Midwest Automotive

Midwest Automotive has been life saving to me in so many ways. As a single mother of 3 boys, Mike and Bob have taught myself and my sons so much about purchasing and repairing used cars. I have been treated like family since day 1.
This fool Wayne C puts his daughter in a 2k used car to hit the roads for 8 hours alone, in February? You’re an absolute Moran Wayne C. I wouldn’t drive a 2000 used car in June for a 3 hour road trip. Buddy take your review down, you may redeem yourself from being a stupid ignorant father of a girl.

Took my car to get a full service wash. And the machine car wash ended up breaking my antenna on my 2014 Kia Optima. The employee drying my car noticed and began looking for it. Once found the employee at counter said the antenna was broken already and that the big blow dryer knocked it off, clearly untrue. Upon inspecting the antenna and where it is connected on my car, their machine wash had hit the antenna so hard that it severed the screws holding it in place. So after arguing with that employee the manager was able to assist me and said they would cover cost to get it fixed and they sent me to a mechanic shop that does work like this when these things occur at their car wash MIDWEST AUTOMOTIVE in Des plaines. Upon arriving they said they would have to order the part. They glued original piece back until order came to cover exposed circuit board. Came back to have new piece installed correctly with screws. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN. They didn’t do anything I went to check «new» piece and make sure it was secured and it was all scuffed up and sure enough it was the same piece that was glued on. I Easily able to remove it with my hand. POOR SERVICE FROM MIDWEST AUTOMOTIVE ALONG WITH BUSSE CAR WASH FOR FOR WORKING WITH SUCH PEOPLE AND BAD REFLECTION ON THEM. Won’t be going to either of these locations again.

Been getting cars repaired here off and on for almost 10 years. Great, knowledgeable mechanics and reasonable prices. Mike, the owner is attentive to your needs and will thoroughly explain the work and price before it’s done. They stand behind their work and even gave me a loaner car to use during one instance cause the car couldn’t have been repaired same day due to waiting on a part. Solid work, reasonable price. It’s refreshing to find a mechanic who is good and genuinely cares about you and your vehicle. Midwest Auto is that place.

I stand by my review. I was NEVER offered or spoke to Mike again. My daughter didn’t even have the car for 6 months, its probably 6 months now as I figure out what to do with it. The reputable mechanic I took it to had a list of problems including safety concerns. Thank God she stopped driving it before she was hurt. It’s a sad lesson for her to learn about «car dealers» and I suggest not going here unless you bring a reliable mechanic with you. This car will be going back to the junk yard where I’m sure it came from.

My wife and I have been doing business with Midwest for a while now. With them we have replaced tires, redone brakes, done basic maintenance, and purchased a vehicle. In all our dealings with them they have exceeded our expectations. It is a good feeling to trust your mechanic to both keep your vehicles in top condition and deal with you fairly and honestly. With Midwest we feel confident in both. We feel like «we have a guy.»

Ive been coming here for the past two years to get my car repairs and I’ve had nothing but great service. Recently I decided to buy a used car and let me tell you it has been nothing short of excellent. Mike assured me that the car I bought was running in excellent condition. I’ve had the car for three months with no problem and will be taking to school with me this year.

