After buying a car from Tom Sparks Auto recently, the office gave out personal information about my loan and car to someone not on the loan, a person I have worked to distance myself and my children from for safety reasons. They had no authorization from me to do so, and this person had nothing to do with my loan or purchase. I went in to speak to them about it, to give them a chance to own up to the wrongdoing and sincerely apologize for their wrong. All I got was excuses about how the person presented himself as my husband and they give that info out often. He didn't even know my actual last name or how to spell it. That should have been a big, red flag. Although, their actions were very wrong even without any red flags, and they should have known better. I will never, ever give them any further business, and I will actively discourage people from using this business. Shame on them. read more

Bob from Tom Sparks is a good man. First of all, he answers every phone with a positive attitude. Second, he is honest. I took my vehicle to get inspected and serviced. During the appointment, they noticed a few things wrong regarding my tires, rotor, and pins. Rather than going through with the service of balancing and rotating tires- which would've left me me with the issues I was unaware of (worn tread, seized pin, worn rotors)- Bob notified me that I should address these 3 issues before going through with my originally desired maintenance. They chose to prioritize the customer rather than going through with the service that wouldn't have done anything in the grand scheme. For this I rate 5 stars and highly recommend the service department. I will also return here for my future needs and recommend this place to everyone. These are guys you want to pay to inspect your vehicle. read more

October 17th and I'm still trying to get problems fixed with this vehicle 3 trips to Discount tire and at the 3rd dealership attempting to fix problems 2 sets of tires and new brakes....stay away from Tom Sparks....if you get a car where there's no problems you won the game but if you have problems you're screwed....take your chances read more

They'll take care of you and are extremely trust worthy. They want what's best for you and your vehicle! Bob in the service department is always so nice. I prefer this auto shop compared to any others in the dekalb area. I believe they also still have the cheapest oil change in town. read more

Great place. All the sales guys are great. The service department is great. Will take care of you no matter what.

Disappointed because I'm just leery of any auto garage to work on my car, but I was recommended to go to them. My car had a Check Engine Light and was leaking coolant, on 11/20 I dropped it off, it was delivered to my driveway on 11/28, they stated it needed a new lower radiator hose and oil was leaking from the vacuum pump & valve cover gasket, had codes P1299 & P2560. So after $1,600.00 they cleared the codes and test drove & stated it was all good. I got in the car after they left and the Check Engine light was still on, so I call them immediately at 3:36pm on the 28th, had my husband brought it back down and code P0017 came on, said its okay to drive keep an eye on it. On 12/8/23 my low coolant light came on and had to fill the coolant reservoir to the top and my driveway had coolant spots. Spoke with Tom Sparks at 8:45am and told me to keep an eye on it. Still leaking, so dropped it off on 12/23 and they had it till 12/28 stating they pressure tested for over a half hour and found nothing. Still leaking, see pic below and I have to fill that reservoir every 2-3wks. I'm beyond frustrated and feel taken advantage of, the main reason I hate any garages. read more

Tom Sparks Auto - Auto Repair Near Me - DeKalb, Illinois

I first went to Tom Sparks to buy a vehicle. Although I ended up buying from some place else, I was impressed by the follow up letter by Tom Sparks, the owner, himself. On Sep. 21, 2018, I took my vehicle there for inspection as I was hearing a banging noise when passing over bumps. The vehicle was inspected in 2 hours and I got the message below from Bob, the service writer: "The rear struts are making noise. $750 (includes alignment) the cruise control switch is bad. $300. The vehicle needs a left wiper blade $19." "The rest of the car has some minor issues. Both front inner axle boots are leaking grease. $700 to replace the axles. Rf inner tie rod boot torn. $230. Rear valve cover gasket slow leak $400. Rear sway bar bushings. $130 slow power steering pump leak. $550" As you see he pointed the "rear struts" to be the source of noise. I immediately called him and he confirmed. So I approved and spent $750 on that. Later when I went to pick up the vehicle, he told me: "90% the noise is fixed, 10% might be due to sway bar bushings." Means I could spend $130 instead of $750 and get it fixed? So why did you ask me pay $750 if you were not sure that will fix it? Is it like a trial and error? Is it like if not this, we ll try to replace some other parts? Like a joke to you? When I drove the car back home, I found the noise still there while I was expecting to get 90% of it gone after spending $750. Later I took the car back and complained. He inspected the car again and asked for additional $130 to change the bushing. I was so disappointed as he, or his mechanics, did not get the source of noise right at first place and made me pay that much money. In addition, he was not willing to accept his mistake and try to fix it, yet asking for extra money. Why should I ever trust him and pay him again? I went and had a conversation with him. When he was not able to justify his mistake, he said and I quote: "I don't work on the cars." So if you have no understanding of the cars and you do not accept any responsibility of the mistakes the mechanics make, why am I talking to you? Why are you behind that desk? I feel like I 've been tricked and ripped off and so not recommend this place to anyone. Funny is they refuse to provide a response. They are all fake disrespectful unprofessional ... read more

