Phil's Automotive

Reviews

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

  Ben Griswold
3 months ago
My family and I recently visited town for a brief two-night vacation, and on our very first night, our truck started making an awful noise. We were worried our holiday plans would be completely derailed. However, Phil's came to our rescue! Despite their busy schedule, they managed to squeeze us in for a quick check. To our relief, they discovered it was just a stick jammed by the rear left wheel - a simple issue but one that had us quite concerned.Not only did the team at Phil's quickly resolve the problem, but they also charged us a very reasonable price. Their professionalism and empathy towards our situation were truly commendable. Because of their efficient and affordable service, we were able to drive away with a huge sigh of relief and enjoy the rest of our vacation without any further hiccups.I can't express enough gratitude to the team at Phil's for their quick and effective service. They turned what could have been a holiday nightmare into a minor hiccup, allowing us to enjoy our vacation to the fullest. If you're ever in a bind with your vehicle, I highly recommend Phil's for their outstanding service and customer care. They genuinely care about their customers and go the extra mile to ensure your peace of mind. Thank you, Phil's, for making our vacation memorable for all the right reasons!

  ali Serpoosh
2 weeks ago
Thanks God we have Phil s Automotive in Big Bear . Wonderful staff , friendly and helpful.We moved to big Bear Lake five months ago I was hoping to have good Mechanic shop and Pizza.We got them plus excellent restaurant.

  Mark Burke
a month ago
Very nice people and fair price. Timely repair for an expected issue and explained our problems and delivered on time of repair. Unexpected break downs are never fun, costly and stressful especially when you are away from home. Very thankful for the courteous service.

  J Miller
5 months ago
Went in to get a smog. They have the highest price in the valley. Took my keys, pulled my truck in from the parking lot, started the test, then pulled my truck back out to the parking lot. Then they charged me 71$ and said they didn't notice the engine service light on even though they drove the truck from the parking into the bay and that it had failed. Isn't that your job, to notice when something is wrong? Now I'm out 71$ and no smog cert. I went to Knights and got it done for 60$ with no hassles or bad attitudes. Never again Phil's. Ive been in a lot of auto repair places. I even use to work in one. I get a bad vibe from Phil's.All the money he says he spent on equipment means nothing when their "Master Techs" do nothing and ignore warning lights on my dash.Scam, scam scam!Service: Auto emissions testing

  Amber Toole
a year ago
I took my car in 4 weeks ago, because of squeaky brakes. Was told the front needed to be replaced. The back was fine and needed resurfacing. My car kept squeaking. I took it to another shop. Come to find out the back was not fine at all. It needs all new drums and brakes. I don't understand why I was told the back was fine and sent home squeaking and charged a $70 resurfacing fee. I'm shocked as I thought this was a reputable shop. Idk if my drums could've been saved had they been properly assessed 4 weeks ago. Disappointed. They said this was okay. Sent me on my way with my rear brakes looking like this. Terrible.Service: Brakes

  Glen TradesFX
a month ago
Been coming here for a variety of things since probably 2015, never left a review. Just want to say these guys are great, I can always trust Phils to get the job done quickly and correctly.

  manuel sloan
6 months ago
I've been coming for 3 years and take care of both my trucks. Always diagnosed problems and fixed in a timely manner. Great service and love people working there.

  Thea Lewis
a year ago
There was a big snow storm and chains were required, the team at Phil s took care of us. They were quick and gave us a fair price. They were honest and friendly. Grateful for the wonderful service. I highly recommend them.

  Roger
11 months ago
On a late Friday afternoon, I discovered the battery to my car was completely dead (verified by AAA, who responded to my home for a jump). I called Phil s automotive, who I have used in the past. They ordered my battery and I was able to get it installed before they closed for the weekend. They re closed on the weekend and this was my only car. I m so appreciative of this business and will continue to use them for all my automotive needs. I highly recommend this business to anyone who needs automotive repairs

  Danny Williams
11 months ago
Phil's Auto is absolutely the best repair shop in Big Bear. And the service from Jon is extraordinary, exceptional, and goes above and beyond anything you'd expect from an auto repair shop. I needed to get down the mountain before a snow storm came, and while other shops in Big Bear told me it would take at least a day or two to get to my van to replace an alternator belt, Jon said bring it in and he'd get it done. And he did! I can't recommend Phil's Automotive enough. 100 stars out of 5 would still not be enough. Don't waste your time going anywhere else in Big Bear. Go to Phil's and experience what a professional shop is like.

