Allen Automotive in
Silver Spring Heights (MD)

PREDATORY BUSINESS ALERT: I brought my 2012 Honda Pilot in after experiencing a blinking check engine light and engine shaking. I had already scanned the vehicle myself and confirmed a P0303 (cylinder 3 misfire). While the shop correctly noted that there was a misfire, the way the situation was handled was deeply concerning. I was shown a video of the engine shaking and told the engine mounts were “completely destroyed” and urgently needed replacement. This conclusion was made before addressing the confirmed misfire, despite the fact that an active misfire will itself cause visible engine movement. When I asked how the mounts were diagnosed independently of the misfire, I did not receive a clear mechanical explanation. I was also told that it was not possible to replace only the failed ignition coil, and that all ignition coils and all spark plugs had to be replaced together. When I asked why this was mechanically necessary (given that the fault was isolated to one cylinder and the spark plugs had been replaced previously) I was not given a factual explanation. Instead, the response shifted to statements like “this is our business,” references to how long they’ve been operating, and warnings that I would “end up stranded on the highway” if the full estimate wasn’t approved immediately. When I continued to ask for a logical, cause-and-effect explanation (not yelling, not threatening - simply asking why), I was told to “calm down,” and the conversation was abruptly shut down. I was told they would bring my car out and that I could leave. I want to be clear: I was not opposed to preventative maintenance, nor was I unwilling to pay for legitimate repairs. What I objected to was the use of authority, urgency, and fear in place of explanation, the presentation of optional work as mandatory, and the refusal to tolerate reasonable questions about a multi-thousand-dollar estimate. I declined the repairs and sought a second opinion. Another mechanic confirmed the misfire, clearly explained the relationship between a failing coil and potential spark plug damage, and allowed me to choose the scope of the repair without pressure. The ignition system work was completed appropriately for significantly less than the estimate I was given here. I’m leaving this review so other customers (especially those who ask detailed questions) are aware of how concerns are handled when you don’t immediately agree. They didn’t know their stuff, couldn’t back up their claims, and vastly upselled me, if not completely fabricated evidence for repairs. Avoid at all costs. Read the one one star reviews - I wish I had, but I was in an emergency situation. They quoted me 1,800$ for the job I asked for (I won’t even bring up the engine mount) and I paid 900$ for the same service and parts to an honest mechanic after choosing to repair each spark plug and each coil with someone who knew what they were talking about.

We have been satisfied clients of Allen Automotive for years having sent many different cars and trucks to them for service. They are always professional, efficient and competitive. In short, we trust them and would recommend them to anyone without hesitation. Derek Coen

I called around to several MD Safety Inspection certified places and was very pleased with Allen Automotive’s responsiveness. I was easily able to schedule a time and the men working at the desk were polite and knowledgeable. I was in and out in an hour with a safety inspection sent to the DMV for my appointment. They sent a quote to my phone and email for approval before doing anything and the whole process was transparent and easy. They have a basic sitting area in the lobby with wifi so I was able to get some work done while I waited. Definitely coming back if I ever need to in the future!

Always efficient. A real convenient way to take care of my truck.

Excellent technicians and very thorough and timely service. They may be expensive but cheaper than a dealer and honest

Great experience with the crew at Allen! Brought my car in in the late morning without making an appointment (that's on me), and they still had it ready by the end of the day after making substantial repairs.

Fast and friendly service. These guys have quickly become my go-to auto repair shop

I had my pre-purchase inspection done here. They did a great job and caught things that the dealer repaired before sale. 5 stars, quality work and good customer service.

Quality work, reasonable prices, prompt, friendly service, thoroughly answer questions I have, communicate very well using email and text, and easy to schedule an appointment on short notice.

