John, Jason and the crew literally saved our lives and our vacation! We drove 2000 miles with a noise that kept getting worse. Two mechanics said to keep driving it and not to worry until the van stopped working. We had four kids in the car with us! We had two days to get it fixed before we needed to head back home. They diagnosed the problem in less than 30 minutes and got the part and fixed it in 24 hours! If we had kept driving it would have been disastrous. John helped us find a rental car and even drove us to the rental place. Unbelievable service, our home mechanic verified his price was fair and also said not to drive home with the issues we had, and John could have easily ripped us off as we were desperate. He even texted us a few days later to make sure we made it home safely. Wow, what an amazing process that could have ruined our vacation! I can’t recommend these guys enough! May God bless them for their honesty, integrity and care for us!

A great place for all your cars needs and wants. I had made an appointment for 2pm and had got right in. They went immediately to work on my new car right after an inspection, and we had agreed on a fair quote. I wanted to upgrade my exhaust system from stock to a better sounding one. John, the owner, BTW (is a veteran, thanks John) was very friendly and we chatted about our love for cars. Before I knew it, I heard my new exhaust, Wow! It was all installed in no time. Im totally happy I did my research and saw all the wonderful comments about Complete Automotive and its staff, first. What had got my eye was the fact that others had mention John as being honest and fair.When it comes to mechanics, many have a reputation of ripping off customers with phoney claims and high prices, especially towards women. I wasnt about to overpay someone for a relatively easy job such as installing a new exhaust. Again, John was fair with quoting a price for the job. Complete Automotive was very professional, timely, friendly, fair minded and had a clean establishment. I plan on going back to Complete Automotive for whatever comes up. For anybody who drives a car, its important to secure yourself a great mechanic in your corner. Thanks John, youve earned all my automotive business.

Visited from davis Ca. Had tire problem after going over a curb. John was very friendly and made an appointment next day. His shop spent an hourHoisting, wheel balance etc. during that time had a friendly conversation with him.. in the end when we were about to leave asked him how much we owed. No charge!What an honest and helpful fellow! Wish we had many like this in America.Bravo John.. thanks, thanks.Ryan

I cant say enough about the guys at Complete Auto. We have had both our vehicles serviced there for serious problems. They diagnosed and repaired the air conditioning system on our SUV and recently completed a blown head gasket repair on our truck. Each time John was honest, thorough, kind, and easy to communicate with. In every case, we came in at or under the estimate he provided. Complete Auto also follows up after you take your car home to make sure all is well and good. We highly recommend Complete Auto and John Rowe.MGD Shell Beach

Very professional and trustworthy. Streamlined appointment making and estimate approval process. Went above and beyond, helped me with a minor repair and rescued me on the side of the 101 and will forever have my business because of that.

John provided excellent service and was so kind and trust worthy from the get go! They fit my vehicle in right away and had it back to us in perfect amount of time. I would highly recommend them for any auto repair and plan to return for service in the future. Thank you so much John.

John was incredibly helpful. Took my call, spent time talking with me about our issue, was on time and explained exactly the work that was needed. Thank you!

Ive been in the area for a long time, and its been very difficult to find a competent and trustworthy mechanic in San Luis Obispo. It seems like many have forgot the benefit of customer service. I have a classic Ford Truck that most mechanics wont touch, isnt worth their time, or let it sit on their lot forever while they get other things done. Ive been to a number of shops in the area, and it has been difficult to get calls back directly from shop owners, many are busy due to COVID, or have employment challenges. John changed all of this by being responsive, talking me through his diagnosis, and all the additional steps to improve my truck. He has a web based system, where he takes pictures of all the deficiencies and his teams final work that you can carry around with you on your phone. Extremely friendly and responsive staff that even checked in on the truck after the visit. I didnt get the slightest feeling that I was a burden to them, that they were too busy to discuss things with me, or that the employees were unhappy. These guys hit it out of the park, customer service is key, and Complete Automotive won my business. I would recommend Complete Automotive for anyone who wants peace of mind, and beyond that, a professional who is willing to go above and beyond to fix your car.

