Fort Riley, Kansas, Firestone Complete Auto Care.
I serviced my car on 22 Sep 2026 (Tuesday) for an oil and filter change.
The person in charge (Sean) informed me that the technician (09 Aiden) recommended removing the oil pan and replacing the oil pan &OR gasket because the threads on the oil pan are beginning to wear out. They said that's the reason why my oil dries up fast. They asked me to come back on 26 Sep 2026 since they need to order the materials first. Quote for the oil pan replacement &OR gasket was $483.79.
I scheduled an appointment for 26 Sep 2026 at 0900H.
On Sep 26, 2026, I came in at 0900 and waited for over 3 hours before they told me that everything was good to go. I was informed to come back in 1 to 2 weeks for them to check for any oil leakage.
On 28 Sep 2026 (Monday), I noticed a burning smell from the car while driving back from Manhattan to Junction City. I tried to figure out where the burning smell came from, but couldn't find the source. I parked my car inside my garage and can still smell something burning. A few hours later, I decided to go to the store, and when I backed out of my garage, I saw a pool of oil on my garage floor. I immediately looked under my car and saw oil flowing freely on the underside, with no oil pan covering it. Since it was already past 7 pm, I couldn't call the car care anymore, so I decided to wait in the morning and talk to Sean (Service Adviser) about it. I repeat, THERE WAS NO OIL PAN UNDERNEATH THE CAR WHERE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE. And they told me they replaced it per the receipt on 26 Sep 2026.
On 29 Sep 2026 (around 0955H), I spoke with Sean on Tuesday morning, and he informed me that they will look at it again and that it will take them a day or so to fix the oil pan and gasket. I informed him about the pool of oil on my garage floor, and he just said "uh uh." I asked the other guy (who told me on 26 Sep that I had to bring the car back in 1 week or 2 to check the replacement oil pan), but he brushed me off, saying he wasn't the technician for my car that day. Talking about not taking responsibility for their employees' mistakes.
On 30 Sep 2026, around 1035, Sean called to inform me that they were replacing the entire oil pan and gasket due to a hairline fracture. He said that he ordered the parts on 29 Sep 2026 and had them delivered overnight so they could replace the oil pan and gasket.
MY QUESTION IS: How can they know that the oil pan has a hairline fracture when there was no oil pan underneath the car when I looked at it that Monday evening of 28 Sep 2026? That means I paid $483.79 for a lousy job by this car care center!!! If I had not noticed the oil leak, my car would have been burning while I was driving due to the technician's irresponsible work.
One more thing, on 3 Nov 2025, they did the same thing for my car. They recommended removal and replacement of the oil pan &OR gasket. But they recommended the same thing again on 22 Sep 2026.
MY OTHER QUESTION IS: Did they really replace my oil pan and gasket? I asked Sean about it on 22 Sep 2026 when I saw the recommendation, but he said the threads on the oil pan are beginning to wear out.
I don't think I will trust this auto shop to take care of my car anymore. This is highway robbery, and they think that because you are a female, you don't know anything about cars. It's really sad that they take advantage of people who don't question their work. I used to give them a high rating when they sent the survey, but this time I'm rating this auto shop 0/0 across the board.
When I picked up my car today at 1530H, my friend and I checked the underside of the car again, and lo and behold, the oil pan was installed, bright and shiny. I was not able to take a before picture of the non -existent oil pan, but I took an after picture of the newly installed pan.
GO TO YOUR DEALERSHIP TO HAVE YOUR CAR SERVICED! NOT IN SOME CRAPPY CAR CARE SHOP!
NEVER AGAIN!
If they recommend something for your car and you don't understand what it is, research it first, because they won't tell you what they did to your car or give you the correct explanation. read more