Rizzoli's Automotive - Grover Beach, California

Candio Aclin

When entering the office I was greeted immediately with friendly hello and a smile. Had a timely appointment made for my vehicle. Since I only have this one vehicle I was provided a shuttle ride to and from my home by a friendly driver. What I truly appreciated was that I was contacted at a reasonable time to let me know what was going on with my vehicle and not left hanging until the day was almost done. They recommended things that needed to be done and didn’t push or make me feel guilty about not being able to do everything at that time. Thank you Rizzoli’s for a great experience!

The Reviewer

Rizzoli's has exceeded my expectations multiple times throughout the years; they are the best auto repair/service place I have found. Two experiences stand out: 1) they rented me a car overnight when a repair they started became more complex than expected 2) they were able to permanently fix an issue that my dealership had failed at. They are not the cheapest service in town, but their quality of work is worth every penny. I also appreciate their short distance shuttle service so I can go about my day while my car is being worked on.

Bill Fuller

I had an unexpected suspension issue while visiting the area, and I’m so glad I found Rizzoli’s Automotive. From the moment I called, the staff was incredibly helpful and understanding of my situation. They were able to get me in for an inspection right away and quickly diagnosed the problem.

What really impressed me was the details they offered throughout the process. They provided detailed explanations of the necessary repairs and even sent me photos of the parts that needed attention. It was clear they wanted me to be fully informed before moving forward.

The team at Rizzoli's worked efficiently and had my car back in working order by the end of the day, which was a huge relief given that I was out of town. The customer service was top-notch, and they went above and beyond to ensure I was comfortable with the repairs.

I’ve been to a lot of auto shops over the years, but the level of professionalism and care at Rizzoli's stood out. If you're ever in need of auto repair, especially in an emergency situation, I wholeheartedly recommend Rizzoli’s Automotive. They are trustworthy, knowledgeable, and deliver excellent service!

Katherine Ortega

Having someone listen to your concerns and automotive repair needs is so appreciated...that was my experience at Rizzoli's. Stephanie, the office manager, is pleasant, helpful, competent and highly professional. Work was completed to my satisfaction by their trained mechanics and in a timely manner. Thanks all.

Marci Mae

I can’t say enough about Rizzoli’s! Stephanie is the best! She was so helpful and knowledgeable. They were efficient, patient with my questions, and kind. And of course, they saved my car! Thank you Rizzoli’s I’ll be a customer for life!

Tito Aguiar

Sal and the Rizzoli team were great. Sal listened and patiently explained the OE parts that were recommended/installed. The respect and professionalism gives you confidence you are receiving exceptional service.

Peggy Carlock

I came into your office, in Grover Beach, on a day full of wind and rain. I was wet and cold, completely confused about what was happening to my car and visually upset!!
You saw all of that, calmed me down and listened to my concerns. You are a great manager of your staff and customers!!
You got my info, as a returning customer, and set out a course of action. I left with answers to questions and the belief my car was in safe hands.
The problem with the car is being handled in a professional way, but it is the way I was listened to and respected was the focus here. Day before a holiday, bad weather, confused person… all were handled with a hometown caring feeling.
We are lucky to have your business in the south county.

デーモン寿司

TL;DR: Dropped my truck off for an oil change, picked it up with a broken door that won't stay shut.

FULL REVIEW: I took my Explorer into Rizzoli's Automotive on Grand Ave in Grover for a routine oil change, and their tech BROKE THE HANDLE ON MY DOOR and Rizzoli's refused to repair it.

For context, the driver's door in my SUV opened and closed correctly and the door handle worked properly this morning before I dropped it off. I know this because I used the driver's door to get in and out of the vehicle multiple times, including when I arrived at the shop. The door *worked fine*.

When I came for pickup, the service advisor told me they noticed the driver's side door wouldn't close, and then she immediately implied that it was obviously something that was already an issue before I dropped it off. I told her that it wasn't and went out to look at the door. When I walked up to check it, I could see that it wasn't latching to the bracket on the vehicle frame - the door was sticking out a couple inches. I checked inside and the door handle was fully extended in an abnormal position - something was blocking it from returning to its resting position. I went back inside and explained that the door was working properly when I dropped it off and she and the senior mechanic who was sitting nearby implied that it wasn't the shop's responsibility. “Do you expect us to be on the hook for that?" The senior mechanic actually said that. He then told me if I left it overnight they would diagnose the problem but said they would have to charge me to fix it.

The first red flag was when they sent me an "inspection overview" via text a couple hours after I dropped the Explorer off, with a checklist of everything they had inspected. They lied about what they inspected.

On their list of "good" they listed several things as being working or in good shape on my vehicle that definitely weren't.

1. They said the AC/heater was good and yet my AC hasn't worked in over a year and the heater only works on full fan.

2. They said the windshield was good and yet there's a rock crack in the very center of it.

3. They said the headlights were fine and yet one of them is taped into place and aimed in the wrong direction.

4. They said the door locks worked and yet none of the door locks work in my vehicle (and haven’t for YEARS).

And several others.

I get that it's a free inspection done in addition to the oil change, but the point is that this faked list shows a willingness to lie and a carelessness when it comes to customer safety - if they're willing to cut corners like that and lie about it, how can you trust them to repair your vehicle in a safe way?

Honestly, why not just fix it? It makes no sense that they would risk their reputation by refusing to fix a low-cost labor repair that their tech caused. Yes, it's an older truck and the door handle could have broken any time (believe it or not, the senior tech actually implied that: "it’s just the nature of these things, things just break sometimes"), but it doesn't matter. In California, when you entrust your vehicle to a mechanic shop, they have a legal responsibility to take reasonable care of it, and if they break something while it's in their care, they should repair it, at their cost.

And here's the pièce de résistance: you remember how they tried to claim that the driver's side door was already broken when I dropped it off? The photos they sent me *after* the inspection showed that my door was working properly and closed all the way when I dropped the vehicle off to them. And it shows that in two different photos, no less!

I came to Rizzoli's because I was impressed by what I had read online about them - it seemed like, in spite of some negative reviews, they had a solid reputation for quality work and a care for their customers. But my experience was the opposite: I came for an oil change, but I left with a broken door and a sour taste in my mouth.

I won't be back.