Meineke Transmissions

I went to the San Diego Pacific Beach location to have an oil change. Once the oil change was done, the associate came to me with a long list of things that he recommended I needed to have fixed. Many of the things on the list did not sound right because I had just had an oil change. The associate knew that I was going to be going on an 8 hour drive within the next couple days and attempted to use scare tactics to get me to spend an astronomical amount of money on services I did not need. For instance, he said that my front brakes were so bad and the rotors needed to be changed that by the end of my trip I would most likely be metal to metal. Of course this scared me because I would be driving alone and I had do idea that my brakes were even bad. He made it seem like driving my car would kill me. He continued to tell me that there were other things wrong with my car to scare me. I fortunately called my mother and she told me to leave and go to a different company that we went to before. I asked the guy for my receipt and a list of the things he suggested. He gave me a list of only 2 of the most serious things I needed in his opinion. I then took it to another company and there the guy checked my vehicle based off of my memory of what your associate said needed to be done. After he conducted a thorough check with me there to witness and go over everything, he found that there was nothing wrong that needed immediate service and that I was fine.
In all I do not trust the business and do not recommend.
I made the drive just fine and my car is ok.

Absolutely love it, top notch service, very efficient and very professional help. Sometimes I even get a call from office to ensure all went well and I am happy with service received. Highly recommended.

Dave helped us out on a Sunday afternoon (MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND) after the store had closed and saved us a night in San Diego after calling 15 other places that were either closed or refused to see us. Dave welcomed us in, did a test drive, and got the car driving normal within 2 hours. Would recommend this business, ask for Dave, he will take care of you.

Called in 2 days before to make an appointment only to find that they didn’t even have me on record and had to reschedule. They even lied about leaving me a message, which was completely nowhere to be found. I have no idea how a place can keep a business running like this. Horrible experience.

George Hooked it up! He is extremely knowledgeable and has great customer service. They are Military friendly and if your looking for a lifetime mechanic this is the place! Plus it’s gotta be the only place u can get a excellent car wash, IN N OUT burger and an oil change all 100 ft from each other.

Meineke is a great spot for car services. They are honest and do an awesome job, I don’t live very close to this location but the drive is worth it for excellent service done by professionals with a great personality! Every time I come here everyone is very friendly and helpful and try to get the job done as neatly and fast as possible. Their prices are fair and they have sweet deals! I get all my car services done here and every time I do, I get a coupon for a free car wash! ¹⁰⁄₁₀ I would definitely recommend.

Came in for some brakes on my Honda Accord and George was AWESOME!
I’m OCD so I stick with a good place when I find one. They showed me what was going on and helped me reach the best option for the finances I had available. Service was so awesome I’m going back for another set of LIFETIME WARRANTY BRAKES on the rear too next week! These guys are honest and won’t BS you like most other shops. I have paperwork from other shops telling me things were wrong that weren’t. Honesty should be in their name somewhere.

I’ve been getting my service done here for the past 2 years. George is all about building customer relationships and taking care of business. George and Tony are my go to auto guys! Recommended.

I love this place! George is so sweet and always takes really good care of me. Honest people who do honest work. My go-​to car people definitely!

Been coming to place for the last couple of oil changes with both my cars and they have never failed me in anyway. They’ve never taken long, George has always been nice and is always spot on on how long the service will take. I’d recommend this place to anyone.

This is the only place to take your car in San Diego. The staff is very knowledgeable in auto repair and their customer service is excellent. Will be recommending these guys to friends and family in the future.

I recently got a new car (finally !!!) so I haven’t needed much work done to my car. I went back to meineke after a few months to get my oil change and I was so happy to see Dave and George there! They remembered me and still call me by my first name! All I needed was an oil change, so I decided to come in on lunch hour and I was out of there in less than 30 minutes. With this prompt service and such nice employees I will be back for my next oil change soon. Also the prices are great compared to other oil change places in pacific beach! Thanks guys!

I’m so thankful to have met George at Meineke in Pacific Beach. Being a young, female college student, I have been regularly taken advantage of and upsold in the past. This is the first mechanic who I’ve found to be honest, trustworthy, and genuinely caring. I know I’m in good hands here; they always find time to squeeze me in, and they are always upfront with what I do/don’t need. George is happy to take his time in both showing and explaining the mechanical issue at hand, and he never minds talking to my dad to keep him in the loop. Knowing how tight my financial situation is, he makes sure to deliver fair pricing. This has been my go-​to spot since finding them two years ago, and will continue to be for the duration of my time in San Diego. Extra perks: parts are under lifetime warranty, complimentary beverage while you wait, and a coupon for a free car wash next door with every service. I would sincerely recommend this business to anyone!

