Need an oil change in one of the cars, but have read here about shoppers' cars that were damaged, or at least were running worse, after having their oil changed for a shop. Is this the place?

It wasn't a shop, but I did get my oil changed once at a Jiffy Lube and they royally screwed up my car. I took a gamble on a well-bonused Jiffy Lube shop several months ago though and it came out just fine.

I've had dozens of oil changes (both on shops and on my own dime) at Jiffy Lube and haven't had any problems. But they are a huge company that probably conducts tens of thousands of changes a year, so I wouldn't be surprised if there are lots of issues... perhaps even by users on this forum.

That is the company which forgot to replace the oil filler cap on my car. Now I check under the hood as soon after I get my oil changed as I can - regardless of who does it, even the dealer. It only takes one forgetful or distracted moment to forget to add oil, or replace the drain plug, or replace the filler cap. I don't trust anyone anymore. I check all of the "yellow" user-serviceable parts under my hood, comparing what I see to a photograph on my cell phone. Then I check all fluid levels.

@myst4au wrote:

That is the company which forgot to replace the oil filler cap on my car. Now I check under the hood as soon after I get my oil changed as I can - regardless of who does it, even the dealer. It only takes one forgetful or distracted moment to forget to add oil, or replace the drain plug, or replace the filler cap. I don't trust anyone anymore. I check all of the "yellow" user-serviceable parts under my hood, comparing what I see to a photograph on my cell phone. Then I check all fluid levels.

That must keep them on their toes!! Do they watch you while you're double checking your fluids?? Or do you drive off a ways first??

I have done one before with no issues a couple of years ago. I had one this weekend and I was escorted to the car after completion as the employee went over all of the caps under the hood confirming they were closed and the dip stick showing how much oil and that it was clean oil.

Not on a shop, but a local Jiffy Lube @#$%& up my former tenant's car. Even though they paid for the damages, she was out of a vehicle for a couple of weeks.

I had my seat stained with oil and battery acid burns on my paint after visiting a local Jiffy Lube, that was the last time ever. One of the Jiffy Lubes that worked on my car ended up making the local news headlines. Investigative journalist nailed them after exposing them for the same thing, how come they don't learn? Corporate Jiffy Lube is not behind this, the franchisees decide to skip policy hurting a good name in the process. Search Jiffy Lube scams and these shops will make you rethink having them done instead of using your dealer.

[www.nbclosangeles.com]

I've been loyal to Jiffy lube for a long time. My dealership offers free oil changes and I still go to them.

The only time I had an issue was when my fluid levels weren't topped off. That was over 10 years ago.

Birdy, check Yelp or other local reviews for the one you intend to go to. Just make sure it's not a competitor giving the bad reviews.

I used to go to Jiffy Lube years ago when there was one convenient to where I lived, but haven't been to one in ages. The one near me got scooped up while I was waiting for my husband to get back to me to let me know if his car needed one! Mine doesn't, and you can't go if it's been less than 3,000 miles since your last one....

Maybe next time mine needs one, there will be a shop available.

I had my credit card info stolen at a Jiffy Lube years ago.

I did a Jiffy Lube shop and as soon as I got home I checked everything. Drain plug was hand tight so I fixed that. It went in the report

Jiffy Lube has always been fine for me. However, our local Meineke is only $15 if you get a coupon online. No report, no waiting 1/3 of a year for your money back.

Unfortunately all Jiffy Lubes are not the same, even though they are the same company. The quality of service and scrupulousness varies, but overall I have had problems with only a very few locations.

The only companies that I have consistently had issues with are Big O oil change shops and Brakemasters shops. I would not take my car to them again either as a customer as a shopper.

I've had oil changes at Jiffy Lube, Firestone Complete Auto Care, Midas, Just Tires, and Meineke. Never had any serious issues from any of these places. I would make sure to conduct thorough research before choosing a location.

Yes I have also had oil changes at Firestone and Midas. They always provide great and honest service. I never heard of Just Tires, and we don't shop Meineke around here.

Our local large Jiffy Lube frachicee is great, so i can shop any of their 20 locations. Have not paid for oil change or top ups in over 10 years.

I suggest firestone. They are still shopped. Have done a few Jiffy Lube shops no problems at my locations. If you are lucky enough to have xyz brand bestmark is great. If you have xyz brand intellishop has some. This is one time were low pay is tolerable as you get reimbursed for oil change.

Did not have a problem with them, but there are tons of searchable media stories about customers ending up with ruined engines, etc. Not shopped too often, but those Castrol oil change shops with a free car wash are well worth it and unlike Jiffy Lube and Midas shops, they won't try to upsell you unnecessary parts such as idler arms, etc. The oil changes from car dealerships are worth pursuing also...

I agree with Arch on the dealership shops. I settled on my current vehicle because of the fee+reimbursement on the oil change and tire rotation I could get every few months. (It wasn't the ONLY reason I bought the car, so if they disappear I'll be OK, but those shops were the tiebreaker between that and another similar SUV.)

I just bought another Subaru, and I've recently seen some Subaru service shops in my area, which will come in handy when I need to do the recommended maintenance! We have a mechanic who does all the work on our cars, and he's fantastic! We have our oil changes done at Monroe Muffler (our local Monroe shop is great, but too expensive for repair work). But, if I can have the interval services done at the Subaru dealer and get some reimbursement, that's probably the way to go.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/12/2016 02:44PM by BirdyC.

@Sanjay1992 wrote:

Search Jiffy Lube scams and these shops will make you rethink having them done instead of using your dealer.

I got my oil changed at the dealer (not a shop) on my then brand new Ford Escape Hybrid and the engine seized up afterward. They said that it was a faulty gasket seal and they replaced the engine. I really never found out if it was really the gasket or not as I didn't care how it happened as long as it was replaced. That dealer is no longer in business. My point is that just getting it done at the dealer does not mean that you do not need to be paying attention as stuff can happen anywhere.

I ALWAYS visit the restroom and the customer waiting room with a walk through and then walk out to my car. I stand, kneel or sit as close to the yellow plastic chain to see everything they do with my car. I'll make small talk with the grease jockey in the pit.

I have been known to bring my own synthetic oil and filter depending on the offering and just have them do the work.

My last oil change Mystery shop was at a Goodyear. They opened the cover and added windshield wiper fluid and then pressed too hard on the centre of the cap and cracked it in half! Yes, the car is older and the plastic was brittle. Superman was not laughing like I was when he did this. He saw that I watched him break the filler cap. He went right to the shop owner and told him that they need to call the dealer and buy a cap for me before I could even say something. The dealer on the other side of town sent the parts truck there for one $5 cap. They called me about four hours later and I drove up and popped the hood and they put the new cap on.

If I was not watching, How do you think this would have turned out?

I also had a coupon for a free rotation with oil change and needed one. I made sure they used a torque wrench and quizzed them on the ft pound measurement for that vehicle. Then they removed the brake drums that were rusted on for over four years and adjusted the brakes as well. They were glad to see me leave.