I am a college student in the area, and this is my go to place for an oil change/tire rotation. They are super personable and do quality work. The place feels like it is still in the 50s, which is not really my favorite, but it is still kind of cool. read more

There is NO better place to take your car than Sparks. I made an appt. to get my AC recharged, was quoted $175. They looked at it and said, "There's nothing wrong with your AC". I only paid for 1/2 hour diagnostic charge. Saved me well over $100. It's good to know there are honest businesses out there! read more

I had a great experience with Tom Sparks. I called to make an appointment for a diagnostics test and they were able to schedule me for the same day. They also gave me a ride and called me back within the hour to give me the results. The price they quoted ahead of time was very reasonable, but they ended up not even charging me. Every single person I spoke with there (both on the phone and in person) was so nice and helpful! I definitely highly recommend them! (Ps.: this is my husband's account, I am a female. Only mentioning this because some women worry about being taken advantage of, but obviously I was not :)) read more

My husband brought our car at my suggesting only to get charged more than the $21.95 oil change. Normally we go somewhere else. He gets charged $27.95. Thinking it had to be a mistake he waited a day to speak to the manager. Well the manager was not of help this time. The extra charge was for something we DID not ask for. Thanks for giving us a new air filter without asking us. read more

Great time purchasing a vehicle with my fiancé. Very helpful called and checked on everything and throughly kept us updated on everything. Very pleased with everyone! read more

Tom Sparks is great! On my way out of town for a long car ride and my low oil light came on. Stopped here and they quickly filled up my oil and had me in and out in minutes and didn't even charge me. Very friendly and would take my cars here for service! read more

Tom Sparks is by far the best car dealership around, they treat you like old time friends. Brad Mayo was very honest and helpful with this whole experience. I would recommend this dealership to everyone! I will definitely be returning for another car or even repairs! Thank you Brad Mayo you are the bomb.com!!! read more

Tom Sparks Auto - Auto Repair Near Me - DeKalb, Illinois

Everyone was very helpful here when I was purchasing my car. I didn't feel like they were trying to make money off of money, rather trying to help me find exactly what I was looking for. I have been back to the service department since for oil changes, etc. and I have not been disappointed. They are wonderful. This is the place to go, even if it's a small hike. read more

After searching for the perfect car with my girlfriend, we found the right place to purchase the car. First off, our salesman, Brad, was extremely approachable. He let us take the car out on a test drive by ourselves, which is unheard of. When we got back, he checked out our vehicles for trade in and after easy negotiations, we made the deal. Tom Sparks, the owner of the dealership, was also great with customer service. We were on a time crunch and he personally moved our stuff from our trade ins and put it neatly into our new car. He also personally helped wash the car to get us on the road quickly. Lastly, Ruben helped make the signing of documents easy to understand and quickly had us on our way. All the staff at Tom Sparks in Dekalb made the longer drive fully worth it. This is the dealer to purchase your next vehicle hands down!! Highly reccomended! read more

Tom Sparks is horrible! Being a college student at NIU I had to bring in my car because the check engine light came on and I didn't want to try driving back home. I went to pick up my car and they said it was $40 dollars for some test they ran without asking me. The check engine light came on a week later, so I brought it back because I paid $40 for "a test" I thought maybe they could actually find the problem this time. No, they just charge me $60 for another "test" and say well we should of ran this test last time....I never agreed to any of this....I never went back! read more

I bought a 2011 Cadillac SRX here and thought the service was excellent, the price was fair and he stayed open late to finish the deal and even though it was late he even took the time to show us how the features worked. Later he sent us a calendar with a pic of my wife and I in front of our new car. We would recommend to anyone looking for a used car. read more

I bought a car today from Tom Sparks Auto - absolute best dealer experience Ive ever had. This place is so worth the drive. Brad Mayo was awesome - super helpful and very easy going. I got a great car at a fair price. I will be going back for my next car. read more

I recently took my car to Tom Sparks to check on a starting issue and get an oil change. They volunteered that in the process of taking off an extremely over-tightened oil filter, they accidentally damaged something. When I asked about it they said that if I noticed any oil leaking they would repair it at no cost to me in parts or labor. How many car repair places have enough integrity to do that? In a world of dishonest car dealerships and service departments, Tom Sparks stands head and shoulders above the rest. You would be foolish to go anywhere else for your automotive needs. Thanks folks, I'll be coming back when its time to buy my next car!!! read more

