A Nashville woman is sharing a story about her nightmare experience at a local Valvoline while trying to get an oil change before a long drive to a wedding. TikTok creator Morgan (@fairy.godmorgan) says in her video that she was "bawling her eyes out" after what should’ve been a quick stop turned into a saga that temporarily left her without her Lexus. In the first clip, she explains that she was waiting to hear back from a Valvoline district manager to find out whether the issue had been resolved. It started when Morgan learned she’d be driving a long distance for a wedding and decided to get an oil change the day before she left—at the same Valvoline she’s always gone to since moving to Nashville. When she arrived, an employee suggested she also get her coolant flushed. She agreed, but says it quickly became clear from the worker’s body language that he didn’t know what he was doing. At one point, she recalls seeing him shrug in confusion, then assure her everything was fine and that her car was ready to go. Spoiler: it wasn’t. As of this writing, Morgan’s video detailing what happened after she left the shop has racked up more than 93,000 views. What Happened Next With the Botched Valvoline Service? Morgan says that when she pulled out of the Valvoline lot, she made it "not even half a block out" before her dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree—every warning light flashing, alarms blaring, and a message telling her to pull over because her car was overheating. She turned right back around. The same employee who handled the coolant flush opened her hood, and Morgan says smoke poured out. He tried to make a few quick fixes, but when she started the car again, the lights and beeping continued. OWNERSHIP STORIES Viral stories from across the web Our team of experts tracks what owners are saying about car-shopping, repairs, the daily driving experience and more on social media. "None of these people are talking to me," she recalls, saying the staff were huddled around her car chatting among themselves but not explaining anything. She sat there for more than 90 minutes. Then, she says, the worker who caused the issue clocked out and left for the day. After three hours, Morgan finally asked the manager what was going on. Frustrated, she explained she needed the car for her long drive. That’s when she got more bad news: Valvoline was launching an "investigation," claiming there was "no way" its service caused the problem. The worker even accused her of trying to blame the company for a pre-existing issue. What Did Valvoline’s Investigation Find? Valvoline eventually sent Morgan’s car to a repair shop, and she says when she called the next day, the mechanics were far more communicative than the Valvoline staff. They promised to keep her updated and soon figured out the problem. According to Morgan, the mechanic immediately diagnosed the issue: There was too much air in the system. "It will take me 20 minutes to fix it," she recalls him saying, adding that Valvoline didn’t even have the proper equipment to handle it. Still, Valvoline initially refused to accept blame and dragged its feet on whether to cover her rental car. But after a week and a half of back-and-forth, Morgan says the company finally admitted fault. Gallery: 2026 Lexus IS Coolant Flush Gone Wrong If the mechanic performing a coolant flush doesn’t properly bleed the system, air can get trapped inside and block circulation, causing the engine to overheat. Using the wrong type of coolant can make things worse, creating a thick sludge that clogs the radiator and hoses. And if the old coolant isn’t fully drained, leftover debris or contaminants can corrode parts and wear down seals, eventually leading to leaks or even head gasket failure. If you suspect a bad flush, it’s best to take your car to another trusted mechanic for a full inspection and flush. And if you find yourself in Morgan’s shoes, it’s important to be prepared for the possibility that the mechanic denies any wrongdoing. Keep detailed notes of everything—the original service, follow-up visits, and photos, if you can. Having that paper trail helps if you need to escalate the issue later. Viewers Encourage Woman to Take Action People who watched Morgan’s two-part TikTok series rallied behind her, calling Valvoline’s initial denial of responsibility unacceptable and urging her to take legal action. One commenter pointed out, "They have it on camera, too. I’d be filing a police report." Another agreed, advising her to "file a faulty work claim on their insurance." Others were more blunt, warning, "They screwed up, and you need a lawyer because they will do everything in their power to not pay you. They know they screwed up." Several viewers praised Morgan’s composure, especially after she revealed she waited three hours before confronting the workers. "I love confrontation, so I’d be out of the car at 30 minutes demanding to know what’s going on," one woman admitted. Someone else echoed that frustration, writing, "Girl, how. I would have been out of my car in 30 minutes, not 3 hours. You are an angel. Sounds like he put wrong fluids in the wrong cavity. Like coolant in engine?" Another added, "Keeping your cool for 3.5 hours deserves an award." Many said Morgan’s story was enough to make them swear off the brand entirely. "Watch me never go to Valvoline again," one user wrote. Another added, "As someone whose fiancé is a mechanic—NEVER go to Valvoline (for anything—but especially anything other than an oil change)." In a message to Motor1, Morgan said, "They have taken responsibility for what happened to my car. However, we haven’t figured out the resolution yet. I will no longer be going to Valvoline for any service and plan on going to my Lexus dealer or local shop." Motor1 has reached out to Valvoline via email. This story will be updated if it responds. We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Motor1.com? Take our 3 minute survey. - The Motor1.com Team