Japanese Auto Care

4530 Washington Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201, USA

Address:	4530 Washington Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201, USA
Phone:	+1 703-243-0550
Rating:	4.3
Working:	7AM–6PM 7AM–6PM 7AM–6PM 7AM–6PM 7AM–6PM 8AM–2PM Closed

Location

Photos 5

Reviews 7

Pam Graham

Very Very nice place to do business -- even though I didnt require a lot. Let me tell you why. As I was driving to work this morning from Virginia to DC I noticed I had a tire going flat. I pulled off Rt. 66 to head towards Arlington where I thought sure I could find a station with a garage attached. Instead I found Japanese Auto Care. The attendant came right out and I explained my concern. He asked if I could wait for about 10 mins. They put my car up on the lift, removed 2 nails (and showed me the nails) and patched the tire. I was on my way in about 20 mins. altogether -- but the gentleman said "No charge." I offered to pay him something -- but he insisted it was no charge. I thank him ever so much. WOW! was all I could say when I got in my car. I was amazed at easy that was -- and how that simple act of kindness and good customer service relieved my stress of the morning commute. I am thankful. (I might add too that as I was waiting, a gentleman came in to inquire about his car that he had towed there. The shop had received the car, and already performed an initial analysis of what was wrong. The guy was very appreciative and said that he could have had his car towed anywhere but that he had seen the good review on Yelp and decided to have it towed there. He was pleased and thanked them for their great service.)

Dan Cosley

I have gone here three times and they have made nontrivial mistakes twice, so I will not be coming back. The first visit was for a new timing belt, and this went fine and the price was reasonable, and the service is friendly. Thus, a 2-star and not a 1-star review. The second visit was for a punctured fuel tank. They installed the a new one with a leaky gasket (claiming they got an old brittle one from the manufacturer, but then, why install it?). They also fouled the flow valve into the gas tank by letting it soak in gasoline during the repair, which I found out when I couldnt fill my tank on a road trip. Those got fixed but it took three visits. Theyre near work so I gave them another chance on a 15K routine service, and asked them to find a slow leak in my back rear tire as part of it. They put the tires back on the car at 55 PSI -- i.e., they didnt finish the test correctly -- which I fortunately found fast. (They also didnt find the leak, but said that two others that dont really need air on a regular basis were leaking and wanted $70 each to dismount, remount, and rebalance them, i.e., not too much less than a new tire.)

Anonymous User

DO NOT TAKE YOUR CAR HERE unless you want shoddy work. Ive been taking my car here for over 2 years. Initially, I would have rated JAC at 5 stars but the workmanship has steadily declined over time. Their labor rates are not much better than the dealer and it seems they are so busy they cut corners. Some of the issues Ive had: ding on passenger side door (probably because they park cars like sardines in their tiny lot); failure to tighten 3 out of 5 lug nuts on one tire after performing a tire rotation (tire almost fell off on I-95); using the wrong transmission fluid after a transmission fluid flush; used oil and fuel additives without my permission; improper installation of CV boot/axle (had to turn around as soon as I drove off of lot). To be fair, these guys seem honest, and they are apologetic when you bring problems to their attention. My only problem with JAC is their lack of consistency and stupid mistakes. Ive given them numerous chances at redemption but Im finally at the point where I prefer to take my chances with another mechanic.

Michael Wallace

DONT GO HERE. Worst mechanic experience in my life. They keep changing the price and then claim that you didnt understand. First the garage manager got aggressive with me when I was asking questions to make sure I was understanding the estimated cost. I end up talking to his boss, Jackson, who calmly explains the billing process for me. Then I get a call the next morning saying that the part to fix my car will not be in until Tuesday. So I ask if I can pick my car up. The guy, Jackson, says sure. I get to the shop and then he tells me that it is going to costs an additional $95 since I am picking it up today. I told him he didnt not tell me that. He proceeds to apologize and say it was his fault, but still is going to charge me $95 for his mechanics having to put it back together. He tells me "Im just not understanding the process, that his employees dont work for free." I argue with him saying its his mistake and he should eat the costs. I end up taking my car that day, still messed up, out $285 dollars.

Marcella Petrie

I am giving three stars, primarily because of the good service I have received earlier during the past decade, but I am less and less impressed with this shop as the staff and service seems to have declined. As can be surmised, I am a long time customer. However, when I called recently, asking if I could bring my car into the shop for a checkup because I am about to go on some long driving trips, I was told that they couldnt give me an appointment until the day I have to leave. The person on the phone sounded like he didnt really care. After all, I would think at a minimum, if he wanted to appear to attempt to provide good customer service, he would be apologetic that he didnt have a time earlier, then ask for my name and number and tell me that he would call if there are any cancellations. Given how the service here has worsened over the years, I doubt I will be taking my car back.

ni ts

Mehhh, another mediocre repair shop. Been going off and on for a few years. Sometimes they do great work, other times not so much. I am tired of dealing with their front desk staff who shield you from the mechanics. There were times when ive absolutely diagnosed the problem only to have them insist on doing their own diagnosis at additional expense to reach the same conclusion. Most recently they refused look at a broken part on the exhaust insisting on making an appointment to put it on the lift. Really? Just needed 30 seconds of the mechanics time to look at the dangling part for an initial opinion. At that point you could have easily talked me into the more comprehensive "lift event". Bottom line - Im tired of being disrespected and talked down to as if my opinion isnt relevant.

J Nawrocki

I brought my Mazda 3 in for a starter replacement, which they did quickly, if somewhat expensively. My trust was lost when they called and said I needed new rear brakes (describing the pads as almost metal on metal) and a new air filter. I declined both, based partly on the high quoted costs (approximately another $550) for above what the actual parts would cost (approximately $110). I replaced the rear brakes (pads and rotors) 4 weeks later and discovered the pads had a quarter inch remaining. The air filter, while slightly dirty, wasnt in need of replacement either. Based on recommending work as being immediately necessary that clearly was not, I can not concur with other reviewers assessment of this shops forthrightness.