As a resident of VA interested in a 1972 Datsun 240z in the Bay Area, I had John from Complete Automotive do a long distance Pre-Purchase Inspection for me. John was very knowledgeable and very helpful in assisting with the purchase. He provided lots of details and thoroughly explained what he though about the car. Complete Auto was the right way to go.

John and his team are very thorough in their work, and are happy to share their findings in laymans terms to the customer. A real down home family feel shop. Professional. Timely. Excellent customer service. Wont go anywhere else!

Excellent service at a reasonable price. Personal and professional.

I highly recommend Complete Automotive! The customer service has been outstanding. John is very transparent, explains everything in detail and is extremely knowledgeable. I have a 9-year-old Lexus that has been in a few times (both routine and unexpected) and very much appreciate his willingness to discuss options prior to preforming the work. This is an honest shop that provides great work at a reasonable price. .

John is truly an awesome guy. I havent lived in SLO for several years but when I was a student he took care of my ancient car until it finally wasnt worth repairing (blown head gasket) and then continued to provide excellent value and outstanding service to my next car. If I lived in the area again, I would not hesitate for a moment to bring my vehicles right back to them for top-notch maintenance!

Complete Automotive is the best place to take your car, SUV or truck.Totally Professional and they took care of each issue and worked within our budget.Take your business here for sure!!!❤

Staff was friendly and accommodating. Worked with me and my schedule.

John and his crew are always friendly, professional and on point. I have been going here for a couple of years and have recommended others. Not just a business, treat you like family. Will not going anywhere else. Amazing!

100% recommend. Will be back!

Ive been a customer since about 2012 and trust John and his people to provide transparent explanations and on point service. He has provided many options when dealing with an older car and is always willing to walk me through current or potential issues with my car. After dozens of oil changes and other repairs or maintenance, I trust John to tell me about trends and issues to be aware of. I highly recommend Complete Auto and the team there!

John is absolutely amazing! Not only did he wait an hour after his shopped closed for my car to get towed to his shop. He told me right away what my car needed knowing that it was going to be pricey, he also did research to see if my car was still under warranty and told me that could be an option for me as well. He even called me multiple times to check on me and make sure I was being taken care of. He is the sweetest, kindest, most honest mechanic I have ever met. I highly recommend Complete Automotive! Thank you John!

Great group of guys. John was most helpful in getting what I needed done and in a timely manner. 10/10 would recommend complete automotive for all of your mechanical needs.

Dave is the best! Great mechanic and an even greater person. I wouldn’t go anywhere else in town

John is very helpful and knows his business and sevices are fairly priced.Ive always been satisfied with the work thats been done on my car at Complet Automotive.

I’ve used Complete Automotive for a few years and have always been impressed with their professionalism in completing needed work on time and on budget. They are friendly and easy to work with!

I hate to write negative reviews of places, but just feel like I have to let people know.I was told I needed to have my oxygen sensor replaced, that it was urgent, and that it would cost $400. Luckily I was too broke to afford such a thing and declined the service. But i became very concerned about the safety of my vehicle and started asking around. I ended up finding out from my father, who used to be a mechanic, that that service truly should never cost more than $200. The part itself is moderately expensive, however its incredibly easy to get to on my vehicle and requires virtually no labor. Not only that but it was suggested I simply try cleaning the oxygen sensor before replacing it. My partner and I did some research and figured out how to do that and the problem is now solved. Cost $0. I really wanted to trust these guys but I feel they tried to take advantage of me.

It was such a pleasure to deal with John during a very challenging vehicle break down, I’m a County Fleet Service Advisor and have been in the Automotive industry for almost 30 years. We had a department vehicle from Blythe CA out that way for a work related conference over 400 miles away. When the driver called me with the failure it was pretty stressful that he was stranded that far away, I called three of the local dealers and all were backed up and a two week wait to have the vehicle inspected. So then I Googled / Yelped for local repair facilities Complete Auto and John had such great reviews. (I understand why) I called him and he helped me arrange a tow with the local tow company and got the vehicle in his shop and diagnosed and reported the failure back to me the same day, he kept me informed and pushed it through so quickly, he was honest and sincere, and extremely knowable and friendly. We would most definitely be doing more business with him if we weren’t so far away. Thanks again, John! 😊

John is the most trustworthy mechanic I have every worked with. When I moved to this area I didnt really know anyone and was worried about being taken advantage of. On my first visit he explained to me everything that needed to be done with my car right away and what could wait. He had different cost options for me and explained the pros and cons of both. The price was extremely fair. I walked away feeling like someone was looking out for me. Awesome company!!!

