Firestone MasterCare my ass....

Over the years, I've had a series of similar issues with every place I took my cars. Including this very issue of loose lug nuts. I actually lost two lug nuts - 1 each on two different wheels. It's not just Firestone or dealerships. In my case there was most often no damage but once a Ford dealership bought a car back from me after botching what should have been a paintless dent repair. And once Chrysler rebuilt an engine after failing to tighten the oil drain plug. Consquently, I do all the routine stuff myself now.
 
That is a ridiculous experience with Firestone.

Tire shops provide an abundance of these stories. A friend of mine needed a new set of tires and bought a set of Michelin Pilot Sports for his 350z. Over 1500 dollars, so you can imagine that the shop would have paid special attention to the work - certainlly loose lug nutts are never acceptable, I'm just talking about minor details. My friend was delighted to hear that the shop had just bought a new tire mounting machine that mounts the tires in such a way that no damage can be caused to the wheels.

Good enough right, actually not quite... apparently even a machine that can do all the work can't completely elliminate the idiot factor. Follow me with this now: front tires, on rear wheels, mounted on the front... repeat the opposite for the back. Somehow the "techs" didn't realize that the wrong tires were mounted on the wrong rims, and the rims were mounted on the wrong side of the vehicle.

Now at the expense of my friend's misfortune, I had to laugh my *** off. It was so obvious, even from a distance, given that the actual rear wheels are a good inch wider than the fronts. It turned out alright, the car was fixed before leaving the lot, and a significant amount of the original price was refunded.
 
Some thoughts on the "damages" possible :

1. All studs and lugs on wheels that were driven loose should be replaced. They could be fatiqued and/or have stress fractures that will/could lead to failure. Check the holes in the rim to see if any have deformed from round. Only need one not to have full bearing surface to have an impact.

2. If disc brakes are present have the rotors checked for runout. Improper Torque on lug nuts alone can cause rotors to warp and the same is true with loose and/or missing lug nuts. Check front wheels bearing as well, pull them, clean the grease and inspect the bearings and the races for correctness, both inner and outer.

I would have estimates done and then see a lawyer. I would hate to hear a lug nut sheared off one day while you were driving.

I would stop into the shop again and discuss the matter and record the conversation if possibly. A lawyer would love to hear this.

I had a recall repair done on our Minivan at a local dealer. It involved dropping the gas tank and relacing a hose. Well one week after the repair the gas line connector detached and empited the entire tank of gas in minutes all over the highway. The dealer stated that the factory would not pay him for the new flex hose to tank connection in response to the recall and taht they were known to leak and fail. He stated this to me and was unawere of my intent to take the matter further.

They regretted not meeting my original settlement $ to have the tank dropped and inspected by another shop. They paid much more.
 
Glad to hear no one was hurt.
Unfortunately, that's an all to common problem today. No one wants, or can afford to hire good help. Good help is hard to find. Very few folks nowadays (DC folks asside :) ) have any pride in their workmanship. It just plain sucks!

They failed you twice in this case. First, they failed to check their work. Second, they failed to ask the right question when you came back. Like, when did this first start sir? Oh, after we put on your tires? :doh Your rubber boots are squeeking??? I've been a mechanic most of my life and am currently a fleet manager -- I would have ripped them apart with that one. :brick
 
Jngrbrdman - read my story if you want to get pissed off.

On december 23 2002 I go and pick up my car from RPM (porsche tuning shop) who has done work for me in the past and one of the owner is the ex husband of one of my good friend (they are still friends). They installed a new suspension system (KWII) and my 4 new wheels. I pay, get in my car and can't decide if I should go straight home (highway) or drive by the VW dealership where my friends work so they can see the new setup. THe dealership was about 1 mile from RPM while 95 North was about 1/2 mile.
I chose to stay on Backlick road and show off my new wheels. Half way to VW I hear this weird knocking sound coming from the back and I can't figure out what I am hearing. At this time I am driving around 35mph and I see my left rear wheel passing me and starts bouncing into incoming traffic and hits a honda accord in the front. Huge damage to the honda, but thank god that the wheel wasn't a feet higher at the time of inpact - the driver would have been killed instantly! You should have seen how much damage it caused.

RPM had to rent a car for me (they thought that it was going to be under my name but the sales rep at the rental place said that he will keep it on RPMs CC# because they caused the accident and I shouldn't have to use my CC#) and because it was holyday time in germany, where the wheel came from, they didn't ship it for a few weeks and rental ended up a little over $1000. My wheel cost $430 + $35 for mounting/balancing. Every time I called his insurance Co they were very nice but couldn't cut me a check because the owner wouldn't ok it. This went on for a long time and Stan from RPM would always come up with a story why he was still collecting all the paperwork so he can take care of everything at once. Then one day I call him again and to get some info when I am getting my check and he says: Enough time went by and I don't have to pay you anymore. They were the reason why I got into an accident, yet I was very understanding and cool about everything. I considered these guys my friend and this is how they treated me. Not to mention that $435.00 to me is alot while to them it's pocket change. Do you know how upset I get at times when I think of it, like right now? :mad: :mad: :mad:

PS: I am not sure if after 2 years I can legally sue him in small court but I may try to find out from some lawyer. How do people like these become successful???
 
Man, I am reminded on a daily basis how cool DC is. If you do a search on Google for 'Firestone Mastercare' this thread shows up close to the top of the list. :naughty Future customers of Firestone BEWARE!! They have still been relatively unhelpful. I did get a response or two from them. The first one was pathetic. I posted that already. I told them that I would need the name of a shop that is not affiliated with Firestone to have the inspection at. They came back and offered to have it done at any Firestone. So then I told them that the dealership is going to have to do this because I'm not letting any of their "highly qualified technicians" get anywhere near my car. They just responded today accepting that deal. So now I just need to find time to drop my car off at Acura to have them check it out. Maybe they will let me take a TSX out for a loaner. :naughty We'll see.

Thanks for your stories. It makes me feel better knowing that I'm not alone in the 'screwed and there is nothing I can do about it' club. :bigups If anyone from Firestone or anyone who had reason to search for Firestone is reading this, DON'T GO TO FIRESTONE!!! I'm not seeing their commitment to the customer here. All I see is their need to take my money and send me home in a death trap. Doesn't seem like the kind of place you want to trust the safety of you family at.
 
tdekany said:
Then one day I call him again and to get some info when I am getting my check and he says: Enough time went by and I don't have to pay you anymore. They were the reason why I got into an accident, yet I was very understanding and cool about everything. I considered these guys my friend and this is how they treated me. Not to mention that $435.00 to me is alot while to them it's pocket change. Do you know how upset I get at times when I think of it, like right now? :mad: :mad: :mad:

PS: I am not sure if after 2 years I can legally sue him in small court but I may try to find out from some lawyer. How do people like these become successful???
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HE snookered you. You notified him ahead of the deadline, and he drug out repayment. He has to pay, if legally obligated. Get a lawyer, and have him look at the case. There might be some additional damages involved. I hope you kept all of the records, including when you had phone conversations. For what it is worth, the car rental, if you have documentation works in your favor, since they paid for it.

Scooter

I am not a lawyer, though I play one occasionally on the internet.
 
tdekany said:
PS: I am not sure if after 2 years I can legally sue him in small court but I may try to find out from some lawyer. How do people like these become successful???
Click to expand...

Sometimes all it takes it the threat of a lawsuit on an attorney's stationary. My brother in law is an attorney so I get the letters for free. They work.
 
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