I was visiting the area from out of state (I'm from Ohio) when my starter failed. (2013 VW GTI) THE GOOD:They manged to get my car into the shop first thing after labor day, confirmed my bad starter and had found that my water pump was also leaking. They had my car all fixed up and ready to go, with all new parts, by the end of the following day. THE BAD: not once but two times the repair was delayed by "we got the wrong part" THE UGLY: I did not notice until after i had already left their shop (did not happen on the 5 min drive to where i was staying to pick up my personal luggage) but there seems to be a spot where the arm of a car lift struck my drivers door chipping the paint down to the bare metal that i will now also have to repair. (image attached)

Called to have my 2023 vehicle checked out b4 driving across country. Did the work but tried to upsell me for a brake job and transmission service ( car had 31000 miles) oil change, transfer case and rear end serviced and some additives they sell. Cost me $900. Did not like the upsell for unnecessary work. Will not return..

Had a complicated electrical issue and they knew right away what the problem was. Allen Automotive handled it quickly and professionally. Wilson the service manager is the best — sharp, honest, and great to work with. Highly recommend.

It was only a minor repair (replacing one of those passenger door rear view mirrors that flags you if a car behind you is too close) but it was a better and quicker experience than going to the dealership.

We are here at Tenleytown Lawn & Landscape is Allen Automotive for our entire fleet. Wilson is our team lead and is always very responsive. He always calls and lays out what work needs to be done and what work may be able to wait a little longer. Henry is the owner seems to run a very tight and organized ship. Thanks! Lisa Owner Tenleytown Lawn & landscape

I used to use Allen Automotive a long time ago, but they could never fix a starter problem i had and i moved on. But i recently went back to them to just get an oil/filter change. I said to them and wrote down on their service form along with my contact info, that i wanted full synthetic 0w-20, since that is what the manufacturer recommends. I also asked for a quote on replacing the PCV valve. The quote was for $722.  I was pretty shocked, as the parts at the dealer cost $60 and the labor is about 15-30 minutes.  And the sticker they put on my car telling me to get another oil change in 5000 miles said that my oil is 5w-30, so that's wrong.

At Allen Automotive, I found everything I would get at a top level dealership service center, but at a comparatively affordable price. I do not hesitate to recommend Allen Automotive, the Silver Spring auto repair center.

Unfortunately have to amend my review, this shop is incredibly untrustworthy and should be avoided at all costs. This shop has maintained our vehicles since we moved to the area, and we had previously been very happy with their work. We recently brought our Subaru Forester in to remove & replace the Suspension Control Arm. Immediately after the repair, the car started making an alarming knocking sound. We took the car back and the shop claimed a bolt needed to be tightened. The sound continued, so we took it back a second time and the shop claimed it was the 'suspension settling in'. We then took the vehicle to a different shop for a second opinion, and they found that the bolt had been overtightened and was broken, which could have be life threatening. We brought our car back to Allen Automotive so they could see the broken bolt; they then did repair work without our authorization, and when we returned to retrieve the car the front license tag was missing. They will not own up to taking the tag, nor will they reimburse us for the work they did. We are now getting the police involved to review security footage about the tag. As an update, there is video surveillance footage of the tag on our car when we arrived. the shop is claiming it fell off during a test drive. Wilson is incredibly rude, untrustworthy, and unprofessional. i would not recommend working with this shop for any reason.

Stole $200 cash from my vehicle and searched the glovebox(everything was on the floor) they had clearly stolen the money and cards they found but denied showing CCTV footage and also denied all the allegations as well as any refunds. They started getting disrespectful (insults) when I confronted them and bragged about how they (allegedly) earn “6 figures” annually . My car was returned with transmission issues that had never happened before (randomly shutting off between shifts) and claimed that the ecu was “getting used to the recent maintenance” which is a myth and incorrect. Quoted me for things that weren’t even checked by the mechanics and were recently replaced. Prices are also on the higher side, watch what you pay for because they waste no time quoting you tons of services and telling you your car needs a lot of work. [Note: I’m 100% sure $200 cash and two gift cards were stolen these are not empty accusations (cupholder and small red bag) as I checked RIGHT before I gave them the car as insurance but didn’t take any pictures otherwise serious action would be taking place immediately, but police report in progress]

I've been using Allen Automotive for years, and have really appreciated their expertise. One example: one of my cars did not have a transmission fluid change until 160K miles (3x longer than recommended). AA has a machine that cleans and conditions the fluid before replacement, that totally saved my transmission. Just one example of their superior service.

