I apologize for this way overdue review. Rick & Brett got my 1954 Chevrolet on 29 April 2024 for water pump replacement & a LOT of other maintenance issues (we have had the car since June 2002 and this was the first time in a shop for this type of work). Rick & Brett identified several issues and repaired everything they found. Rick & Brett are quality auto mechanics, especially for the older classic/antique cars. I was very satisfied with their work. Our 1954 Chevrolet drives and runs a LOT better. Once again Rick, I apologize for the late review. read more

If you have a classic car and it needs any transmission work, this is the place to go. I have a classic 63 Corvette and nobody could figure out the problem. Rich and his team identified an issue with the shift kit and now it rides like a dream. I could not recommend this shop more. read more

Trans Masters Auto Care & Performance Center - Auto Repair Near Me - Escondido, California

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I took my 74 Corvette there, in good faith, to fix a transmission leak and an issue getting the transmission into first gear, basically a transmission rebuild. I also had them replace the clutch; sense they had to remove the transmission anyway. Because of a whining transmission issue when I picked up the car the first time, I had to take it back. After spending lots of money, I picked up the car the second time. On the way home I noticed a vibration in the clutch pedal and some chattering upon engagement, but thought it all would go away. However, a year has passed. The transmission still leaks. The clutch still chatters and there is still a vibration from the throw out bearing. I would take it back but am afraid they will screw something else up. read more

I hired them to replace the transmission in my car with a 700r4 transmission. They Didn't plug the vacuum from the previous transmison that caused an exhaust leak Instead adjusted the idle to compensate for the exhaust leak Didn't replace all the bolds on the exhaust collector causing an exhaust leak Said they had to re-weld the pad on the cross member because it was backwards but there are no signs of a re-weld Didn't adjust the linkage correctly which made reverse where park is supposed to be They put washers between the crossmember pad and the transmission so they didn't have to shorten the driveline. When I drove the car home it was shifting fromt 1st to 2nd at 5000rpm. When I called them and told them about it they said "well it's just the way they shift". ??? I checked the fluid level and found it was about a quart low. Hopefully there is no damage to my brand new transmission IMO this shop is a bunch of kids that want to be a hot rod shop but don't know about cars. Stay away read more

Very knowledgeable, professional, personable. Brett took the time to explain the diagnostic procedure and possible causes of my transmission problem. The problem was repaired & I am happy. read more

They said they would check my turbo for free then made me sign something saying they would only charge me if they cant fix it. Then i call and they say my part is going to be $800 more then it normally costs. I asked why and he says "well tax & shipping, im like what $800 for tax and shipping what are you talking about?? They dont know what they are talking about...They must be outsourcing parts...I also asked for a oil change and they didnt even work on it. They did the most minimal work they could do, not a good deal here. read more

Very disappointed after picking up vehicle after almost a year of work and owner tells me to turn truck off to get into reverse. This is only the start of the problems I have had. If the owner wants to beat around the bush about what's really wrong with a transmission he tried to rebuild to only tell me in the end he will not warranty it because he didn't buy part. Pretty shitty since I was told what to order for truck due to its not legal parts in CA. Half my build was non CA legal parts I was told to order and brought to shop. What bullshit! Lawyer up! Plenty photos of bullshit work I have to keep fixing. read more

I discovered the car ran poorly and the alternator was on fire. This issue likely arose because they removed the motor for the oil leak repair, affecting the alternator. They suggested another repair, quoting $500 for a new alternator I found for $70 nearby. They charged $250 for labor after another week.Afterwards, the car still performed poorly, with hesitation and backfiring. The owner speculated a clogged fuel filter or needed adjustments to the accelerator pump, despite the $2,000 spent on dyno tuning. I took the car home, only to find more problems like coolant leaks, throttle linkage that was not bolted in, they cut out the wiring for my electric fan, and paint and trim damage from what looks like something spilled on my car. After further DIY repairs, I discovered they had swapped two ignition wires, causing misfires. Fixing this improved performance, but acceleration hesitation is still there. I ended up diagnosing and fixing issues myself, despite paying heavily for professional service. They likely never performed the promised tuning. Avoid this shop unless you like being cheated. read more

brought in gmc for transmission rebuild and we got the vehicle back in about the same shape as it went in. had Rick test drive it after the rebuild it sputtered non stop and he said it was the tires. not the tires at all what do the tires have to do with shifting gears - they wouldn't fix it - I would give them a negative 10 if I could. bad experience. and thousands to fix what exactly. Terrible! read more