Absolutely Best place to buy cars! They are not pushy, very kind and honest people. Dan the general manager is the best guy! read more

Great small shop! My grand am's oil change was $23! Great service and both Marc and Bob always treat me like a valued customer, not a woman. Dan and Brad in the sales office will always say hi and chat while my car gets worked on. read more

Buying a car is something that a lot of people dread. Just dealing with it all can be a royal pain. It's been 11 years since I went through this, so I started shopping around Dekalb/Sycamore and really looking online. As I visited the local dealerships I made it clear that I was just in the beginning stage, not sure of what I wanted, and weighing my options. At one dealer I was given a card and told to contact him when I'm ready. At another local dealer they attempted to push me into purchasing something that very day, irregardless of the fact they didn't have anything I even wanted to test drive. I politely explained I was LOOKING, not out to waste their time or mine, yet still I was an attempted victim of high pressured sales tactics. They went so far as to try and convince me I wanted a particular color of car after I said that was the one color I'd refuse. (Seriously, they asked me what was wrong with that color and happily spouted off how much they LOVED the color. Way to listen!) Needless to say I kept my searching online for quite a while. I didn't want to be harassed. It wasn't until saw a particular vehicle on Tom Spark's website that I gave it another attempt. I ended up talking with Dan Gailey about my situation and shared with him some of the same information as I had with previous sales people (researching, not sure what I wanted, etc.) Not only did Dan listen to me, he didn't pressure me at all. No dire warnings about how I had to act now, no pressure, just help. I did have contact from the dealer over the next few weeks, but it was polite and non-intrusive (regular old letters in the mail!) In the mean time any dealer I had contacted about similar vehicles were calling me twice a day and flooding my email. I came in to test drive the vehicle again and make up my mind, and again was met with a pleasant attitude and no big sales pitch. It never became any more difficult than that. Only a few hours later I was in possession of my new vehicle. The entire process was simple and headache free. Everyone you encounter from the moment you walk in the door to when you are dealing with the paper work is kind, courteous, and dare I say fun to talk with. I don't know many people who can say that buying a car was an enjoyable process, but this was and I can honestly say this was the least stressful purchase of this importance that I've ever made. I did my research, I knew I was getting a good deal, and that is the most important fact. I got a great deal. I bought a higher quality vehicle than I had imagined I could get in my budget! I'm so pleased with my 2014 Captiva! I have mobility issues (ok, "handicapped") and safety is a huge factor for me. I cannot fully express how terrific it feels to know I have a dependable vehicle that I feel safe in PLUS the backing of a local business that values it's customers and their feedback. read more

Bought my second car from Tom Sparks and I loved it!! They have always taken care of me and gave me an outstanding customer service!! I would rate it more def the best in the Area. Highly reccomend. read more

About Tom Sparks Auto People are quick to report bad service to social media, but we should take an equal amount time to let others know when a business steps up and does more than necessary. It was early afternoon on a Friday, my wife and I had both taken vacation days from our work to celebrate our daughter's 17th birthday. We had dinner reservations at the Sugar Factory in Rosemont and were just leaving DeKalb with a van load of family and friends. Seemingly without cause the power side door chime began to sound out repeatedly. We pulled over, open and closed the door a few times, wiped off the censors, pulled the fuse but nothing would stop the annoying chime chime chime. I am embarrassed to say but feel I must admit that I broke the door latch by slamming the door in frustration. I drove the birthday party to Spark's and I explained my situation to Bob the service representative. I had unrealistic hopes that he may have a magic "car guy" trick to fix my door within the few minutes we had left to spare and save our reservation. Without hesitation he handed me the keys to a Honda Accord, their courtesy car, and said, "enjoy your evening, we will call you Monday and let you know what it will take to fix it." We were on the road within 5 minutes. The Sugar Factory was great time and Bob made Dad look like the hero. read more

It's amazing for us to buy two consecutive personal from the same dealer. But Tom Sparks Buick (TSB) offers a great combination of generally low mileage but high quality pre-owned vehicles that need little, if any, modification or imminent repair before you can fully enjoy them and fantastic "no hassle" service at every point in the buying process in our opinions. The last time we bought two consecutive cars, it was because there were only four or five dealers to choose from--certainly not the case now. So It's a testament to any dealer that have repeat customers such as TSB. Thanks for all your help, Brad. Appreciatively, Robert & Jean S read more