This goes with Cheryl’s review… sound a lot like my daughter’s situation.
She saved to purchase her own car and went to support a local business. The car worked for a few months… she drove a max of 4-​miles per day to work during the summer and had to get some repairs completed along the way. When the vehicle started acting up it was determined to be the transmission (older car these things happen). Paid $ 1,500 for a rebuilt transmission, received car back several days later than promised. a week later more issues… Mike (owner) knew she was getting ready to drive down to school and said all the correct things. They will make sure the car is checked out and wouldn’t send her down in an unsafe vehicle. So after several more days (longer than originally promised) the car was picked up and my daughter immediately started driving to school… made it 3-​hours away before it broke down stranding her on the side of the road in February. The car was towed to a local shop and the problem was a bad fuel pump. Once again older car these things happen. I drove down to pick the vehicle up for my daughter and the car’s max speed was 45 – 50 miles per hour on the expressway. Took car back to Midwest where it was determined the transmission was bad (what the $ 1,500 rebuilt transmission they just put in?). Once again stayed in the shop for several days. Daughter took the train home to drive her car back down. This time she gets a 1−½ hours outside Chicago and is stranded. Calls Midwest and they arrange a tow-​truck to bring the car back. After several days it’s determined the Master Cylinder needed to be replaced and that is what caused the transmission trouble all along. My daughter’s grandparent purchase a new vehicle and gave their car to my daughter. After all of the issue my daughter had I spoke calmly to Mike and he understood my frustration and I asked him to do what he thought was fair. My daughter paid $ 2,200 for this car, she put another $ 2,000 into it in repairs, I simply asked for the $ 2,000 back for my daughter. Mike said that he couldn’t give a check, he offered a replacement car (at this point we didn’t need another high mileage car. So he would sell the car for her once it got back from the transmission place (April time-​frame). Mike said these low dollar cars were moving and since it was around tax refund time it should move quickly, my daughter came back in May, we stopped by and the car had «just gotten back from the transmission place». Ok please let us know when it’s sold… we notice driving by the place the car was park in the same spot pulled forward rather than backed in on the side not the front no for sale sign. I called the beginning of June… Mike said it hasn’t sold yet it’s a little slow. Now it’s July 31^st and I call to find out what is going on… I told Mike it has been several months and nothing. My daughter goes back to school and could use HER money back. I explained to Mike I didn’t want to take it too the next level and post poor review. Mike stuck to the fact that he sold my young daughter a $ 1,800 high mileage car «AS IS, No warranty and it isn’t his problem. He said he went above and beyond to help her out. Based on what I have just described does it sound like that is the case to you?
So when i went to pick up the car instead of simply giving me the title and keys Mike had to yell about how pathetic it was that I posted this poor review. He said that I left some points out. Honestly I did leave out he put on FREE wiper blades, and at one point had to put gas in the car because it was low… thanks Mike. I listened to his rant for 10 mins and then received the title and keys. I started the car and the engine light lite up (wasn’t the issue when it was dropped off in April, I now understand why he could sell it). I drove the car 1.4 miles home and saw a little smoke from the engine. This car isn’t safe enough to sell. I can’t believe they had the car all that time and this is the condition.

This is the place you’ve been looking for. Nice people, fair prices and excellent work. Only shop I trust. You will not be sorry!

I could not be happier with the service and honesty i received at this repair shop. They treated me with respect and got the job done quickly. Atmosphere is very friendly, like you’re family. I recommend this place to everyone

I am really shocked at Mike B. I have never had my auto at Midwest Auto more than 6 hours. I think the line «some people are never satisfied» is apparent.

I have known Mike and Midwest Automotive for more than twenty years. He’s an honest man and does a great job. I’ve bought tires from him. I’ve had repair work and routine maintenance done on many cars at this shop. They are prompt, courteous, thorough, and do a great job.

Dropped my vehicle off for a oil change and wheel alignment. Over all good service, at a decent cost.

Nasty customer service. An incompetent mechanic who refused to do an alignment job because he claimed my regular mechanic installed the rack-​and-​pinion «upside down». When I called to question how that could be, he simply yelled at me on the phone and hung up. Turned out it wasn’t installed «upside down» but backward. Had these people had more patience with me, they’d have had my business. Don’t go here, they don’t really care about you. Rude and arrogant.
UPDATE 08÷01÷15 On the follow up comment, ONE YEAR LATER, they reply that I wanted a fix done for free. What customer would be insane enough to come in and demand a free fix for something another shop had done. If this doesn’t tell you how dishonest they are, then take your business to them and learn firsthand by all means.

I really don’t know if these guys are good mechanics or not, we got tired of waiting for them to start to work on our car and went elsewhere on the start of the third day. Unless you’re looking for short term parking for your car when you go out of town, I’d recommend not wasting your time waiting on these guys, there are plenty of good mechanics in town who won’t treat you like they treated us.