Exceptional work was completed by the service tech. One can't complain about how smooth this shop is ran! However, my take away is get an estimate before work is completed to be informed. I only state this because the up charges on line items can be shocking. For me, a 60% upcharge on coolant 2 gallons ($123) or $100 upcharge on a part from OEM $123. These charges could inflate the bill unnecessarily. I know the business has to make money. I would have preferred to know this information up front. Overall, this shop has been an amazing experience, I would continue to bring my car here vs. the Benz dealership. They do amazing work! Very fast and efficient! 💯!

Great Silver Spring neighborhood mechanic shop that is 52 years old! I trust them to give me a clear honest estimate and do the job as promised. This week, Henry, the kindly the manager, took extra time to solve my broken sideview mirror repair. He explained details patiently and was ready to think outside the box. Henry will consider creative solutions, even if they involve a little more work. I am a longtime customer who has tried other garages, But I return to Allen Automotive, because I appreciate their professional service at the best possible price.

Please, be very vigilant about who you let work on your car. I will spare you the details of my experience here. All you need to know is that they are dishonest, dismissive, will charge you for more than other shops, and will include repairs onto your bill that you did not request or were not spoken about before they were completed. You will have to pay for them after it's too late. Most egregiously, I had other mechanics and dealerships both laugh and express genuine concern for the work they did on my car and how much they charged me for it. I have considered legal action.

The team does very good work, and are reasonable to work within your budget. They will always offer a solution that will make your car highly dependable, and will adjust quotes with discussion of your needs. Can't say enough good - you can trust these guys.

Our check checking system light came on while we were on 495. We still had an hour of driving, so we pulled into Silver Spring. Fortunately we were able to find this place. It was a little before 5pm, but they quickly accepted us and replaced our alternator. We were back on the road in less than an hour. Very friendly staff and quick service.

Amazing group of people here at Allen’s. Amazing customer service from Henry and extremely knowledgeable technicians who were willing to explain the issues with my Wrangler and how to maintain it. I learned the hard way not to trust the large service chains that pride themselves on changing your oil quickly, instead, I will be coming to Allen’s for oil changes and any concerns for my Jeep. Thank you guys so much.

I tried to do my own oil changed and messed up badly. I brought my car in about two hours before closing and was told it would be ready in the morning. Then I received a call just before closing and the shop said the car was all good and ready to go! I couldn't believe it! They really saved me. The estimate was sent to me within minutes of leaving. The staff was friendly and considerate. I will definitely be visiting them again.

Allen Automotive was a answer to my prayers especially since NO ONE else could help me out. I have a 92 ford Bronco that had been sitting for about 6 years and even after I installed a new engine in it myself - it would not start and no other mechanic could tell me why. It was clear the problem was electrical but it wasn't until after my truck sat at the local ford dealership for months and after going to a few other local mechanic shops that I came to Allen Automotive, who got to work on my truck right away! They literally had it starting on the first day I dropped it off and had the work completely finished within a couple of days.... I will say, they are NOT cheap. However considering the hours of work and scope of work that my vehicle needed, I'd say it was fair and thanks to them I finally have my Bronco ready for the road. Gary was extremely skilled and knowledgeable and was willing to take the time to show me everything my truck needed as well as help me find parts to do easier work myself. The other staff were friendly and respectful. They are a trustworthy business and I sincerely hope they are able to continue to provide service to the community here for a long time to come. Especially since other local shops around here sucked.