by Catastrophic Engine Failure After Oil Change
The Story of Jacqueline Gamble and Her Mercedes GLE
An oil change is one of the simplest forms of car maintenance, and many people choose to do it themselves. However, there are stories of technicians forgetting to refill the oil or tighten the drain plug.
Jacqueline Gamble reported that she brought her 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 to the Mercedes-Benz of Buckhead dealership for an oil change. A few weeks later, she heard loud knocking sounds, after which the car came to a complete stop.
Diagnosis and Consequences
The car was towed back to the dealer, where a large hole was found in the bottom of the engine. A mechanic stated:
We don’t know how it happened, but the bottom of the engine block exploded and blew out from underneath.
The engine was completely destroyed, and Gamble received a bill for a replacement of nearly $40,000. She believes something went wrong during the oil change.
Possible Causes and Reaction
Gamble’s suspicions seem justified: two other mechanics reported that the car might have had insufficient oil or none at all. Although this is difficult to prove after the fact, low oil levels could explain why the car ran for weeks before a complete failure.
The problem remains stressful for Gamble: she spent over $2,000 on car rental before Mercedes provided her with a temporary replacement. Fortunately, she had a third-party warranty that covered about $15,000 for a used engine, significantly easing the financial burden.
This situation is a reminder of the importance of thorough checks after service, even with premium brands. Although warranty cases sometimes help reduce costs, such incidents can cause serious financial and emotional distress for owners. Trust in official dealers is sometimes called into question, which may influence customers’ decisions about servicing their vehicles in the future.
