Action Auto Care
Category: Auto Repair [Edit]
Neighborhood: Potrero Hill2040 17th St
(between Kansas St & Vermont St)
San Francisco, CA 94103 (415) 487-1210
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Sat 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
17 reviews
Neighborhood: SOMA
"I've been going here for a coupe years now and the service and quality has never changed... always the best! I've gone here for numberous…" read more »
59 Reviews for Action Auto Care
I've been to many car repair places and I can honestly say this is the best one I've been to. Robert is GREAT!! He's totally honest, up-front, responsive and understanding. Thanks Yelpers for helping me find this place!!!!
Another glowing review for this great car repair business!
We bought a car from a sister that was about 10 years old with only 70k miles on it. Owned it for about two years now and went in to get a tune-up because the clutch was slipping. Turns out we brought it in just in time. It had never gotten it's 70K tune up and there were many things on the way out, including the clutch.
There were about $1400 worth of repairs - which would make most people faint, but fortunately we had the money saved. But I was really shocked that Robert gave me a complete run-down of what needed to be fixed and in what order to do it so we could pay it off in chunks.
Later we found out by the sister that she didn't really do much to the car in the past besides oil changes. Oh well.
Now we have what feels like a brand new car! I am so happy with the service and how quick and thorough they were. Also, they were able to give me same day service! Amazing!
Thank you fellow yelpers!
I am so happy that I yelped for auto care in my area and came across Action Auto Care.
I called and made an appointment with Robert to drop off my car to replace my belts and to figure out a scrapping sound that was coming from the back of my car....
Sure enough if was my rear brakes. He called me back as soon as he found the problem, gave me my quote and said that he could have it done by the end of the same day.
YEAH!
This is my new auto mechanic!
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My alternator died on my 92 toyota camry wagon. I called Robert and he was able to schedule me for the following day. I had my car towed the next morning and gave Robert a warranty for the alternator I had installed 11 months prior.
Robert called me back the following morning saying he had spent a few hours investigating the warranty with Bosch and was able to convince them to replace it and he only charged me $100 for the service.
It was ready for me that afternoon. I got off work late and not only did Robert stay 15 minutes late (till 6:15) to meet me, he also walked me to my car! He was the nicest, most honest auto mechanic I have ever met. I will never take my car to anyone else as long as I live in San Francisco.
So I haven't really tested the limits of their knowledge yet, but they've definitely met my very high expectations. For almost nothing they changed my oil - and refilled my windshield wiper fluid for fun! Also for almost nothing they fixed my persistent radiator leak (ah, to own a VW) - time will tell if it holds. Major points for not harassing me about not getting it fixed for nearly a year :)
However, the engine light still isn't gone yet. My conclusion is that this place is great if you are specific about what you want fixed - they will not try to upsell you to some treatment you don't need. On the other hand, they also won't go overboard to inspect every little thing - unless you tell them to.
Overall I was extremely pleased with the service, hours, price, facilities. I'll update this when I've got a better story to share, after I have them make my transmission happier - I would expect them to push over the 5 star hurdle soon enough!
From a client's perspective, a mechanic is like a doctor or dentist - other than the routine visits, you really don't want to see them because it means other things are awry and your wallet is going to take a hit. So in searching for a mechanic (doctor & dentist), you'd want someone who is amiable, know what he/she is talking about, and truly cares about your car (or your body/teeth)'s well being.
Robert Kim, though crazy busy (well deservedly so...), took a couple hours out of his packed schedule to help me fix my car, because he didn't want me to get stranded somewhere (my car had issues starting). He followed up with a call to me, letting me know what he's going to do to my car, quoted me the price, and told me when to pick it up. Well, there was my car, ready to go at the designated time.
And did I mention that he was NICE? I'm always intimidated by mechanics because I feel like they're always thinking to themselves: "Stupid girl, doesn't know a thing about cars except driving one." Though true, it's still not the best feeling when it is obviously conveyed on someone's face. But Robert...no, he was very understanding as I tried to describe my problem in cartoon terms.
So the next time my car has a chk chk sound and a thingy-ma-jig not working, I'm coming here again.
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I would give Robert 10 stars if I could. Thanks to the amazing reviews on Yelp, I decided to give Action Auto Care a call yesterday.
I was in a desperate situation. My car was being driven cross country the next day, and I needed to get the car checked out.
I called Robert, and he told me that he is usually booked a few days in advance. I explained to him the situation and asked him if there was anyway he could squeeze me in. He obliged....and had a agreeable, understanding (instead of a grumpy) disposition.
