There’s something hypnotic about watching things fall apart, especially if it’s happening in slow motion. Time stretches and suddenly you’re hovering between panic and fascination. The only question that seems to matter becomes “what happens next?” During one visit to the dealership, a Georgia woman found herself in exactly this position. As she watched a giant white truck tilt backwards off a lift, she had the presence of mind to pull out her phone and record the surreal scene. Jasmine Audii (@Jasmineogoodman) overlaid deadpan text on the TikTok she made, “POV: you’re at a dealership for an oil change and see your vehicle falling off the lift.” She turned to TikTok for answers, asking in the caption: “What would you do?” Ghost in the Machine At just 10 seconds, the video might be short on time but it’s long on looks. With over 345,000 views and 275 comments, a gleeful consensus emerges—one decidedly not in the dealership’s favor. You can practically hear the shouting: “you’re getting a new car,” (@ming.pix); “congrats on the new truck” (@loganb1018); and “let it happen” (@rainydazehazegaming). Others suggested that she stroll through the lot and pick out her next vehicle. FROM THE TRENDING NEWS DESK Viral bits from across the social media landscape Our team of experts tracks what's trending so you don't have to—from viral videos to online debates that have everyone talking. Self-described techs weighed in with some unsettling experiences. They’ve had trouble ranging from leaking hydraulic fluid, to bent lifts, cracked concrete and inspector negligence. “Our lifts haven’t been inspected ever,” alleged Dakota Martin (@stackiniron) of the garage where he works. Yet a deeper dive into the comments reveals Jasmine is a professional mechanic, and this happened at a Chevy dealership where she used to work. When one person accused her of posting an AI-generated video, she responded, “This is 100% real buddy.” How Common Are Lift Accidents? One uneasy question remains: if my car goes up, will it come crashing down? According to multiple posts on the Garage Journal forum, equipment failure is rare, while human error is far more common. “One of the best safety habits I learned from HS auto shop was to lift the car about 6" and give it a good shove, up/down and sideways. It shouldn't move. You would be amazed at how much force/leverage can be applied with a breaker bar or prybar while you are under there,” a forum user wrote. At least two commenters agreed that it’s better for a vehicle to drop from six inches then six feet. But not everyone agrees on the rarity of these accidents. A ScienceDirect study says, “Vehicles falling off two-post above-ground lifts in garages is a fairly frequent occurrence.” And while the destruction of a well-loved truck is a huge disappointment, the risks of a lift accident can also be deadly. The study says fatal accidents and close calls aren’t uncommon. So while it might be tempting to laugh it off or “let it happen,” the wiser move might be to avoid it all together. Consumer Reports suggest finding a reputable mechanic, ideally by word of mouth, online reviews and certifications. Yes lifts fail, and yes humans make mistakes. So do your research, do your best, and when your car is six-feet in the air, cross your fingers and hope for the best. Motor1 reached out to Jasmine. We'll update this if she responds.
