A routine oil change became a $20,000 nightmare for a Florida woman and exposed one service mistake every driver should know about

The trouble started within minutes.

“It was shifting by itself. So, it was like trying to go into reverse and neutral as I’m driving down the road,” she told WFTV’s Action 9 Consumer Investigator (1).

Gerdauskas immediately took the car back to the shop, where workers acknowledged the error.

But what followed was a familiar and often pricey consumer dispute: Who’s responsible when routine maintenance goes wrong?

When a simple mistake becomes catastrophic

According to Gerdauskas, her dealership later determined the vehicle had been driven with no transmission fluid, which can cause serious internal damage to the car. The estimated cost to replace the transmission and complete all the related work totaled more than $18,000.

Take 5 told Action 9 that it paid for a transmission flush but closed the claim after the dealership said the transmission did not need to be replaced.

Meanwhile, Gerdauskas said she was told the transmission would eventually fail.

“My transmission was not damaged before it entered their shop,” she said, “Just pay for the damage you did.”

In a statement, the company said that while cases like Gerdauskas’ are rare, they “strive to resolve matters fairly and transparently”. But her case isn’t as unique as it seems.

Action 9 found similar complaints nationwide involving Take 5.

WFTV’s sister station in Charlotte, North Carolina, spoke with Ben Brown in 2025 after a visit to Take 5. He said he pulled over, opened the oil reservoir and smoke was coming out. His car ultimately needed a new engine.

In Georgia, Robin Porterfield reported a similar experience. She said technicians drained her oil but never refilled it before sending her on her way.

In Jacksonville, Florida, a city report listed 45 complaints involving “substandard” work done on police vehicles (1).

Car service disputes often come down to documentation. Shops may argue that the damage was pre-existing or unrelated to the work they did. Without clear evidence of a vehicle’s condition beforehand, consumers could face an uphill battle.

Some state attorneys general, including New York’s, also advise drivers that proving negligence requires documentation, not just sudden symptoms (2).

And it’s not just oil changes. Any routine service carries similar risks and exposure.

So what can consumers do?

How to protect yourself and your vehicle

Gerdauska’s story reinforces how important it is to protect yourself; before, during and after a service. Here’s what consumer experts like the Federal Trade Commission and AAA recommend (3, 4).

Before service