Jul 8, 2025
Regular oil changes should help your car run longer and perform better, but when Travis Brun's engine seized up just days after stopping at a local Take 5 Oil Change, he was shocked to find his oil pan was bone dry.
Brun made the discovery after the engine in his 2014 Acura sedan seized up while he was driving on the freeway.
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“It just sounded like somebody put a cinder block in a blender and just let it go," Brun shared with AZFamily.
Shortly after hearing that alarming sound, all of the dashboard warning lights started flashing in Brun’s car. Then, the car stopped, forcing Brun to call a tow truck.
Now, Brun finds himself with an engine that's been destroyed and an oil change shop that believes Brun’s story is all made up.
Routine maintenance turns into a major headache
Brun isn’t the type of person to put off his car’s maintenance. “I’m a big proponent of when the sticker says to get it in for an oil change, get it in for an oil change,” said Brun.
Shortly after his car broke down, Brun had it towed to a repair center in Chandler, Arizona, where mechanics discovered the engine had completely seized. According to the mechanics, there's only one way this can happen to an engine: running it without any oil. But when Travis and his wife, Ashley, contacted Take 5 about the situation, the Bruns were quickly stonewalled.
Take 5 reportedly demanded video evidence showing a mechanic reproducing the oil leak in Brun’s Acura. However, that request was impossible to fulfil since the seized engine couldn't even turn on, let alone pressurize to demonstrate an oil leak.
Frustrated with the situation, the couple contacted AZFamily’s "On Your Side" investigative team. When reporter Gary Harper reached out to Take 5, the company stated it had reviewed its service footage and could confirm that everything was done correctly with Brun’s oil change.
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“After speaking with both the customer and their preferred auto body shop and thoroughly reviewing our service footage, we can confirm that the oil was properly filled and the chamber securely tightened during the customer's visit,” Taylor Blanchard, Senior Director of Corporate Communications at Take 5, said in a statement shared with AZFamily. “There is no indication that Take 5 Oil Change is at fault.”
But with conflicting claims, the Bruns are now stuck with a vehicle that won't start. Making matters worse, the Bruns were forced to put the car in storage and are now paying storage fees.
“Where did the oil go if there wasn’t a leak that you created, when everything was fine prior to the oil change?” asked Ashley.
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How to fight back after questionable repairs
While the Bruns’ situation is an extreme example, in most cases the federal government offers protections when dealing with negligent auto repairs:
- The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act provides protection and establishes standards for warranties, holding service providers accountable for their obligations.
- The Federal Trade Commission oversees unfair and deceptive business practices and can take action against businesses that violate standard business practices.
- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau can help if financing (like a credit card) was involved in the vehicle repair transaction.
Arizona residents also have several state-specific options that can provide more direct assistance:
- The Arizona Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division handles complaints against auto repair shops. The office can investigate cases, mediate disputes and, if necessary, take legal action against businesses that violate consumer protection laws.
- The Arizona Small Claims Court provides a straightforward path to compensation of up to $3,500, eliminating the need for an attorney.
- Filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau of Arizona creates a public record of the issue and sometimes helps resolve disputes through their mediation process.
Furthermore, you should always check with your local authorities to better understand the consumer protections available in your state.
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Cory Santos is a finance writer, editor and credit card expert with over seven years of experience in personal finance. Having lived and worked worldwide, Cory now calls South Florida home, helping consumers find their ideal credit card and offering impartial and approachable advice to help them navigate their best financial lives. Cory joined Wise Publishing from BestCards, with bylines in numerous digital publications across North America, including AOL, MSN, Yahoo Finance, the Miami Herald, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and more. When he isn't scouring for the latest credit card deals and offers, Cory can be found working on his various historical research projects, jogging, or hanging out with his cats, Bentley, Cougar, and Pumpkin.
