When Grace Jenkins bought her new car in July, it ran perfectly. No warning lights. No leaks. No concerns. That changed only after she brought it back to the dealership for a routine oil change, an experience she now says left her wondering whether the service department broke her car and then tried to sell her another one. A TikTok clip from the Boise, Idaho nurse shows Jenkins being suspicious and put off by the treatment she says she’s received from the unnamed dealership. “I feel like I’m being scammed,” she said in the clip. “I bought this car from you in July. You guys, one of your servicemen broke a part. And now you're saying that the only option is for me to buy another car from you?" According to Jenkins, the car had shown no signs of trouble before the oil change. She dropped it off, picked it up the same day, and drove it home. It wasn’t until later that she noticed oil collecting on her garage floor, a sign that typically points to something simple, such as a loose drain plug or an improperly seated oil filter, especially after a recent service. She returned to the dealership, where she said technicians told her the issue had been “patched up.” The wording immediately struck her as odd for a nearly new vehicle. “That’s interesting language for a car I just bought from you in July,” Jenkins said in the video. When she brought the car home again, the oil leak returned. “Warranty’s Not Going to Cover It” On her third visit, Jenkins said she made clear that the problem appeared only after the dealership performed the oil change and asked that the vehicle be kept as long as necessary to fix it properly. Instead, she says she received a call later that day informing her that a part was “completely broken” and that the repair would not be covered under warranty. That explanation raised new questions. Manufacturer warranties typically cover defects in materials or workmanship, but they generally exclude damage caused by improper service or external factors, a distinction spelled out clearly in most new-vehicle warranty guides. What unsettled Jenkins most wasn’t the warranty denial itself, but what came next. She says the service advisor suggested she talk to the dealership’s sales department to see whether they could help her get into a different vehicle. For viewers, that recommendation crossed a line. Service departments and sales teams are typically separate operations, even when they share the same building. When a problem arises after service, the usual escalation path involves a service manager, dealership general manager, or the manufacturer’s customer care division. Automotive consumer advocates note that if a dealership damages a vehicle during service, responsibility often falls to the dealership, not the manufacturer’s warranty. In those cases, repairs may be covered through the dealer’s own insurance or internal goodwill policies, rather than passed along to the customer. The Federal Trade Commission has long advised drivers to request written explanations and documentation when a repair dispute arises, especially if the problem follows recent service. The comment section filled up with distrust of dealerships, warnings to use independent repair shops, and claims that service departments routinely upsell unnecessary work. Some commenters shared stories of similar experiences that ended only after escalating complaints or involving outside mechanics. Others focused on gender dynamics in automotive service, suggesting that Jenkins was being taken less seriously because she arrived alone. Studies cited by organizations such as Consumer Reports have found that perceived knowledge gaps can influence how repair recommendations are presented, though experts caution that poor communication and misaligned incentives affect many customers regardless of gender. Not all reactions assumed bad faith. A handful of commenters pointed out that oil change related damage, while uncommon, does happen, and that not every warranty denial signals a scam. What Could Cause an Oil Leak After an Oil Change? From a mechanical standpoint, oil leaks appearing immediately after service usually trace back to a narrow set of issues. A loose or cross-threaded drain plug, a damaged oil pan gasket, or an improperly installed oil filter can all allow oil to escape. In rarer cases, overtightening can crack components or strip threads, turning a simple service visit into a much larger repair. Industry training materials from organizations like the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence emphasize proper torque procedures and post-service inspections precisely because even minor mistakes can have outsized consequences. If a dealership determines that a part failure wasn’t caused by a manufacturing defect, the automaker’s warranty may legitimately not apply. That doesn’t automatically mean the customer should pay, however. When damage occurs during service, consumer advocates recommend requesting documentation of the failure, asking whether the dealership’s liability coverage applies, and escalating concerns to dealership management or the manufacturer’s customer assistance line before authorizing major repairs. AAA and Consumer Reports both advise drivers to seek an independent inspection if responsibility is disputed, particularly when the recommended “solution” involves replacing the vehicle rather than fixing it. Jenkins’ video sits at the intersection of rising repair costs, complex warranty language, and lingering distrust of dealership service departments. Oil changes are among the most routine and supposedly low-risk maintenance tasks a car receives. When something goes wrong at that stage, it undermines a basic expectation of competence and accountability. Whether Jenkins’ case ultimately proves to be miscommunication, a service mistake, or something more serious, the takeaway for many viewers was the same. When a car leaves the shop worse than it arrived, drivers deserve clear answers and a fix that doesn’t involve buying another vehicle. Motor1 reached out to Jenkins via email and direct message. We’ll update this if she responds. We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Motor1.com? Take our 3 minute survey. - The Motor1.com Team