Posted on 09/09/2021 11:22:05 AM PDT by simpson96
An Arizona woman who went to Walmart for an oil change claims she ended up with a blown up car instead.
Nikki Smith says she narrowly escaped with her life when her Jeep went up in a ball of flames at the Walmart Auto Center in Phoenix — and it was just by the Grace of God she didn't have her three-year-old daughter strapped in there at the time, either.
Smith told TooFab she brought the car to the supercenter on Sunday for a routine oil change.(snip)
"After I took my car to Walmart I started noticing that my car was driving funny and acting as if it did not want to drive," she said. "Then I noticed fluid leaking from my grill."
She claims after lifting up the hood, she discovered the oil cap had not been replaced, and had leaked all over the engine. She says Walmart agreed to take the car back, give it another oil change, and clean up the mess.
According to Smith, they even told her the employee responsible had been fired, and that the next oil change was on the house.
But after she left the premises, she says the car still didn't feel right.
"I had numerous service lights on on my car that I'd never had before, my car had also began smoking, and was not accelerating over 20mph," she claims.(snip)
Smith claims two minutes after parking and walking into the manager's office, a worker ran in after her to inform them there was smoke billowing from the car. She says by the time they got outside, the car was in flames, before ultimately exploding.
(Excerpt) Read more at toofab.com ...
She said she even had to walk home from the store, and was never as much as offered a taxi.
"Never one time did he apologize to me for this heartbreaking issue or even offer any help," she said. "My family and I could have lost our lives and he thinks I'm trying to gain something other than what I came to Walmart with — which is a car."
"I work very hard for everything I have. I work two jobs to provide for my daughter and now I don't even have a vehicle to go to either one of my jobs. I came to Walmart with a perfectly fine car and I had to WALK home with nothing."
Nikki says all she wants is the car she had, replaced — same model and year, nothing more — so she can get to work.
"I'm not looking for any extra money I just need a car," she said. "I just don't deserve to be without a car due to the lack of professionalism at Walmart."
"That was my dream car," she added, as she broke down into tears. "I worked so hard to make the payments on it..."
She said that as soon as she told Walmart she was hiring a lawyer, they went silent.
"So as of now I'm going to have to pay for my own rental car which I'll have to take from my rent money just to get to work," she said. "I'm not looking for money out of anyone, I just want Walmart to do the right thing."
Walmart’s defense: She said to change the oil, she didn’t say what she wanted us to turn it into. We chose to turn it into ashes. Motion to disiss.
Seems somewhat reasonable.
How much extra for the blowup did Walmart charge her?
The very same thing happened to my SUV but at least it didn’t explode - the morons didn’t replace the oil filler cap and blew oil all over the inside of the hood. Don’t ever go to Walmart for any auto servicing; once when I had the battery replaced they didn’t put the bracket back on. Went back next day and they couldn’t find it. Then too, went to have my tires rotated and the manager said they didn’t sell those tires - showed him the receipt that showed I bought them at his store.
Typical Jeep product.
As someone who has unintentionally started four car fires, and totaling two of those, in my experience use power steering fluid or gasoline to light the candle. Oil doesn’t burn as easily.
Sometimes it's how you handle people. If you go in there fussin' and cussin' "Y'all blew up my car ya bunch a turd wads!" it might lower the odds of them treating you gracefully.
reminds me years ago a friend bought a new car constantly taking the lemon to the dealer last time he was talking to mechanic and engine caught on fire...mechanic slammed the hood down and ran for fire extinguisher my friend said when mechanic left he opened the hood and quietly said burn baby burn and it did!
car that new and no insurance?
(I went to the link and looked at the photo, that is a pretty new jeep)
turn it over to insurance, get a loaner car and let them fight with walmart over who pays for the car.
Taking a vehicle to a mechanic shop for an oil change is about like dropping your baby off with the Taliban for a diaper change
I sell used cars, as part of my closing (when you buy a car) I remind them they are buying a USED (normally a 100-150,000 mile car) and they do break. I’m happy to help them get it fixed but I don’t help people who try to abuse me on the phone. I hang up on them.
You’d think she carried Comprehensive coverage if it was still being paid for. And since she’d lawyered-up, you would think the lawyer would advise her to do just what you said.
In my state, you have a loan, you have full coverage. something doesn’t smell right.
A neighbor kept finding her Saab in the park at the end of her driveway. My dad was convinced the starter was engaging and it was jerking backwards (parked in reverse). The dealership played the “Honey you must have left it in neutral” game. My dad told her “Drive it to the dealership and park it aimed at the side of one the new Jaguars on the lot”
They fixed the starter.
You’ll excuse me if I do t ask you for any rides, FRiend. No offense
I’m skeptical of this one…
Something similar happened to me. In addition, the mechanic attached several tubes incorrectly. I called Walmart, and was essentially told I was lying. That was 10 years ago.
I don’t shop at Walmart anymore.
“Mom Asks Walmart for Oil Change”
I identified the problem right off the bat.
I went to Wal-Mart for an oil change once, years ago. When they replaced the oil filter the broke off the oil pressure sensor. I left a couple big puddles of oil before I noticed, and had just enough lubrication left in my engine to get back to Wal-Mart to tell them to fix it. They first tried to tell me they had changed the oil the day before I noticed it, so it couldn’t have been their mistake. I didn’t exactly mention an attorney, but I did ask how they they thought a jury might respond to that story, and that’s when the manager decided to, “make it right.” Never used Wal-Mart automotive again after that.
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