54th Street Auto Center Inc

These guys saved the day. Ask for Estefin — he is a gem. It was an easy and quick process. After a grueling day of breaking down and ruining a car, I couldn’t imagine a better tow service. Thanks guys!

My beloved older car stopped running in Midtown one cold night. A tow truck had to be dispatched to take me to an — unknown — mechanic since I was far from home. I was at their mercy. Happily… AAA paired me with 54^th Street Auto Center. Brad and his technicians evaluated the problem: it was a large repair and I was devastated. Naturally, I contacted my ages-​long mechanic at home who confirmed the scope of the work and costs to be on the mark.
The crew is courteous, knowledgeable, thorough, and understanding. The job was completed properly, in a timely fashion.
Brad, Ked, Kevin, and Kaipo explained the work and kept me up to date with the progress. I was comfortable to have unpressured dialogue, and always a laugh.
54^th’s has late-​night drop off and pick-​ups and they are right in Midtown.
What was borne out of panic and despair turned into my go-​to source for trustworthy auto service! I am happy to recommended 54^th Street Auto Center.

Has got some of the RUDEST employees ever known to man. I live on the same block as this place they constantly leave their engine idling for long periods of time past midnight. They play read loud obnoxious music from their tow trucks outside on the streets with the windows down all night. One employee even made a personal phone call from the tow truck through the truck speakers!!! All of this happens way past midnight. Super loud and RUDE with no common decency. If you want your car to be worked on by a bunch of PUNKS, this is your place.

Car didn’t start. AAA brought car to this business. Quoted me an astronomical figure for a battery and alternator. Not knowing about other options I originally told them to fix it ($ 800.00 quoted price). Literally 10 minutes later I called back, after reading the reviews on this very website. I called and told them not to touch my car. A lying and swindling sales crook told me they already did half of the work on the car… yes in ten minutes they claimed. After arguing and refusing to pay we settled on a charge of $ 70.00. This charge I suppose was for running a diagnostic test? I then had to pay out of pocket to get my car towed to my family mechanic. I then learned that half of the parts that this business said I needed to replace were functioning fine. My mechanic did the work and replaced the battery for $ 200.00. This is really a terrible and disgusting way to run a business. These people should be ashamed of themselves for how they knowingly attempt to take advantage of people by unwarranted upcharging and flat out lying. AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!!

It cost me nearly $ 1,000.00 to learn they didn’t know the first thing about my hybrid SUV. The nervous laughing by the service rep didn’t help, as the cost continually crept up over days that turned into weeks. If you have a mechanic or dealer you trust, spend the money to get your vehicle towed directly there.

My car broke down in NYC. We called AAA, and these guys came out. I already knew it was the alternator, but wanted to see what they would say. AAA said someone would be out within an hour, that didn’t happen. I then got a text saying they would be there by another time, that didn’t happen either. Finally they arrived and declared it the alternator, BUT would need to take it to the shop to confirm. At the shop they said they would need to test things and they would get back to me in a half hour. That didn’t happen! 2 hours later, they call me, the guy was extreme high pressure to also replace the battery and it needed an oi change. I said NO!!, he kept insisting. I told him only the alternator. He then called later in the afternoon telling me I wouldn’t have my car back until the next morning! I insisted on it being done that day, since I had asked that question before authorizing the work. He said they would call when it was done. They never called. $ 882 later, he replaced only the alternator. My garage at home would have cost $ 389 for everything. These people are COMPLETE ripoffs!!! Stay away! $ 141 an hour labor!!! It should have taken 1.5 hours, but I got charged for 3.2 hours.

At first I thought all was well, they were really informative on the phone and sounded knowledgable about things that Pep Boys had no idea about. After paying $ 1700 to supposedly get all my issues fixed, I drove the car only around the block for the check engine light to come back on. I went straight back, left the car there, after FIVE days they called me to say it’s going to be $ 600 more in work. No. They get two stars for at least being friendly, but I ended up going somewhere else.

