Ackerman's Servicing Volvo & Subaru

Reviews

Reviews are sorted by relevance, with the most helpful and insightful feedback listed first for easy reference.

  Elicia Fox Chaney
3 months ago
Never again will I wait weeks for over priced appointments at the Subaru dealership. The guys at Ackerman were so quick, polite, inclusive, and capable, I have found the nirvana of a trustworthy mechanic who also has fast service and good prices.I love that the office is LGBTQ friendly, a real plus for a Subaru mechanic ;) , and Bruce was a delight to work with. I also couldn t stop giggling at their magazine rack which represents the 4 genders- trade , racing , gay , and general . Definitely a place to feel safe and accepted while also getting excellent service.I dropped my car off for some body work at 0830, they were done by 1000, and the price came in exactly as quoted with no extras or up charging.100% will be returning for future service on my 2016 Outback.

  Janet Jensen
4 months ago
My first time going to Ackerman s was very positive. They were recommended by a Volvo owning friend. I found them honest, efficient with time, good communicators and very experienced. I highly recommend them.I brought in my 2006 Subaru Outback due to clicking noise with sharp turns, handling problems and white smoke coming out of tail pipe. Bruce (owner) explained white smoke likely condensation with cooler outside temps (winter). I chose to pay for compression test which proved Bruce right. Worth the peace of mind for engine with 150,000 miles.They determined the clicking noise from cracked axil. Bruce explained he typically saves customers money by using non Subaru parts, but in this case they ve found off market part s inferior.They also found that my suspension is shot. For this he recommended cheaper non Subaru parts that he said are consistently reliable. I appreciate their wisdom here. As full suspension repair will cost more than blue book for the car, Bruce prioritized which suspension repairs are most vital to safety and asked how many more miles I plan to keep my car. They obviously are not trying to rip off the customer, but work collaboratively to assess the customer s best options. Big thank you to Bruce and his team.

  David Kaeli
a day ago
I needed my Subaru to have a thorough checkup before a cross country trip. Bruce fit me into the schedule and identified I needed brake work. 2000 miles into the trip, all is well. Thank you Ackerman's!

  Jeremy Judson
3 months ago
Brought my XC70 in for its 80k mi service and appreciated the drama-free experience.Bruce is efficient with the paperwork, clearly explains work to be done, and patiently answers questions.From attentive customer service to honest and quality car care, the competence at Ackerman's is obvious.In short, they are as reliable as my Volvo!

  Dave Crady
2 months ago
Bruce was very professional and helpful in dealing with our car. He made room in his schedule to take our car in which had to be towed to his shop. Very happy with the services performed on our vehicle. The follow up phone call, asking how things were and thanking us for using their services was a nice touch.

  Khalil Fuller
a week ago
The best. It's rare to find an HONEST mechanic with fair prices, strong communication, and excellent quality. I take my Subaru to Ackerman's every time.

  Matthew Millspaugh
4 weeks ago
I had an excellent experience with the service of my Subaru with Ackerman s. From scheduling , to an explanation of services and costs to details of the service. Bruce and his staff were friendly and informative. I ll be back.

  andrew forsyth
6 months ago
Easily one of the best shops I've had for ANY of my cars. Bruce is always pleasant, well-informed, and helpful. They communicate so well about what's going on, what to expect, etc. I couldn't recommend them highly enough as a quality shop that delivers top notch service with zero fuss. Do yourself a favor and bring your cars to them.

  Gary Simons
3 months ago
We have been going to Ackerman s for many years and always had excellent service. I feel very comfortable leaving my car with Bruce and his mechanics. A great Berkeley business!

  Charles Wong
3 months ago
Late review. Back in 2022, our 1991 Volvo 245 station wagon with over 200k miles. Had a accident driving over the curb and bend the right control arm. I contacted Ackerman Volvo for a quote and inspection. We had the car towed to the shop and they called back for the estimate. Great service and friendly. The only Volvo repair shop in East Bay and hope they stay in business. Will contact Ackerman again for future repairs. Honest shop!

  Marshall Hampson
5 months ago
I recently took my 2011 Subaru WRX in for service and was thoroughly impressed by the honesty and expertise on display. Persistent issues had been plaguing my car, including a mysterious rattle in the steering wheel that had stumped two other mechanics. Not only did the team diagnose the problem as a loose bolt immediately, but they also resolved it on the spot without any needless delay.Moreover, a concerning noise from the clutch, which I feared might be the throwout bearing, was swiftly identified as a simple need for lubrication. In an industry where upselling and unnecessary services are all too common, their straightforward approach was a breath of fresh air.Their integrity and fairness stood out, reaffirming that excellent customer service and trustworthy mechanics still exist. I m sincerely grateful for their exceptional service and would recommend them without hesitation.

  Tymon Manning
7 months ago
Bruce and his team are super kind, efficient, and very straightforward. I was having an issue I had raised three times at Volvo dealerships before, Ackerman's resolved it within a few hours. Really nice followup as well - highly recommend!!

  Hussein Alboudwarej
3 months ago
Came in for a Brake Job for my Subaru Outback. Bruce and his team delivered a timely repair job with an extremely competitive cost. Ackerman s will be my choice for any future Subaru Service.

