Nissan owners claim dealers wrecked their cars during preventive repairs and are now trying to sell them new ones instead of fixing them.
TikTok user Leela (@leighlakazen) posted a video detailing the situation on September 15. She captioned the video, “I have never taken my car to a dealer for maintenance only to have it damaged beyond repair during the process.”
Leela said she took her daughter’s Nissan to the dealer to have the oil pan seal replaced, a relatively major but manageable repair.
The problems started when a technician broke a catalytic converter bolt while preparing to replace an oil pan seal, an incident that Leela says cost the car $2,700 to repair. Did that solve the problem? Not really.
Leela said that after replacing the catalytic converter, the dealer test drove the car and reported that the radiator housing had broken, causing coolant to leak and the car to overheat, which Leela said led to additional repairs, including replacing hoses and the radiator.
Leela says her frustration grew when the service advisor tried to work with her on pricing but then discovered another issue, this time with the transmission – at which point she admits she was too upset to fully understand the details.
“‘Who’s fixing this car? Why is it all breaking down if you guys are fixing it?'” Leela recalled asking the service advisor. “Everything was normal. There were no engine codes when we brought it in here. The check engine light wasn’t on. There was nothing going on.”
Leela says the service advisor’s suggestion is to spend more money and buy a different car from the dealer.
Lyra Good luck Nissan! You should take responsibility for the cars that you were in charge of breaking down! #CarRepairs #Failed #Nissan ♬ Original Sound – Leighla 🐸
In the comments section, users were not shy about expressing themselves, with many saying that the dealer’s actions were suspicious. The consensus was clear: something seems amiss.
“No…don’t do this. Get your car towed by a trusted, independent, qualified mechanic,” said one commenter.
Another added: “Something’s wrong. If it’s broken they’ll fix it for free.”
Some comments warned against going to car dealerships for out-of-warranty repairs, advising, “Only get warranty repairs done at the dealership. Dealers are the least trustworthy repair shops. The increased prices of parts alone is reason to avoid going to the dealership.”
Others recommended more drastic action: “Absolutely not. You’d have to hire a lawyer. They wouldn’t have any evidence of the violations on their hands,” wrote one person.
While Leela’s situation may seem extreme, it’s not uncommon for vehicles to be damaged during repairs.
According to Bader’s ClashRepair shops can be held liable if they cause damage during repairs. As the explanation states, “If a mechanic fails to use proper care or skill during a repair, and this negligence causes damage or harm to a vehicle or its occupants, the mechanic may be held legally liable for the damages.”
This includes “the cost of repairs, replacement of damaged parts, diminished value of the vehicle, and other related expenses.”
The Daily Dot reached out to @leighlakazen through a comment on TikTok and then reached out to Nissan via email.
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