Dropping your car off for a simple oil change feels routine, something you can knock out while running errands. But sometimes even the smallest jobs can turn into the biggest headaches. That’s what happened to TikTok creator Scooter (@scooter.wildman), who says his car got damaged after a Walmart Auto Center technician made a serious mistake during an oil change. His video documenting the situation has been viewed more than 166,600 times. Walmart Auto Center “Damages” Man’s Car In the video, Scooter films the exchange as one of the Walmart employees explains what happened. “Right now, I’m having them check the transmission,” the worker says. “They’re screwing it lightly. If it drips, then it’s full. If it doesn’t, and it permits you to lose a little bit of transmission, we’re gonna get it filled as well.” He continues, listing off other checks they’re doing. “They’re also gonna check the tires afterwards to see if anything had an issue with the tire rotation or balance.” Then he gets to the real issue. “So, the tech accidentally mistook the drain plug for the transmission plug,” he says. “When he pulled it out, he drained at least a quart of the transmission. He immediately put it back on.” He adds that none of the fluids mixed. “Transmission did not get to the oil either, or the filter itself,” he says. “They’re trying to get the right socket to screw it tightly, not unplug it. They’ll just check for a drip. If it drips, it’s full.” 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. Another worker joins in to explain that the car “jumping” could have to do with the fluid being drained. “That may have to do with the transmission getting drained out,” he says. Scooter replies, “Yeah, that’s what I thought. That’s why I brought it up. And you tried to tell me it was the tires.” At that point, a second Walmart employee steps in. “We’re gonna replace that oil that accidentally got drained out, and we’ll go from there,” he says. “If it’s still acting up, we’ll have to file a claim.” In the caption, he adds more context, writing, “We tried to get a simple oil change and tire rotation while grabbing groceries and ended up stranded for hours with no way home.” There’s an Update In a follow-up video, the same employee tries to explain further. “The engine and everything for the car is fine,” he says. “Since your car is all-wheel drive, it has to do with the tires themselves. When you go forward and back, that’s why it’s acting like that.” Scooter seems skeptical. Later in the video, he includes a screenshot of an email, possibly from Walmart, outlining the next steps: “Going off our conversation, the technician is recommending to start with a drain and fill on the CVT, set fluids to proper level, and evaluate the transmission after fluid replacement. That service is going to be $453.59 out the door.” The email adds that the repair “will not guarantee a fix but is the first step.” It’s unclear whether he agreed to the service or what ultimately happened to the car, but many viewers assumed the transmission had already sustained damage. What Likely Went Wrong If a technician accidentally drains a transmission instead of an oil pan, the car can lose critical fluid that lubricates and cools the transmission’s internal components. Driving without enough of it can cause the system to overheat, slip, or fail entirely. In this case, it sounds like the fluid was partially drained and not replaced in time. By the time Scooter noticed something was wrong, the car may have already been running low, which could explain the transmission issues. Walmart Auto Care Centers Have a Reputation Walmart’s Auto Care Centers are meant to make car maintenance convenient while you shop. But the chain has a history of complaints online. On ConsumerAffairs, Walmart Auto Care has an average rating of 1.2-stars out of five across more than 1,100 reviews. Even purported mechanics on Reddit’s r/JustRolledIntoTheShop weighed in. “It’s a real ‘you get what you pay for’ situation,” one person wrote. Another said, “I wouldn’t let them change the spark plug on a lawnmower, let alone touch my car.” One mechanic added that his shop often fixes problems caused by nearby Walmart locations. “We’ve seen stripped drain plugs, broken studs, and oil sucked out the wrong way,” they wrote. Commenters Share Their Thoughts People who commented on Scooter’s video also criticized Walmart’s auto care service. “Imagine taking your car to Walmart for anything,” one person wrote. Another commented, “Walmart and transmission in the same sentence is terrifying.” Others, like one self-identified technician, expressed frustration: “I get it, mistakes happen. But how do you not realize what’s the oil drain plug and what’s the transmission drain plug?” Someone else added, “Honestly, I’d rather go to Jiffy Lube than Walmart any day.” Motor1 has reached out to Scooter via TikTok direct messages and Walmart via contact form for clarification. The article will be updated if either responds. We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Motor1.com? Take our 3 minute survey. - The Motor1.com Team