Honest-1 Auto Care Burnsville — Local services in Burnsville

Friday, 11/24/2023

The short version: great service, great value, great waiting room. I felt listened to!

Want more details, read on…

Just came home from having my car serviced at Honest-1Auto Care in Burnsville. Walked into my home as happy as can be! Not a typical feeling after having your car serviced!

I called and explained the situation - something dragging under my car. A lovely trucker had stopped to help me and had “wired the piece onto something else under my car.” He told me it was extremely temporary.

I had first called my regular mechanic, with whom I have had some oil changes, some small repairs, etc for over a decade. They explained that they could do it because getting the part would be difficult. Wouldn’t even answer my questions. I was thinking, you haven’t even looked at it, what “nearly impossible” part do you even think you won’t be able to find. He instructed me to go directly to a Fiat dealer.

Got an appointment…the earliest one three weeks out! I cautiously drive with the temporary fix, limiting my trips to only essential ones and don’t play my radio so I would be able to hear the sure-to-be painful death of my temporary fix.

Day finally arrived and I got an email that morning saying the distance to my home was out of their pick-up range! You’d think they could provide that information somewhere on their website, you know, like some place near where you sign up for the pick-up service!

So, I start Google searching again: “Fiat repair service near me.” And up pops Honest-1 Auto Care. I call, they schedule and explain they have shuffle service that can take me home. WOW! I’m even in their range!!

I go in, and Joe invites me to have a seat as they look under my car. Very comfortable waiting area, complete with a special place for kids to play!

I’m not even finished with my first Block Jam 3D game on my phone, when Joe and the mechanic, Jeff, invite me into the garage so they can show me what is wrong and to discuss the options!

We make a collective decision and I return to the comfy waiting room, contemplating a cup of their free coffee. I’m into my fourth round of Block Jam 3D (fun game, by Noahaaaaaa the way - I highly recommend!) when Jeff walks back in and hands me my keys!

They replaced my temp fix with a permanent solution! Their fee was extremely reasonable - especially since they could have selected one of the other options and charged me a mortgage payment without ever telling me about any other good options!!

So, home I drive. NPR blaring on my radio! Feeling safe, secure and very, very happy!

BTW, I am ending my 10-plus-year relation with my old auto shop. I wish I could say we are parting as friends. But I haven’t felt much trust in that relationship lately anyway. So onto a brighter future with Honest-1 Auto Care of Burnsville!!

Thanks Joe! Thanks Jeff! You made both me and my car very...

This place is a joke.

I recently had my 2019 Jeep Cherokee serviced on Tuesday, January 16th. Upon check-in, I informed Joe that my heat wasn't working, and we believed it was the blower motor resistor. We put a brand new blower motor in the night before, which did not resolve the entire issue. It only resolved the screeching noise coming from the fan motor. He quoted me $175 for a Level 2 Inspection, even though I knew the problem. I approved the cost since I needed my heat to work properly.

Joe next contacted me to inform me that the inspection performed by Thomas indicated I required both the blower motor and resistor. I asked about the brand new one I provided them with, and they stated it failed the inspection and was deemed dead since the resistor in the car blew the motor out.

I had my fiance call into the shop and discuss the status update with Joe since the price dumbfounded me. My fiance was reassured that the blower motor we provided was blown based on their inspection, and they claimed they'd seen this before with Chrysler products and non-OEM parts. I then called the shop and approved them to proceed with the $1400 quote for the blower motor and blower motor resistor since I needed heat in my car, and I trusted the inspection.

Once my car was finished, they changed the price from $1400 to $1200. I don't know how this works. They told me it was ready and I was good to get my vehicle.

I went back to the shop and paid my remaining balance with Scott, and he informed me I needed my ball joints replaced sooner rather than later. I told him I found somewhere cheaper since I was quoted $800+ to get it fixed, and that was honestly ridiculous for the $1200 I just blew here. He then said he could waive specific prices since he would appreciate me being a customer. I told him I would pass and I would be going elsewhere. He tried to pressure me to do it and attempted to make me feel bad and act like I shouldn't trust other places.

We tested the blower motor we initially provided them to install, which is NOT blown. It works perfectly fine and shows no indications of failure. I spent $322.23 on a brand-new blower motor that was unnecessary. Additionally, I paid for an inspection that failed to be performed correctly. I also paid additional labor to install a brand-new blower motor that was NOT required. This is unacceptable, and I got scammed at LEAST $600. It would help if you were questioning your employees' integrity.

Somebody needs to correct their mistakes and give me an explanation of how this could happen. You took advantage of a woman needing heat in these severe temperatures to make a dollar. I believe you need to re-evaluate your company motto, give women the respect they deserve, and fix your mistakes. Ironically, your name is Honest-1 Auto Care when you're...

I was very impressed with Honest-1 and if I have future repair needs will absolutely be returning to this shop! They were able to take in my Mariner right away on Monday afternoon (1/3) and even gave me and my kids a free Lyft ride home so I didn't have to wait around for the diagnosis results. Communication from the shop was constant, via email, text, and phone, and very detailed - they sent photos of my car and the details of their inspections, and even photos of the techs working on my car, so I knew who was wrenching on my vehicle! They couldn't determine the source of the leaking coolant the same day I dropped it off but right away next morning I received an email/text with photos showing and explaining that I needed a new water pump and timing belt and fluid flush. I have needed few auto repairs done in my life so I cannot speak to whether or not their repair estimate was low or high but they allowed me to use a 10% off coupon on their website, which saved me $114 on my bill - THANK YOU!!! I received frequent updates on the status of my vehicle's repair and my vehicle was done on Wednesday (1/5), before the promised date of 1/6. I absolutely was not expecting my car to be done this quickly (everything seems to be slow these days with COVID and nobody working) and was quite pleased at this! The shop called me Wednesday afternoon to let me know it was finished (plus I received the emails and texts) and was again able to arrange a Lyft ride for me to bring me to the shop to collect my car. I don't drive much - yet - but I trust the repairs were done properly and I love knowing the shop offers a three year warranty on their work and free towing too - great perks! Everyone at the shop was friendly, the work was done fast, communication was excellent, and I have my car again. Thanks for the great service, Honest 1!!!

Update A few days after the work was completed, a nice lady from the shop called to check in on me and gauge my satisfaction and ask if I had any concerns. I told her I still noticed leaking fluids but that I wasn't sure if it was coolant or from a known oil leak. She noted all this in her system and told me she would have someone contact me, and sure enough, Joe called me right away and was able to get me in promptly to have the shop check my car. I waited on site and it didn't take them long - they checked their work and found it was leaking oil, not coolant, so their work was solid. They even added dye to the oil so that I could come in down the road and have them check for the source of the leak. I have yet to return for this service but if and when I am ready to have it done, I will be returning to Honest-1! Awesome service and...