Engine problems after bad service

[elight]

This is really a general question, not Rogue-specific. Long story short, was driving my 2013 Rogue to dinner tonight, got about 2 miles and the oil light came on. Very strange--I had an oil change 1,500 miles ago. The engine began sputtering almost immediately, so I pulled off the side of the highway. I checked the oil and, not surprisingly, bone dry. Had a friend bring a quart of oil hoping it was the result of a slow leak and I could get the car home, but it immediately spilled out from under the car. Called the tow truck.

Tow driver took a look under the car and immediately noticed that the oil pan plug was missing. He says that it must not have been tightened properly, and that with the normal bumps of the road since the oil change, it eventually popped off. The car was towed to the dealer. When I finally got home, I saw that there was a puddle of oil in front of my parking spot. That means that the entire thing emptied out between 4:30 p.m., when I got home this afternoon, and 6:15 p.m. when I left for dinner.

Tow driver says that my engine is likely shot. I'll know when the dealer looks at it on Monday. My question is, what responsibility does the shop that did the oil change (which was not the dealer) bear for this? Is it as obvious as the tow driver made it sound that their negligence was the only possible cause? Are there any steps that I should take now to protect myself for what may be a legal battle? The tow driver was kind enough to take a picture of the missing plug (below), and I likewise took a picture of the puddle of oil. I also have documentation of the oil change.

Your input is appreciated!

[Rogue One]

Short answer, engine is probably toast. Get a lawyer, the last place that touched your car is responsible.

[ImStricken06]

dude im very sorry to hear this. this is a common mistake amongst oil changers. they are usually 18-30yr old who are learning, and make mistakes. they either dont tighten it, or forget to add oil, or cross-thread the bolt.

how long ago was your oil change? i would take a sample of the oil and take a picture to document that its fresh(if your oil change was recent).
i would contact that place of business and tell them of the situation.
i would give them the respect to decide what needs to be done.
tell them that you expect the engine to be replaced AT THE DEALER ONLY.
tell them that you are awaiting their response, before you have to escalate this situation. (they know its cheaper to pay the couple thousand than to hire a lawyer and go to court). odds are this is a small claims court incident (state depending, some are $5900 or below claims, some less than that).

[ImStricken06]

i would also tell them that if you are billed anything for the clean up for the parking spot at your apt, that you will expect them to pay for that too

[casperfun]

Even a properly tightened drain plug can come out, especially if any threads have stripped out. Not saying that happened in your case.

But you shouldn't have any losses to speak of, except the possible cost of a tow. When the plug came out the oil pressure gauge would drop to zero or the light would come on, at which time you would shut down the engine before any damage happened, right? Just put in a new plug and refill it with oil.

[elight]

Thank you everyone for your responses.

I am going to let the dealer diagnose the problem before contacting the shop that did the work.

The oil change was less than 1,500 miles prior - just over a month. The oil, I found out when I returned home, was all spilled out next to my regular parking spot. So there is no possibility of this being a slow leak, or them forgetting to add oil. I am going to return to my parking spot to try to collect a sample, and also to see if I can find the plug (although I find it doubtful that it actually popped right there).

It's possible that the plug was stripped... although this was only my second oil change since buying the car (the first was at the dealer), so it doesn't seem likely... or at least, if it was stripped, they're the ones who did it.

I'm hoping for the best, but not too confident that there won't be any major damage. If the engine was empty when I left my apartment (evidenced by the spill there), I drove probably 2-3 miles before the oil light came on. Then it was probably another half mile to a mile until I could safely pull off the highway.

[elight]

For anyone wondering, the dealer called this morning and sure enough, it needs a new engine. $6k. I'll call the shop that did the oil change to give them the courtesy of offering to pay for it before taking any further steps. Thanks everyone for your input.

[rdub2k4]

Good luck man, keep us posted. That's really bad luck, especially on a 2013

[kerrton]

Really sorry to hear about your bad luck....we're all pulling for you, hopefully the shop that is responsible will step up and do the right thing. If not get a good lawyer.....best of luck my friend.

[ImStricken06]

The oil change was less than 1,500 miles prior - just over a month.

as much as i want the best for you, this length of time is going to be hard to prove that the shop has anything to do with it.

nuts & bolts unscrew all the time, simply from vibration - hence why in the racetrack we are required to safety wire all the major bolts (and not just the drain bolts to various fluids).

[tiggy_rogue]

For anyone wondering, the dealer called this morning and sure enough, it needs a new engine. $6k. I'll call the shop that did the oil change to give them the courtesy of offering to pay for it before taking any further steps. Thanks everyone for your input.

I wish you all the best. It could have happened to any of us. It may not be a bad idea to contact the company with a certified letter attaching the notarized copy of the bill from the Nissan Dealer. Also, it may be more effective if it is written on a lawyer office's letterhead. Lawyer offices here charge less than $100 for such a letter.

[darylzero]

ugh that really sucks elight. I wish you the best of luck getting that oil change place to pay for this.

Have the dealer check the drain plug to see if it was stripped or any other obvious issues, just in case. Take a picture of it also.
Keep us posted.

[TrevorK]

Good luck with getting this taken care of!

If you had your oil changed at a large chain make sure to keep in mind you can always talk to the customer relations people as well. For some of them it's a small drop in the bucket to replace your engine rather than deal with the potential public relations nightmare. If you're dealing with a small shop, well, your options are limited outside of asking nicely and taking them to small claims court (at which point they may just turn it over to their insurance company).

[elight]

Positive update... I contacted the shop owner (small, independently-owned shop inside a gas station), and he immediately accepted responsibility and was extremely apologetic. He got in touch with his insurance, and the dealership. After speaking with the dealership, he told me that they were going to take care of it, and that it was unacceptable for them to have made a mistake like that. His insurance is on the case and the dealership has been in touch with them.

The reason I have been taking my cars to this mechanic is because I found him honest and trustworthy. I understand that mistakes do happen - some bigger than others, and some less excusable than others. But I'm glad he is who I thought he was, in that he owned up to the mistake and did what he had to do to make it right. Restores some faith in humanity. Despite that, I don't think I can ever take a car there again.

Thank you everyone for your input and help through this stressful situation!

[tiggy_rogue]

Wow, this is the best outcome! However, don't declare victory until you have the car back with the new engine.

[Rogue One]

Now for the $64,000 question: Given that "the shop owner (small, independently-owned shop inside a gas station), and he immediately accepted responsibility and was extremely apologetic", will you return to his shop for future work?

[JMed]

Despite that, I don't think I can ever take a car there again.

[Rogue One]

Think about this... What's worse? A dishonest repair shop that screws up, or an honest repair shop that screws up? The shop owner was honest, took full responsibility, and your vehicle is being repaired. Imagine how much worse this would be if the shop owner had taken the opposite course of action.

Given the nature of the problem caused by the mistake, I can understand the OP's reluctance to return to this shop for future work, but try finding an honest repair shop that never makes a mistake. Just not gonna happen.

When you take your vehicle in for any kind of work, you expect at least two things, the work is done right and the shop stands behind the work they do. How many of us can relate multiple stories of repair shops that screwed up, then tried to weasel out of fixing their c***-up?