Wow! These guys are amazing! Came in with a vibration problem and I was afraid of how much it might cost. After talking to Dave and George and what he problem might be, I felt very comfortable leaving my car in their hands. Will definitely be recommending them to my friends!

This is the only place I trust to work on my car! When I walked into this garage I was greeted with a smile. George was very helpful and patient with all of my questions.
I will definitely be coming back to this location next time I need work done to my car!

As a college student one has to find a shop with affordable pricing! Lucky to have met the shop owner David, who worked with my budget and was able to give me a great deal! Always nice to have a peace of mind knowing your in good hands.

Came here and they took great care of me! I needed multiple things replaced and flushed on my car and they did it all for a very affordable price. They even helped me figure out a way to cover it all. Awesome customer service just let them know what you need and they do their best to make it happen.

I have been coming to this place for a few years now and this is hands down the most honest, professional, reliable and hard working shop in the area! They will match and beat almost any competitors around and have gained my business for life! Anytime someone asks me where I go to get my car worked on I tell them meineke. George and Dave are the best in the business! Keep up the great work guys!

Best service around. George, Dave, Tony and Gilbert are awesome. You are in and out in no time at all and quality of work is the best.
Thank you all.
Highly recommended.

I have not been a customer of this business but my review pertains to my ATTEMPT to become a customer of this business.
I called this business on a Sunday asking if they did smog checks that day. The man answering the phone responded that they did do smog checks but that his «guy was out today». He then proceeded to tell me that they did smog checks every other day of the week. To clarify I asked «okay, so you guys only do smog checks Monday through Saturday?» He responded with an extremely confrontational and condescending «ONLY?!!» I then stated «so essentially while you guys are open today you can’t do a smog check?» He answered in the affirmative. He also added that he doesn’t know anyone that does smog checks on Sunday. In essence trying to deflect me from checking other businesses.
My issue is the clear attitude that the staff or owner has displayed to his customers, as evidenced in his replies to negative Unilocal reviews and the blatantly bad attitude I experienced just by calling in and clarifying a point.
The truth is, obviously I only cared about a smog check today, SUNDAY. I called and asked if it could be done. Obviously it’s great that they do smog checks every other day of the week but for time sensitive reasons I needed it done today. He could have clarified with a simple «I’m sorry we can’t do a smog check today» but unfortunately that wasn’t the case. Instead he felt the need to display the same attitude the person responding to other Unilocalers has displayed.
Well I did find a place that does smog checks on Sunday so I guess whoever answered the phone was wrong. I would have been willing to give this place a chance but the attitude the staff displays on the phone and on Unilocal tells me that I dodged a bullet.

Prompt service and reliable work every time! This is the only place In San Diego that I’ve brought my car for the past 3 years, and I’ve never been disappointed. The staff have always clearly explained any issues with my car, and don’t try to pressure or upsell you on anything. And oil changes are quick and easy!

Awesome service. George and Dave and Tony are fantastic to work with and have you out and about
In no time. Highly recommended.

Asked for a helping hand n got a rude no. Had my car battery die on me n asked to barrow a jump start for a quick second and the guy told me they didn’t have any as I passed 2 on the floor walking towards the guy. Would never have any service done there again. I use take my 2 work trucks but no more
I was stranded right in front of the place by the in n out would of expected a place that works on cars to have a set of jumper cables or a battery started.

I made a reservation for an oil change for my Honda and it was a near ideal experience. Inexpensive and fast. Roughly $ 25 with tax and I was on my way in less than 20 minutes. I’d go back for sure. It’s probably a good idea to make an appointment.

Dave, George and Gilbert are amazing! I have been here several times with my husband in both used cars with many issues and new cars for oil changes and they have been over-​the-​top professional and friendly every single time.
Last weekend my husband and I dropped our car off to get the timing belt replaced and this place was buzzing with customers and cars. We both commented that we were happy to see such nice guys (Dave is the owner, George is the GM and Gilbert ONE of the star mechanics) staying so busy at a time when a lot of people don’t want to spend money on things like cars.
We are patient, easy-​going people and like to see the good in every situation. That being said, we work hard to make a living and would never give our business to anyone that we felt didn’t appreciate it.
These guys are as good as it gets. If you’re on the fence about whether to come here or not based on a couple lame negative reviews, I encourage you to give them a chance. You will NOT be disappointed.

