TL;DR
LOCATION: California. Got a brake job done. Drove 350 miles before realizing the front driver’s wheel lug nuts were barely on. Took it in for an inspection to document damage. They then resurfaced the damaged wheel, hub centric ring, and studs without telling me. I only caught it because I had photos from before. This looks like a coverup to hide damage. They’ve now offered to replace the wheel, but I think more was damaged and want anything that was resurfaced (hub centric adapter and studs) replaced. I’m demanding full accountability and monetary compensation. Not only did they negligently not tighten the lug nuts, but they misled me and seemingly tried to cover it up in the name of “safety”. Anyone experienced anything like this? Am I asking too much? Would the extensive resurfacing damage the integrity of these parts?
The Full Situation:
I took my car in for a standard rear brake service. Waited around 5 hours, then drove off thinking all was good.
Over the next few days, I noticed a weird grinding sound I thought maybe the front brakes were just due next. A few days later, my boyfriend (who works in auto service) heard the sound and checked the wheels. Every single lug nut on the front driver’s side was dangerously loose. Like, wobbling-off loose. I had been driving around with my kid in the car for 5 days, not knowing my wheel could have come off at any moment.
I contacted the original shop. The manager admitted it was serious and mentioned something about a “torque tool failure”, which makes zero sense, considering only one wheel was affected. He said he’d review footage and instructed me to go to a closer shop for a safety inspection.
At the new location, they had me leave the car for a couple hours. When I came back, they claimed there were “just cosmetic scuffs” and “nothing really wrong.” But when I asked to see it myself, I noticed they had resurfaced the wheel, the hub centric ring, and even the wheel studs.
I never authorized this, and they never told me. Had I not taken detailed photos and videos beforehand, I never would’ve known. It seems extremely clear to me they tried to clean off or conceal evidence of wear or damage that came from the loose wheel.
I confronted them, and only after showing them my “before” photos did they amend their report to admit “cosmetic damage.” I also got them to note that I did not consent to any resurfacing.
I’ve since asked for replacement of not just the wheel, but also the hub centric ring, lug nuts, and studs, and I’m requesting compensation for the risk they put me and my family in. It’s not just about the bad repair anymore it’s the blatant tampering and attempted coverup that followed.
My Question:
Have any of you experienced anything like this? Is this kind of “quiet cleanup” after a mistake something that happens in the industry?
Also, what would you consider reasonable compensation here? I was initially going to ask for $750, but after this clear tampering and the danger involved, I’m now leaning toward $1000.
Appreciate any insight from those who’ve been in the industry or dealt with similar shady behavior. This has me rattled and furious, and I want to make sure I handle it right.
Comments
From the perspective of the mechanical issue: Going to be hard to prove it was negligence. When you do any wheel work they almost always ask you to return after x days or x distance to check the torque on the lugnuts. Lugnuts come loose. How can you prove the lugnuts were loose when you left the shop and not after the vibration of driving a few hundred miles?
Now as for the money you are asking for, you don’t just invent a magic number like $750 or $1000. They should make you whole for any damages. Sounds like they are already repairing any known issue. You don’t get money for “risk,” you get money for damages. There’s no emotional damage here for you to just tack on extra charges.