It's a very painful thing to realize your transmission is shot. Transmasters prices are in line with most other transmission places. Let's face it you aren't gonna find a bargain when dealing with your transmission. Tom gave superior service and kept all his timeline promises even though it was Thankgiving week. This wasn't a fun thing to have to deal with but Transmasters made it a little less painful with their attentiveness and professionalism. read more

New to the area so I did a little homework. My 1996 Ram 4 WD was due for service so I checked out a the few places and came here. I called and asked Curtis if he was familiar with the 45 RE transmission. He sad yes and said to bring it in. It had been slow to pick up fluid when cold so I said open it up and give your opinion. Said it need a shift kit modual but it looked clean inside. Never been worked on in 22 years just regular service. (275,000 miles I am the original owner) Quick version is he was up front with me on everything and the truck shifts great and no problem with the fluid pick up when cold now. I'll be back with my other vehicles. Honest, competent and friendly. Just like the 1950's and 1960's. Very refreshing in 2018! read more

I drive a 1965 Corvette and I am very particular about who I allow to work on the car. I had previously been using a shop in Ramona for work on my older classic cars that I've owned over the years, but a good friend recommended that I try Rick and Curtis at Trans Master. I was extremely nervous about giving them my baby, but I have now been there twice and my car has been totally transformed. The car was always a beautiful car but it never ran as well as it looks. With two visits to Trans Master I feel like I now have a NEW car. The shop replaced the original Muncie transmission with a modern Tremec 5 speed transmission on my first visit, and I love the new drivetrain. The new transmission is makes the car lots more fun to drive and it's easier to manage on hills. When I was leaving, Rick suggested that I bring the car back in and let them tune it up. I took the car in yesterday and picked it up car today - and I cannot believe the transformation that they made on my baby. Before they worked on it, it ran rough and my other shop just couldn't make it run any better (despite being there for the same issue on 2 different visits). Rick and team have solved the problems I had and the car runs spectacularly now. I am so happy with my new car, I just can't wait to drive it everyday now. I think it now runs better than it looks! I love it. It's nice to find a shop that has expertise and equally important, can be trusted. I like this shop and would recommend them to others. read more

I was referred here by David over at Bent Motor Sports San Marcos for a possible transmission issue on our Chip Foose build Jeep Wrangler (Bent is the best Jeep Shop around, but they also use specialist shops). David is the only one who has ever worked on the vehicle so we were concerned about taking it to another shop. No concern here! From the first contact, Curtis was professional, friendly and obviously knows his stuff! He works on all cars from the most expensive, to the daily driver. It was not the transmission at all (thank goodness!) but a tire sensor (which can throw everything out of whack!) Curtis fixed it immediately for a fair price and had the vehicle back to us the same day (even though he squeezed us in on a Friday). We are grateful to have found a top notch mechanic / transmission shop for our other vehicles that are not Jeeps! And for our transmission issues on all our vehicles. Thanks Curtis and Trans Master Auto Care! read more

These guys are rad! I had an emergency situation and Curtis took good care of me. He was honest and seemed very trustworthy. The shop was super clean and organized. I'll be back for all of my work (not just transmission). read more

Had multiple experiences with this location, and so people understand this is nearly a week later so it's not a hot-headed comment after a discussion. If you want a shop that does good work, this is the place to be, if you want a shop to be on time and operate as a professional business, this place is NOT the business to be.. great mechanic, terrible business owners. I had them work on my Shelby cobra which they did and as mentioned did good work, mind you weeks late, without communication so I had to continuously follow up, and instead of the owner Rick having some accountability, just choose to make excuses and suggest he has been doing the same job for 30 years. I don't understand how that is impressive, you have owned the same shop, doing the same payroll, and miscommunicating for 30 years? I get not everybody wants to be Musk, but suggesting you have done anything that long, especially the nuanced business-related items like payroll clearly shows a lack of ability to create process and scalability. I ended up explaining to him I wanted my truck to be worked on as long as I had better response and communication. He "agreed". Then I called, they were weeks out, so I called 3-4 weeks out, showed them the truck, then made an appointment 2 weeks out, the Friday before in the consummate professional he is Rick calls saying he doesn't want to work on the truck because its clear he doesn't like to hear the truth and wants to stay in this lane no matter if its the wrong one wrenching on vehicles the rest of his life. Yes some would argue he might enjoy it, and probably some truth, but that gives him no right to act like this or suggest that I am telling him what to do versus considering there might be better ways to run a business. But keep doing you Rick, 30 years in. I wish you the best. I hope that future customers have better luck than I did. I hope you find what makes you happy, you meet those goals and you truly know how your actions impact others. Good luck. read more