Not only did he squeeze me in, he explained to me exactly what he was going to inspect, told me that he would call me to ask before he did anything we hadn't talked about. A few hours after I dropped off the car, Robert calls and tells me the car is in excellent shape except for one thing. He then proceeds to ask me about the last few oil changes (which were done at SOMA Auto) and I tell him I had faithfully gotten them done....to which he says: " Well, I don't know how they did it, because the bolts for the filter are rusted shut!" Well, you can imagine my surprise because what the hell have I been paying for if they haven't even opened up the damn filter!
He asks for my permission to proceed forward and gives me his honest assessment for what I need to take care of before the trip....and what can wait until the next time I get service. I felt very safe in his hands....and I felt like he was definitely not trying to get my money.
As I left, he gave me valuable advice along his prioritized criteria for service and repairs....1) safety, 2)reliability, and 3) comfort. He told me that I might see some problems that fall in the the comfort category, but that I don't need to fix them because they are not safety related...so should I choose to save the $450 it would cost to fix it....not to worry.
The icing on the cake? I left right before closing. He had told me that I should replace my tires (which he kindly offered to do, or recommended that I call Sears). What mechanic refers you somewhere else to save you money? That Robert, he's a first-class act. I forget what he tells me and freak out because Sears doesn't have what Robert had approved. I call him leave a message, worried that it's already after-hours.
Guess what? 15 minutes later, Robert calls me back. I tell him the crisis...he calms me down, and proceeds to give me a tire buying lesson, tells what specs to look for, and what brands to avoid.
I thank him profusely. I hang up the phone in awe. The guy is a complete and utter genius. He's hella organized. He goes above and beyond the call of duty. He is honest and reliable. And, best of all, I feel my car is safe.
Robert, if you're reading this, THANK YOU!!!! I cannot recommend him enough.
Yet another fan chiming in. I've been taking first my Honda Prelude then my Acura TL and my wife's Nissan Maxima there for years. Always good service, always straightforward what the car needs & doesn't need, always on time. Robert & his crew are the most professional auto mechanics I've ever had the pleasure to deal with.
This auto shop is as good as they say it is. Best service Ive had from an y auto shop. If you go here, you'll know why everyone has given this shop 5 stars. The owner is genuinely nice and very kind.
Robert is the most professional, honest, courteous and knowledgeable auto-mechanic I know of in this country. I've lived in LA, NY and SF and this man is a rare gem !!
I can't believe I haven't raved about Action Auto yet! Robert and the team always take the time to explain the details of what's happening "under the hood" regardless of gender or apparent knowledge or interest of the matter because they treat their customers with respect (I'm not Sicilian but I still appreciate that!). One time I took my severely-over-heating car in and they remedied the problem without charging me. They are incredibly trustworthy and competent.
Actio Auto is only place I will take my truck for service in San Francisco. I had an extremely positive experience and have faith in the repairs and knowledge of the staff and owner.
Robert is an open book. He gave me honest information and explained in detail the repairs he was and was not doing. Also, I told him that my oil was recently changed and he remembered to credit my total accordingly. Very professional and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
The only complaint I have is that they are too busy and you must schedule a week in advance. A recipe for a very successful business.
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Robert's awesome...really worked with me on timing and pricing. My car was in dire need of service and Robert never once made me feel like a bad car owner. This is the first place I've brought my car and felt completely cared for and comfortable -- in my life. Thanks, Robert! You're amazing!
Excellent, fast service. I brought my car in for a pre-purchase inspection (about $100 for my model car and well worth the price!)
Robert was thorough, informative and, above all, honest. He could have pushed some repairs on me right away but instead gave me an honest answer about how long I could wait, what exactly needed to be done and when, and how much it would cost.
He even answered some questions re: what I could do myself (changing a gasket, and some hoses) and what I should leave for the pros, and answered a few general car-maintenance questions as well.
His shop, while a bit out of the way (way over in Potrero, while I live on the west side of SF) is at least near a few bus lines, so it was easy to get to work downtown. There are also some cafes nearby (well, starbucks anyway) so you can sit and read and drink coffee while waiting for your car to be repaired.
He also does smog checks, and if your car fails you can get the repairs done there, unlike those test-only stations on so many corners.
Hopefully my car won' t need much more work in the future but if it does I'll be taking it to Action Auto Care!
How can a mechanic/car shop be so good? When they have people who know what they are talking about, are patient talking to you, and take the time to really find out the problem.
I admit, I was extremely skeptical of this place. Being a girl, I have been talked down to many a time by some service guy wearing a tie, even when I came into the shop with a clear idea of what was going wrong.