I saved over $ 400 by going somewhere else. I used AAA and had my car towed to the 54^th St garage… they charged me $ 142 for diagnostics! This is the first car trouble I’ve had so I blindly agreed, even though I knew it was the starter. They quoted me $ 395 parts and labor to replace it. AND, they were adamant that I replace my battery, which would’ve cost me another $ 260.
Suspicious, I called another garage just around the corner (the Mobile station on 51^st & 11^th, who were so nice, honest and respectful). They didn’t charge anything for a diagnostic, even despite requesting to keep my car overnight to run additional tests. They said I didn’t need a new battery, just a starter… and it only cost me $ 200!!!
Horrible cheats and liars at 54^th St. Listen to the other reviewers… there’s a reason why this garage is rated so low. AAA should be ashamed for recommending them.

Sadly, I know better, but was desperate on a Sunday night and called AAA for a jump. 54^th st came, and of course, the car did not start. «Starter» was what the tow truck guy told me, since the battery had a full charge as per his tester. A tow to 54^th st and a day later, my battery is dead and the alternator needs replacing. I know that not to be true. Had my car towed to my own mechanic who inspected the alternator, and found out that a wire had been cut to render it «broken». I have been with my guy for over 25 years and trust him implicitly. He assured me that this was not wear and tear, but a deliberate attempt to scam me. 54^th St damaged my vehicle and tried to screw me for $$$. These guys need to be put out of business. AVOID!!! 1 star is too much.

These guys destroyed my car by putting bad gas into it then gave it back to me (after my dealer wanted to charge me $ 2,000 saying the spark plugs got drowned) saying it was fixed, the spark plugs were just fine, etc. and wouldn’t you know it, it broke down again within an hour. What started as an empty tank of gas now will likely cost us $$$$. Avoid these guys like the plague!!!

So I finally got around to writing this review and when I read Blake L’s story, it sounded like déjà vu — only I wasn’t smart enough to tell these guys to stop.
So my garage attendant called me on a Sunday to tell me my car wouldn’t start. I called AAA and they sent 54^th St. Auto center to tow me. I initially wanted my car towed to the dealer but since they were closed, the guy at 54^th St suggested I get towed to *surprise, surprise* his place. I had a feeling that my starter wasn’t working, so when they called me the next day and said I needed a new starter I didn’t break a sweat. So the nightmare begins…
Initially the garage said they would have it fixed the next day. Each day I called, they kept saying it wasn’t ready and to call back. This went on for 3 days. In addition, when I called the manager, he said that after they installed a new starter, it still wouldn’t work and they had to find some electrical guy to investigate. I told my Dad what was going on, so he called them and chewed out the manager. Then my Dad came to the conclusion that these guys wouldn’t release my car without some sort of fight and recommended I just eat the cost this time. I called after giving it another couple of hours, and *magically* after my Dad yelled at them, the manager says they were able to figure out what the problem was and everything was fixed. I guess yelling at someone *does* work sometimes.
Well, they ended up charging me over $ 1100 for parts and labor, and their initial quote for a Bosch starter was way overpriced compared to the prices you can find online. In case you don’t know, $ 1100 is outrageous. Also remember that the garage can return the «core» from your old part and get an extra refund from the manufacturer. That’s in addition to whatever they charge you.
Fast forward a couple weeks later and my car continued to have trouble starting. Except this time, the car would start sometimes and other times it wouldn’t. There is a garage that I was recommended to go to by several different people called Budget Muffler & Brake Center in the Bronx. So I go there and the guy walks with me over to my car, takes literally 2 – 3 minutes, and right in front of my face diagnoses a dead spot in my starter. He explains everything to me and says that if it’s under warranty then maybe I can go back to the place. I take a moment to think about this. Either I can try to get a «free» fix under warranty, which I thought would likely end up with 54^th Street Auto Center finding something else wrong and charging me or I could just see what this new place would cost. They quote me roughly $ 550 for parts and labor for the starter. I decide to go ahead and eat the extra cost and I haven’t had a problem with the starter since. In addition, Budget tells me they found a cut wire to the water pump and they fixed it.
FInal conclusion: avoid 54^th Street Auto Center. They overcharged me, took 3 days too long and I had to get my starter re-​fixed after they «fixed» my car. Budget charged half of the cost 54^th charged, used the same parts, and diagnosed a problem in 2 – 3 minutes that supposedly took 54^th St. Auto Center 3 days to figure out. Hope this story helps someone out there.

