Customer ReviewsforKittles Garage

I agree with the 11/18/2023 review (by Allen T.) Kittle Garage is not the fair priced garage of the past. It now seems to be a gouge at every opportunity. I took a car in to get an alternator replaced. They recommended an "inspection" which I did approve. I later approved a 2nd inspection because the heater was not working. These 2 "inspections" cost $303. The remanufactured alternator Kittle installed could have been purchased from a dealer for $185 to $255. (Part #27060-OA120-84) The Kittle charge was $351 for a REMANUFACTURED alternator. The total charge was $1,327.94 for an alternator replacement and thermostat replacement. Both replacements are relatively simple; however, in this case there was some complexity due to the location of those parts which did take additional time. In summary, the $303 for the inspections, the high priced alternator, the additional $74 for misc, all make me suspicious of the 5 hours of labor charge which was $143 an hour. My recommendation for potential customers is to try another garage. If you go to Kittle, I recommend a tight rein on pre-approved expenses. The garage I have used in the past gave me an exact amount before doing the work. That requires better communication than I received at Kittle. I have no issues with the mechanics that performed the work.

NEVER, NEVER take your car to this garage. And for those of you who thought this was a good garage in days gone by, well it has DEFINITELY changed. AND how this garage has earned the BBB rating it has, i will never know, especially in the light of other review sources i see online. I went in trying to get a Wheel Bearing replaced and they charge 6 times (not exaggerating) the price you find at many other places (See Fosters Garage Review). And you have to pay $300 just to let them look at the problem. The shortened Story: In June '23, I began noticing a small grinding sound in the left side, front end of my 2013 Toyota Highlander. In Sept, I brought it to Kittles, mainly based on the BBB rating. Well, to shorten the story, they called and found the issue on the right side AND the Knuckle **** that holds this bearing had to be replaced too. (RARELY needs to be replaced, pretty much only if it has been in a wreck as per other garages i have talked to since.) Due to urgent issues and needing to get my car back in 3 days, I let them do the work which started out at a high price of $1800 and the total bill came to $2300 because of the extra labor. (Now the Kicker) BUT when I got the car back, the grinding sound was still there on the left side and then they told me, "By the way, you need to get the left wheel bearing changed to. . .estimate -> $1400". (My Opinion, they were obviously looking for extra work by not fixing the original problem) Needless to say, I did not use them. But to add to the story, after getting the car back and not having driven more than 40 miles, the car broke down while my Wife was driving it, in Mid traffic on a busy road, which finally had to be towed to another garage (Fosters Garage), all due directly to how Kittles hooked up the right-side wheel to the axle. (Kittles did end up paying for that repair). Never Again.