I took my car here because my dealership kept telling me nothing was wrong with my car when I knew there was something wrong. I even went so far as to google for them what I thought was wrong. They never even checked. Sent me home with the car and said things were fine.
So I went here hoping for someone a little more knowledgeable (and honest). Robert runs the office, fixes cars, and takes the cars on test drives. He took a look at my car but couldn't hear what I could hear, so we went on a test drive together so we could diagnose it. Once we isolated the noise, he knew exactly what it was and fixed it free of charge. He told me if it happened again, to bring it to him and he would fix it at no cost.
Given this kind of service, I don't mind paying a little more. I'm confident that, for once in my life, what I see on the invoice (i.e. what I'm paying for) has actually been thoroughly done.
I brought my 98 Volvo Wagon in...yeah I know....the front head light kept burning out. I called Robert based on the Yelp reviews and that we use them for our company cars. I was able to get a next day appointment. He was there at 7:30 am friendly and explained what they do. He called me and told me it was just fuse and that there was no charge...um what....here I was waiting for the shoe to drop and no charge! I can't recommend him enough!
Robert you are a class act and I was glad to have you look over my poor ailing car yesterday. Even though it must now go on to a transmission shop, at least I know that is wasn't an overlooked simple cause. I know where to bring my car for future, more manageable, problems. Thanks for your graceful customer service
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Thank you Robert for your honesty and great timely care you gave to my 4x4 getting ready for the ski season.
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You know you're in trouble when the number of auto-repair reviews you write starts to equal the number of restaurants you have reviewed... BUT, if only I was giving five stars to every restaurant!
Robert was very patient and helpful in explaining my brake situation, which involved rusted out parts from the salted-road-nether-lands of Minnesota and Vermont. His price for my brake & roter repair was lower than another well-reviewed shop, and he gave me a good estimate of time before I'll need to replace the other (rusted) brakes.
The thing I liked best, however, is that he didn't assume or pressure me to come back to him for my next brake job. He said, "You'll want to have the rear brakes looked at in about six months." I think it's a good sign when your mechanic gives you the freedom to go elsewhere - it means he's confident you'll come back.
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I have only positive things to say about Robert and Action Auto. I took my '96 Honda Accord there for an oil change and an evaluation on a current oil leak. He let me know that I had not one, not two, but 3 leaks. Robert gave me advice on how to approach the problem, what leaks to fix first and then said he would monitor the leak near the timing belt (re: expensive to fix). He fixed two of the leaks and checked out the third when I went back the following week for a 4 wheel alignment. I like the fact that he didn't push me to fix the more expensive leak right away since it ended up being not that bad at all. I very much appreciate his approach and his straightforward attitude. I know my car will be well taken care of there.
So, Action Auto is a solid, honest place to get your car worked on. 5 stars, sure. But what really makes it great is its corrguated-steel, mad-max style enclosure. This place is less a garage than a walled in, post-apocalyptic fortress. Come the next nuclear holocaust or zombie uprising, these guys will be launching homemade firebombs over the battlements with giant catapults built from Carollas and F-150's. And yeah, somehow they'll all be wearing tight leather oufits and fingerless gloves, and more than one of them will have an eyepatch.
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Thanks to the reviews on Yelp I took my little VW Bug to get brakes and headlights fixed and Robert was awesome!! He let me know exactly what he was going to do and how much it would cost me "no surprises"!! I will definitely be back if I need anymore repairs!!! Highly recommended!!!
I live on the Peninsula now and have been through several cars since I first was referred to Robert. Even now, if I had a need for major service, I would take my car up to him for his opinion. Robert and his staff are so honest and so decent, this is by far the best shop I have ever been to. As a woman, I know I have gotten bamboozled several times in the past by other places purely because it was pretty clear I had no idea what was up. Robert has always explained in layperson's terms what the problem was and even showed me with the extricated parts, exactly what he was talking about. Hands down, the best!
Yet another awesome review for Robert.
Both of my cars made a visit to Action Auto Care this week (yeah, it was THAT good of a week). Pricing was very fair and he is super knowledgeable. He called before he did any work to check in and he even found a cheaper part for my Subaru and saved me $90! This is one hard working, honest guy. Definitely bring your car here.
Never before have I ever seriously thought about baking Christmas cookies for my mechanic...
I'm so glad to have found Yelp. I would never have know about Robert and Action Auto if it weren't Yelped in such a positive way. My experience with Robert has been great. They did my wife's brakes, front and back, and were very nice to work with.
Thanks.
