Kurt’s & Dorn’s Auto Service

Was looking for a new mechanic when I moved to the area. Went here a couple times for routine maintenance. At first they seemed ok. Then my car failed smog check. Took it to them to diagnose. They did the diagnosis for $ 200 but then wanted to charge me double what other shops charge for a new catalytic converter. Not sure why, tried to ask but they wouldn’t really explain.
Also, seems like they’ve merged or been bought by DM Motors. They didn’t really make that clear either.
Disappointed.

Let me begin by saying that Kurt’s and Dorn’s Auto Service is open at the date of this review. My car needed towing to a shop, so I called my insurance company and asked them to take my car to a shop near my apartment in Palo Alto. I chose Kurt’s and Dorn’s because it was closest.
The tow left me and my car at the shop about an hour after close, and the mechanic was walking out when I got there, but he still allowed me to pull my car into their lot. I got a call the next morning with a diagnosis, a quote, and an estimate of when the work would be done. The quote was accurate for the work done and everything checked out. All these met my expectations very well considering I did no prior research on the shop. If you’re looking around for a shop, I’d give them a try.
Note: there is a closed garage in the middle of Emerson St. where the GPS says the destination is, but Kurt’s and Dorn’s shop is on the corner and is open.

Brought my car here after getting my window broken in the city. Overall I’m am not impressed. It took three days to get my window replaced, two days more than it’s taken elsewhere. Worse: the bill came to 200 dollars more than I have paid before. In fact, my window got broken again a couple of weeks later, and a place in the city took care of my car faster and for less money.
Three star because the location is convenient. Generally not recommended.

I’ve been taking my car here ever since moving to the area eight years ago. They earned my trust early. No upsell; just good work at a reasonable price. They’ve kept my 19-yr.-old Camry running like a champ. (Though Toyota’s reputation for reliability might also get some of the credit.) Anyway, I’d recommend this shop to anyone.

I have used Kurt’s & Dorn’s Auto Service for seven years. I have found them to always be helpful, reliable, and get the job done efficiently. They are very reasonably priced, particularly in comparison to dealers. They are always responsive to requests for new parts and/​or information. I have dealt with so many dishonest auto repair businesses in the past… it is a breath of fresh air to be able to trust in the people who are servicing your car. I could not recommend them more highly.

In my experience, this place is either dishonest, incompetent, or both.
The check engine light came on in my car once when I started it a year ago, and it sounded terrible. But the next day, the car started fine, so I drove it here for them to take a look. They told me I needed about $ 1400 of repairs, most of it immediately, even though the check engine light wasn’t coming back on.
I got a second opinion from The Car Doctor, who said it didn’t need anything done right away, and I should just keep an eye on one part mentioned at Kurt and Dorn’s. A year later, all I’ve had to do is change the battery, and a mechanic in my new city gave it a clean bill of health.

Been going there for about 8 years with my Saab, then Volvo, and never had a problem. They have a nice poodle. Sometimes I wish they were quicker with their repairs, but I live and work within walking distance, so no biggie.

I am really sorry the economy is so paid and seems to have affected the business of this place, but them seem to want to do things not needed. ie brakes when there is still pad, yes i got almost a year more and botha gear head friend and both mechanic showed me how to check:) sorry got to agree w all the negatives go elsewhere.

The best mechanic I’ve ever been to! I had taken my Honda Civic to a Honda Service Center because the maintenance light was on and I needed an oil change and they said I needed $ 1,300 in repairs! At Kurt and Dorn’s they said I needed about $ 200 for various minor things like changing the transmission fluid. They’re very honest here! They don’t try to rip you off. And the woman at the front desk was very polite. I highly recommend them!

Just stopped by there this morning — It was only a minor thing, but very friendly and helpful!

FIrst took my car to Kurt and Dorn’s because it was near Stanford campus after hearing squeaks while braking. I was impressed by how quickly they diagnosed the problem, replaced the brake pads/​rotors, and even though it wasn’t part of the standard paper work, penciled in a one-​year guarantee. Had my second super positive experience when about a year later, I started hearing squeaking again and they not only fixed it completely free of charge, but also took a look at another noises my car’s been making. Positive experiences with most mechanics are often too few and far in between, but Kurt and Dorn’s is 2 for 2 in my book. Highly recommend.

Been doing business with them for a couple of years. I have two older vehicles and came to them originally because one of the vehicles stopped working a couple of blocks away from them. The walked down the car and helped me get it running.
Since then I have gone to them for all service items. I have checked their prices since then against other and then have been fair and reasonable. I like the way the share with me items can wait.
I have NEVER had problems with the work they have done for me AND they have ALWAYS fixed the problem on the first try.
They are close the train station so it is easy to get to work when I leave the car and they are even open on Saturday. How cool is that!

