Bob's Lil Car Hospital in
Kelso (WA)

Had a great experience with Bobs! Very upfront and Honest. 2 traits that are uncommon in today’s world when it comes to vehicle repair. Didn’t try to sell me anything more than I came in for and gave me a detailed list of what to watch for and future repairs needed.
Bobs is my go to place!!

Wonderful and kind, great communication and worked with us despite our crappy situation. 100% would use for all of our needs.

I brought a vehicle for a pre-purchase inspection. I am out of town so sent them a very long, detailed list of what I wanted checked. Their price for the inspection was incredibly reasonable so I told them that if they needed to charge more for all my requirements, I would totally understand. They were very kind and gracious and said “well 90% of this is what we do anyway.”
In the end, they provided a very detailed, thorough, and easily understandable analysis of the vehicle. They also offered to chat and go over anything that I may not have understood. They were very forthright and candid, and, Above all very, very helpful. And their price remained very reasonable. They didn’t increase it at all.
I will be honest, If I lived in the area, they would be my go to mechanic.

I was able to drop off the truck the same day I called in. They immediately started diagnostics for a parasitic drain on the battery. Issue was located and repaired. The fact that they were able to even find it was amazing, then to repair and stay within budget was the icing on the cake. Wonderful people, excellent work snd the after report is astounding, pictures with descriptions of issues and of the repair. I would not hesitate to return with any issue on any vehicle I own.

As usual, my 2000 Ford Ranger was scheduled quickly, and service was rendered on schedule. The cost was a little less, since two sets of parts came in the package, so they charged me for just the one set that was used for repairing the truck. I appreciate their honesty. The suspension work done on the truck was noticeable, right away. The back of the truck used to wiggle around a bit on rough road, but now it feels solid and straight. They take calls right away, schedule and deliver on time, and their work has been tried and true. I have no doubt that the work they do on my truck is safe and solid. Thank you, Bob’s Lil Car Hospital, for always responding in a timely manner, scheduling and getting the work done as scheduled, and putting things right on the vehicle, the first time! Much appreciation for your efficiency and solid work.

Dropped car off on a weekend when it had been running really rough and finally wouldn't start. Sad to say the costs to replace an engine are way more than the car is worth, but the diagnosis was fast, reasonably priced, and they've agreed to hold onto the car until we get the title in the mail so we can donate it. We're very happy with Bob's excellent service.

At the beginning of a family camping trip, my VW van wouldn’t start at a rest stop. After being towed to Bob’s on the 4th of July (and spending the night in the parking lot!), they squeezed me in the next morning and spent a long time tracing the problem, which was rare. They were so kind and professional, and got me on my way that day. Highly recommend.

I had multiple services done. Each time had clear, quick communication and I am happy with their work.

Bud clary broke my windows by slamming the door of my dodge van, when I took it in for an oil change and they refused to take a look at it to see if they could be repaired or if it was that way when I brought in to them. they just laughed at their own service writer and told him to get me to pay for a diagnosis. I left and called Bob's Lil car Hospital and within a few hours they had it fixed and done. I was also give, first class care with the team at Bobs. Thank you all I will ONLY BRING MY VEHICLES TO YOU NOW.

Super friendly and caring with top notch skilled mechanics. Really love this small town auto shop.

My wife told me her backup camera was not working. I took apart the trunk and clened the connections and put it back togeth. Still not working. Checking the fuses under the hood, everything was woking well. I removed a fuse to check it and put it back in. Car would not start. I attempted several things and finally had the car towed to Bob's. The mechanic found I inserted the fuse into the wrong place. He put it where it was supposed to be and the car runs fine. In the process the cameras have come back online. A bonus! Great guys, we all got a good laugh and they sent me on my way no charge. It has been a great ending to a long day. Thank you to the guys at Bob's lil car hospital.

People worked with me on the repair made sure everything was done correctly.

I took my car in for a transmission flush, and during their inspection they found one of my tires had a huge gash on the inside wall. Was my first time here the people are really nice and wonderful very knowledgeable and very helpful.

My husband had passed a few days prior to having to go the the Lil Car Hospital, we had called the Honda dealer here in town and they said they could fix it. They put some air in two tires and said they couldn’t do anything else on that new of an Audi. They suggested taking it out to the Lil Car Hospital. I drove out to Lexington with tears in my eyes. I didn’t have an appointment they couldn’t have been any nicer. I was there for over three hours as they went over it from top to bottom for me. They fixed the problems I was having except for one, which they gave me a quote for and I will be making an appointment and going back to them to finish the job. Again, they couldn’t have been nicer and more thorough. I can’t tell you how pleased and relieved I felt after my visit to their shop. Everyone was extremely nice and very sympathetic. Thank you so much for making me feel like I wasn’t going to break down along a dark and rainy road here in Longview and that I now feel safe driving the car.
Sincerely,
Lori O’Neill

I took my 2014 Chevy Cruz to Bob's Car Hospital today for an oil change. The gal at the front desk was very welcoming and greeted me with a smile.
I also asked them to check on my brakes too, during the oil change.
They found some wear & tear on the drums, and did not try to upsell me. They educated me with pictures of the underneath part of my car. They also had the pictures on my printed invoice and it was texted over to me for easy viewing.
I noticed how clean the shop was and how clean the customer bathroom was. That is not normal for most auto shops.

