Dowdy's Automotive

Feb 06, 2025

Excellent mechanics and fair prices.

Jan 31, 2025

Efficient and knowledgeable. Good pricing.

Jan 31, 2025

We have trusted Dowdy's Automotive for every vehicle maintenance and repair since 2011 and remain impressed with their reliability, honesty, skillfullness and friendliness. My husband and I drive older vehicles (2007 and 2011) that Brandon and his team have kept safe and reliable for the past 14 years. We recommend Dowdy's Automotive without hesitation.

Jan 24, 2025

After a long evening getting the Jeep to them, they got me in quickly, had me diagnosed and repaired before the end of the day. Great work and reasonable price for the work completed! Very happy!!

Jan 24, 2025

Fair, friendly and honest.

Jan 24, 2025

Sometimes you have a car that has problems. My vehicle, while I love it, it one of those with known issues. I tooke the car to Dowdy's hoping for the best but expecting a new engine. Turned out, I didn't need the engine yet. But signs indicated it was on the road map. So, I opted for the new engine. Parts ordered, and fast forward 2 months. Yes, some parts are limited. Sadly. While swapping out the engines several other, albeit smaller, issues were corrected. Thanks for fixing everything. It's like a new car under that hood. The final price was less than 10% over the estimate, but at the cost of this service, that 10% was a bit. If you are heading in for major surgery, plan for that 10%. I wish I had. In all, I recommend Dowdy's. These people care about what they do, and they do it well.

Jan 17, 2025

Everything completed on time

Jan 17, 2025

Prompt, friendly

Jan 17, 2025

They are great

Jan 07, 2025

Brandon was very professional and straightforward. I will be bringing all of my vehicles there from here on out.

Jan 07, 2025

Fast and effective service! Great folks at the svice counter!

Jan 07, 2025

Got us in for service quickly Helped us diagnose problem with transmission light. Highly recommend!

Jan 07, 2025

Had an appointment and my car was taken in for service about an hour before the appointment time. They started the work before the actual appointment time. I was given an approximate length of time to perform the work as well as an estimate of the cost. Both were accurate.

Jan 07, 2025

Took my ‘04 f150 in for a diagnosis after it wouldn’t start following a plug change. They took a look at it the next day and diagnosed it as a clogged catalytic converter. Instead of quoting me to replace it, they recommended I take it to an exhaust shop for further diagnosis. Appreciate the honest communication. However, after spending $700 to replace the catalytic converters (exhaust shop confirmed it was plugged) the Truck still ran terribly. Took it into Blazek for a diagnosis instead and they did a much more thorough inspection, determining the entire engine was shot with cylinder damage, burnt valves and no compression. Dowdy's did a once and done check, not doing their due diligence and just telling me what the computer told them. Why would I pay for a "mechanic" when the diagnosis they're going to give me is barely better than a google search of my engine codes? Their $150 diagnosis cost me $700 to fix something that didn't need to be fixed. Will not be returning here. Edit: A few points in response to Dowdy's. 1) I remembered the diagnosis being $150 and I was wrong in that, it was only $89, that's my bad. 2) However, the point of my review was that due diligence was not done. Dowdy's is correct that the catalytic converters were plugged, which Boise Muffler confirmed. However, since replacing them I have talked to a number of mechanics who all confirm catalytic converter issues are almost always a symptom, not the root cause. I'm not a mechanic and did not realize this before taking my truck to Dowdy's. Knowing issues with cats are usually symptoms, why didn't the tech disconnect the cats to see if they were truly the issue or if there was an underlying problem? Even if Dowdy's has seen many cases where the catalytic converter was the root cause, replacing cats is incredibly expensive and I would have appreciated some more work to ensure there was not a cheaper, upstream fix! My point is they should have done more than simply read the codes. Codes indicate symptoms, not root causes. 3) Dowdy's mentioned in their reply they never know how long a vehicle has been driven in that condition and that clogged cats could have been the cause of the engine damage. Two points in response to that: First, as I said when I took it in, it had not been driven at all in that condition. It had driven completely fine for over a year without a single issue until I had a spark plug change done, after which it wouldn't start. It sat in my driveway for about a week before I had it towed to Dowdy's. Second, Dowdy's did not look into the issues enough to even notice there was engine damage, that was caught by an entirely different shop. 4) As for the timing of my review, I only recently took the truck into Blazek for diagnosis and found out there was extensive engine damage. Up until that point I had gotten the cats replaced but hadn't gotten around to taking it in after the cat replacement did not fix the issue. I will be giving Tyler a call and look forward to discussing this further.