  Marisol
a year ago
We found this business through AAA. We were in Moonridge for the weekend and unable to drive our truck down due to the snow fall and road conditions. Luckily AAA found us a towing company that towed us down to this business. Upon arrival the staff was fully understanding of our situation. They were able to use the chains we had already previously purchased. They were able to install them within 10-15 minutes! We were able to get on the road and make our 2.5 hr. drive home safely. Thank you to everyone at Phil's automotive for a great experience during a stressful moment for us city people.Service: Tires

  Lena Lopez Bradley
6 years ago
I had a problem with my Nissan Rogue where the wheels would make a weird clicking noise when I was turning. It turns out it, Phils said it was something called a "CV Joint". Being that I travel up and down the mountain regularly, I didn't feel comfortable going back home with a problem with the steering. I hadn't been to Phil's before and was worried about going to someone who wasn't the dealership. They took care of my car quickly and didn't interrupt my mini-vacation with my family. Great job and thank you for the quick service!

  Tyler Jones
3 months ago
Franklin was super helpful when we were in a pinch up here visiting Big Bear. Great service!!!!

  Grey Ryder
a year ago
What a gem of a find! We appreciate this service center so much. They are so friendly and helpful. We were camping at a nearby campground when one of our tires ran a flat. Even though the auto center was swamped, they took the time to check and fix our tire!! Wendy who runs the front desk area is awesome and David worked on our tire was very thorough. What a great bunch of people. Definitely recommend!!Service: Tires

  Robin M
6 years ago
This is the only place up here that I will take my three vehicles. They charge competitive rates and stand by their work. The mechanics here have always gone the extra mile for me and when I pickup my cars they always seem to run better.

  Wendy Glowski
10 months ago
Great body shop. Fit me in same day when I had an unexpected dead battery and needed to get back home. Checked my starter and alternator to ensure they were functional too.

  Henry Dias
2 years ago
There are many good shops on the mountain, Phil s is the BEST of them. I ve been using them for a while now. They ve serviced and repaired both diffs, the transmission, and valve covers / timing set on my classic 4x4. I always get my truck back clean and working great. They ve actually improved the performance of my truck.They don t waste your time or money, if they can get you driving again without parts, they do. They try to keep your costs down and your vehicle is perfect running condition, and a lot of the work has a warranty.I ve also used Phil s for electrical issues with both my Bronco and my Jeep. Excellent work every time.They re also really fast compared to shops I ve used in the past.Services: Transmission, Electrical repair, General repairs & maintenance, Auto engine tuning, Engine repair

  Cecilia Ussher
a year ago
Grateful for Jon and the team at Phil's after my water pump gave out while in Big Bear over the Labor Day holiday. Despite being super busy, Jon managed to get my car on the schedule. I took it in just after 8 am, and it was ready to drive down the mountain at 1:40 pm. Jon, was polite and helpful.Service: Auto water leak repairService: Auto water leak repair

  Hank Dias
2 years ago
Every bit of work I've had done at this shop has been perfect. John and Sandy are GREAT about making sure you don't waste money and always find the best way to get you back on the road safely. I have my classic 4x4s serviced at this shop, my daughter's car, my girlfriend's car. Everything has been done perfectly with warrantied parts.Please ignore all these reviews from flatlanders. There are only a few good shops in Big Bear, and Phil's is one of the better known shops. This means they are usually booked solid for weeks in advance, like every other shop in Big Bear. Showing up in a panic and being rude to people is not going to get you great service from anywhere.You can't expect a booked solid shop to drop everything to help you when the locals are calling weeks in advance for appointments.Services: Transmission, Electrical repair, Air & cabin filter replacement, Steering & suspension repair, General repairs & maintenance, Electrical, Auto engine diagnostic, Auto engine tuning, Engine repair, Wheel alignment, Smog certification, Battery, Oil change

  Sandra Middleton
2 years ago
Phil's Automotive repair was exceptional. We were visiting Big Bear Lake from out of town. They helped reprogram my car when I had to replace the battery. The inside waiting room was so clean and accommodating. Staff were friendly, helpful and explained all work completed in a way that even I could understand. My car runs great now and I was so glad they were able to work me into their very busy schedule even during a holiday week when so many people needed to get their cars prepared for holiday travel. I would recommend Phil's for all your car needs.

  Armymom96
2 years ago
We were in Big Bear for a couple of days and a huge (for my SoCal sensibilities) winter storm hit. It snowed for pretty much two days straight. I haven't driven in snow in at least 20 years. And I am short and have a mid-sized SUV. So I needed help getting my chains on.The folks at Phil's were quick, efficient and friendly and had classic rock playing in the toasty warm waiting area. Didn't overcharge, either.Definitely would recommend.