I drive back n forth from Longview area to Vancovuer weekly for work. And I used to get my car maintenance done in Vancovuer. Going forward, Im going to Bobs!

People, if you want a trusted business that has fair pricing for great quality work, awesome customer care.......
then Bob's Lil Car Hospital is for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good customer service and we’re flexible with my schedule. However, was given an estimate that was $200 and ended up paying almost $1000, which was not awesome. The part was defective that was put in, I was impressed that Bob’s lil’ hospital ordered a new one and replaced the defective part the next day at no charge. Pricey but comes with a 3 year warranty which made it absolutely worth it!

I would give them a ZERO. I paid almost $5,000 just for the BRAKES FAIL. The car accident we were involved in could have been a fatal easily.

there was children involved. I would avoid them like the plague.

Also to add to the problem. They’ve blocked me. So that says a lot about their business.

UPDATE: Long story short - my car has been successfully repaired! Full story - In the time frame of writing the review (left below, as to not deny anything that was said), which was over the weekend, I had ordered the part that needed to be replaced, that being the intake cam sprocket (along with its bolt and a timing gear lock down tool set), and was mentally set to learn how to do the repair myself. But come Monday, when this shop is usually closed, I was sent a text that the repair would indeed be done under warranty. Reaching out on a day off, and using a customer-supplied part even though there are posted signs against it, regained my respect for this place. Not happy that it came out THIS way, review and whatnot, but I am happy they followed through with making things right. Take care everyone.

"Took my car in to find an oil leak. They found it to be the oil cooler. Ok, great, replace the oil cooler and reseal the oil pan while you're there. They said, ok, but the head gasket has also failed. We are weary of working on an engine that doesn't have long for this world. I said 'it is noted, but don't worry about it right now, just seal the oil leaks'. They said ok, and did the job. I get the car back a few days later, and come to find that one of their incompetent techs left a shop towel in the oil pan and it killed the engine the rest of the way. They took responsibility for the fault and replaced the engine at no cost to me - good, thank you. However, the engine they put in also has its own problem - a rattle at start up. Not only were they not "able to track the noise that was being made", they didn't bother to hook up a scan tool which would have told them exactly what was causing it. I know this because that's what I did with my own tool. So I showed them my findings and asked to have it fixed under the new engines warranty. Their short answer; I was denied. The long answer; they can't source an intake cam sprocket (the cause of the noise), so they wanted to consult with their engine supplier to see if they can take the WHOLE ENGINE back out for replacement, and said they would call me later with an answer.....I have yet to receive a call. So, they broke my original engine, replaced it with another broken engine, and still want to charge me more money to fix it when it's still under warranty. Their business model is a joke now. Didn't used to be this way - I've taken several cars to them in the past with satisfactory results, so that's why I went to them recently. Lesson learned."

Zack & Barbara, and I have a wonderful working relationship!
I truly appreciate their thorough & detailed work ethic.
I recommend "Bob's Lil Car Hospital" to everyone looking for great caring people and phenomenal service!

Thank you,
Adam Ward - Camelot Payments

We had been taking our vehicles to Bob's for a while now. Just recently we had issues with them. I brought my vehicle in for a brake flush after getting a maintenance notofication from them that it was due. I paid a little over 200 for the service. They notified me that if I came back within a week for the additional brake needs then would not need a repeat flush. The estimate for back brakes and front brakes with rotors and callipers would then be 900 bucks. They said there was a chance that rotors and calipers may be good and it would be slightly less. We'll this seemed like a pretty high quote and a little sketchy to say I needed to do it within a week or would need the brake flush done again too? So we got a second opinion. The second opinion said there was no way the brake flush had been done as fluid was bad and the only other possible explanation was that the fluid used for the flush may have been contaminated by improper storage but that was unlikely. They then did a brake flush and replaced pads on the rear brakes for 270. There was still life left on the front brakes and they did not need any sevices yet. So I took the print out with what they said to Bob's who argued back and forth. They refused to refund me for services not provided. They argued that the other company was trying to scam me but then why would they not replace everything and charge me more like Bob's was trying to do. Instead they only replaced what was needed. So this company not only charged for services not completed but then also tried to get additional services and money from me that were not needed. They had recomeneded front brakes too. They did say that the rotors and calipers may not be needed but my guess is that if I could've brought it back within that week to avoid another flush, they wouldve said they were needed and charged for those too! Will never take our vehicles there again as they cant be trusted!