Jan 07, 2025

Very professional and respectful. Excellent work on auto.

Dec 07, 2024

AAA recommended Dowdys when my car had to be towed to Boise. I can see why. They were prompt in getting my car into the shop at such short notice. They gave me the list repairs they recommended with specific details and were very helpful when I had additional questions. Taylor called me in a timely manner to update me on the progress of the repairs so I knew what they were working on and the obstacles they were facing. When I asked if it cost more money for additional time and work, they said it was covered under their original estimate! When it was done they gave me a 3 year or over 30,000 mile warrantee. I totally reccomend Dowdys!

Dec 07, 2024

Great place to go!

Dec 07, 2024

Had them work on my motorhome authorized the work to be done which included replacing AC compressor, fan belt, radiator hoses and all the idlers and tensioners. A month later getting it ready for a trip checking everything noticed that they hadn't replaced the radiator hoses as I requested and the new fan belt was shredded. Only had about 400 miles on it. I took it back and dropped off for warranty. The service manager said I had declined the replacement of the hoses stating it was too expensive and he remembered the phone conversation. He was over the top accusing me of lying. After I calmed HIM down we listened to the conversations (they record them) good thing. I had authorized them his demeanor changed. But he kept stating that they will never work on my motorhome again. (Like I would want them too) The reason for the belt shredding was a bad pulley that the technician missed. They couldn't supply the correct pulley so I ordered one and took it to them. They wanted $250 to install the pulley. I refused they gave me a new belt and I went home and replaced the pulley and belt myself took me about 35 minutes to do. I'm not complaining about the work done as much as he service manager in a raised voice and accusing me of lying repeatedly and his poor customer service. I hope management review's our phone conversations and he gets some training. I will not return or recommend Dowdy's automotive service to anyone because of his actions

Dec 07, 2024

Honest people!!

Nov 07, 2024

Brandon and his team were super kind and worked hard to try to save our Pilot. While the car could not be fixed we really appreciated the efforts they went to to help us out. We would highly recommend Dowdys Federal Way. Awesome folks!

Nov 07, 2024

Dowdy'y Automotive is the best. I took my truck in to get the struts replaced, they quoted me $600 less than the place I usually go to have work done on my vehicle. They inspected my truck and recommended I replace my cooling fan. I'd been hearing a rattleing noise in the engine since I bought the truck two years ago. My former mechanic never said a word about replacing the fan. Dowdy's did. I had them fix it and the rattling went away. I've finally found an honest and affordable place to get my truck repaired.

Nov 07, 2024

Great communication, quick to look at my truck. .Even offered me a ride home when I dropped it off. Would recommend.

Nov 07, 2024

Great staff, stayed late until my car was off the tow truck and got me checked in.

Nov 07, 2024

Sara has been so kind and communicative both times I’ve had repairs done here!

Oct 07, 2024

Great service, knowledgeable techs, overall great experience every time I go in, schedule with Dowdy’s for all your automotive needs.

Sep 07, 2024

High quality service with friendly honest staff. Highly recommended

Sep 07, 2024

I had a diagnostic test done quickly on my very high mileage car. They were very honest and gave me the results in a professional way. Sara was helpful giving me the direction to take. I highly recommend Dowdy' s Automotive.

Sep 07, 2024

If you don't know how to repair newer Toyotas, don't tell customers that you do. After 8 days of repairs, upcharged from $1,500 to $2,500, and quoted another $4,800 to continue "new findings", I finally just picked it up to take it somewhere else, but it might be too late. They destroyed the vehicle.

Sep 07, 2024

We will not go anywhere else! The staff is absolutely wonderful and HONEST!

Aug 07, 2024

They overcharge for services. Dealer was even cheaper

Aug 07, 2024

This team is fantastic! Brittnee Vanmeter was so helpful and Tony went beyond to make sure when we got back on the road all systems were working. When you've got a 97 year old Grandma waiting at the end of your trip, or even just your next store run, these are the people you want fixing your vehicle!

Aug 07, 2024

We had a part of the under carraige of our car get loose. we booked an appointment on line and they took our car in next day to fix that, and do an oil change. the service was fast, professional, and the price very competitive...they will be our nechanic of choice going forward!!!