ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A local woman is without a car after a routine oil change led to a blown engine and an insurance dispute. Jada Gibson’s 2016 Ford Escape has been undrivable for more than two months due to engine failure.
“I had got an inspection, oil change, and other work done on October 21,” Gibsons said. A month later, she noticed a red oil light on her dashboard as she drove to the airport. So she parked the car and decided to take the car to her mechanic when she returned.
“I saw the oil light come on for the first time. And given the recent service, I thought I just needed to go back to the mechanic,” Gibsons said. However, on her way back from the airport, the situation worsened. “I was driving from the airport and the whole time I thought it was the oil thing, but something didn’t feel right. I started hearing a lot of clunking and things like that,” she said.
She soon learned what was wrong. Her mechanic sent her a picture showing that the oil cap and filter were missing, leading to oil drainage and engine damage. The mechanic speculated in a text message, “I’m gonna guess whenever the light came on is when the oil filter fell off or came off or broke off.”
The owner of Star and Sons Automotive, where the maintenance was performed, declined to comment. He referred Gibson to his insurer, Erie Insurance Company. Weeks later, an adjuster offered to cover 70% of the damages, citing Gibson’s delay in stopping the car as a reason for the partial payment.
“And that’s when they told me they’d pay 70 percent for the simple fact that I didn’t stop immediately after I heard all that and had it towed to the shop,” Gibsons said.
Ford Motor Company’s guidance advises drivers to immediately pull over if and turn off the engine if the red oil light comes on. If you check the oil level and it appears to be fine, but the light won’t go off, you should not continue to drive the car.
Gibson argues she didn’t know that and shouldn’t be forced to pay the full cost if her mechanic made a mistake during the oil change. Amy Bach, executive director of United Policyholders, agrees. She believes the insurer should cover the full cost. “They’re just testing her to see if she’s going to be that squeaky wheel that’s going to push back. She needs to push back,” Bach said.
Gibson argues that a text message she sent to her mechanic before her trip supports her case. She informed him of the oil light, engine noise and metal shavings. Her mechanic didn’t inform her that these could be signs of imminent engine failure. Instead, he texted that she could “drop off the car” upon her return.
Erie Insurance Company responded to News10NBC’s inquiry, stating, “Our team reviewed the claim file again following News10’s inquiry and confirmed it is being handled in accordance with the applicable coverage and facts and circumstances of the loss.”
Experts recommend creating a paper trail and contacting the New York State Department of Financial Services hotline if facing similar insurance disputes. You can reach the department at (800) 342-3736 Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. You should also file an online complaint. Gibson is following this advice as she continues her fight with the insurer.
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