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Top 5 Transmission Shops in Portland

Top 5 Transmission Shops in Portland

How we picked

Experience

Based on expertise in their field and years in business

Customer Service

Based on whether they go the extra mile for the customer’s convenience, such as explaining the repairs to be done and giving constant updates

Services Offered

Based on the range of services offered

Cost

Based on whether the shop provides good value for money

1. River City Transmissions

Services: Transmission repair, car diagnostics, clutch repair, differential repair, transfer case repair

Website: https://rivercitytransmissions.com/

Address: 6959 SE Foster Rd Portland, OR 97206

Contact Details: +1 503-775-6778

Business Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Google reviews4/5
Yelp4/5
Total reviews4/5
Score consistency5/5
Experience5/5
Expertise5/5
Years in business5/5
Customer service4/5
Services offered5/5
Cost5/5

Pros

  • Fair prices
  • Has a 12-month warranty on services done
  • Gives realistic time frames
  • Honest work
  • ASE-certified mechanics

Cons

  • Tends to be busy
  • Some instances of botched jobs

River City Transmissions repairs all kinds of transmissions and works hard to find you the best parts for your car.

All their mechanics are National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)-certified and use only the latest diagnostic equipment. Not only that, but their services also come with a 12-month written warranty.

The mechanics, and most notably the owner Scott, are honest in the work they do and don’t rip you off. They’re also respectful of your budget and don’t mind finding you used parts of excellent quality as a low-cost option.

Many of their customers were really impressed with their rates, and so are we. They charge pretty low compared to the competition without skimping on the quality of work.

It’s their low rates that attract a lot of customers, and this means they do tend to be busy. It’s not uncommon for them to have a backlog of jobs that need to be finished.

If it’s any consolation, they give you a realistic time frame for how long it will take to get your car back. But if you can’t wait that long, they’re happy to give you recommendations to other mechanics that can do the work.

Another concern that worried us was complaints of botched jobs, with some reporting they had to return their cars to the shop only a few days after they got the vehicles back. 

However, River City Transmissions honors its warranty period and own up to whatever lapses it may have had in the job it did. It’s this sense of responsibility that allows us to recommend them to you with confidence.

2. Columbia Transmission Co.

Services: Transmission repair, differential repair, transfer case repair

Website: http://columbiatransmission.com/

Address: 1737 SE 12th Ave Portland, OR 97214

Contact Details: +1 503-233-6305

Business Hours: Monday – Thursday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Google reviews5/5
Yelp5/5
Total reviews3/5
Score consistency5/5
Experience5/5
Expertise5/5
Years in business5/5
Customer service5/5
Services offered3/5
Cost5/5

Pros

  • Fair prices
  • Friendly staff
  • Accommodating toward schedules
  • Gives accurate diagnoses
  • Quick and timely work

Cons

  • Limited services offered
  • May not be able to service non-domestic cars

Columbia Transmission Co has been in business for over 45 years, and they’ve been the go-to transmission shop for many.

First, they’re good at what they do and give a thorough diagnosis to determine what’s causing your car trouble. They can do this quickly, which is great for those in a rush.

On that same note, they’re able to accommodate those in a rush and will work within your schedule for as long as it’s reasonable. Their staff is eager to help and will take the time to explain to you how they’ll go about repairing your vehicle.

Their prices are pretty reasonable too, and the staff will even explain to you the breakdown of charges to assure you that you aren’t being ripped off.

If there’s a drawback to their service, it’s that they only specialize in transmission repair. This may be an inconvenience for some who require other parts of their engine to be serviced.

However, Columbia Transmission will let you know beforehand if there are repairs needed to be done that they can’t do. They’ll also give you some recommendations for auto repair shops that can do the work.

Another disadvantage is that they may not service all kinds of cars. They do service most makes and models, but it’s possible that they can’t service non-domestic cars.

So if you plan to visit them to get your transmission repaired, we suggest you call them beforehand to confirm that they can accommodate your specific vehicle.

3. Advanced Transmission & Gear

Services: Transmission repair, clutch repair, towing

Website: http://advancedtransmissionandgear.com/

Address: 19939 E Burnside St Portland, OR 97233

Contact Details: +1 503-665-9892

Business Hours: Monday – Thursday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Google reviews5/5
Yelp5/5
Total reviews3/5
Score consistency5/5
Experience5/5
Expertise5/5
Years in business5/5
Customer service5/5
Services offered5/5
Cost5/5

Pros

  • Offers free minor adjustment diagnosis
  • Fair prices
  • Good record of customer loyalty
  • Free local towing
  • Friendly staff

Cons

  • Minor instances of missed spots
  • Possible delays if special parts are needed

Advanced Transmission & Gear is owned by Steve Kiesel, and he’s determined to help anyone that comes his way.