I was the first to review here but somehow it got taken down and censored. Huh. Funny that. Check the filtered reviews, 2/17/2010. Lulz that their second review (marked as the first now) also got a 1 star. Their filtered reviews also seem to be filled with bogus reviews. Any of this seem fishy to you, the reader? Original review (to show "love" for transmasters): ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I would give 0 stars if I could! I dropped our family car off on a Monday and they promised to call back 2 or 3 times when we phoned them but never did. We finally lost our patience and picked up the car on the following Monday...without calling. This was for a reason. I had a feeling something was up. I purposely came in unexpected as a surprise. The car was sitting outside parked in their small lot. I found their paper floor mat covers shredded up on the floor and my floor mats were greasy underneath. Plus, the driver's inside leather door handle also had grease smears on it. The pickup form shows we failed to return their call even though we spoke with them numerous times when they promised to call us back as noted above. They were rude and awkward when I came to pick it up. I didn't owe anything of course and they didn't really say a word to me about the car. This was also very strange of course. Needless to say, we won't be coming back! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I'm not on yelp to slander or smear anyone. I tell it like it is and as you can see from my reviews I don't go around giving 1 or 5 star reviews only. Strangely enough, I used to be their first reviewer, but this time it seems to have been placed on someone else's review now -- who also gave them a 1 star rating. I have only experienced terrible service at a few places in my life but this place rates at the top of them. By far. It was also one of the strangest customer service experiences as well. read more

Brought my car in after it started stalling and after we noticed the radiator's fan would kick in very loudly. To make a long story, short, Transmasters charged me a diagnostic fee, fixed what they thought was the problem, and overcharged me for parts and labor. But the problem was never fixed. So, we brought it in two more times, charged diagnostic fees, parts and labor again, and still the problem was never fixed. We then took it to a Mazda dealer in Escondido for the overheating problem and the stalling and they quickly and cheaply figured it out. In fact we got a brand new engine for free out of it, since there was a recall for any engine under 100k miles. Customer service was good. Friendly people, but I would worry about their expertise in diagnosing and repair for anything outside of transmissions and they are more expensive than competitors. Well, now I can add the finale to this review. Less than two years later, we took our RX8 in to Mazda of Escondido, since we were losing coolant from our radiator. They said that the lower hose needed to be replaced. I was skeptical since we had Transmasters replace them not to long ago, but they found that Transmaster used Mazda hoses, but not Mazda clamps. (The price difference about $4 a clamp!) The problem is the after market clamps do not expand as the temperature rises, thus after less than 2 years later the hose will crack. Apparently Mazda clamps adjust as the hose expands and contracts. So, due to Transmaster we are out $300 mostly from the dealer's labor costs to replace the hoses. Thank you Rick! read more

I received a totally different experience compared to those one star reviews. My 2013 honda accord engine seized and after calling different shops, I was very well received by this shop. They performed a diagnostic before jumping to conclusions and we decided that an engine swap was the best decision. They took the time to find the best engine and warranty for this case. Now the car is running great! These guys will take care of you and your car. Shout-out to Curtis for providing the best service and keeping me updated with the status of the car. read more

This is my favorite mechanic for dealing with auto repair of any type. 100% customer satisfaction. My recent experience was with my front axil on my 4wd. Replace and gyaranteed for life. The have been in business for 30 yrs. Take any auto need there. read more

I received a totally different experience compared to those one star reviews. My 2013 honda accord engine seized and after calling different shops, I was very well received by this shop. They performed a diagnostic before jumping to conclusions and we decided that an engine swap was the best decision. They took the time to find the best engine and warranty for this case. Now the car is running great! These guys will take care of you and your car. Shout-out to Curtis for providing the best service and keeping me updated with the status of the car. read more

Absoloutley the worst. Incorrect repair deemed by Bureau of Automotive Repair as such, did not fix, did not stand behind work. DO NOT RISK IT. Go to Oceanside Transmission. read more

I am a little disappointed in YELP, I just posted a review and it has been removed! I am, however, thrilled with Transmasters! The staff (Rick and Tom) are wonderful! I used to be a "dealer only service" kind of person. When the make of my car became unavailable (Saturn), I took my car to another dealer for specific service that had been diagnosed. The dealer (another nameless GM dealer) would not fix the problem and at the same time had NO idea about my car model. I felt with the service writer that I was treated as a "woman" not as someone who knows enough about cars that she can speak intelligently about them. In contrast, Tom and Rick do not talk down to me, they explain what they would like to do, call to update what is going on and make sure that I am treated like any other person. I now take my car there for all service, including oil changes and maintenance. I give them 5 stars for communication, quality of service and just being honest! read more

