I was charged for a transmission fluid flush but they only drained and filled. I only know this because my car takes specific fluid and they had to buy it from a dealership which they had given me the receipt for. They also said they had changed the transmission filter but nowhere on the invoice does it say they did nor did the dealership receipt showing they bought one. After they had finished the fluid change I went to drive the car and it was shifting very hard and jerking. I took it back and they had said it’s an engine problem which I didn’t believe, they said there was too much “white smoke” on start up. It’s a diesel in 20 degree weather it’s going to be cold when you first start it. I had to have it towed to a dealership where it still is. The dealership did confirm there was no problem with the engine. Thankfully i’m knowledgeable enough to know that wasn’t the issue to begin with and refused to pay them an extra $170 for a leak down and compression test. I was warned not to take my vehicle here but i figured they were a reputable shop and unfortunately I regret it. If you go here make sure the invoice reflects what they do.
Came here back in March. They said I needed all new brakes all the way around and 2 rear calipers. This was all made up to get me out of over $2,700 after tax.
The only issue my car had was a bad abs sensor and one bad rear caliper not two, which they also said was seized up but was actually leaking out all my brake fluid that they failed to inform me about too.
Stay far away from this company. They have fake reviews made by employees on multiple alternate accounts and even autozone employees have told me they are out for money and will make sure they get it out of you one way or another. Absolute joke. Check my picture for the "worn" brake pads that needed replaced by the way. Not worn at all, get some glasses zima and better employees.
Hi Devin,
We take feedback seriously, and I want to clarify what actually occurred during your visit so others reading have the full picture.
You came to us requesting a full vehicle inspection and listed several concerns, including warning lights (brake light & traction control light), possibly low brake fluid, a tire valve stem issue, several interior/plate bulbs out, and wanting all fluids checked. We addressed every item you asked us to inspect.
During our inspection:
Your front brakes had 8 mm of pad remaining (new pads are 10 mm). We clearly noted in your report that the pads were still serviceable, but the rotors had excessive runout, which was causing a brake pulsation.
→ Our recommendation: replace front pads and rotors to correct the pulsation.
This was documented and transparent.
For the rear, one caliper was indeed failing. It is standard industry procedure to recommend replacing calipers in pairs to avoid uneven braking pressure and future issues on the opposite side.
The full estimate you received also included tires, which you acknowledged needing. Tires are a significant portion of the total cost—your claim of a $2,700 “brake bill” is not accurate.
At no point were you charged this amount, and no work was performed without your approval.
Regarding your accusation that we “made up” recommendations or that our reviews are fake:
We stand by our inspection findings, and all of our reviews are from real customers. We do not incentivize or create fake reviews—nor do we control what employees of other retailers say.
Finally, your claim that we “failed to inform you” of a brake fluid leak is not consistent with our documentation or the exact notes our technician provided during the inspection.
We encourage transparency and are always willing to review any concerns face-to-face. If you would like to go over your inspection results together or compare them to any other shop’s findings, we are more than willing to assist.
Our goal is simple: restore honesty and clarity to automotive repair, even when conversations are difficult.
Please feel free to reach out to us directly so we can resolve this properly.
— Zima Automotive
Robert Cline2025.12.02
Very good folks to deal with. This past service is had requested for all 3 of my wiper blades be replaced and they only replaced 2. That was a bit disappointing.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback and for choosing us for your 2018 Ford Explorer XLT. We’re glad to hear you felt our pricing was fair and that our team was good to work with.
We’re very sorry to learn that only two of your wiper blades were replaced when you had requested all three. That’s not the level of thorough service we aim to provide. We appreciate you bringing this to our attention, and we’d be happy to make it right for you.
Please reach out to us at your convenience so we can take care of the third blade and ensure everything meets your expectations. Thank you again for your feedback and for giving us the opportunity to improve.
Thank you for the 5-star review! We’re glad to hear you found our pricing reasonable and our team attentive to the details on your A8L. We appreciate your trust in us and are always here whenever you need anything for your vehicle!
DAVID SAUTER2025.12.01
Super intake staffer, knowledgeable doe all
Cars…grateful she recommended going to dealer for a covered warranty item! Courteous and timely…convenient location
Thank you for the 5-star review! We’re so glad to hear that our intake staff took great care of you and was able to point you in the right direction for your warranty coverage. Providing honest, knowledgeable guidance is something we take pride in, and we’re happy you had a courteous and timely experience with us. We appreciate your kind words and look forward to helping you again whenever you need us!
Thank you for the 5-star review! We’re glad you had a great experience with our team while servicing your 2019 Honda Pilot Touring. We appreciate your kind words about our thoroughness and value—looking forward to seeing you again!