Best place in town! Super responsive and friendly. Been going here for over two years now!

I have had my vehicles serviced here for the last few years. John & his crew are professional, dont beat around the bush, they tell you what needs to be done at the time of service as well as things to look out for in the near future. I wont see another mechanic in the area!

Delightful! Feels like an honest family owned business. Highly recommend!!

I have been taking my 2006 Tacoma to Complete Automotive for about 5 years now. John has always been great about diagnosing any problems Ive had and gives an honest and thorough explanation of necessary work. He has always been very fair in his estimates and does the work in a very timely fashion. The work has always been top notch, as he really knows his business. The first thing that really impressed me about his business model is that he is dedicated to building a trustworthy relationship with his customers and in this, he has gained my greatest confidence.

I’ve been coming to Complete Automotive since I first moved to San Luis Obispo in 2015 and I have nothing but great things to say. John is always efficient, helpful, timely, and honest with his work. I would recommend anyone to Complete Automotive who is needing some work on their car, I’ve never been disappointed!

I ran the car 3K miles before posting this review. A few months ago, I had John work on a few odds and ends on my 2004 Honda Accord (a mystery that ended up being a bad starter motor). While he was in it, I had him take care of a chatty/aging belt tensioner, and a few preventative services good for a higher mileage car like fuel system cleaner, a tune-up and a good oil change). John was great in letting me see the car and understand the issues. He insisted on quality parts -- which I appreciate and the process overall was very linear -- meaning we did not keep poking at symptoms, we got right to the bottom of the issues. Was fixed the first time. This was my second visit to that garage both times Id call myself extremely satisfied.

I have brought 3 very different cars into this shop over the course of 4 years and every time the experience is nothing short of perfect. The number one fear I have of most mechanics is the possibility of being sold on some unnecessary repair. This has never happened to me at Complete Automotive. I am a very paranoid car owner and every little sound I hear is cause for alarm. A dishonest shop would capitalize on my paranoia by “fixing” things that don’t need fixing. That does not happen here. Each of my concerns have been addressed & explained honestly. This is the place to go.

John can be counted on to do quality work and stand behind his repairs. I discovered a problem well beyond his one year warranty and he took care if it for me at his cost, which I felt was very fair. I will use his services in the future and recommend him to others as an honest, no pressure, quality shop.

I have been taking our car to Complete Automotive for the past 5 years. It’s a daily driver with high miles. Luckily there have not been too many visits, but when needed John and his technicians have taken great care of our vehicle. I tell my friends about this place and recommend anyone in need of a trustworthy auto mechanic to call John!

John was amazing at working with me to stay within my budget and still get the major things done I needed, and stayed in communication with me the whole way. Plus, he and his staff went above and beyond and made it happen when a supplier failed to make their deliveries on the day my car was getting serviced and left him without the OEM transmission fluid he needed. Based on quotes from other shops, his shop is the only place I know that couldve done all that work for that price! Highly recommended.

John and Craig‘s work at Complete Automotive help me feel secure driving a used car with a new baby on board. Recently I got a new-to-me car and needed it inspected and tuned up for safety and reliability. John’s cost estimate was accurate as was his timeline of when the work will be finished. As a woman I appreciated his honest attitude and the fact that he didn’t talk down to me about what kind of work the car needed. I’m so lucky to have a mechanic shop I trust!

John took awesome care of me and my Tacoma. The new lift looks fantastic. Very honest, top-notch work. Fair price. Ill be back!