Had an appointment at 9:30, and no one touched my car for 30 minutes and counting. The facility is dirty! A dead cockroach just laying on the ground.
Easy place in terms of location to get an oil change but don’t fall for the Unilocal review discount. It expired and they haven’t told any customers or pulled the offer off Unilocal.Manager wouldn’t honor the discount even though it only expired 3 days ago and he has been too lazy to pull it off of Unilocal.He tried to make it sound like he was doing me a favor because I could get an oil change for $ 19.99…when every other Meineke has the saml​.yelpcdn​.com/​p​h​o​t​o​/​d​l​1​L​F​H​2​b​K​Z​r​d​p​i​x​X​D​2​C​f​E​w​/​6​0​s.jpg” width=“60”>

Went to location for a Veterans Day free oil change advertised on website. owner came up and asked me what I wanted, and I asked how it would take for an oil change. He said about an hour or less. When I said I wanted to use the offer for a free oil change, he immediately told me his guys were booked solid and He couldn’t do it There were three cars in the bay, and none waiting other than me.
I asked why it was less than an hour as a paying customer and now its impossible and he asked me my my mil id. I am a 20 year Coast Guard veteran, and he didn’t know the CG is a military service. This Basic fact is taught in elementary and high school. I guess you don’t have to be a high school graduate to own a Meineke.
He handed me back my ID and the phone rang and he walked away.
I have never been treated with such poor customer service and ignorance as I was here. I called another meineke and was told that even though it was strongly advertised on corporate site, no one in CA would be honoring it.
At least this guy was honest, so i escalated both to corporate.
Specifically this location, the owner handled it poorly and is a disservice to the Meinke Brand and supposed core values.

Excellent service, the team took care of me in just one day. Rates were fair along with the staff were friendly and helpful. This is the shop I’m always coming to from now on.

George is seriously the best. I am a girl and my husband is deployed. They are honest and have always fixed my car. I would recommend them!

Venue:
Located next to an In-​N-​Out Burger! Already a winner. It would appear like it might have parking congestion, but hasn’t been an issue for me. Cleaner than competition waiting area. Plus, they have patio tables outside.
Service:
I have chosen this location for the second time for a standard oil change. I have a professional trust in the current staff here. They earned it through their customer service and performance of service provided.

Just moved to California from New York came over to Meineke just for an estimate the manager George was absolutely amazing made me feel really at home I never thought you can trust a mechanic until I met him

I’ve come here a couple of times for oil changes and have always received excellent, prompt service at a very reasonable rate! The staff, especially George, has always been very helpful at informing me about issues with my vehicle and keeping it on the road! I will definitely be coming back again!

Not to happy with the service at this place. Really slow and without a coupon a little over priced. Good thing they have comfy chairs because you’ll be waiting a while. One bonus is you can get In-​N-​Out burger across the way while you wait.

I’ve been going to Meineke-​Econo Lube in Pacific Beach for around 8 years. During that time period I’ve had two cars (a Toyota Camry w/200,000+ miles and a Lexus IS 250) and between the two cars, they have replaced my transmission, tires and brakes on the Camry and the brakes, tires and water hose on the Lexus and have performed lots and lots of oil changes on both cars.
First off, the staff here is great — super friendly, honest and professional. They have never overcharged me and are super patient with me when I ask them a billion questions (I like to know what work they will be doing and how much it will cost) and don’t mind showing me what exactly needs replacing/​fixed. I HIGHLY recommend going here and I always recommend them to my family, friends and coworkers. The negative reviews on here are either fake reviews from competitors or people not doing their research and understanding what work needs to be done. All in all, I will keep coming here as long as I live in San Diego. Thank you Meineke-​Econo Lube!

I am not sure how long I have been coming to this shop but I believe even before they changed from EconoLube to the current Meineke but service is spot on. I have put many miles on my Toyota Matrix and will continue to go to this shop. I would go to this shop for more things but I live a little too far. however usually i go there for fluid changes since work is close to this place. Plus if they find something wrong with your car, they don’t pressure you to have the work done there. Plus Dave has always treated me well and remembers his customers by their first name. That is appreciated!

