8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Closed
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Same Day Service Available
Price Quote Guaranteed
Top Dollar Paid for Your Vehicle!
Working Time and Location
Certified Japanese Auto Repair in Lake Forest, CA comes highly recommended for its competent, honest, and reasonably priced services. Customers have been loyal to this auto repair shop for over 20 years, praising its quality work, fair pricing, and excellent customer service. The mechanics, particularly John, are known for their honesty and professionalism. Despite the shop's modest appearance, it is recognized for delivering excellent work. The team is always pleasant, helpful, and prompt, making it a trusted establishment for many. They also offer smog testing, adding to their range of services. Customers are advised to make an appointment due to the shop's popularity.
Monday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
Closed
What clients say about Certified Japanese Auto Repair in Lake Forest (CA)
Seriously the best, most honest mechanic I have ever met. The only reason I am reluctant to leave a review is I don’t want other people going to MY mechanic and taking up capacity. Eddie will take care of you. They have turned me away for work I thought I needed but didn’t, what else needs to be said.
Good mechanics are hard to find. Good honest mechanics are even harder to find. This is one of those special places that is run with honesty. For sure, you should check them out if you're looking for a fantastic mechanic in the area. Thanks a bunch Eddie. It was a pleasure doing business with you. Cheers!
I appreciate these mechanics in not raking me over the coals by insisting on unnecessary replacing parts that I was being told I needed to replace . When it only cost me like $40.00 to fix the issue my car was having...
Now years later I'm back here with a different car so we'll see what this time will bring? Fingers crossed they can work their magic again!
This is the second time I've taken my 2001 Toyota 4Runner to Certified Japanese Auto Repair. I had some worsening fluid leaks so I made an an appointment over the phone and arrived at the shop about 20 minutes early. After checking my car in with Eddie, it was on the rack receiving attention within 5 minutes. Eddie called me within an hour and a half with his diagnosis: I needed numerous seals, gaskets, a timing belt, water pump, and at 162,000 miles, it was past time for a new radiator and hoses. It needed a lot more work than I was expecting but it was all necessary. I approved the work and agreed to the price estimate. Eddie called the next morning to say the work was done.
It was a big job, completed in a very short time, and the truck runs beautifully. Kudos to Eddie and his skilled, professional crew for a flawless experience! I Highly recommend them.
These guys are great! I needed a complete engine replacement for my 1998 LX470 and they were able to source a motor and do the replacement within a week. This is my shop now. Thank you, guys!!
This auto shop is awesome! I’m from Fresno had to get back from Lake Forest. Manager Eddie bent over backwards to get my car going so I can go home. I whole heartedly recommend the shop. They are very reasonable. Kudos to this place.
I've been going to CJA for more than 10 years. Their prices for maintenance and repairs are the best. They never try to upsell anything unnecessary. I highly recommend this place. All of the staff is super friendly and explains everything in detail. Thank you Eddie, Tony, Loan, Carlos...we'll be seeing you at the next oil change or any other repair on our cars!
I recently visited this shop for smog and was thoroughly impressed with their excellent service. Good location, easy to get in and out. The the staff was efficient and friendly, ensuring a fast and hassle-free experience. I appreciated their attention to detail and professionalism. They even tried to help me with a code issue on my car. I highly recommend this smog check center!
I went this place because my AC doesn't work. They said they would call me when they are ready but they actually never called me almost until they close. So I called them to pick up the car and they didn't even let me know the price until I called them. When I got there to pick up my car, they suddenly charged my $75 for diagnosis(and even diagnosis was wrong!!) and $400 for changing parts for AC. So I ran to different shop and in the other shop, they charge me only $200. I would never go this place again for over pricing and never recommend this place.
I had an incredible experience! The service was unbelievably quick—my entire visit, including replacing a brake pedal sensor, took only about 15 minutes. I was in and out before I knew it! The team was super professional, and the person who assisted me was incredibly friendly and courteous. It’s rare to find a place that combines efficiency, quality, and kindness so seamlessly. Highly recommend this shop for anyone looking for top-notch service!
good price and professional. I try a couple one near my home, but eventually i come back here. no doubt on their technical stuff, also fair price and good material quality
We've been getting our cars serviced at Certified Japanese Auto Repair for almost thirty years. The team is so good and professional. They also have great pricing. What could be better? Thank you, again, Eddie for our service today. Awesome!
Decent shop but I have many questions on the techs attention to detail when it comes to installing parts. When there in October to have some new suspension parts in stalled, they did it but missed very critical components of proper torque to bolts, failed to instal the new cv boot seal and lost my hub cap somehow…. Only reason I went to them is my normal Yota shop had some emergencies and wasn’t able to get me in for another month. Thought why not, it’s just shocks, cv axels and lower control arms/ball joints. After getting my truck back I kept hearing a popping noise on the left side at slow speeds when turning. After a month, went to my normal Yota mechanic and quickly found out many of the crucial bolts and nuts were not even close to spec torque on most of the LCA components and failed to replace a crucial washer in my steering rack causing that noise. The castle nut was no where near torque spec along with other suspension parts. They refused to rebuild my cv axel with oem parts(that I paid for and brought in) and insisted that I go with their aftermarket. I did but they somehow forgot to put the seal on right side cv axel. Be weary about the quote they give you, it will surely be higher once they begin working on it. If they can’t properly instal suspension parts would I trust them to do major engine repairs? Hell no ! Friendly guys but their lack of attention to detail, especially in a Japanese based auto shop is not ok. Then after calling about why I’m missing one of my hubcaps they said they’d get me a new one and I’m still waiting 4 months later…..
