Leon’s Transmission Service

I was referred here by someone. What a great experience and a relief. After a timely and thorough inspection, Leon’s reset my car’s computer system and I’ve been trouble free ever since. I might add that when my car first started having transmission issues while driving LA, I was told by some uniformed, arrogant, overly aggressive car shop manager that it would probably cost more to repair my car than what it was worth (this is before anyone at his shop actually looked at it). I did not give them that chance. Ladies (and gentleman), there are many kind, fair, honest car repair people in this world, no need to waste your time on the bad ones. If you’re having transmission issues, head to Leon’s.

My car was finally ready on December 24^th, Christmas Eve at which time I retrieved it and commenced with the rest of my last minute Christmas shopping. It was a relief to get it back and having it running much better, like a newer car. I therefore upgraded my rating of them to two whole stars.

I had an issue with my 2006 Honda Pilot. The transmission mount was missing a bolt that connected it to the sub frame. When they first diagnosed it (Rick), he said that they would have to drop the frame and order a kit to fix it. His estimate was approximately $ 300.00. Yikes! I dropped it off and when they fixed it, he called me to inform me that they actually did not have to drop the frame and they didn’t have to order the part ($ 50.00 cost) because they had an extra one lying around! My VSA and Brake notification light was also going on and off and after running the codes they discovered that I needed break fluid, so they topped it off for me. Rick then told me that he would not charge me a thing!!! I couldn’t believe it. There are good people in this world, and this place definitly has one of them. Besides not charning me for work done, they were professional, got back to me in a timely manner when telling me about my car and they were honest about the expected costs and when they would be able to fix my car. Thank you everyone at Leon’s Transmission!!!

This is the kind of place you wish was in every neighborhood… where the customer really matters and the quality of the service comes first. We all dread taking our vehicles in for any kind of service but Jim @ Leon’s is honest and helpful. I appreciate the excellent service and professional work at better pricing than the competition! I highly recommend this business.

First off, fuck this place.
Do some research before taking your car here. Make sure you absolutely have to take it here, and when thats the only option still opt to take it to somewhere else.
This place is horrible. Like a previous comment below, they kept stalling.
Let me explain.
I was on my way to work on a Friday when my transmission, or so I thought, was acting funny. So off of a recommendation by V-​TEC Automotive, I took my car there.
After waiting around for 4 hours they called and told me they don’t know what the issue it they’ll need to run some tests to find out what wrong tomorrow. OK that sounds fair. Saturday comes and they don’t even call me. I have to call them at 11am an hour before they close and the guy tells me their mechanic hasn’t even looked at it he’ll call me back and let me know. Calls me back and they come up with 2 things wrong with the car and they highly recommend that I don’t take the car off the lot. One is a previous issue that I already knew about. He said he needs to run more tests to locate «the exact issue» and they would know by Monday. OK, thats fine, I just want to get my car fixed and luckily I don’t have work until Tuesday.
I get a phone call on Monday telling me the PCM is bad and I need a new one. Not even transmission related, it’s a computer failure. Im quoted five something for the part and another hundred something for labor. Now this is where I fucked up. They charged me five whatever for a part I could have got two hundred dollars cheaper online. I should have asked for the part number before going through with it.
*hint hint* Take note of that for yourself to do in an future situation with your car!
So I said ok lets do it. Once I committed to it I was told it should be done by the end of the day if they ordered the part right now, which was around 9 am. At the time I wasn’t able to pick up my car that day so I said I would most likely be getting it on Tuesday.
24 hours later I call to schedule a pick up for my car. Come to find out the part isn’t in yet, but they’ll have it by today and it should be done by the end of the day. Well, thats not so bad I guess. I told the guy I need it by wednesday at noon and asked if that was possible. He reassured me that would not be an issue and it would FOR SURE be done by then. I asked if he could call me by the end of the day and let me know if it would done today or done tomorrow. He said sure but failed to do so.
Now when I call Wednesday I am told its finished but it needs to be flashed and they are having a tech come flash it today so it wont be done until around closing. This is where I start to get pissed. You would think a transmission shop would know this, but this is partially my fault for not taking my car out of there once I found out it was a computer issue not a transmission issue. Now Im pissed even more so cause I have work so I wont be able to get it until Thursday.
Well, sure enough Thursdays here and I call to try and pick up my car and Im told it STILL NEEDS TO BE FLASHED. Holy fucking shit. What the fuck is going on at this place. How far are their heads up their asses. This is getting ridiculous. Now Im furious asking whats taking so long and telling them I want my car I’m going to pick it up and take it somewhere else. Im told anywhere else will charge to get it flashed and they wont charge me for it and yada yada yada. It’s been almost a week now with no luck getting my car back. It just keeps getting pushed back further and further.
Its still Thursday and I get a phone call later in the day to find out they couldn’t get a tech to come flash it. Why am I not surprised. It’ll be done tomorrow he says.
Fridays here and so far its been a week. I get a call in the afternoon telling my my car is FINALLY finished, finally. But Im at work and can’t get it until Saturday.
Well, hooray its Saturday. I get there, check the part number and find out its two hundred dollars cheaper online. I ask why and I’m told «they only buy from the dealership, online is used parts and aftermarket». HA! what a fucking cunt. Thats some bullshit. Just because its online doesn’t mean that at all actually. They most likely got it online and fucked me on the pricing.
All in all this was one of the worst experiences with my car and a repair shop to date. I will never be going back nor will I recommend this place to anyone. Also I chose to not name names. The whole shop as a whole is reponsible not just an individual at the shop.
Things to learn from my experience to help make your experience better:
–Get a part number and check around before getting work done
–Set a date of having your car repair finished and demand a discount if they don’t meet the date agreed upon
–Make sure you compensated for their lack on professionalism
–Dont take your car here
–If your transmission takes a shit in the drive way of this shop get it towed to another mechanic
–And finally, If you do decide to take your car here, I warned you

While the service at Leons seems professional they kept stalling, politely, while taking 3 weeks to repair the automatic transmission in a decade old BMW. It must take a rocket scientist to change that thing; after the 3 weeks with my 15 year old car, it still did not work and they couldn’t diagnose the problem; after they searched the entire «Automatic Transmission Rebuilders Association» and found nothing; the solution was found by me after talking to a BMW owner that helped me diagnose and fix it without their help. Not to mention the beautiful (actually disguesting) facalities.

Simply horrible. Paid these chumps $ 2700 to rebuild transmission. 20 miles later it failed, but under warranty. After 2^nd repair attempt and 7 days in their «care», car was returned a filthy mess. Grease everywhere — seats, floor mats, carpet — front and rear. Grease covering threshold. Worst of all it had 180 additional miles on it, front end out of alignment, and dog hair covering the back seat and carpet. Tire jack was laying around in the cargo area. I’m the original owner of the car and it has been impeccibly maintained. These guys suck.