On June 25, 2026, I brought my vehicle to Valvoline for what I expected to be a routine oil change…read more At the time of service, my vehicle was not experiencing any transmission issues. I was not seeking transmission repairs, nor was I reporting any concerns with my transmission. My vehicle was operating normally.
During this visit, Valvoline employees recommended an automatic transmission fluid replacement, commonly referred to as a transmission flush. I trusted the recommendation of their technicians because I believed they were providing professional advice based on what was best for my vehicle. I agreed to the service because I relied on Valvoline's expertise and expected that any recommended maintenance would be appropriate and safe.
Had Valvoline informed me that this service was not recommended for my vehicle, that my vehicle's mileage made it a potential risk, or that the service could result in transmission issues, I would have declined. Valvoline had all the information needed to make that determination before performing the service, including the vehicle's mileage.
Less than three weeks after Valvoline performed the transmission flush, my vehicle began experiencing serious transmission problems that it had never experienced before. Prior to this service, I had no transmission concerns. The timing of these issues immediately following a service recommended and performed by Valvoline is extremely concerning.
This vehicle is my only means of transportation. I have always maintained my vehicle responsibly and taken steps to keep it reliable. Instead of receiving a routine maintenance service that helped protect my vehicle, I am now left dealing with a major mechanical issue, stress, inconvenience, and the possibility of significant repair costs.
When I returned to the Valvoline location to report the problem, I expected the company to stand behind the service it recommended and performed. Instead, I was told they could not assist me. I filed a claim with Valvoline Corporate, and my vehicle was sent to Bigger Automotive for diagnostic testing as part of the review process. Despite the investigation, Valvoline has continued to deny responsibility and claim that the issues existed before their service.
However, I have been advised that the transmission flush should not have been performed on my vehicle under the circumstances. Additionally, the new manager at the Valvoline location stated that he personally would not have performed this service on my vehicle. This raises serious concerns about why the service was recommended and sold to me in the first place.
If Valvoline's own management believes the service should not have been performed, then Valvoline should accept responsibility for the fact that I relied on their recommendation as a customer. A consumer should not be expected to know that a service recommended by automotive professionals may not be appropriate. That responsibility belongs with the company and its trained employees.
I was also offered a free oil change as a resolution. This is completely unacceptable considering the circumstances. A free oil change does not address the transmission problems that developed after Valvoline's recommended service, nor does it compensate me for the financial burden, loss of reliable transportation, and stress this situation has caused.
Valvoline has also attempted to shift responsibility by focusing on the mileage of my vehicle. This is not a valid excuse. Valvoline knew the mileage before recommending and performing the transmission flush. If they believed the mileage made the service inappropriate, then they had a professional responsibility to tell me that before performing the service. They cannot recommend and charge for a service and then use the same information they already had available as a reason to deny responsibility afterward.
I have also repeatedly been told that the location is now under new management. While I understand that management changes happen, that has nothing to do with my situation. I was not dealing with the new management when the service was recommended and performed. A change in management does not erase the responsibility of the business or remove the company's obligation to address a customer complaint fairly.
At this point, I believe Valvoline has failed to demonstrate accountability, integrity, and good faith in resolving this matter. I trusted Valvoline's recommendation, paid for the service they advised me to receive, and now I am left with a vehicle experiencing transmission problems shortly afterward. The company should be responsible for the
