. Plus, they would be able to loan me a car. I have a Suburu Impreza Outback 2008. I called and was quoted about $400 for the front breaks (which was expensive already). The front desk person said that my back breaks probably didn't need replacing. I brought in the car a few days later early in the morning and dropped off my car. After dropping it off, I went on my way to do some volunteer work. I received a phone call an hour and a half later asking if it would be okay to charge me more. I already had a bad feeling. The woman on the phone said it would be best if the the front and rear rotors and pads were changed (additional $400), along with getting a oil change done (additional $40), and flushing out the steering fluid ($95)...she gave me another quote about $900 for everything. I was literally caught with my pants down. I was quoted from the get go and then quoted again when they had my car after several of hours. Normally, I usually have my car fixed in Ballard. I should have gone there. Again, by my brother's recommendation, I came here. I picked up the car later in the afternoon and looked over the bill quickly. The front desk woman didn't mention the cost of tax, so the bill was about $1030. Labor costs alone was $400!! and parts was slightly over $500 (again overpriced). I will never ever bring my car here again. I think they overcharged me exhorbitantly! I didn't get the oil change for free nor was my car cleaned (I received a free coupon to Brown Bear - $6 value). They should have offered me something for screwing me over. The job was done and I regret coming here. They are not honest, but they pretend to be. Do your business elsewhere. read more

I want to thank this team of professionals for their great service and knowledge. They all take a lot of pride in what they do and it shows. If you own a Subaru and need service of any kind I would highly recommend calling this business before any Subaru dealer service (re-calls excluded;) I was a first time customer this week and will be a lifetime customer going forward as long as I own a Subaru in the Seattle area. THANK YOU! A+++ read more

First off, I should mention that I like this place and my FIRST TIME experience could very well have been a 4-5 star event. But it came up a little short, unfortunately. So I scheduled an intermediate service for my late model Subaru and got an appointment for the next day (great). While scheduling over the phone, I mentioned a $30 off coupon that I found online for intermediate service and asked if it was still valid. Was clearly told that is was valid (the lady on the phone was reviewing the coupon online while we were talking) and that I should just bring in a copy (also great). Next day, dropped off the vehicle, took off in an older loaner vehicle and everything was hunky dory (super great). Upon return and pick up, I presented the $30 off coupon and was informed that the order was already rung up and that it could not be backed out AND that I should have presented the coupon when I first arrived anyway (not so great). I mentioned that the coupon did not state that I need to present the coupon when checking in but was quickly directed to a small sign sitting on the front desk that did read something about "all coupons should be presented at time of check in" (or something like that). Well, given that this was my VERY FIRST experience with this place, I would have expected that they would have either honored the coupon or better yet just taken the $30 off the final bill in the first place (acknowledging that a coupon was available online to everyone) just as a good faith gesture. I don't know, maybe I am expecting too much, but in my book first impressions are very important. Not sure if the $75 I saved by avoiding the dealer was worth it but I'm still on the fence on this. Overall Suburb Subaru is not a bad little shop for Subaru owners but just a wee bit of extra effort on their part for this case could have secured a customer for life along with a lot of word-of-mouth referrals for many, many, many other Subaru owners (friends and family). Maybe they don't need the extra business, who knows. But it's always important to take the long view when it comes to running a business. read more

I wish I could not give them any stars!!! I work at a repair shop and come out to my car to find a rather large (at least postcard sized) magnet stuck to my car talking up their shop!!! Seriously?! This is not biodegradable and not environmentally friendly at all. I get that you want to promote your garbage shop but don't go and stick a magnet to my car. Not only am I offended that you would do this by essentially trying to poach our business but you SCRATCHED my car. I called to say something about it and all you could offer would be to let the person putting out these magnets know. What about the paint on my car??? read more

Really easy spot for me to come get an oil change. First time customers get a FREE oil change, which I found out when trying to pay for my first one. They open up at 7:00am for oil changes and don't take an appointment, so I just swing in on my way to work and there's usually none or maybe 1 other person in there. They do a good quick job and get me on my way! As long as I take 522 to and from work this will be my spot! read more