Be prepared for the up sell. Ohh we are our of the oil you need it’ll be $ 55 instead of $ 40. Let’s flush your radiator etc etc. If you can say no 20x in a row it’s ok. My truck takes a lot of oil so that’s why is not $ 20.

I have been going to Meineke Pacific Beach for about a year and a half now and I am so happy I found this shop! They are friendly, professional and most importantly they do not try and scam you! I drive a ’99 Volkswagen Passat with a lot of miles, almost 260,000!, so I have been a pretty steady customer here. The best part is that the guys at Meineke have never once tried to screw me over. They know me by name (is that a good thing? lol) and they are always quick to squeeze me in so that I can be on my way.
I have had a variety of work done here from brakes, rotors and oil changes, to bulb replacements and I have never once left feeling like I had been cheated or overcharged. They will actually take the time to show you what needs to be replaced on your car. I’m not really familiar with cars but it’s still nice to know! I also always check in with my dad back home after I leave the shop and he always approves.
They have even done minor complementary work (installing new wipers, changing bulbs, topping off oil) which is pretty amazing. I suppose it’s a perk of driving an older car.
I would highly recommend Meineke Pacific Beach to anyone looking for a mechanic shop that has great customer service, is honest and is reasonably priced. Thank you so much Meineke Pacific Beach for keeping my car and my bank account happy!

I always seem to have some sort of car problem. My grandma passed away and
I got her 93′ Chrysler New Yorker. Yes it was an old car but it only had 60,000 miles on it. So why not keep it up… George has been the biggest help to me. I’m a young woman and I’ve been ripped off many times by automotive shops… I finally found one I can trust. I’ve been loyal to them for 4 years now, they know me by first name (not sure if this is a good thing! LOL) I’ve recommended this place to all my friends they are awesome and have great prices! Thanks meineke pacific beach! Your employees rock!

This is my second time getting an oil change here. Great business! There are always great offers on the Meineke website that make oil changes affordable. Even when there isn’t a deal, the regular cost is still VERY reasonable.
The staff here will bring things to your attention but there is definitely no pressure to buy which I really appreciate! If you’re looking for a great place to get an oil change, this is it!

This was the first time that I went to this shop. George was EXTREMELY helpful in explaining at a high-​level what was being done with my car, and made sure that I got the best deal possible.
When you come here you get a free 50 point inspection. I also got my oil changed and they have a punch card that you buy 4 oil changes you get the 5^th free. Nothing but great things to say.

I’ve always been a fan of Econo Lube (back when it was only called Econo Lube), and now I guess they are also Meineke. I’ve referred enough people here that they really should be giving me a fatty commission for my services. I should bring this up next time… I really should. Thanks for mentally processing with me, Unilocal.#BFFs.
Jobs:
— Oil Change: We all know oil changes suck. Most places charge $ 20 – 30 bucks: they prey on the vulnerable! Oil changes should not cost more than $ 15! Go on their website, print out the $ 5 coupon, and you should be in and out for around $ 13 for regular/​normal oil circumstances. They used to add in tire rotations on the house, but I dont think they do that anymore. Still, what a steal, baby! Takes about an hour so go hang out at In & Out – stuff yourself with patty goodness.
— Brakes (disc, rotors, brake flush, etc). With the 50% off coupon on their website, they quoted me $ 180 for my front brakes. Not bad because Midas quoted $ 280 with all possible discounts. Out the door it took 2 hours but that’s fine. He threw in that brake fluid flush, so yay.
Pros:
— I believe Dave is the main guy there, and he’s legit. Nice, personable, and really works with you and your time frame.
— FREE Wifi, Coffee, and soft drinks as you wait! Not many places have this kind of complementary service. I’ll have that Diet Sprite, please! I actually like the taste… especially if it’s free and it’s a freakin hot day.
— Online and phone reservations accepted. Do it, it’s worth it. They used to not take reservations, but now they do. Hurray!
— Definitely accepts all major credit cards.
Cons:
— Sometimes prices can be a little unexpected and rules changing. Ask them how much an oil change will cost! Also remember – dont take every recommendation to heart. They’ve been honest with me so far, but, you never know!
Dear San Diego, and fellow friends that will eventually read this review. Come here for your oil change. The end.