Took my 2019 Toyota Corolla in on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend as it was making a terrible grinding noise suddenly. I called at 8:45am, they had me in at 9:30am, and I was driving off at 12pm with new brakes. Less than $300 total and original parts, too. The service was outstanding, and the guy at reception was exceptional (I forgot his name ). I will definitely be back and am so grateful for their quick response and turnaround as well as their reasonable pricing.
Honest and reliable. I highly recommend this shop because it will take good care of your car whatever service you need. The owner Carlos is such an amazing person. He is the best owner and chief mechanic..
Eddie was highly recommended to me by a friend, and I was so grateful he could schedule me as a new client when I had an ongoing CEL/sensor issue with my 5.0 Mustang — my local shop even turned me away due to the complexity.
Eddie is a master problem solver but also went above and beyond to keep me updated on what he observed, the research that led him to decide how to approach the fix, and the costs involved.
My car has been running perfectly ever since, and I couldn't be happier with my new tech. Hopefully, he doesn't mind taking care of my car for life!
I’ve been doing my car service here for a few month now. Eddie is the best and the only. he’s very knowledgeable about what issue your car have and always calls customers on time and inform them with details and pricing about the progress of the service.
Here everything is easy, clear, fast and clean work .
Seriously come here. Did some great work on my car!! Noticed my coil overs were done really badly. I had bought a car and wanted them to check it out so they checked it over and fixed my coil overs. Checked my transmission and recommended me to get a software update. Great, friendly and fast service!!! Affordable as well. You can trust the mechanics, they are not trying to scam you.
This is an outstanding auto repair shop that offers great service, fair prices, and zero upselling. Unlike dealerships, their prices are reasonable, saving me a lot of money. Plus, I didn't have to worry about pushy upsells. The skilled mechanics fixed my car quickly, and the staff provided excellent customer service. Highly recommended for hassle-free and cost-effective repairs!
Great shop, will work on any vehicle import or domestic. After speaking with Eddie, I took my 2002 Tacoma in for diagnosis. He was able to work on my truck the following business day. As soon as I drove in, walk inside and met Eddie, he grabbed the tech and walked outside to check my code, engine idling and oil cap. I had a feeling it required a head gasket repair and sure enough it did. They were able to get it in and out less than expected. It's been about a month since my repairs and my truck is ready for the next 226K+ miles with their help. I'm glad I brought my truck to CJAR. Great guys to work with and superb amount of knowledge. Keep up the great work. MS
I called this shop after the Tustin Toyota prices for regular maintenance seemed a little too high. Eddie was able to save me around $500 dollars for the same exact repairs. Most of them were coolant, and brake fluid exchanges. Thanks for helping me save a bunch!! Will be coming back!
Dropped my car off June 9th after it broke down on my way to NorCal, called 5 separate times and couldn’t get a straight answer on when my car would be ready until July 9th when I was told it was ready and had until the 12th before I‘d be charged storage fees.
Rushed back down to get it and worked fine…for that day. Now it has even more problems and broke down on me again yesterday.
Looks like other people (certainly local) have had more positive experiences but wish I could say the same for myself.
Eddie is a great service person and very professional. I took my Toyota Prius to the dealership and they diagnosed the wrong problem. They were guessing. When they figured it out, they asked for arm and leg to fix. I brought it to Eddie and he diagnosed it right and his fees were very fair and reasonable. I highly recommend this shop for car repairs and good service.
Vehicle service requires professional, knowledgeable, and very patient people to deal with vehicle owners. In my many years of their services for my vehicle and family vehicles, they NEVER let us down. Great work, great value, and really great people. I recommend them. Plus if you need a SMOG, they do it right the first time, every time.
Top-notch auto repair shop, especially for Japanese makes. Fair prices, knowledgeable staff, great work. Won't recommend additional services that aren't needed. Very limited waiting area, but will drive you to/from nearby areas when staff is available. Will order parts not on hand. Usually very busy, so reservation is recommended. Good history system by vehicle and by customer. Friendly staff. Accepts night-before drop-offs. Tricky to access from the south (no turn lane except at next light).
Really like these guys. I bring all my cars here, even my ford van and my son's Saab. Extremely good mechanics. Very good prices. Honest, straight shooters I feel I can trust. They never hesitate to help with a simple fix or good advice - no charge. It is a very busy shop, so good to call ahead and check scheduling.
Had my Civic Si serviced for new shocks and window motor replacement. They were super nice and patient with me even though they were very busy. Great vibe and the prices were better than competitors for labor cost. I'll go back for sure. Jon is an awesome human being and mechanic.
called in for a quote for an ATF exchange and he said he doesn't do them, nor he doesn't recommend them and implied that i should steer clear of others who want to do it to my vehicle. he instead recommended something else that's cheaper and happened to be something i was contemplating doing myself since i work on my own truck as much as i can anyway. saved me at least $150. my family has been using this shop for maybe a decade and have always had good experiences with jon here and value their honesty, integrity, humility, and good prices. highly recommended
Jan 25, 2016
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