If you want a repair shop with integrity then you need Lil Bob's Car Hospital. These folks go out of their way to do everything they can to fix your vehicle, keep it safe on the road, as well as keeping the cost down for your repair. They put the customer first which is not very common these days. Everyone from the service writer to the mechanic, shop owner and the general staff at Lil Bob's really care about who they serve. I would highly recommend them to anyone for automotive service,major or minor repairs. They keep you posted on all things going on with your vehicle as well as keeping you abreast to how much your repairs are going to cost. I highly recommend them to friends and family who are in need automotive service.
Kellie Smith,
Toutle, Washington

I had an unexpected car emergency this past weekend while on a long drive to Portland with my two young children. My car started making an incredibly loud noise, forcing me to pull over and call for a tow. The tow truck brought us to Bob's Lil Car Hospital, and I couldn’t have been more relieved to find such a warm and welcoming place.

From the moment we arrived, the staff at Bob's Lil Car Hospital went above and beyond to help us. I was exhausted and stranded, but their kindness and efficiency made a stressful situation much more manageable. They not only checked out the car promptly but also offered snacks to my kids and told us about a nearby park we could visit while we waited.

Although they didn’t find anything specific causing the issue (they suspected a rock might have been lodged in the rotor), their reassurance and swift attention made all the difference.

I can’t express enough how grateful I am for their exceptional service. The team at Bob's Lil Car Hospital turned what could have been a very stressful experience into a much more pleasant one. If you ever find yourself in need of car repair or just some honest advice, I highly recommend them. Their genuine care, professionalism, and generosity are truly unmatched. Thank you, Bob's Lil Car Hospital, for everything!

Very kind staff. Lady who works the desk is fun to talk with. They are always available to answer the phone quickly and answer questions. They did amazing work on my car, but they are highly priced. I would say though if you can afford it that it's worth the $$. They did a very thorough assessment on my car to find the problem and made in depth notes along with pictures of every area of my car and anything that needs done with urgency level. The online profiles they make makes it easy. They also are contracted with DCYF for families with open cases( child protective services) and accept vouchers for car repairs from case workers. The process for the voucher to become approved and be ready and available can take up to a few weeks.

I had locked my keys in the trunk & had it towed to Lil Car. They immediately started on it but had to research to bypass the safety features. While there, luckily the found where my rear tires were blowing out the inside side wall. The brakes were paper thin & this could have been easily an accident. In a day & 1/2 I drove my BMW out of their parking lot safely & confident I could drive my family around safely. All of the guys I spoke with were amazing and explained details to me. I will return for any services I need. And I won't be locking my keys in my trunk anymore.

Next trip to Lil Car.. My car stopped getting power. I pulled over & I saw smoke. Luckily it wasn't on fire, just oil on the exhaust. Towed it to Lil Car thinking my car might be history. The following day they called me & it was a burned fluid line that got too cl9se to the exhaust. It cost me much less than I thought it would. They know their stuff!!

Another trip another great repair by Lil Car Hospital. My BMW suddenly lost its power steering. Of course it happened on a holiday weekend so it took two tows to get to Lil Car from Centralia. Lil Car was diligent to get my prize possession on the road. I had the power steering electronic motor going out and needed replaced. But it was in the steering colimn. This was up to their skilled mechanics. They were able to find the part after pulling the steering wheel and replace it. I lost about 2 weeks of my car missing.. but I never worried because I knew it was safe. Thanks again Lil Car Hospital.

I’ve taken my car here 2 different times on the recommendation from a reputable repair shop closer to where I live that was booked full at the time. They have been able to easily diagnose my cars issues and fix them quickly. They also were able to work with me while I was trying to scrape the money together for the major fix I needed and I thought that was really nice of them. Will 100% recommend to any of my friends with car issues in the future!

The transmission in my 2009 Buick Lucerne became inoperable and I needed it back up and running fast as it is my only vehicle. The team of mechanics, service writer, and receptionist jumped into action and had my car's problem diagnosed within an hour; the new transmission ordered and delivered within two days; and had it installed in less than a day. The mechanics at Bob's Lil Car Hospital are fast workers and are highly knowledgeable. I highly recommend their services and will always choose them for all of my car repairs. Thank you Bob and team! Excellent work!

My trucks driver side front wheel started making a grinding noise as I was heading back to Scappoose from Tacoma. There was an accident on I-5 that detoured us through Kelso, I'm thankful it did. I pulled off to the side of the road only to find that the top bolt on my brake caliper had fallen out and the caliper slipped off the top of the rotor and was rubbing on the inside of my wheel. Well after a quick google search I found that Bobs Lil Car Hospital was less than a quarter mile from me. I pulled in at about 1720 (10 minutes before closing) the receptionist greeted me, I explained what happened and she got Ken to help me out. Ken checked out my vehicle, quickly diagnosed the problem and immediately started calling auto part stores for the part. The receptionist (who's name I can't remember) stayed late and drove to pick up the part for me. Ken pulled off my wheel, installed the bolt, and quickly had me on my way (in under 45 min including going to get the part). I grew up in a small town and this is the type of service that I've missed. Both employees took time away from their families to help me out, they didn't know me, they could have told me sorry we're closed, but they didn't. They stayed and helped me out. They went above and beyond to get me back on the road so I could get home. The shop was CLEAN, the office was organized, and most of all they care. I'd consider taking my vehicle back here for service even though it's a 1hr+ drive, because of the exceptional care they gave me in my time of need. Thanks again, I made it home safe!