I appreciate the professional service that Complete Automotive provides.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I did not actually have a repair done at this shop. BUT - John just spent nearly 20 minutes on the phone with me providing an estimate and advice. I called Complete first, but since I have an RV that requires a heavy duty lift, they were not able to do the work. I called back because I got a quote from another local repair service that seemed quite high to me, and I asked for some advice regarding what I was quoted for parts and service.John looked up the parts needed and verified prices as well as the estimated labor. He was friendly, helpful, informative, and respectful. He ended verifying the other quote, though had he had the needed lift, his labor rate would have been significantly better and saved me over $100.Based on Johns obvious knowledge and professionalism, I recommend Complete Automotive to anyone needing repair in the SLO area. Thanks John!!

Going forward, John and his team will be the only shop Ill take my truck to. Like most people, what I value most in a mechanic is honesty and fairness, and to that end Complete Automotive has not let me down yet. In my latest experience with them, I had a drivetrain noise issue that was difficult to diagnose. John and his team were tenacious in diagnosing and identifying the problem, and they kept me up to date with the status of my repair the entire time. They were very fair with pricing, and the issue was completely taken care of. I really couldnt be happier, and I cant endorse them highly enough.

Complete Automotive repair center has proven their competence and trustworthiness. We were visiting from out of town when our car broke down. The repair required a specialist. The local Toyota dealership suggested rather than bring the car to them, have it taken to Complete Automotive because they are the local experts.Needless to say, we got the car fixed, and they spotted a couple other potential serious issues that needed attention. Our car is now running perfectly and has been checked out thoroughly.You can trust this service center for all your cars needs. They do it right the first time. If I lived in SLO, this is where I would bring all of my cars.THANKS!

Great guys, Ive taken my truck in there twice now. One for a cylinder misfire I would not have been able to diagnose myself and the other time for a ball joint popping out. Theyre very fair on price and will be upfront with you!

John was a great guy to deal with, swapped the clutch out of my 03 Tacoma no problem and gave me a great price and a quick turnaround. Another thing i liked was when I asked him if it was a job I could do myself he gave me a no BS answer that yes i could, and if I did heres to go about it and these are the parts you should look for if you want to do it yourself. The reason I wanted them to do it was because I was moving and didnt have the time to do it myself but they worked with my schedule and got my baby back to me fast. Thanks guys!

Ive been taking my Jeep and Subaru to Complete Automotive for over five years. I really appreciate their ability to correctly diagnose, and clearly communicate their findings, with is wrong with my vehicles. Ive never felt up-sold, and their repairs have always solved my problems and kept me safely on the road. When I purchased my Subaru I brought it in for a pre-purchase inspection, and boy Im glad I did! They pointed out a couple of maintenance issues (water pump and serpentine belt) which needed replacement and I was able to negotiate a lower price on my purchase to make said repairs. I highly recommend Complete Automotive!

On the way to SLO to drop my daughter off for school the air conditioning went out on her car. Being a long way from home and not knowing anyone locally to ask for advice, we called John at Complete Automotive for help. His knowledge of the issue and his straight forward, fair and honest description of what he thought would need to be done and what the cost would be let us know right away we had called the right place. We met with John the next day to confirm the issue and set an appointment for a few days later to have the car serviced. I flew home and left my daughter to work with John directly. From there John and his staff went above and beyond with their courteous service, working with our daughter’s schedule and completing everything in a timely fashion. They even performed some other maintenance that the car needed at no additional charge. Having a kid so far from home can be worrisome sometimes, so it is nice to know that when it comes to her car, we have someone we can turn to that we trust. Thanks John and everyone at Complete Automotive.

The guys here are great! Highly recommend! Pretty affordable too.

Great service, and a thorough explanation of the problem. I recently worked with John and his staff to fix a valve problem on my 1999 Toyota Tacoma. John has an extensive knowledge of Toyotas, quickly determined the problem and had it fixed quickly. I highly recommend John and his staff at Complete Automotive.

Recommend 100%. The owner Jon and staff are wonderful. I just moved out of town and am so sad to have to find a new mechanic.

John was an awesome guy and helped me and my family get back on the road quickly.

Great team, great service!

Great service at a great value

Thank you for your assistance with our issue. Very professional and mighty friendly and courteous.

$110 just to look and and doesnt deduct from repair cost. Call other shops cause they do.

I wait until I am back in town to have my truck worked on here. John and the guys are the only shop that I trust!

Good service, and alright pricing.

They have been taking care of my Si for the last 60k miles.