Highland Park Automotive

1150 Raritan Ave, Highland Park, NJ 08904, USA

Address:	1150 Raritan Ave, Highland Park, NJ 08904, USA
Phone:	+1 732-985-1451
Site:	highlandparkrepair.com
Rating:	4.5
Working:	8AM–5PM 8AM–5PM 8AM–5PM 8AM–5PM 8AM–5PM Closed Closed

Location

Photos 15

Reviews 5

Jaegun Ahn

I dont understand how this place is rated with 4.5 stars because I was treated VERY rude from the first day when i towed my car here for inspection. My car engine wouldnt start for some reason and i was thinking between fixing the car or discarding the car. When i asked Duanes opinion, instead of answering my questions, he would try to persuade me to fix the breaks and calibers, saying it is not safe to drive. I made myself clear that i do not want to spend more than $700 for the break especially when the engine is not even starting and Duane had told me that he has no balls to guarantee that it wont break down again after he fixes it. They charged me more than $400 for diagnosing the car, replacing thermostat & antifreeze. They charged me $110 for towing. AND THE CAR BROKE DOWN AGAIN 4DAYS LATER. I called them next day to repair the car for free because the car shouldnt be breaking down 4 days after it was fixed if they had done their job properly. Duane was repeatedly saying that he has been doing his business for 33 years blah blah, he said, "The cost depends on what is wrong with the car, if it is not the problem of thermostat, we will charge you." The car started working again when i towed my car to the H.P. Automotive for extra $80. When i asked Duane why the car engine stopped, he wouldnt know, keep saying there is no problem with the car. I was very uncomfortable while doing business with Duane for past 3 weeks. I think he acts very rude when you try to be cost-efficient. He looks down on you, he was looking at computer or reading newspaper while talking to me, he would use mechanical terminologies when you ask questions regarding the car, so basically you wont be able to understand most of the thing he is saying. He makes zero attempt to help you understand what is wrong with the car. He often forgets that he is still talking to his customer, and is very rude. He asks you to sign on papers without explanations. When you ask for detailed explanations, he doesnt want to get bothered. Duane is full of pride that he thinks he deserves so much respect as a mechanic, but this attitude provides extremely uncomfortable experience to the customer like me. I first found this place from google and looked at the 4.5 star rating but ended up with disappointment. I think lot of people (including me) get confused between this place and the Highland Park Service Center, which is different from this owner. I would rather recommend H.P. Service Center.

Krishna Vangapandu

I found this place after looking for a reliable auto repair shop to get a look at my Toyota Camry. It is around a mile away from HMart on RT 27 - very convenient location for me! Duane runs this place great, clearly explains what has to be done and tries to even give some priority around the things that need to be done so that we can plan the expenses. You can see the office and the garage where all the work gets done is very organized, clean and tidy which personally to me, gives a professional reassurance. This place is open only during the weekdays (which is a little bit inconvenient, but everyone needs a weekend!). But if you drop off the vehicle, usually you will get a ride back to work/home/station. I see some of the reviews thinks its a bit pricey but I dont think so (not that i am an expert at auto repair pricing). When the work was to be done on my Camry, Duane gave me list of things along with their prices (after taxes, so there is no "hidden" cost later). I checked with my friends who knows about this more than I do & they all said its very reasonable. Moreover, an oil change here is quick (i usually call ahead before I drop by) and I can say its easily 1/2 the price that I got charged at other places nearby. I highly recommend this place & would strongly advice to give this local business a try!!

Anonymous User

I had recently had a cooling system flushed out from a nissan dealer who messed up the job. After few days the coolant was gone and their was air trapped in the system which was making a swoosh noise everytime I accelerated my car. So I went to another nissan dealer Where he did fix it but came up saying " all engine mounts are broken and need to be replaced". I felt I should get second opinion and thats when I googled for "automotive" in my area and after reading the reviews I decided to get my car checked from Highland Park Automotive.It wasn't a surprise to me that my two engine mounts were fine and only one was broken after they checked.Dealers want to sell as many parts they can to you because they get commission on parts sold from car makers. Highland park automotive was an experience which can be described as "face to face" with honesty. I was recommended what was needed. And i love the ride of my car again after they fixed it. My visit was worth the money spent at highland park automotive. I was give a free ride home and back. I would recommend them to anyone who wants to avoid dealers who want to get as much as they can from customers pocket. It would also recommend them form high quality of work. Also they will show the broken parts they will replace and explain what was wrong.