DO NOT come here they will rip you off!!! rude and disrespectful. They tried to charge me 700 to change my alternator! Then when I didn’t want to fix it there a $ 85 fee to get it out. I was beyond pissed paid and they pushed my car in the middle of the street when it was a parking spot available.

Intro: I did not even get work done from this shop, but had an absolutely horrible experience with them because for some unknown reason, they are an AAA certified auto shop. This review is only about the quality of customer service. After reading the reviews I did not care to get ripped off or scammed.
Initially I got a battery test. When the technician arrived, I immediately asked him for a jump, but instead he insisted on testing the battery. He tested the battery and said it was charged, and claimed there was a problem with my electrical system, probably caused by rodents, and I would need a tow. He told me that I did not have to wait with the car and that he would do it for me. I gave him my car keys and he gave me the card.
I then returned home and started reading reviews of the business and was not happy, so I returned to my car to ask if it can be towed to another shop. The technician was not there waiting with my car, so I called AAA and told them about the tow. They must have called this auto shop because the next call I got was from an angry employee. He was mad that I had changed my mind about the tow location, and tried to tell me that I couldn’t. I calmly explained that I did not like being yelled at, and that I did not make any commitment to go to the shop. I also explained that the technician was not near my car waiting like he said he would be. This was the first bad sign.
Later on I was given a tow time of (no later than) 3:55. That time passed and I contacted AAA, who in turn told me that the tow truck got into an accident and was waiting at the scene. They gave me a new tow time of 5:34. Right after talking to them, the shop called me and initiated another confusing conversation. They were asking if I still needed a tow. I said yes!
When the tow truck finally arrived at 6:00 pm, they asked me if i could move my car because he could not get close enough to load it. I said no, but he said he would try to jump it. The jump worked and I drove the car to another shop.
NOT ONLY WILL THIS SHOP WASTE YOUR TIME, THEY WILL MAKE HASTY, COSTLY AND POSSIBLY WRONG SUGGESTIONS ABOUT WHAT YOUR CAR MAY NEED!

Intro: Don’t believe because they are a AAA certified auto shop that they are genuine. They will rip you off in any way they can.
My personal Story: AAA towed my car on a Sunday because my car would not start after being jumped. They took my car to 54^th Street Auto Center as AAA’s official auto center, so you would think they would treat you right. Since it was Sunday the shop was closed and they couldn’t look at it until Monday.
I got a call at 3pm on Monday, and they said my Alternator needed to be replaced and quoted me over $ 700 for parts and labor. They said the part itself was $ 350. I called around and found a place called East Side Auto services that quoted me $ 365 total for parts and labor. I then called back and told 54^th street auto center about the quote, and they requoted me $ 665. You would think that AAA auto shop would give you excellent service and prices, but that was not the case. After originally telling me their best price was over $ 700, after I told them the better deal, they quickly restated the quote as if they knew they were ripping me off.
After I told them I would get my car towed to the other shop, they said that I owed an $ 85 storage fee for Sunday night. They confirmed if I got my car fixed with them, I wouldn’t have to pay the storage fee. They then told me they close in two hours and if I didn’t get my car in time I would have to pay an extra day storage fee. I had to leave work early to deal with this and they were less than courteous once I got there.
CONCLUSION: 54^th Street Auto Centers are hustlers and will try to charge you as much as they can get away with. If you can do one thing, please get quotes from other auto shops before giving them any business. They will rip you off and lead you to believe you are getting a good deal.

On my last trip to NYC, the alternator of my 2005 Mini Cooper conked out right in front of our hotel. After calling AAA, these guys sent someone to respond. After assessing that it wasn’t just my battery or I needed a jump start, they called to have my car towed back to their garage in Hell’s Kitchen. Their man stayed with my car the whole time while their tow truck came. They worked hard to get the necessary parts to replace my alternator and the whole problem ended up only costing me one day at work. They called me at regular intervals the next day to keep me updated on the status of my car. In the end it ended up costing me less than their initial estimate.

