34th Street Garage

Business reply on Google

Thank you for sharing your feedback, Natalie. We’re sorry to hear you were disappointed with your visit, but we do want to clarify what was performed during your appointment. Your vehicle is a 2010 Toyota RAV4 with 174,785 miles that came to us from Massachusetts and has significant overall rust throughout the vehicle. You were offered our full vehicle inspection, which includes removing the wheels for a more thorough inspection of components that cannot be properly evaluated visually. You declined the full inspection and instead chose our complimentary courtesy inspection, which does not include removing the wheels. The front brakes were able to be visually evaluated through the wheels, and our technician documented the front brake pads at approximately 3mm and recommended replacement of the front pads and rotors. However, the rear brakes could not be fully evaluated without removing the wheels, which was not part of the complimentary courtesy inspection you selected. Our technician also documented several other visible concerns and maintenance items, including the rusted-off muffler, damaged driver-side mirror, worn wiper blades, low tire warning light, worn engine air filter, an

Business reply on Google

Thank you for sharing your concerns. On April 30, 2026, this BMW X5 came in for a complimentary AAA Summer Inspection. At that time, the valve cover was not leaking. There was no visible oil on the exhaust, no smoke from under the hood, and no condition present that would have supported recommending valve cover replacement. The services authorized were maintenance items based on age, mileage, condition, and available service history—not repairs related to an oil leak. When the vehicle returned on June 3, a significant valve cover-area oil leak was present. We understand the timing was frustrating; however, a significant leak at that time does not establish that it was present or observable more than a month earlier. We also want to correct the mileage discrepancy. The vehicle traveled 712 miles between visits, not approximately 1,200 miles as referenced in a later report. That statement was incorrect, and we acknowledge the documentation error. It does not change the findings of the original inspection. Most importantly, the review does not fully reflect the extent of our efforts to resolve the concern. As a goodwill gesture, and without any finding that the valve cover leak was pr

Business reply on Google

Hi Emma, thank you for taking the time to share your experience. I’m really sorry to hear that you left feeling this way, that’s never the impression we want to give. At our shop, we always put ethics before profits, and our entire process is built around transparency. Every inspection we perform is supported with detailed photos and videos so you can clearly see what we’re seeing and make informed decisions without pressure. Any work we present is based on vehicle condition, safety, and manufacturer guidelines, not upselling. That said, I understand how the recommendations may have felt excessive, especially if another shop had a different approach, and I’d really appreciate the opportunity to talk this through with you directly and make things right. Please feel free to call me personally at 206-283-3448. Thank you again for your feedback, Emma. I truly hope we can rebuild your trust. - Grant

Business reply on Google

Hi Tim, Thank you for updating your review, we appreciate the opportunity to make things right. We take responsibility for the initial issues, especially around pricing and communication, and have reinforced our processes to ensure better transparency moving forward. I’m glad we were able to honor the original agreement and take care of your vehicle, and we look forward to earning your continued trust on your next visit. - Grant @ 34th Street Garage

Business reply on Google

Pat, We installed the timing belt over a year and a half ago and was driven for several thousand miles without failure. That suggests that there was an underlying issue that caused the timing belt to fail. Timing belts typically last over 10 years and over 100,000 miles. We were not given an opportunity to inspect the vehicle since you took it to a different shop. We suggested a detailed inspection, including a potential engine teardown to pinpoint what caused the timing belt to fail. We asked you to cover the labor costs until the issue was identified, and if it was related to our parts or work, we would have taken full responsibility. In our industry, it’s standard for the vehicle owner to cover diagnostic costs until the cause of a failure is determined, after which the shop takes responsibility if the issue stems from their work. This practice is consistent at our shop and across the automotive industry. We’re disappointed that we couldn’t resolve this for you and share your frustration with the situation. We value you as a customer and are committed to providing quality service. If you’d like to discuss this further or explore how we can assist you moving forward, please don’t