I purchased my 2016 Sonata from Tom Sparks and it was a good experience overall. They treat young buyers with respect and focus on providing a solution for your specific needs. Great prices as well! read more

This is where I take my vehicles for nearly all of my service/repair needs. I have recommended them to friends, who have all reported positive experiences as well. I am always satisfied with the work done on my vehicles, and the price has always been competitive. There have been a couple cases where the service department referred me to another service center for specific work, as it would cost them more to do it in-house. This only makes them seem more competent and trustworthy. read more

went to Tom Sparks to purchase a truck and trade one in said they could only give $700 because it was going to auction. Listed for $6,995 (Which would be a profit of 999.4%). read more

I love this place. This is a great place to purchase a car. The staff are friendly. They have a great auto service place. Ask for Rueben.

Worth the drive! They were able to reprogram my radio for less than half of the price that the dealers wanted. When Tom Sparks answered the phone he was able to give me a price range and make an appointment a day later not 12 days later like his competion. Although I was late arriving Bob in customer service was able to still take care of my issue. I will drive their again for fair, honest and friendly service! read more

This was my first experience purchasing a car remotely. I live in NJ and found the car I wanted online at Tom Sparks at a reasonable price. I was a bit apprehensive about buying a car sight unseen, but after reading reviews and getting the CarFax I took a chance. Brad was my salesman and he made the buying experience effortless and very comfortable. Brad is a great communicator, taking my calls and texts and working to make the transaction a success. Brad made transport arrangements and followed up with me every step of the way. The transport company left a bit to be desired as they were poor communicators and delivered the car two days later than anticipated. The car did finally arrive safely, and the truck driver in the end turned out to be a good guy and took great care getting my car off the truck. I deal with truckers all the time so I am aware that things don't always go as planned, and since transport timing was not super critical to me it was not a huge issue. I highly recommend Brad and Tom Sparks auto, and will definitely look at their offerings the next time I need a new car. read more

Just bought our 2nd car from Brad Mayo at Tom Sparks Auto in DeKalb, Illinois. Absolutely recommend this dealership. They always have great cars that are fairly priced. The buying process is painless and Brad will do all he can to expedite the purchase and make sure you are a satisfied customer. When I am looking for a car I always look at the Tom Sparks' inventory first. I have recommended this dealership to others and will continue to make sure all my friends know that Tom Sparks on First Street in DeKalb should be their first stop! read more

I am a new person to the area and was in need of some service. I have never felt as comfortable as I felt with this group of people. They were very honest and efficient and felt as if I had dealt with them for a very long time. Not to mention how fair they were when it was time to pay the bill. Highly reccomend this business!! read more

My wife and I went to Tom Sparks to purchase a truck and hopefully trade one in on February 16, 2018. The truck I wanted checked out and It was time to talk about my trade-in. It was a 2003 Chevrolet S-10. Originally Dan Gaily(One of their two salesman, also the general manager) thought that the truck would be worth about $1500. And that seemed fair seeing how KBB priced it around $2000. I proceeded to explain to Dan that sometimes the truck will shift a little hard out of first gear but I've had the truck for 50,000 miles and its done that the whole time and never been an issue. Mind you the truck only has 84,000 miles on it. Dan says that he has to take back what he said and he can only offer me $700. He told me that he will be taking it to auction and because of the issue with the transmission he has to mark it "as is" which is less appealing to potential buyers and ultimately brings less money. After a little hesitation I agree that, that is fair and I really didn't want to have to drive the truck back home and try to sell it myself (I was two hours from home). So we made the deal, traded our truck in, gave them a short facebook video review, upon Dan's request and went on our way. I had been expecting an email from their business manager Ruben Perez because he said they would be reaching out to me for a review, but it never came. I decided to go to their website and the first thing I see pop up on their inventory is the truck we just traded in. The one that they could only give me $700 for because it was going to auction. Listed for $6,995 (Which would be a profit of 999.4%). What kind of crooked no good people prey on hard working, honest people like my wife and I who just wanted to get a fair trade in. Now some innocent individual who has been working hard to buy a vehicle is going to come in to get this truck not knowing that it has transmission issues and that'll be the second person to get screwed on a deal with that truck. Its sales people like this that give the good honest sales people a bad wrap. I was weary about cars sales people before this interaction but Mr. Dan Gaily solidified that way of thinking for me. Guess that explains why a request for a review never came my way. They didn't want me seeing the truck for sale on their site. So buyer or seller beware, they have mastered the art of fabricating stories and false genuineness. You may just not know what you're buying from them. read more