Woman Given $40,000 Estimate to Replace Engine; Dealership May Have Made an Error | Carscoops

      The engine failed weeks after an oil change, raising doubts about whether it was low on oil.

      17 hours ago

      By Michael Gauthier

      The SUV experienced significant engine failure shortly after a routine oil change.

      Mechanics discovered a substantial hole in the engine block, potentially due to a lack of oil.

      The dealer estimated nearly $40,000 for a new engine, which is nearly equivalent to the price of a brand-new GLA.

      Oil changes are among the easiest types of car maintenance, and many individuals choose to do them on their own. Nevertheless, there are troubling accounts of technicians neglecting to replace the oil or failing to secure the drain plug properly.

      This leads us to the case of Jacquelyn Gamble, who informed WSB-TV that she took her 2021 GLE 350 to Mercedes-Benz of Buckhead for an oil change. A few weeks later, she began hearing “loud knocking noises” before the crossover ultimately ceased functioning.

      Catastrophic Failure

      She had the vehicle towed back to the dealership, where they discovered a significant hole in the bottom of the engine. A mechanic apparently wrote, “We don’t know how it happened, but the lower part of the engine block imploded and blew out a hole from the bottom of the engine.”

      Predictably, the engine was beyond repair, and Gamble was reportedly quoted nearly $40,000 for a replacement. This cost is almost on par with that of a brand-new GLA, and she suspects there was an error during the oil change.

      Was It Really Oil Starvation?

      Her concerns are quite valid, and two other mechanics suggested that the vehicle may not have contained enough oil or any oil at all. Naturally, proving this post-incident is challenging, and one would expect the instrument cluster to indicate any issues. However, being low on oil seems plausible given that the crossover managed to operate for weeks before it ultimately failed.

      More: Hyundai Won’t Replace Car’s Engine Because Owner Didn’t Keep Oil Change Receipts

      Regardless of the cause of the issue, it has been a hassle for Gamble. She reportedly incurred over $2,000 in rental car expenses before Mercedes provided her with a loaner vehicle. On the positive side, she had a third-party warranty that agreed to cover approximately $15,000 for a used replacement engine. While this solution is not ideal, it is certainly better than the worst-case scenario.