We’re impressed with Steve’s dedication to his customers. Other than offering a minor adjustment diagnosis for free, he can even give you a ride home once you’ve left your vehicle in his shop.

They service almost any vehicle out there, whether it be domestic or not. Included in this list are large trucks, motor homes, RVs, or whatever vehicle you may have.

His crew is knowledgeable in what they do and explains the work to be done even to those who are unfamiliar with car troubles or maintenance. They also give you information on maintenance not only for your transmission but for your vehicle.

They aren’t free of complaints, however. There was one customer who reported that they observed some rattling after they got their car back.

They returned to the shop and were told that the crew missed a bolt.

The mechanics were quick to fix the missed spot without charge, and that same customer noted that he’d still be a returning customer after admiring the honesty in their service.

Furthermore, if your vehicle will need special parts to be replaced, be prepared for some delays. We understand that this is out of the shop’s control, but this is important to note especially for those who have vintage vehicles or large trucks.

However, Advanced Transmission & Gear is transparent in the work they do and will keep you updated on the progress of your vehicle. Thus, their customers are able to trust them, and so can we.

4. Bradshaw’s Transmission Annex

Services: Transmission repair, car diagnostics, clutch repair, differential repair, transfer case repair, auto repair

Website: https://www.bradshawsauto.com/

Address: 7305 NE Fremont St Portland, OR 97213

Contact Details: +1 503-233-9934

Business Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Google reviews5/5
Yelp4/5
Total reviews4/5
Score consistency4/5
Experience5/5
Expertise5/5
Years in business5/5
Customer service4/5
Services offered5/5
Cost4/5

Pros

  • Wide range of services offered
  • Helpful staff
  • Timely and meets deadlines
  • Good communicators
  • Transparent on charging

Cons

  • Charges for diagnostics
  • Minor instances of incomplete service

Bradshaw’s Transmission Annex is under Bradshaw Auto Repair and has been in business for over 80 years.

A major advantage they have over others is their size. Since they’re a larger business than others, they’re almost always available to take in vehicles that need to be serviced.

They’re quick to work and can get the job done if they have all the parts available. It’s not rare for you to bring your car in the morning and get it back later in the day for minor repairs.

We also like how transparent they are when it comes to the repairs your vehicle may need. They’ll give you a call to discuss the repairs your car needs and will let you know of the costs before they get to work.

Most of their customers find their prices fair, but others consider them overpriced. This, we found out, is dependent on the service you require, and other services have better prices than others.

For one, they charge for diagnostics done on your car starting at $100. Other shops on this list offer free diagnostics and won’t charge you if no repairs are needed.

Another issue that worried us was complaints of incomplete service done on clients’ vehicles. For example, one customer reported that once they took their car to another shop, they were told that Bradshaw’s hadn’t plugged in a sensor all the way.

This was an isolated case, however, and doesn’t represent the majority of the feedback we’ve heard. Needless to say, we do think it’s better to be careful and test your vehicle before you leave.

5. Everett Street Autoworks

Services: Transmission repair, clutch repair, differential repair, transfer case repair, oil change, auto repair

Website: https://www.esautoworks.com/

Address: 509 NW Everett St Portland, OR 97209

Contact Details: +1 503-221-2411

Business Hours: Monday – Friday: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Google reviews5/5
Yelp5/5
Total reviews5/5
Score consistency4/5
Experience5/5
Expertise5/5
Years in business5/5
Customer service4/5
Services offered5/5
Cost5/5

Pros

  • ASE-certified mechanics
  • Wide range of services offered
  • Good record of customer loyalty
  • Services come with warranty
  • Provides constant updates

Cons

  • Minor instances of incomplete service
  • Isolated report of large mistakes made

Everett Street Autoworks only hires ASE-certified mechanics in their shop. This way, you know that those who repair your vehicle have undergone the necessary training.

Aside from the wide range of services they offer, they can also service most makes and models, domestic or import vehicles alike. Hence, you won’t have to worry about whether or not they can service your vehicle.

Any work they do comes with a warranty, and if the service they did was incomplete or the parts are faulty, these can be redone or replaced for free.

This is an important piece of information, as the complainants we’ve heard ended up using the warranties provided. First, there were a few instances of incomplete service being done and the customer had to take their car back to the shop.

Everett, however, recognized their mistake and loaned the customer a car for free as compensation. Its record so far shows that Everett’s team is quick to admit responsibility for its lapses and makes it up to the customer as much as it could.

Another more serious complaint we heard of was of one customer whose vehicle had the wrong ball joints installed and nearly got into an accident.

This is a serious incident we don’t take lightly, but the customer was appreciative of how Everett immediately offered an apology and investigated what went wrong.

This, however, is an isolated incident, and we haven’t heard complaints of similar gravity. This is the reason why Everett is on this list: we appreciate how they don’t shy away from responsibility, especially for serious mistakes.

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