Several drivers say they took their vehicles to Take 5 Oil Change for routine maintenance and ended up experiencing mechanical problems.
Ben Brown has a 2020 Jeep. He says he took it to Take 5 for an oil change on May 1 and a few hours later the SUV showed “low oil pressure on the dash.”
“So I pulled over, opened the oil tank and smoke came out,” Brown said.
He says he called Take 5, who towed his Jeep back to the shop. He says the company gave him a document stating that a part had failed, but not why. Brown says the company promised to make things right, but then said that it had and that his SUV was ready to be picked up.
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“I jump in the Jeep, I drive down the road. I’m not even a quarter mile away … the check engine light comes on,” he said.
Brown says he went back and the shop agreed to take it to the dealer for repairs. He says the dealer told him the Jeep needed a complete new engine. He blames Take 5.
“I feel abused. I mean, I went through it. The stress, the fear, the frustration,” he said.
Action 9 heard similar stories from other drivers. They say they have taken their vehicles to Take 5 and have also had car trouble: ‘overheating’, ‘smoking’, ‘radiator damage’, ‘severe knocking’, ‘oil leaking’, the list goes on.
One emailed that she needed a whole new engine, which would cost $12,000.
At last check, Take 5 has an “F” rating from the Better Business Bureau, which records more than 300 complaints in one year, many of which are similar to Action 9’s.
Individual directors are not the only ones who have complained. The city of Jacksonville, Florida, published a report last year saying that 45 police officers there complained about the company, saying it did “substandard” work on their patrol vehicles, often resulting in “additional repairs” that cost more money and officers taken off the street.
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The company that owns Take 5 — Driven Brands — is actually based in Charlotte. According to Channel 9’s news partners at the Business Journal, Take 5’s CEO was the highest-paid chief executive of all publicly traded companies headquartered here last year, with total compensation of $29 million, more than the directors of Bank of America, Duke Energy and Lowe’s.
Many of the drivers who contacted Action 9 said that Take 5 did indeed offer to pay for repairs and then gave them the detour.
“I have a company. Mistakes happen. If I make a mistake, I’ll pay to make it right. It’s that simple,” Brown said. “It was an honest mistake. I don’t think there was any malicious intent. Make it right.”
The company emailed Jason Stoogenke of Action 9:
“Customer satisfaction and quality service are of the utmost importance to Take 5. Our oil changes meet vehicle manufacturer warranties and help ensure long engine life. Our services are backed by a 30 day or 1,000 mile warranty, provided customers adhere to the warranty terms. Even in cases where warranties have expired or been voided by a customer, we make every effort to achieve a satisfactory outcome, as our goal is to provide all our customers with an enjoyable and convenient experience.”
Wherever you go by car, here is what you should pay attention to:
– If a mechanic damages your car, consider it like any car accident: the person who caused it should foot the bill.
– Ask the store to reimburse the damage.
– If it refuses, you can try to use your insurance, depending on your policy.
– If that doesn’t work, you can always talk to a lawyer.
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