We had a great expierence with Kevin even though the tow truck driver was not so pleasent. Our car died in NYC and our urgency to get home was made a priority! Thanks Kevin!

my fuel strap broke on my way down to nyc from RI.
Being completely stressed out and I went here in hopes they would be able to fix my car so I could get back to RI.
I spoke with Kevin who wouldn’t give me a price quote-(what business doesn’t give you a price quote!!?) When I asked about what the cost of parts and labour would be he told me it would cost me $ 100 per strap and 3 to 4 hrs of labor at $ 115.
After speaking with a family mechanic back in RI and a number of friends who are more car savvy than I, $ 600 is a crazy amount of money. the job SHOULD be around $ 250-​$ 300. considering the parts I need are only $ 45 for BOTH not $ 100 each.
When I told Kevin that this amount of money is completely unfair, he proceeded to tell me that he only buys premium parts from chrysler, which in theory is fine, but completely not necessary considering I need 2 strips of metal to be welded to my car.
He also basically said that he «no offense» doesn’t really care about this kind of job because it’s a pain in the ass for him.
This was a terrible experience. I believe he didn’t want to help me and instead quoted me a ridiculous amount of money to get my car out of his garage.
AAA should not recommend this place. and if you have a bad experience here please notify AAA.

Sadly, I have to agree with Diane D. These people try to do everything they can to run up charges. I, too, got the «oil on the engine» trick. The work was done well, but I’ll not go back. As I was leaving, they even asked if I wanted a car wash. By then, I just rolled my eyes.

I took my 2006 mercury mariner hybrid (38K miles on it) in for an oil change and to investigate why the check tire pressure light kept coming on. They called me back with a mile long list of problems with the car, including: leaking battery, faulty tire sensor light, and the fact that one tire which had gone flat had been replaced with a tire from 2003 by someone else, and was thus quite worn. I ended up getting top of the line Michelin Latitude Tours to replace all 4 tires, which were getting old anyway. The bill came to around $ 2200.
Fine, I paid this astronomical bill and came to pick up the car. One perk which I give them credit for was they also fixed some minor body damage free of charge with a nail. When I pulled out of the garage, I noticed the tire pressure light was now off, but now there was a new «tire sensor fault» message that wasn’t there before.
So I took the car back in, and after some investigation, they showed me with foam that the tire was actually leaking, and said they’d have to replace the entire wheel. They agreed to only charge for the part, not the labor, and it cost $ 200 more. When I came to pick up the car the next time, not only was the tire sensor fault light still on, but the tire pressure light was back on now too! To top it off, when I drove over 70mph, the whole car vibrated like crazy, indicating the tires had not been properly balanced. Wheel balancing should have been included in the initial tire replacement.
So I took the car back in (again!), reporting the wheel balancing issue and the tire fault light issue. And I told them very explicitly to MAKE SURE THE PROBLEM IS FIXED BEFORE YOU RETURN THE CAR TO ME. I think the way it works in this shop is someone diagnoses the reported problem, and sends someone else to do what he thinks will fix it, but then no one goes back through again to double-​check that the fix actually solved the problem. Anyway, when I came to pick up the car this time, I was pleased to learn the wheels had been properly balanced, but to my chagrin, the tire sensor fault light and check tire pressure lights were still on.
Granted, they hadn’t charged me for the additional labor to fix the things they screwed up, and they did repair some minor body damage for free, but they had also screwed up my car in a way that they didn’t seem to know how to fix. Maybe they’re not very good at dealing with modern cars that have complicated computer systems. Or maybe they’re just sloppy.
Whatever the reason, I decided to cut my losses and not bring it back to them to fix the problem they caused. All these trips to the shop in the middle of the day were a significant time drain, and after 3 visits, I saw no reason to think they were going to get it right on the 4^th time. For all I know, they might just throw the wheel balance out again. Next time, I’m going to try going to the dealer. Maybe they can fix this new tire sensor fault problem I now have.
Bottom Line: NOT RECOMMENDED!

Avoid these people. I took my car there for a New York State inspection. My car has about 60,000 miles, is driven 85% on the highway, and is in great shape.
First they gave me a laundry list of things that they said failed, including my wiper blades — which work fine, I can say with assurance. When pressed, they said the only thing that needed to be fixed to pass the inspection was to have the tires replaced. I did it, because I needed the inspection sticker — but subsequent found out that they charged me nearly twice as much as they should have for the tires.
Avoid these people, they are rip-​off artists.