Auto Zone
Ripoff, store selling practices - gross negligence by employees resulting in destroyed vehicle

Complaint Description:
On 2-15 I went into this Auto Zone location to purchase oil for my 1998 Ford Escort. A sales man at this location while satching me check my oil, told me I needed to start using synthetic oil on my car since it had 118,000 miles on it.

I had just taken it to a mechanic as it was only 1 payment away from being payed off. I was planning on using my tax refund to get my car in good condition, a tune up, new seals if necessary, and gaskets. As my car was using about 1 quart of oil every 6-8 weeks. AI ahd taken it to Pep Boys in Rock Hill, and they did not indicate there was a major oil leak, in the list of repairs they advised to have done.

I am a single mother and I was planning to use this Ford as it ran very well, for another year, so I could save money and get a better car. I did not want to pay huge prices for a new car. My credit was recovering from the time my daughter had an accident, and I was nearly ready to make it possible for me to buy a home. I went into the Auto Zone and said to the stores assistant manager "your sales associate Maurice told me that I needed to begin using a synthetic oil on my Ford that has 118,000 miles on it." "Is that true?" I asked, "and can this oil harm my engine?"

The stores assistant manager told me the sales associate was right, and that I needed to purchase a synthetic blend, since I had been using regular oil on my car all along. Then he said to me in answer to my question "Can it harm my car?" The only way it can harm your car is if you ever go back to using regular oil only again. If you do that your engine will be totally ruined.

So I purchased the three quarts of synthetic blend oil, as Auto Zone advertises itelf as a counseling type of business. My engine was very low on oil, but the engine was not ruined at all, as it ran the same as I left the store with the new synthetic blend in. I did not overfill as it was quite on empty and it takes four quarts to fill it, when the dip stick shows almost dry.

The next morning as I went straight home I was on my way to a job interview and my car was making the most horrible noise, as if it was dying. I opened the hood and checked the oil, and it was empty overnight! I had never seen anything like that, and I had driven cars before that used oil alot. I had to stop every little while and put oil in, but never had I seen 3 quarts run straight out.

After driving only 30 miles. I purchased oil immediately, and put it in, and it ran straight out, and the engine was making a very bad noise, of loud clattering. I took it straight to auto zone again purchasing the synthetic blend again, as they had told me I could never use regular oil again, and then took it straight to my mechanic. He did some diagnostics, and told me that no one should ever use synthetic oil on an older car that is using a littl oil, and might have a leak, as the synthetic oil will make the leak bigger, and ruin the engine. Even a synthetic blend is 80% synthetic, and will ruin a leaking engine. Your engine is useless he told me. I don't want you to put money into trying to fix it up he said and it will break right down, needing a new engine. The diagnostics came up very bad he said.

I had to have dependable transportation in order to work, and I had no one to depend on, so I had to buy the first car I could get. I had no time to shop for an older used car, as I had no way to get to work, and I took the first new car that I could get.

I had to use my entire tax refund, because of my poor credit, and then a month later the dealership said that I had to give them another $1000 in addition to my $400 monthly payment or they would have to take the car back. This has been a horrible nightmare.

I called castrol oil, and asked their customer service agent if there are any circumstances where synthetic oil can ruin an engine. The agent told me that "If you already have an oil leak synthetic oil, even a synthetic blend can ruin your engine." She said that if castro oil had given a consumer that advice that Auto Zone gave me that Castrol Oil would have replaced my engine for free.

I called the regional manager of the Charlotte Auto Zone Store Dennis Parker and told him what happened and he said that he would not replace my engine. He told me that he would like the name of the representative at the Castrol Oil company, as he said he never heard of synthetic oil harming an engine. I left it with his secretary. He never contacted me as to the outcome of his communication with the Castrol Oil representative.
Dennis Parker said that he took a certification test that Auto Zone employees are supposed to pass that covered information about the use of synthetic oil, and the potential damage it can do to a leaking engine, and that the test said nothing about this issue. I went to my mechanic, and told him what the district manager said about the test.

My auto mechanic said to me "Well then D. Parker failed that part of the test because that information was on there.

I do not have the $1000 that I must give for my new car, or lose it, and I cannot believe this has happened to me.

My Desired Resolution:
A replacement engine for my 1998 Ford Escort given to me by Auto Zone. And I would like Auto Zone to pay for all costs of labor and any parts for the repair. Or I would like them to give me a $1,5000 check which is the amount my car was worth before the damage was done.

Company: Auto Zone
Country: USA
State: North Carolina
City: Charlotte
Address: 6260 South Blvd
Phone: 7046439176

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