The reason I took my car to Robert at Action Auto was based on the amazing reviews he has on here. And they're true! He really IS fabulous. He fixed the nasty brakes on my Nissan Altima with over 140k miles. Plus, he did some general maintenance on a few things that made a huge difference. The price is reasonable and the way he schedules is also great. Now, I'm going back there for my clutch, so I figured I'd better yelp!
These guys provide excellent (and fast) service. They are trust-worthy, which seems to be a rare quality in mechanics these days, and eco-friendly.
As noted by several others on Yelp, Robert is easy to deal with and will answer all questions honestly. The pricing was a bit higher than I was used to in San Diego, but then again, so is everything in the Bay Area. But I don't mind paying for quality, especially when it comes to my car.
I brought my 2003 Jetta in when the (dreaded) "Check Engine" light came on. For any of you with VWs, you know that this generally happens at least once a year and usually costs you $500+ to fix. You're kind of at the mercy of the mechanic because they have to scan the car's computer for an error code -- some of which are inexpensive fixes, and some are not. I've been in situations where different mechanics told me different things after running diagnostics, milking the situation for a more expensive repair. Thankfully this was just a $40 switch replacement versus a $400 O2 sensor, but Action Auto Care reported and repaired the problem honestly and quickly.
Thanks again.
Maybe you're reading this and wondering, how can a place get all 5-star reviews? I was a little skeptical at first. But I needed a new clutch and my regular guys at Automotive Specialists quoted me $1100 to replace the clutch on my Subaru (and replace the leaky rear plate that makes all Outbacks burn oil). Since this represented a major expenditure, I thought I'd call around. So I call from the parking lot at work and leave a message. Then I sit there listening to the radio (since I know it's the last time for nine hours that I can control my day) and Robert calls me back in 5 minutes. Yes he can take a look at it today. Yes we take a drive a round the block. And when he was shocked at how bad it was, he says I can leave it with him and he'll get it back the next day. No I shouldn't drive it to Sacramento -- as I was considering. He tells me what clutch I'll be getting and oh by the way, would I like a ride back downtown?
The car was ready on time, and runs great. And it cost less than my original quote. Could not be happier.
Action Auto deserves its stars! I dropped my car off for a laundry list of repairs at 7:30 AM, and it was back to me, purring like a kitten, at 6 PM that same day. They were so helpful, informative and poilte. And I never once felt I was being manipulated or "sold" like at other auto repair places. Really, really comfortable with these guys. I will use them again and again.
He is truly AMAZING. Go there already.
Really the only thing that is hard is getting your car in and out of their lot (small entrance and cars get piled up).
oh.mi.gawd.
robert kim is the most reliable, dependable (do they mean the same thing??), honest and chill mechanic i've ever known.
i say, hey robert, i think i might need (any number of things). ok, he says, i'll check it out.
no, he replies, you don't. don't waste your money on that. the car can go for x amount more miles. replace it then.
or,
just drive the car into the ground. i wouldn't put any more work/money into it.
really, what mechanic advises his customer to not get a service/repair done when that means more money for him? robert kim that's who!
he's a genius!!
i've been going to him since 2001 when i first moved here and have taken all of my cars (volvos) here. he knows what's up with the car in a short amount of time and delivers when he says he will. once, i left luggage in there and he called me to say that he would bring it into the office b/c the neighborhood is sketchy. who does that? yep, robert kim.
i don't know much about cars so when i ask him questions, i'm a little embarrassed but he is never condescending, like a lot of men and mechanics are toward me. he's patient and explains the ins and outs of the engine in words that i understand. that's a sign of a) good business person; b) a kind person; c) a master mechanic (of which he is certified).
if you have any car problems, go there. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED or you can message me and i'll buy you a cup of blue bottle coffee. seriously. (but i'll ask you lots of questions).
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My AC broke again only 2 months after getting it fixed. I had to pay for 2 new belts and was a little irate about having to pay again to have the same thing fixed.
Robert took a look and found that the 1 of the AC belts had broken again. He wasn't sure what happened but thought it was caused by the compressor, though the compressor was working at the time.
Robert ended up replacing my belt for free and sent me on my merry way. This is a guy who stands by his work. I'm ashamed that my loyalty and confidence wavered for that brief moment, never again.
**************
My mom was in town for a few weeks and took our car to Robert. But she had Robert call my dad though he was in Houston and had never driven the car. Then she had Robert call me instead of her though she'd driven the car long enough to describe what was wrong.
So Robert thinks my family is crazy since he's never had to call so many people who didn't know what was going on about ONE car. And you would think I'd be offended but I'm more impressed he put up with us.
I don't understand cars. I don't know if I'm getting a good deal or the cheapest rate.