Thank you so much for the 5-star review! We’re glad to hear you’re happy with the brake and rotor replacement on your Lincoln MKX. Your safety and satisfaction mean a lot to us, and we appreciate you trusting our team with your vehicle. If you ever need anything else, we’re here to help!
Thank you for the 5-star review! We're glad to hear you found our pricing reasonable. At Zima Automotive, we believe in providing honest, high-quality service at fair prices. We truly appreciate your support and hope to serve you again in the future
SHARON Brown2025.11.26
Zima was the 3rd place I took my car to have a problem fixed. Obviously the first 2 took my money but didn't fix it. I took it to Zima after my son had taken his car to them and was very pleased. They gave me a prioritized list of things that I needed to fix. This is a 21 year old car. After they fixed it, it runs perfectly and everything works great. Very pleased with price, customer service and repairs.
Thank you so much for the wonderful 5-star review! We’re grateful you chose to bring your PT Cruiser to us after your previous experiences, and we’re glad our team could properly diagnose the issues and get everything running the way it should. Providing clear, prioritized recommendations is important to us—especially on a well-loved vehicle—and we’re thrilled to hear you’re pleased with the repairs, pricing, and customer service.
We truly appreciate your trust in us and are always here if you or your son ever need anything in the future!
Thank you so much for the 5-star review! We’re glad to hear you had a great experience with your oil change on the 2015 BMW X5 xDrive35i. We truly appreciate your trust in Zima Automotive and look forward to seeing you again for your next service. If you ever need anything else, we’re always here to help!
troy mershon2025.11.26
Thank you for the fast service.zima always get me in and done in the same day.will never go anywhere else
Thank you so much for the 5-star review! We’re glad to hear you had a great experience. We truly appreciate your trust in Zima Automotive and look forward to seeing you again for your next service. If you ever need anything else, we’re always here to help!
queendi2025.11.26
Very quick oil change and the employees are very polite and professional.
Thank you for the 5-star review! We're glad to hear you had a quick and positive experience with our team. We take pride in being both efficient and professional, and we truly appreciate your kind words. Looking forward to seeing you again!
– The Zima Automotive Team
William H2025.11.21
$$ WARNING STAY AWAY FROM ZIMA! Not the only review about high costs at Zima. Please click thumbs up for this review!
I give a lot of 5 star reviews.. and don't hesitate to warn others of issues. THIS review (warning) can save you money. I feel I experienced a business owner focused on upselling, charging high, overtalking - and underdelivering.
TLDR: 2400$ to replace a window motor and a pair of shocks, remount 4 tires, and *unneeded* transmission fluid swaps. Three trips due to rework - and a few calls trying to no avail to develop customer service relationship.
Edited this review because of Zima response with false assertions. NOW I'm also concerned about ethics. Example: claim I was shown a bottle of the fluid used. Not true. Someone is making a mistake, or someone is being dishonest to counter my 1 star review.
One remount was poorly done; it was 30% low next day. Because of the time and expense of going to Zima, I went elsewhere at 70$ additional cost to fix that. Pics show bad remount: excessive bead material in the wheel and a bubbling stem that should have been detected.
The story:
Initial service request: Eliminate scraping noise in wheel well and fix window that was barely going back up. They called to say “while my car was there they further inspected it” they found I had a bad rear shock and my transmission fluid was due for its 60000mi replacement. Upselling. Not uncommon and I could decline. Didn’t notice any symptoms but agreed to those anyway bc we need the car in good shape for our fixed income life.
Visit 1 scraping noise 51$ (something was loose), window "lubed" 169$, 2 shocks 670$, fluid swap 290$, total 1080$.
Later noticed a concerning *new* noise in the transmission area. Zima couldn’t replicate noise. I rode along and agreed it was barely noticeable. Being my car, I knew it was a different sound than before they touched it. I posted a 3star review. Max called to say the fluid used meets Nissan specs and there's no problem. I relented to try to trust them; updated my review to 5star to honor time they spent discussing and reviewing.
I regretted that after the sound increased over time and ALSO the window problem returned. A friend and 3 family members familiar with my car noticed the noise (unprompted; I didn't bring it up) and asked what's wrong with the car. It dawned on me, our other Pathfinder never sounded like that. I joined Pathfinder discussion forums. Nissan CVT are known for issues. Manual says NISSAN CVT Fluid NS-3 ONLY; others can void warranty. I called Max again, who swiftly passed me to an office tech who agreed Nissan CVT fluid is a known problem area and we should replace it with Nissan fluid.
So I had to take car back for 2 unresolved issues, adding to remount all 4 tires I bought while traveling bc they all slow leak. I asked Max to ask for a price break due to rework. He refused. Promised they would use Nissan fluid and call me after they reviewed window again. I priced window motors online; 70-250$.