Awesome shop did a great job on my transmission I'd recommend them for anybody in need of transmission or any other auto repair work

Excellent prompt and courteous service. They even took my son's car to the tire center to have the new tires put on. Saving us the time and hassle of having to go to two places. read more

My 2011 Mazda 3 was leaking coolant. I also wanted my car checked out overall for necessary maintenance (at 67,000 miles} as I want it reliable. Through word of mouth, I learned the techs here were top notch, routinely working on high end performance and classic cars. They gave me a recommended list of other suggested repairs. They took the time to explain all involved, the why and how; tech was very knowledgeable. I felt confident giving them the go ahead on repairs. They completed work on time, returned phone calls, too. I am super satisfied with the work they did, and at a reasonable price. I found a garage I trust! Thank you Transmasters. read more

Transmasters in Encinitas is one of the best auto mechanics that I have ever been to. My older sister gave me her car when she moved out of state and highly recommended this place. But I didn't think twice about it and went to a shop near my house instead. I had been severely disappointed with their service and I spent a bunch of money fixing things that I didn't really need too. So when I was due for an oil change I decided to give Transmasters a try and now I love them. They're super laid back, helpful, and straightforward. I fully trust them to take good care of my car and help me fix what is truly necessary. If you've ever considered Transmasters don't think twice about it! read more

My Jeep was having transmission issues so I took it to two shops to get estimates. Rapid Transmissions told me the codes they pulled meant I would need a rebuild and it would range from $1,600-$2,400. I had met the manager of TransMasters and he told me to bring my Jeep for a free estimate. His estimate was $404 for transmission service. I then saved up money for about 3-4 weeks and brought my Jeep back on Tuesday, February 7th, 2017. Phillip, the manager, was out of town back in Ohio due to a family emergency. I met Rick, the owner of TransMasters and told me the transmission service would be $489. I mentioned the cheaper estimate from Phillip and he said he would look into his notes. I asked him what the worst case scenario would be and he said 3-4 days. He called me on Wednesday and said the transmission would need a tear-down service for $895 and he would let me know what they need to repair. He said he would call back later that day. He did not. I called back Thursday around noon and he said they were still taking it apart and would call me back with an updated estimate. Again, no return call so I called back on Friday morning. He said it would be $3,400 to do a rebuild of my transmission. I told him that is ridiculous and I already had a quote from Rapid Transmissions for $1,600-$2,400. He said he would see what he could do and call me back. He actually did call me back Friday afternoon and told me it would be $1,908 and they would get the parts and put it together Monday. Long story short, I finally got it back Wednesday and it isn't fixed. It is still doing the same problem as when I took it in and now it is rattling under the Jeep (loose screws or bolts is my guess). When I took it back on Thursday he told me it would need a new PCM and didn't tell me how much that would cost. Paid $1,908 and 8 business days later, not fixed...And now I am broke and my Jeep is in worse shape than before. Not a happy customer! UPDATE: Phillip called me back last Tuesday, 2/21/17, to check on how my Jeep was running. I told him it is worse than before I took it in. Not only does it have the same issue I brought it in with, now it is making a rattling noise. He said that the mechanic working on my Jeep informed him it was a loose washer in my chassis. He also said I need a new PCM. He said he would get a quote and call me back. I told him I already gave him all my money and have just over $100 for the next 2 weeks until my next paycheck. He asked if I could get the money from friends or family. I explained I already asked my family and posted on FB and tried to get a loan from my bank but could not get a loan anywhere. He then said I could call their lending company (which by-the-way has a 103% interest rate) and get an additional $500 from them and they would get the part and install it for free. I called him back and let him know I was able to get a loan of $500 from my grandmother in NY. He said would would call me back when he gets a quote for the PCM. I called back on Thursday morning and he said he was still waiting to hear back from his guy for the PCM. No return call Thursday or Friday. On Sunday I researched the Internet and found the part I needed at Autozone ($388.99 - $50 core for $338.99). I received the new PCM and then sent it to Cardone to have the VIN & mileage programmed to my Jeep. Got it back a couple weeks ago and it runs worse than it did with my old PCM. Constantly stuck in LIMP mode (2nd gear). At least with my original PCM it works all gears 80% of the time. I am now stuck with a loan of $3,000 and a new PCM I cannot return because it was installed so I'm out another $400+. These guys seem to just be guessing at the problem and did not know how to fix my Jeep. I will pay off this loan by December then start saving to take my Jeep to a different shop to actually fix the issue. read more

