SPARKS Affordable Automotive in
North St. Paul (MN)

Im a Lyft driver. As a Lyft driver I would advise AGAINST getting your vehicle serviced here. As a Lyft driver we tend to drive many miles. While this place has warranty on their parts, the warranty is not good by the time your brakes wear out. They put cheap parts on your vehicle. I had breaks put on in May 2025 but had to replace them 6 MONTHS LATER. I drove Lyft for a full year before they needed replacing. I had an arm replaced in June of 25 and it had to be replaced AGAIN 6 MONTHS LATER. I just took my car to the dealership this time. Buyer beware. The cheap can come out expensive. Since Spring of 2025 I'd say I've paid about $3000 to get my car fixed. You get what you pay for. I will never utilize their services again.

Horrible!. I went to sparks for a clunk / pop in my steering early 2025 and they fixed it and where excellent and so I thought I could trust them I brought my car there for misalignment, clunking over bumps, and a slight vibration when driving they diagnosed subframe so I paid $2,000 to fix that didn’t change anything then they said oh it’s your motor mounts changed those didn’t change anything then I keep going back and they say it’s fine I bring it to another shop and they immediately say ur control arms and ball joints are shot and even showed me they where so I went back to sparks explained it all to them and asked if they could work with me to try and make this right and Jessie said “ Get out of our shop and go somewhere else we are done working on your car”

My vehicle sat there all day after they said I'd be in and out in a couple hours. Then claimed I was missing a lug nut .when I know my vehicle was not . They lied right to my face about it and didn't even offer to replace it. Threw my keys twords me on the counter instead of simply handing them to me or setting them down while I was paying to leave. Overpriced and rude.

I am so grateful to have found this shop when I did. I was really having a hard time when I first brought my car in here a couple years ago, but their patience and compassion was really meaningful to me. They are always so kind in helping me understand what I need to prioritize vs what can wait and why. But they completely eased my worries and made me feel safe there when I first came in basically on the verge of tears a couple years ago and they assured me that they would be totally comfortable with their own daughter traveling home for the holidays in my car after a couple quick & affordable fixes -- they let me know that the rest could wait and it would be ok. That made me really trust them so now they're stuck with me & my car anxieties! Plus their pup Gunner is pretty great company in the waiting room ;) Thank you all so much for helping me feel less overwhelmed when I'm faced with unexpected car issues, and even giving me little tips and tricks for things I can try to help save money on my own!

Sparks has been taking care of our cars since I arrived in the cities many moons ago. If you want your cars to last take them to Sparks. Jess, John and Dan are the best at what they do! Still waiting for Gunner to put in a honest days work.

John was super friendly and helpful . I really appreciated the generosity of all the staff because it was my first time there . I dropped off my car and they gave me a call in an hour about estimates already . They finished with my brakes , rotors , and even spotted out that I needed new tie rods . Super affordable and professional services .

I recently had a pre-purchase inspection conducted, and Jessica was exceptionally kind and honest throughout the process. I am grateful for her guidance, as I believe she may have saved me from substantial expenses related to the new purchase.

Friendly and professional service...very competitive prices...timely and prompt Also 'nice 🐕 doggy ' ( well-mannered canine in the waiting room) 😄

Dan was absolutely wonderful. This was my first time here and upon arrival I felt welcomed. After telling Dan the problem with my daughter’s vehicle, he immediately referred me to the dealership, as he wasn’t able to fix the problem. I’m thankful Dan didn’t take advantage of me by charging us for a diagnostic. I will definitely return here when I have car problems in the future. I highly recommend this location.

I recently purchased a used vehicle with a factory tow package. After bringing it home I discovered that the trailer light plug had no power to it. After doing some troubleshooting and web searches I became convinced that the lights had to be enabled in the BCM. They did a diagnostic, enabled the tow features for $109 and had me fixed up in under 2 hours. By comparison I originally took it to a dealer thinking that this was something that a dealer would have to do. The dealer charged me $225 to tell me that I had wiring problems and that they would need to put another 4 hrs (read $900) into chasing that down.

Kind, wonderful people. Easy to work with. Direct. Informative folks. No pressure at all. Transparent & thorough. I initially brought in a vehicle I had just purchased. I had called around just probing & asking questions. They have a pre-purchase assessment, much like a multi-point check, but a bit more involved on a few levels. Very reasonable prices from that, to even brake & rotor replacements. I did not do both services same day. Turnaround time is great as well. Got to meet the owner & chat with Andrew. It is a BUSY shop, but they work quickly & do great work as well as when I inquired about a few other things, they gave me referrals to websites & resources I did not know about & they didn't provide. Absolutely trust these people, so much so, I picked up a few of their business cards & have already shared them with multiple folks & with the dealership in Eastside St. Paul, where I originally bought my car from. Very happy to have met these folks! 💕 ZERO complaints 👌

My husband and and our two kids were in town from Michigan visiting my sister and her family. We noticed a very large spot underneath our vehicle that was concerning late morning on a Friday. We were obviously very concerned because we had an 8 hour drive home in a couple days and wanted to be sure it was safe to drive. After calling several mechanics in the area without any luck, my husband called SPARKS. They were so kind and gracious and talked through his concerns and what was going on. They let us know they would not be able to fix it, but they would be able to get us in at 4:30 to have it looked at. We appreciated their kindness and transparency and how upfront they were with the problem we were facing. They were able to provide us with exactly the issue and we were able to consult with our mechanic back home as well to make an informed decision on next steps. We were so grateful, especially knowing how busy they were and how booked out other mechanics in the area were, that they extended the kindness to our family to look it over. We did not end up leaving our vehicle there for repairs and opted to limp our way home with the guidance of our mechanic and the information the guys at SPARKS provided. Had we chosen to stay and get our vehicle repaired, we would have 100% felt confident in the hands we would have left it in.

