Very rarely do I leave a 1-star review. I fully understand how difficult it is to run a business, especially one with as many unknowns as an auto repair shop. That said, my experience with Steve’s was extremely disappointing. I originally brought my car in for a check engine light, which I was told was likely related to the timing belt. I was quoted around $500, which I agreed to, and gave them the go-ahead to start the work. From the beginning, I repeatedly asked—I swear atleast 5 to 10 times—for the mechanics to check everything while they were already working on the car and to let me know if there were any other major issues. Despite this, I kept receiving phone calls saying, “We just put everything back together, but now another code popped up,” followed by another amount added to the bill. Each time, I reluctantly approved the additional work. This cycle repeated multiple times. They would take the car apart, put it back together, and suddenly discover another problem. Eventually, the total climbed to around $6,000—on a car worth roughly $3,000 keep in mind.. Had I been told upfront that the vehicle had extensive damage, I would have stopped the work immediately. I even had extra money set aside and would have happily tipped them for a thorough inspection upfront rather than continuing down this road. After reaching that $6,000 mark, I again asked them to have their mechanics check everything wrong with the car. The next day, I received another call—this time saying the new total WAS $12,000!! It is extremely hard to believe that this level of damage existed but somehow wasn’t identified during the first several tear-downs. One of things on the quote was a battery mount—something very surface-level that any mechanic with 2 brain cells should have noticed immediately. That alone makes the repeated assurances of “we’ll look over everything” feel completely untrue. Overall, the lack of transparency, poor communication, and constant surprise charges made this a frustrating and unacceptable experience. I would strongly caution others before bringing their vehicle here. However, I’m a truthful person and will give the benefit of the doubt, they had fixed everything they quoted me for, and had acknowledged that they didn’t want to put in cheap parts and would rather go with the warrantied parts instead — so if you want a true fix, not caring about the cost, they’re your guy.
Nathan — thank you for taking the time to lay this out, and I’m genuinely sorry for how frustrating and disappointing this experience was for you. We understand exactly why this felt like a “moving target,” and we agree: no one should feel blindsided by repeated calls, escalating totals, or surprises after being assured the vehicle would be thoroughly checked while it was already apart. Auto repairs can uncover additional issues as diagnostics progress, but that doesn’t excuse what you’re describing—especially the feeling that concerns were discovered too late, communication wasn’t clear enough, and the bigger picture wasn’t presented early so you could make an informed decision on a vehicle with limited value. If something as visible as a battery mount made it onto a later quote, we can see why that would further erode trust. We also appreciate you acknowledging our intent to use quality, warrantied parts and do the job the right way. That said, “doing it right” has to include transparent communication and proactive planning, not just the repairs themselves. If you’re willing, I’d like to personally review your invoice history, the authorization points, and the inspection/diagnostic notes with you to understand exactly where the process broke down and see what we can do to make this right. We’re happy to take another look at the vehicle at no cost and with no obligation—even if it’s just to clearly summarize what was found, what was done, and what (if anything) is truly still needed. Please call or text me directly so we can talk through it. Richard, Owner (801) 694-7936
- Steve's Automotive Specialists - Clearfield