This guys ripped me off so badly. My car got stopped on road and I had to tow it out to a garage. That towing guy bought my car to Kurt and Dorn’s. These guys inspected it and gave me an estimate of $ 1000 for # of things. Later I found out that the only that went bad was the spark plug and these guys changed all sorts of things without any reason. I really hate those guys for burning my pocket so badly.

I just had a weird experience with Kurt & Dorn’s. Last year I need to get my car smogged with a «test only» shop and brought it to Kurt & Dorn’s. They were great. They took the car on very short notice and performed the service for $ 67 in just a couple of hours.
Unfortunately, for the 4^th year in a row, the State of California decided that my 1999 car needed yet another «test only» smog test. I called Kurt & Dorn’s to bring my car in and they now claim that they don’t do «test only» and never have. I mentioned that they did it last year and they told me that it wasn’t possible. They suggested that maybe last year CA did ask me for a «test only» but that’s definitely not true because «test only» is so much more of a pain-​in-​the-​butt than regular smog that I remember it quite clearly. Especially having been the the 3^rd year in a row (at that time) that I was asked to do it. The only thing more annoying than having to get a «test only» smog check for the 4^th year in a row is having Kurt & Dorn’s get all shady about it. Too bad, cause their location is really convenient for me.

I live a few blocks from Kurt and Dorn’s and originally went there for just an oil change, and now have used them as my primary mechanics for the last 5 years. The best thing I can say about them is they are honest and they try to solve your problems in very reasonable ways. They sent me to the Nissan dealership once because it was a completely warranty covered repair there! Another time they recommended I try a few free things myself first BEFORE leaving my car with them for repair. You gotta search long and hard for a mechanic that is honest and fair like that.
With that said, they are reasonably priced and fair, but sometimes you have to watch them to make sure everything is completely finished to your liking. My car was broken into, shattered glass everywhere. Kurt and Dorn’s fixed it all up for a reasonable price but they forgot that I asked them (twice) to clean out some broken glass from a nook in the back seat I couldn’t reach. Had to take it back to them (they cleaned it up for free). It’s not a high end super-​high-​cost and super-​high service place, but I really like these guys.
And the poodle in the office is very cute and likes to be petted.

Gave my car a thorough look (free) and provided an opinion on what’s causing the slack in my driveline.
Laid out the options and seemed to be honest about the fact that it did not really need immediate attention.
I did not have the repair done, but will plan to return some day.

Bad Place. Went there for overheating problem. They said I needed
a radiator. The next day, after they finished with it, I drove it home and it overheated again.
They Forgot to put the plug in the Radiator. It was out of water again!
Found a different mechanic the next day, needed a new Thermostat-​it was all rusted … Did Not need radiator.
They just didn’t care.

These guys gave my car a check-​up when i was getting ready to sell it. They were fast, funny, and gave the car a thorough looking over in about 75 minutes. It’s not the most comfortable office, but they do have free wireless while you wait, and a big friendly poodle.

I was very happy with the service that I received from Kurt’s & Dorn’s.
After being pulled over for having an out of state license, plates and no CA smog check, and giving a pretty hefty fine for it (oh yes, that was a GREAT day), I decided I would go and take care of these things. I visited this place for my smog check. First, I was a bit surprised that CA doesn’t have a safety test. Really? Your car can have no seatbelts and you aren’t going to do anything? Anyway, that is beside the point.
I walked into Kurt’s & Dorn’s and was first greeted by a big fluffy poodle, and then a friendly woman. She said no problem, I could just leave my car and she would take care of my car and give me a call when I could pick it up. The smog test put me back $ 67. I don’t know if that’s normal.
What I also wanted them to look at was my passenger windshield wiper. On my way there, it had stopped working. You can imagine my shock, since I thought there was a safety test involved. I was told that they would look at it and let me know what they discovered when they called me.
At 4:15, I received a phone call. My car was finished to pick up (they closed at 5pm) and the motor on my windshield was dead. It would be $ 75 to replace it. I told them I would live with it for now and let them know. I’m lucky that this place is close to my work because who else could make it there with 45min notice, while they are at work? I took my car home with my smog test.
The next day, my windshield started working again. Seems that a wire was loose. Nothing was wrong with the motor.

My clutch went out semi unexpectedly on the Friday before Labor Day and the tow truck driver recommended Kurts and Dorns Auto Service as a drop off. I did a quick Unilocal search on my phone, but really I had little choice. Lucky for me they were super nice and were able to quickly and fairly cheaply fix my clutch and fly wheel. They also let me store my car there until I was able to come down from the city to retrieve it at no additional cost. They even did an oil change and cleaned it for me.
All this and they were very nice and down to earth when ever I spoke to them on the phone, which is not what you get at most places in San Francisco.