What I do know is that...
Robert is patient and explains things thoroughly. He doesn't schmooze you or talk down to you. He puts the customer first.
My something belt or another wasn't working (I told you I know nothing about cars). He simply replaced the ball bearing instead of the whole belt to save me money. He explained that if I heard a loud, whining noise that would mean the belt finally gave out but that should be a few years.
Like many other people, dentists and mechanics freak me out. I liked Robert on my first visit, but the second visit cemented my faith in him.
Maybe I 'could' get a cheaper deal elsewhere, maybe not. But I am comfortable with Robert, I trust him. Even IF I'm paying more, I'm paying for quality service , reputation, and peace of mind and that's totally fine by me.
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My Subaru Forrester has had the check engine light on for about two years. Hey, I was told that it could mean anything and it's usually not critical and I'm a girl and at least I change my oil every 2000 miles (sometimes)! Anyway . . . I finally decided to get it checked out and went to see Robert at Action Auto Care (sort of sounds like the super hero of mechanics, doesn't it?) I was referred to Action (we are close now, so I can call him by his first name) by all the great reviews from my fellow Yelpers and I was not disappointed.
Robert is the best! It couldn't be more cliche than to have a woman complain about being treated poorly by a mechanic on too many levels to even mention. This was not the case with Action. Robert discussed his knowledge of my make and model of car, the typical problems he finds and works to find the best solution for the least amount of money. I mentioned another problem I was having with this weird plastic burning smell and he knew exactly what it was and fixed it for a very reasonable price.
Oh, and the check engine light . . . bad gas cap - $25. See, I told you it wasn't anything critical. Robert followed up with phone calls regularly to check in, he got approval from me every step of the way before he did any work, and explained everything to me in a simple but not condescending way.
I wouldn't steer you wrong here (did you get the car reference there?).
Action is my new favorite super hero, well, when it comes to mechanics anyway.
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I too have only good things to say about Robert and his shop. He's been taking care of our various clunkers for about seven years now, and we've been completely and totally happy with his work, his employees, his estimates, prices, everything.
True story: I knew this guy was okay the first time I brought him a problem. I had a leaky old hatchback, and some water had collected in the trunk. I remembered that when the same thing happened to my sister's car years back, Dad had drilled a drainage hole in the trunk and solved the problem; not wanting to drill into the gas tank, I took it to Robert and asked if he could do it for me. He took one look in the trunk, poked the rubber plug out of the drainage hole that was ALREADY THERE and said, "there you go, problem solved." Clearly I was clueless enough that he could've gotten some money out of me by drilling a hole I didn't need, but he did the honest thing, and I was sold from there on out.
Also, he gives my kid a kite every time we go in. How cute is that?
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Have now been here once, after a strong recommendation from a co-worker. Let's just say Robert treats you as if he were imagining himself as the customer. Albeit an obviously less experienced customer than himself (if that makes any sense).
Have you noticed (at this point) no reviews are anything less than 5 stars? Not even one cranky lunatic has had a bad experience with this garage.
I'm pretty sure they even fixed some stuff they didn't even bother telling me about or billing me for. For example, my very silly (and previously very dim) electronic odometer was suddenly visible; whereas before I had to struggle to see the damned thing. (Note: this was not in any way related to the work done on the car, either).
Basically, he's pretty awesome, and will break everything down for you in a smart, honest and clear way. When you hear, "I wouldn't bother with that right now" you know you've found a keeper.
Robert took care of my vehicle with no problems. He explained the problems that I had and how long I had to correct them before major damage could take place. He's very knowledgeable and I know that I'll go back in the future for further repairs.
I found Robert on Yelp and he has proven every bit of his honesty, upstanding and willingness to help with any car situation. I would not think twice about taking your car there.
Robert is the BEST!!! He is very honest, kind and considerate. I have never met a mechanic like that before. He came highly recommended from people at work. I have gone to him a couple of times already and i'm very pleased.
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Wish I still lived in SF... I am considering driving to Action Auto from Berkeley just because they are so trustworthy and competant. Robert is the best and was referred to me by an old supervisor at my last job. Seriously no reason to go anywhere else.
My Jeep Wrangler was smoking and the starter was sluggish. I called the **BLEEP** dealership and they told me they couldn't see me for a week. Enough--so, I spent about twenty minutes on Yelp and narrowed it down to two alternatives. Robert was my first call and he was fantastic. He'd had a cancellation that afternoon and told me to bring it in (he's had a lot of experience with Jeeps). The work was completed in less than two hours and for a great price. Big time SHOUT OUT for Action Auto Care!
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