  Roscoe Skipper
5 months ago
These guys saved me about $7800 in repair bills vs a nearby dealer. Car was overheating, coolant spraying from expansion tank and radiator. Dealer says I have a blown head gasket, requiring removal of the engine. Ackerman s replaces the radiator cap, couple of hundred miles later, all s good.Would have been so tempting for Ackerman s to quote the same work, to get the cash, instead they looked at it with fresh eyes and did the honorable thing. They have earned my (and your) business.

  Mcfee Easy feezy
5 months ago
Absolutely it is my pleasure to have encountered your great services.I felt really comfortable and I feel that I can trust you so with that being said, I thank you so very much and look forward to doing business with you for all my Subaru mechanical needs in the not so distant future. Gracias

  Steven Rinaldo
a month ago
Bruce and his team were professional and fair-priced, I d recommend them for your next Subaru vehicle service.

  GRETA GEBHARDT
6 months ago
My 1991 Volvo 240 feels younger after being serviced at Ackerman s! I trust his recommendations and they were able to do some minor repairs that my previous garage kept putting off. Friendly and clean. Highly recommend.

  Katherine Shirley
3 months ago
I ve trusted Ackerman s to do my routine maintenance for years. They do great work! Very friendly, always coffee and biscotti in the waiting area.

  Cynthia Cohen
a year ago
I had my 50k mile check here. What a great experience! Bruce and his team are professional, experienced and super efficient. I showed up w/o an appointment and Bruce somehow managed to fit me in and charged me half of what Oakland Subaru would have charged. But really the best part is Bruce. He runs his business the old fashioned way - with great customer service and reasonable prices. He actually greets returning customers by their first name. I love this place!!!

  Philip Broaddus
a week ago
Just took it in again. Fast and effective. It was time for a new timing belt. The car runs great. It will last for years. I'll be sharing the keys with my kid in two years!They do a great job. Just took in for regular service. My 10 year old Sub runs like it's new. I'm careful to take it to Ackerman's on schedule for service. One less worry in life, especially before road trips, and with Ackerman's care, the car will outlast me.Service: General repairs & maintenance

  Michelle Horn
2 months ago
I had trouble passing Smog because I don't drive lcar enough. Akerman's Service was fast and complete. I passed with flying colors. Thank you all.

  Petros Giannikopoulos
6 months ago
I have an older Volvo that was experiencing a range of issues, and everything was resolved quite efficiently. Outstanding service, very professional, HIGHLY recommend Bruce and his team. This place is a gem.Services: Electrical repair, General repairs & maintenance, Engine repairServices: Electrical repair, General repairs & maintenance, Engine repair

  Jonathan Fisher
4 months ago
This was the first time bringing our v60 XC in. The work was completed as discussed and done so in a timely manner. We will continue having our car serviced at Ackerman s.

  Jesse Markman
11 months ago
Finally done with dealership service, brought my 2013 Subaru Outback to Ackerman s for a basic service. They performed an inspection, took care of the service items, and provided an estimate for work that would need to done at the next service.Was very pleased with the experience, price was reasonable, and the whole process was easy.Bruce and his team were fantastic. Will be bringing my Subie back here for its next service and beyond!

  Bix Swain
3 months ago
Excellent service as always, needed a hose from Volvo in Sweden to pass smog, Bruce ordered the part, appreciated the efforts to obtain one in the US.

  Michael Lingg
a week ago
Great shop, great service, they stand behind their work and are very easy to do business with.

  D P
a year ago
A huge thank you to Bruce and the crew for taking excellent care of my older Volvo V70! This is the second time that I've visited Ackerman's for service.I have to say that each time I've gone in for service, the courtesy and kindness shown to me by Bruce was/is so much appreciated. I even received a post repair phone call thanking me for bringing my car in to be serviced....and a thank you card in the mail too! This is such a rare occurrence with businesses these days. This politeness shows me that this company cares about its customers and wants to make sure that everything is up to our satisfaction. I can rely on Bruce and his team to fix any future problems that I may have with my Volvo, and feel welcomed in knowing that the service will be exceptional.Bruce, I do not know the names of the mechanic (s) or the lady who phoned to thank me for bringing my car to your shop, but can you thank each of them for me?D. PriceServices: Vehicle Inspection, Wiper blade installation, Auto maintenance, Oil change

  v ramirez
11 months ago
Ackerman s is the place I trust with the care of my Volvo. Dependable, honest and trustworthy service all the time. Thank you, Bruce and your team. I drive more than 50 miles for my car service and glad I do for quality workmanship and honesty!Services: General repairs & maintenance, Oil changeServices: General repairs & maintenance, Oil change

  Linda Stonier
a year ago
The repairs to the steering column were done well and promptly. They performed the driving cycle needed to pass a smog test, then handled the smog test at the place next door (which I paid for separately). Bruce also did a last minute lube job himself on the chassis as his mechanic has left for the day. So the service on the car was excellent and efficient.Unfortunately, they left the car unlocked with the window open on the edge of their lot and my fast track was stolen. Also they did not reset my radio with the required code so it doesn t work. Otherwise, I would be very happy, instead of only sort of happy, with my experience.Services: Steering & suspension repair, Auto emissions testing

  Walker Keating
2 weeks ago
Amazing experience, Bruce is very helpful and the service is top tier!! Highly recommend.