Ruby Martinez I really like this place. Charles is always very fair with me. Two different times I been there and both times whatever I was quoted is what I paid. I feel I found a real honest shop. I trust them with my car. 5 stars for me. He recommended Visalia Smog, for smog checks, they were really good too.
5 /5
Richard Lupio Jr ⭐ One Star – They Took My Money and Left Me With a Dangerous, Incomplete Job
I don’t leave reviews like this lightly—but after my experience with Bryant’s Automotive (Charlie and his son Dustin), I feel responsible to warn others.
I paid them to install a new engine. What I got back was a dangerous, unfinished mess—and now I’m spending even more money at a real shop in Visalia just to fix what they failed to do right the first time.
Let’s start with the basics:
• No receipt.
• No documentation.
• No breakdown of what was done.
That alone should’ve been a red flag—but it got worse.
They left the original 1981 motor mounts in the car. These mounts are over four decades old. They installed a brand-new engine but didn’t replace one of the most essential support components. That’s either lazy, careless, or both.
They reused cracked hoses and kinked lines—and the engine had a major valve leak from day one. They claimed they test drove it—they didn’t. I drove it away and within minutes, I found out the transmission wasn’t properly installed and wasn’t receiving oil. It burned up immediately, and I had to pay for a new one.
They also used random bolts and washers to secure the exhaust manifold. One bolt was stripped and barely holding—I didn’t even know until the new shop flagged it as a safety risk. That’s now part of the long list of things I’m paying someone else to correct.
I had been pressing them for weeks about getting the proper manifold bolts. Every time, I got the runaround: “Parts delay,” “Still waiting.” But the second I challenged them—they had the parts overnight. That’s not a parts issue. That’s a respect issue.
And when I brought up everything—the sloppy install, the reused mounts, the leaks, the lack of communication—Charlie’s response was:
“We don’t use common sense around here & People know me.”
Those were his actual answers. That’s the attitude this shop operates with. No ownership, no apology, no pride in their work.
Now here’s where it gets personal:
I was born and raised in Visalia. But because I currently live out of town, I truly believe they thought I was just some random Hispanic who wouldn’t come back to question anything. Just another check to cash.
But I’m not going to stay quiet. Because here’s the truth:
If this is how they treated me—someone who knows enough about cars to ask questions and spot issues—imagine how they’d treat someone who doesn’t. Someone who wouldn’t know the difference between an old mount and a new one. Someone who’d just trust them and drive away in a vehicle that’s not safe.
This wasn’t a small mistake. This was a pattern of sloppy work, bad communication, and zero accountability. And now I’m paying thousands more to have a proper shop undo their shortcuts.
I was referred to them by Keith, a mechanic who works independently out of their shop. That referral has now cost me time, money, and peace of mind.
If you’re thinking of taking your vehicle to Bryant’s Automotive, I highly suggest you look elsewhere. This place isn’t about craftsmanship. It’s about cutting corners, dodging responsibility, and hoping you don’t come back to hold them accountable.
I have photos to back all of this up. And I will share them wherever I need to.
Bryant’s took my money, gave me back a time bomb, and walked away like it wasn’t their problem. But now it is.
1 /5
Patrick Burks Charles, Ryan & Tracey are worth their weight in gold. They easily can charge 2x or 3x the amount they do, but they are honest and diligent in the work and the service that they provide.
I have a host of family and friends i send here and they all have the same great experience that I’ve had.
If you want or need work done on your car and are looking for an honest mechanic. This is the place to patron.
5 /5