Visit 2: 2nd fluid swap 301$ window 726$ remount 4 tires 224$. In two visits we’re out 2400$ - rework occurred with no discount.
I asked for break down of labor and parts (not on receipt) - attendant said "oh, everyone's doing that now; we just charge by the job." IMO easier to disguise overcharging. Receipt says 12qts fluid. Nissan FSM says full dry capacity is only 9.25 US qt and a swap only uses 5.5qts. Receipt doesn't say Nissan brand used; I have no proof Nissan brand used as explicitly requested, and a legitimate concern my transmission might be damaged or warranty difficulties are in our future.
PS I read my manual to learn the 60K event was is JUST to inspect for leaks or if “towing a trailer, using a camper or car-top carrier, or driving on rough or muddy roads” then replace it. I had no leaks. FLUID REPLACEMENT was NOT NEEDED. Zima made it sound like it was.
*** updated response***
Thank you for taking the time to share your concerns. We’re truly sorry to hear that you feel frustrated, and we understand how stressful vehicle issues can be. We’d like to offer some clarification for future readers, because a few points in the review are not accurate and may create confusion.
Window Repair
When the vehicle first came in, we explained that lubricating the window track was a temporary solution that required removing the door panel. We also made it clear that if the issue returned, additional repairs—such as a regulator replacement—could be necessary. The customer understood this and approved the temporary fix.
Months later, the window problem reappeared due to a failing window regulator, which is a separate issue. We diagnosed it, reviewed the pricing beforehand, and performed the work only once it was approved.
Transmission Fluid Service
We rely on the Nissan factory service manual for all maintenance schedules. Based on the guidelines and the vehicle’s condition at the time, we recommended a fluid exchange. The customer approved that service as well.
To give additional reassurance, we even provided the customer with a bottle of the exact fluid used, so they could see it firsthand.
Noise & Tire Concerns
When we road-tested the vehicle to identify the noise concern, we found the tires were mismatched in size. This can absolutely cause unusual noises and can lead to transmission or drivetrain stress over time. The vehicle was not brought back for this issue for roughly nine months, during which those conditions can worsen.
When the customer did return, we were able to fix a tire-related issue that another shop had been unable to resolve.
Pricing & Communication
We want to emphasize that:
All pricing was discussed prior to work being completed
No repairs were performed without the customer’s approval
The work we performed resolved the concerns described at the time
We genuinely care about our customers and the vehicles they rely on. We never want anyone to feel unheard or uncertain, and we are always available to review any concerns directly so we can help bring clarity and peace of mind. Thank you so much for the thoughtful 5-star review and for sharing your experience in such detail. We're glad we could help with the window, wheel well noise, CVT fluid service, and rear shock replacement, and that you felt confident in reaching out when new concerns came up. We truly appreciate your willingness to have an open conversation with Max, and we're happy the team was able to thoroughly test and inspect your vehicle alongside you.
Taking the time to listen, investigate, and ensure your peace of mind is what we’re all about. Your trust means a lot to us, and we're grateful for the opportunity to continue supporting you and your vehicle.
– The Zima Automotive Team
Luke Feaster2025.11.07
We were in a bind with a bad alternator and Zima automotive was able to get us up and running quickly. The best place that you can stop in Springfield! Hopefully we will be back to Springfield under better circumstances but they were awesome!
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We’re glad we could help get your 2011 Honda Odyssey EX-L back on the road quickly, especially in a stressful situation. It was our pleasure to assist you, and we truly appreciate your kind words. Hopefully your next visit to Springfield is under much better circumstances — but if you ever need us, we’re always here to help. Safe travels!
DONTKNO SETH2025.10.17
Really good people
Nice place to be if you have to wait, good music.
They also don’t try to take more $$ than they have to. Also work with you in many ways!!!
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed your experience with us — from the pricing and atmosphere to the team and service. We truly believe in treating people fairly and doing what we can to help, so your kind words mean a lot. We appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you again whenever you need us!
From The Forest2025.10.15
I used to have good experiences here but that changed. I don't want to think the worst but I feel so used.
I know if I were to come back it would be a several thousand dollar surprise for what I researched as a 1200 at most repair.
I go to someone else now and my car is currently running and I have not had these "surprises".
Thank you so much for the great review! We’re glad we could get you in quickly and take care of that oil leak without delay. We know how important it is to get back on the road with confidence, and we appreciate your recommendation. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you ever need anything else!
Richard Moore2025.10.02
They got me in on short notice took care of the problem for a great price.
Would Highly recommend For front end alignment along with other quality work.
Hi Richard,
Thank you so much for the great review! We’re glad we could get you in on short notice and take care of your Ram 2500’s front-end alignment at a fair price. Your recommendation means a lot to all of us here at Zima Automotive! If you ever need anything else, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Safe driving and see you next time!
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