Melanie C

I brought my car in to have a safety inspection/oil change, and to have the door handle replaced since it had snapped off. I was assured that my car would be ready the same day, and I was even contacted because the parts supplier wasnt able to match the handle to the colour of my car. Then the same day became the next day when the supplier wasnt able to deliver until the following morning. Then the next day became four days later, because the supplier wasnt able to get the part all, despite all the assurances that it would come in. When I went to pick up my car, because I could not leave it in the shop for five days, I was treated rudely by the owner, as though the failure to provide service was my fault. I was told that only the dealership could order the part I needed, despite the fact that its widely available for sale online (not to mention scrap yards, since my car is a common make and model), and despite the fact that his "reliable" supplier claimed he could have the part for two days before and didnt deliver. I was offered no apologies for the lack of service, and was snapped at for saying I didnt want to pay for the unnecessary disassembling or reassembling of my door. The owner also promised he would show me the other repairs hed made to my car, but didnt.

Meng Li

At first time, I thought the shop was good. I got problem with my headlight and put my car to this shop. I mentioned that my battery light is on and maybe there is some problem with wire circuit. Then they did the electrical test for me and just simply replace the headlight bulbs. Besides, they suggest me to replace the oil pressure switch and I accept it. When they fixed my car, they said everything is fine. When I asked about my battery, they said is good. Unfortunately, just one day after my car get fixed. The alternator and battery went bad and I cant even use emergency parking. How can such a big problem come out after they did the electrical test for me. Just one day after they did the test! I cant trust this shop anymore. When I　ｃａｌｌ　ｂａｃｋ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｈｏｐ，　ｔｈｅｙ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｉｎｓｉｓｔｅｄ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｉｓ　ｎｏｔ　ｔｈｅｉｒ　ｆａｕｌｔ　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｒｏｗ　ｔｈｅ　ｆａｕｌｔ　ｔｏ　ｍｅ　ｓａｙ　ｗｈｙ　Ｉ　ｄｉｄｎ＇ｔ　ｐｕｔ　ｍｙ　ｃａｒ　ｂａｃｋ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅｉｒ　ｓｈｏｐ　ｗｈｅｎ　ｓｏｍｅｔｈｉｎｇ　ｗｒｏｎｇ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｍｙ　ｃａｒ．　Ｎｏ　ａｎｙ　ａｐｏｌｏｇｙ　ｔｏ　ｍｅ．　Ｃｏｍｅ　ｏｎ！　Ｉｔ　ｉｓ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｈｏｐ　ｔｏ　ｈｅｌｐ　ｍｅ　ｆｉｎｄ　ｏｕｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｐｒｏｂｌｅｍ　ａｎｄ　Ｉ　ｐｕｔ　ａｌｌ　ｍｙ　ｔｒｕｓｔ　ｏｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｈｏｐ．　Ｔｈｅ　ｓｈｏｐ　ｔｏｌｄ　ｍｅ　ｂａｔｔｅｒｙ　ａｎｄ　ａｌｔｅｒｎａｔｏｒ　ａｒｅ　ｆｉｎｅ　ｂｕｔ　ｎｅｘｔ　ｄａｙ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｄｉｅｄ．　Ｈｏｗ　Ｉ　ｃａｎ　ｔｒｕｓｔ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｓｈｏｐ　ａｎｙ　ｍｏｒｅ．　Ａｎｙｗａｙ，　Ｉ　ｗｉｌｌ　ｎｅｖｅｒ　ｐｕｔ　ｍｙ　ｃａｒ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅｉｒ　ｓｈｏｐ　ｎｅｘｔ　ｔｉｍｅ．Ｖｅｒｙ　ｕｎｈａｐｐｙ　ｅｘｐｅｒｉｅｎｃｅ！