One of the best and honest places I have worked with. Philip was extremely informative, and gave me honest feedback on what was necessary vs optional. Predominately, I took my 2009 BMW 328i in for a brake fluid flush, but he was able to identify several issues that he walked me through in quite detail. I would definitely go back, and will use Transmasters as my regular shop! read more

Took our 17 year old Dodge 4x4 truck to get the transmission repaired and Phil did an outstanding job on it. They also changed the water pump, timing chain and gear since it was leaking. They did a great job and Phil was awesome in communicating the repair time as we needed the truck back for work. Great auto shop! read more

SCAM!!! I never write reviews but these people screwed me and my mother!!! I had an 07 mustang that I needed a check up.. . They checked my windshield wipers, oil, and (other things like Fluid levels)... for $450! They didn't even check electrical! I drive away and 5 miles my alternator died. So I had to get a second tow back to the shop that I had just towed my car to for electrical problems!!! They didn't even check it and then charged me $350 for a refurnished alternator from Mexico!! Just parts!! I couldn't even believe them. The guy at the front desk was so rude and hung up on me twice! I was so polite, my mom even called and he was rude to her and WOULDNT let me talk to the owner... read more

I have a 2000 BMW M5 that needed some emissions work done. The team at Transmaster did a fantastic job finding the right parts for the right price and completed the job on time. They were really easy and direct to work with. I'll be coming back. read more

Be careful with these guys, multiple fuck ups. I had to redo almost all the work. Definitely stay away.

Hi, Don't enjoy giving a bad revue to any business but, Tom @ Transmasters knew that I was not happy w/their service or should I say over service. Took 01 Silverado in w/check engine light on, code read bad Vehicle speed sensor! "Truck would not shift due to speed sensor" Tom insisted that he drop the pan on tranny to see if there were any filings from worn parts. Cost: $250. I told Tom that I have never had a problem w/tranny and I didn't think that would be necessary being that I am a mechanic myself. Anyway he did it his way and it ended up costing me $449 and change to replace a $90. Speed sensor plus $200 plus for car rental for the weekend! Sucks! Sorry Tom! read more

Worst ever service I had in my life!!!!!!!! Never go to this place, I have to check in car 3 times as reverse- problem was never fixed. They kept my car for 10 days and stole 10 gallons of gas.... If I could I would give negative starts ... read more

I've used this shop twice and had great experiences both times. Rick and Curtis took care of me, the prices were very fair, and Rick's daughter even gave me a ride home to save me money on an uber. I called several other shops to work on my Fiat 500 and they all turned me down-I'm very glad they did because I will only take my car to Transmasters from now on. read more

Bad News: Not a good thing to find transmission leak spots from under your car! Good News: Free Inspection and estimate from Transmasters!! Best News: All work done on time and on budget with excellent communications and customer service! Transmasters is a great local find, as they are experts in transmission services, I trusted their expertise and repair for my transmission. I was also happy to find they are a full service shop and offer high quality oil changes on par with prices offered by higher volume chains. Thanks guys for the positive experience! read more

This is by far the best transmission shop i've ever dealt with... The owner Rick is such an honest and knowledgeable man and his daughter Kali is very efficient in providing the best quality service. They are a tight knit family owned business with great attitude and prices. Ohhh btw they are super military friendly. Don't for one second hesitate to come in to get some work done. Thank you for great service!!! read more

We have been using these guys for our ford trucks for a while. For the most part, good service. Knowledgable. quick turn around. One thing though. They charged us 200.00 to replace a fuel filter on our f250 diesel -in hopes of trying to fix a problem. That did not fix the stalling problem. We had just replaced that fuel filter too. No body is perfect but I will continue to use these guys for transmission work. read more

Rick and his team are now my go-to guys to work on my 68 Camaro. I went to them about some modifications and performance upgrades for both the transmission and motor. They are experts in classic car drivetrains. I left my car there for about a week for the 4 jobs they did. Their staff made me feel welcomed every time I dropped in. Great bunch of guys. They are not cheap but there were no surprises. I'm actually looking forward to the next project I'll do with them! read more

This is douchebag repair shop. They tell you one price at drop-off and then totally rip you off. They totally blew off my one year warranty,now I have to pay someone else to cover their leaky trans. rebuild. My classic car has been there twice,with extensive damage both times. Customer service sucks, DON'T Go THERE read more