  Matt Thimgan
2 years ago
This experience happened to my dad. He wrote a letter to the Grizzly about the situation, but it wasn t printed. We thought this would be a better venue to let people know about how this business is conducted.He went up the mountain for a Friday to take care of some tasks before visitors arrived the next week. On the way up, he inadvertently hit one of the several rocks that had come off the mountain. It popped his tire. He got the spare on, but the tire needed to be replaced. He went to Phil's Automotive with the tire size. There was a helpful woman that went back to the back and said they have the tire and could replace it that day. All went well.On Saturday, he took the car to his regular mechanic to finalize repairs and get the car in its best working order. His regular mechanic came back and stated that they had given him the wrong size tire. This error was disturbing because driving down the mountain and the freeways could be quite dangerous under the right circumstances. For a tire place to make this mistake in their core business is unsettling. The mechanic corrected the error and made sure all the tires were in the best places for best performance.Later, he returned to Phil's to explain what happened. The service manager met with him. My dad explained what had happened. The service manager asked, What do you want me to do about this? My dad replied that he would like the tire he paid for. The service manager considered this request and simply stated, No, we are not a used tire store. He then turned and left. Despite this being their error, they would not rectify the situation.So, beware when dealing with this tire establishment. They are incompetent at their core business and when there are problems, they have no interest in correcting their mistake. Be forewarned.

  Annie Schwarz
3 years ago
This is THE best place I have ever had the pleasure of dealing with, no exaggeration. I had a very tricky and weird situation with my car, and everyone at Phil's handled it like absolute PROS. Especially John, who took such amazing care of the issue and the car.If I could give this place 10 stars, I would give it 20. I cannot stress enough how helpful, understanding, patient, and supportive they have been with me. I would seriously urge anyone to never take their car anywhere else.THANK YOU SO MUCH JOHN!Service: General repairs & maintenance

  Michael Bench
a year ago
I was on vacation in Big Bear when my car decided it was time for a new radiator. Phil's Automotive was able to get the new radiator same day and had my car ready to go the next morning!My wife and I were by ourselves, had no extra car, and there were no Ubers - but our awesome service writer Jon was nice enough to drive us back to our AirBnB.What they charged me was also very reasonable. When I got home I asked my local shop what they would have charged and their price was almost the same. No "out of town markup" here!Service: General repairs & maintenance

  Barry Gates
a year ago
I was stuck on the mountain with a truck that wouldn t stay running. They knew what to do and had me back on the road in a short time. They even told me how to avoid my diesel fuel from gelling next time. They were friendly and the price was fair. Thank you.Service: General repairs & maintenanceService: General repairs & maintenance

  Susan Golsarry
6 months ago
I've been doing business with these guys for over 15 years. I'm never disappointed with their great service and fair prices.

  Gary Stine
4 years ago
You should bring you vehicle to Phil's. If I could give them 6 stars, I would. The staff at Phil's were friendly and genuinely interested in helping us. They even gave us a ride to a nearby hotel. They were quick to get the replacement parts ordered and promised to get us going quickly the next day, which they did. We were quoted a fair price and we paid exactly what we were quoted. They insisted on picking us up from the hotel, too. I can't tell you how much we appreciated their kindness. Our day went from being stranded to being treated like neighbors or friends at Phil's Automotive. I will never forget that. If you are in Big Bear and need anything related to automotive service or repair, go to Phil's. Thank you to the gang at Phil's for saving the day and for setting the bar for customer service so high. You are the best.

  Hunter Mulligan
a year ago
I no longer service my car here. These people over charge and it seems they don't want to work? I recently brought my car here for the 60k mile service, an oil change and a tire rotation. They told me my car was absolutely fine absolutely fine I asked them to check the brakes breaks they said my tread was at 50% the whole process took about an hour maybe just under but they didn't rotate my tires. I thought my car felt funky so I took it to Knights automotive and they then told me my rotors were toast and they said my brakes were at 20 to 30% each. I would recommend servicing else where atleast until they fix there business practices.

  Marsha Murray
2 years ago
A while back we were on vacation and our car broke down. We asked around and several of the people that live here recommended them. They figured out that my starter was bad but could not get the part before we left. It was a Friday when we came in and they could not get the part until first thing Monday. So we had family come pick us up and left it with them to fix. They finished it up by Monday evening and called us to pick it up whenever we wanted. They were nice about giving us time to pick it up and we left it almost 2 weeks with them. I called an apologized and the man at the desk told me not to worry about it since I was worried about getting charged storage fees. Anyway, we eventually picked it up 2 weeks later and paid the bill and they were so nice and accommodating.Service: General repairs & maintenance

  Carson SIMMONS
4 years ago
I did not see this place until I asked a few locals who they take their car to and they said Phil's Auto. Great find. I had my older SUV repaired and tuned-up here a few months ago. After that, the car was reliable and I am on the road again. The team here is professional and nice. They think on your behalf and provide good suggestions and do the right work. The prices charged are reasonable. Besides they provide a 24-month warranty, that makes you feel protected. I'm happy with the service and recommend the team to you.