The Mechanic OC — Attraction in Mission Viejo

TLDR: Exceptional service at The Mechanic OC. Nestor provided transparent, thorough explanations and used technology effectively to educate about necessary repairs. Car runs like new after service. Highly recommend for their honesty, expertise, and customer-focused approach.

I recently had my 13-year-old car serviced at The Mechanic OC, and I couldn't be more satisfied with the experience. The main reason I brought my car in was a high-pitched noise coming from the serpentine belt area, which persisted even after I had changed the belt myself. I also mentioned an issue with the ABS system.

From the very first conversation, Nestor, the mechanic who worked on my car, explained the process thoroughly. He promised to provide a detailed report of every finding, followed by an estimate. True to his word, when it came time to discuss the findings, Nestor called me with a comprehensive report. He went through each issue individually, from most urgent to least urgent, describing the price of the work and explaining why certain repairs were urgent while others could wait.

What set Nestor apart from other mechanics I've worked with was his transparency about the urgency of repairs and his sincere approach. I felt very comfortable with all his suggestions because I sensed he was looking out for my best interests. There was no heavy sales approach, just genuine communication.

The report Nestor provided was crucial in explaining my car's status and what needed to be repaired. It included instructional videos about the importance of each repair, along with photos and videos of the actual parts of the car that needed attention. For example, they discovered a leak in the power steering system, specifically in one of the hoses. Nestor recorded a video showing exactly where the leak was coming from. This appropriate use of technology, combined with Nestor's approachable personality, greatly enhanced the communication about necessary repairs and helped educate me about my car's needs.

At one point, Nestor called about an additional finding - an oil leak they discovered after cleaning the engine. When I mentioned I was with family, he kindly told me to enjoy time with my loved ones and that he'd wait for my call back when I was available. This considerate approach quickly earned my trust.

Diana at the front desk was also helpful throughout the process. The entire team at The Mechanic OC made me feel valued as a customer and educated about my car's needs.

After the repairs were completed, my car has never driven better. It feels like a brand new vehicle, despite its age. I'm so impressed that I've already recommended The Mechanic OC to multiple family members and friends. I'll be returning soon to have my other car serviced as well.

I feel I've found a dependable mechanic in Nestor and The Mechanic OC. Their thorough explanations, transparent communication, and quality work have made me a loyal...

Where do I begin with Nestor and the crew at The Mechanic OC.

My family and I were visiting SoCal for Thanksgiving 2024 when my wife's Tahoe gave us the dreaded blinking check engine light and started running rough. Everything I read online told me to stop the vehicle and have it towed to a shop immediately. I knew this wasn't good, and couldn't have come at a worse time- Wednesday night before Thanksgiving. No shops would be open for several days and we needed to be home to Arizona Saturday.

Friday morning came around and I was on Google making calls first thing in the morning. I was finding that most shops were closed through the weekend for the holiday. Then I found The Mechanic OC and gave them a call. I was greeted with a friendly voice telling me to have the Tahoe towed there and they would get right on it- music to my ears. The code this car was throwing could have been something really simple (sparks plugs, ignition coil, or wires) or it could be catastrophic engine failure, lifter failure, or head gasket.

The Tahoe was towed there and I received calls from Nestor over the next couple hours telling me what they found and what they hadn't found. He was up front, honest, and meticulous. He sent me a multi page very detailed inspection report with pictures, graphs, and statuses of minor and major vehicle components (never had a shop do this). He didn't try to sell me things I didn't need done at the moment, just simply told me things to be aware of. Luckily he had great news for me- bad plugs and ignition coil. He could have easily told me it was worse and I would have paid at that point. His team busted their asses to get it fixed and dependable so my family would be safe driving back through the desert. I received a call at 4:30 telling me we were good to go. Picked it up, drove it home, and it's been running great since.

One thing I'l never forget- they told me at pickup that if there were any issues when we were on the road or back at home in AZ to have the shop here call them so they could work it out. Basically telling me they stood behind their work, even in another state. Unbelievable.

I can't thank you enough Nester and team. You are the best of the best in an auto repair world full of liars and thieves.

You will not regret taking your...

Follow up review for December 2023 service: I absolutely love everyone that I've encountered at The Mechanic OC. Nestor and Diana are absolute angels. They truly care about the needs and concerns of their customers and have exceeded, by far, my expectations of what exceptional customer service is like. I have never met such kind, caring, honest, and trustworthy mechanics and administrative staff in my life. I have been having oil consumption issues with my Kia Soul and Nestor and Diana went out of their way to take my car into a Kia dealership to try and speak with the manager or person in charge to resolve the manufacturer issue and to have it covered under warranty. The fact that they did all of that out of the goodness of their heart to fight for me and my car issue with the dealership shows what amazing and beautiful souls they are. I'm so grateful and appreciative of their genuine kindness. The world needs more people like Nestor and Diana. I will continue to get my car serviced here, even after I move on from the Kia Soul.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you Nestor, Diana, and everyone at The Mechanic OC for taking such great care of me and all your customers. The quality of service you provide is top-notch. You guys are truly the best! Having any type of auto issue is so stressful, but you guys helped put me at ease. Being a woman who doesn't know much about cars and engine issues, you all definitely made the process smooth and comfortable for me. I'm beyond grateful I found you guys on Yelp. I can't thank you enough for everything you've done for me.

First Review for October 2023 service: I appreciate The Mechanic OC so much! Nestor was very kind, genuine, and considerate over the phone. The ladies at the front desk were so sweet as well. They accommodated me last minute for an oil change, and they were so understanding that I was running late. When I got back my car, it was spick and span. They cleaned up my car so well, and I had no idea they were going to be so kind in doing that for me. I'm so happy I found this...