Got my brakes done and oil change done in the same day short notice. Truck came back not just with what I asked for fixed but running better than it was when it was handed over to them. These are some straight shooting honest people that give you a good deal and a good warranty.... And there's a cute shop dog that likes pets. I'll be back for whatever they can do for me.

Paid $110 for a diagnosis because grinding noises were coming from my car. Sparks said I needed my Fan Clutch, Belt Tensioner, Idler/Pulley replaced. They quoted me $1,100 for the fix. I could not afford that so I went to Firestone. I had Firestone use Sparks diagnostic (because why would I pay for a second diagnostic when I already knew the issue from Sparks) And I had those parts replaced. My car continued to make the same noise, I took it back to the Firestone and ended up getting a diagnostic from them as well. Was told the noise I was hearing all along was from my ac compressor. I never needed my Fan Clutch, Belt Tensioner, Idler/Pulley replaced. I’m so frustrated, so much of my money and time wasted all because of Sparks diagnostic.

Love Sparks! My Jeep sprang a coolant leak... turned out I needed my radiator replaced. Sparks got the job done within the next day after bringing my vehicle in. As a woman I've never felt like I'm being taken advantage of at this shop. Just kind, honest people making a difference! I'm super appreciative of such great speedy affordable service since we have a long distance road trip next week. So glad that we didn't experience overheating on the road!

Today was my first experience with Sparks. I worked with Dan from scheduling to Diagnostics including repair. I'm very impressed and have already recommended him to my wife and other friends. I hold the bar pretty high as I am a certified master technician and a certified and decorated service manager for GM, Ford and Chrysler. Thank you Dan for earning my confidence and for exhibiting your level of professionalism and expertise.

I took my Honda CRV here last year for a transmission fluid change, hoping and expecting quality service. At the time I thought I received quality service, clearly not. I took it elsewhere as my transmission was leaking, and it turns out that Sparks had failed to put my spill plug back on it after filling my transmission, and this was only discovered recently when my transmission began to struggle to accelerate because all of the fluid leaked out. I would avoid this place at all costs.

Great Shop! I've been looking for a trusty mechanic for the last few years and think I finally found my shop. I dropped off my car for a new clutch, and although it took a few extra days, they were very communicative and transparent about what was going on (Machine shop didn't machine flywheel properly. German car, to be expected) After I picked it up, I noticed a CEL and stopped in the next day to see what was up. A pinched air hose threw an O2 code and lit the CEL, which was repaired and cleared within 20 minutes. Price and Service were great.

Brought my truck in to diagnose engine issues with a new motor, installed by a different shop. Dan and John did a great job, working with the manufacturer, assisting with diagnosing the issues and getting a warranty replacement. The replacement motor was installed in a very timely manner, for a great price. They were awesome to work with and addressed all of my concerns. They did a great job, and I will be back.

I have always had a great experience at Sparks. The mechanics know what they’re doing and they are efficient. And the cost of their services are very reasonable. I highly recommend Sparks for all of your automotive repair needs.

I just want to thank the crew here at Sparks. Its rare to find a group of individuals who actually care about customers and have a love for their jobs. All of my interactions with them have been nothing but pleasant. When you talk with them, they listen and they do as much as they can to help whether or not you decide to go through with a specific service through them or not. I live right in the neighborhood, and I've found myself always coming here first with questions before anything. To john, and Jess, thanks to you both for making me feel human. So many other shops will just treat you as a transaction. .even big places like Subaru. I root for the smaller shops. Thanks guys for always having my back!

STRONGLY RECOMMEND TO NEVER SUPPORT THIS TERRIBLE EXCUSE OF A BUSINESS!!! The owner JOHN AND HIS FATHER are both extremely RUDE and PRIDE themselves of taking advantage of PEOPLE and NEGLECTING the SAFETY of properly servicing the vehicles taken to their shop!!! I had to escort my 70 year old mother back with her vehicle to try and rectify the quality of work done after paying over $300 to install an alternator as the lower front fascia of the car was not reinstalled properly which almost left her stranded on the side of the road. They obviously have no standard of quality control or inspection process when they return the vehicle with the promise of work completed!!! He was very dismissive and was gaslighting us to take no responsibility for the errors done on their part!!! Do yourselves a favor and shop elsewhere for any services to your vehicle!!!

Been going here for the last year or so, never had a bad experience with them. Such lovely honest people. When my rear caliper was leaking they found it was still under warranty but it was a brand they didn't cover. While they were happy to fix it for me they suggested I take it to another dealership to get it changed for free. I highly recommend them!

The customer service here at SPARKS is unmatched. I called for an appointment, and John was able to get me in first thing the following morning - I received a diagnosis and was back on the road with confidence 45 minutes later. Regardless of what service I am coming in for or calling about - everyone I've worked with has always been extremely friendly and efficient. The owners are the perfect team to run this business. I appreciate you all so much - thank you!

Very knowledgeable folks. They even worked on my 99 F350 XLT 7.3L diesel. This kind of knowledge is hard to find. Thanks for helping me with it. I'll be back for other stuff and other vehicles.

I had a very good experience at the shop. I came in last minute with an issue and they nearly bent over backwards to get me in and avoid me having to rent a car. Every single person I spoke with was extremely friendly and they definitely went out of the way to make sure that my car was in good shape. They also did an inspection for me before my cross country move and made sure everything was in working order for the drive. This is not a shop that will try to sell you something you don't need. Honest, reliable, courteous.

Amazing guys (and gals). Always friendly and helpful even when super busy. Always willing to take a second look at the car if it seemed like it still might be having issues. Also we able to re-marry my radio head unit to my car and saved me a $100 trip to the dealership! The only shop I recommend to my friends!