50 Mechanics Share Photos Of Their Craziest Repairs
It's unbelievable how people allow their cars to become such hazards on wheels.
Some repair jobs are routine, and some are the kind that make mechanics stop, stare, and reach for a camera. This roundup of crazy car repairs shows just how strange, messy, and expensive life in the shop can get.
From bizarre finds hidden in engines to customers who clearly waited too long, each photo captures a different kind of automotive chaos. The result is part comedy, part warning, and all too familiar for anyone who has ever put off a repair.
By the end, it is hard not to appreciate the people who deal with this every day.
1. "I Am Pretty Sure I'm Younger Than The Tire"
reddit.com2. "Just Pulled This Out Of A Customer's Car Between The Grill And Condenser"
reddit.com3. "I Think My Boss May Be Compensating For Something With His New Toolbox"
benskins77
4. "The Car Sounds Like A Cartoon"
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5. "Said Didn't Have A Spare, Drove For 3 Days! I Found The Spare In The Trunk Complete With Jack!"
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That is one way to discover the spare was there all along.
6. "The Odds Of A Single 4 Leaf Clover Rooting Into A Fender Line"
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7. "Customer States Temperature Gauge Is Reading Full Tank"
Whyarentyoumadbro
8. "Private Security Tahoe With 1” Bulletproof Glass. The Rest Of The Vehicle Is Just As Heavily Armored"
unsureMechanic
9. "Just In For An Inspection & Was Greeted With This..."
W-h3x
10. "Ya Think"
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11. "16 Years Of Writing Service And It Finally Happened. Gloves In A Glovebox"
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12. "I Replaced A Battery Last Week In A Customer's Car And She Is Trying To Claim The Battery Is Causing Weird Things To Happen To Her Car Now. This Morning, She Said The Red Line Was Never There Before The Battery Was Replaced And Wants A Refund. Lord Help Me"
Kingtripz
13. "Lexus In To Pick Up Some Brake Pads"
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14. "Rental Car Came Back Like This: 'Had A Plane To Catch'"
petemate79
15. "A Girl Who Works At Sonic Just Paid Her $1,000 Repair Bill With Mostly $1's And $5's. Mad Resolve"
Saint_Farewell
16. "The Only Worthwhile Lift Kit Instructions"
1 year ago
17. "Customer Failed To Mention The Fact That His Dog Was In The Vehicle, Scared The Hell Out Of Me"
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18. "Surprised It Didn’t Explode Into The Shop"
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19. "Hood Opens. Hood Is Laid Down Immediately. Tech Exclaims 'Oh Hell No.'"
Lotus496
20. "86 Yota. 211k Miles. In Mint Condition"
Ops-Salvation
21. "I Work At A Rental Company And The Police Brought This Back..."
maddogg312
22. "Customer Has Been Coming Since 200k Miles, Said He'd Get To 1 Million. I've Been Waiting For That Day For Years. Today, He Casually Rolled Up And Asked To Plug His Tire. Needless To Say, Best Tire Plug Ever"
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23. "Which Car Has The Worst Battery Location?"
ryan-malta
24. "Work Never Fails To Disappoint"
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25. "I Don't Condone Stealing... But Man, I Want To"
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26. "The First And Probably Last Time I Will Ever See One Of These: Jaguar XJ220 With Only 3k On The Odometer"
WhipskiDemon
27. "Customer Was Wondering Why When He Started His Car This Morning, It Sounded Different. He Didn't Understand It When I Told Him He Had Been Robbed"
tonyxwing74
28. "Self-Aware Prius Owner"
3 years ago
Recent research of 2,000 American car owners recorded that as many as 25% believe they take a risk every time they go on the road because their vehicle is not running well and needs repair.
The survey asked people about the current state of their car and tested what they know about cars. The results were alarming: 68% said their vehicles currently have at least one thing that needs to be repaired.
With so many vehicles needing repair and maintenance, Americans should consider brushing up on their knowledge about proper maintenance. Thirty-six percent of the research participants confessed they don’t know how to change a tire.
It’s giving the same vibe as refusing an airport ride to a friend who abused car privileges.
29. "Stayed A Little Longer At The Shop To Save This Little Guy From Someone’s Engine Bay"
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30. "Customer: 'Let Me Know When You Are About To Pull My Truck In So I Can Get My Raccoon.' He Sat In The Lobby With A Raccoon Until His Truck Was Done"
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31. "In Case You’ve Ever Wondered What The Undercarriage Of A Tesla Looks Like"
amgtech724
32. "Had An Interesting Tailgate Come In Today"
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33. "A Sweet Old Lady Asked Me To Apply Her 2018 License Plate Decal Today As She Couldn't Kneel Down To Do It Herself Anymore"
Johnmj6363
The survey was conducted by Cooper Tires. It found that nearly 50% of American car owners feel they couldn't change the oil in their car, and almost 30% think they couldn't even buy the proper oil for it.
Twenty-five percent of Americans don't think they could jump-start their car, and 20% of car users can't even check the tire pressure.
"Although many Americans lack confidence and knowledge when it comes to vehicle maintenance, it's important to plan ahead and take the initiative," Jessica Egerton, director of marketing for Cooper Tires, said.
"Don't wait until there is an issue with a vehicle. It's why Cooper Tires is passionate about helping educate and empower car owners across the country."
34. "They Told Me Someone Was Dropping Off Their BBQ For Me To Do Brakes And Bearings On. I Thought They Were Joking; They Were Not"
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35. "When I Saw This, I Told Her It Wasn't Going To Be Cheap"
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36. "An Actual 'Key' Supplied By A Customer"
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37. "Sorry Officer, I Didn't Know How Fast I Was Going"
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38. "Actual Work Order At Our Shop From One Of Our Technicians"
MTFarmTech
39. "Refused All 4 Tires On A Rainy Day; She Also Had To Sign A Waiver Before Releasing The Car"
BooteIs
40. "Guy Drove In Like This. Another Reason Why We Are Essential"
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41. "Just Crawled Out From Under A Broken Lift"
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42. "Just Hopped In"
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43. "Customer States: 'I Played EDM Once And Now My Car Won't Stop Pretending It's At A Rave'"
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44. "Customer Stated He Needed A Punctured Tire Repaired; Had To Tell Him He Was Screwed"
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45. "C/S Lost His Keys... I Wonder Why"
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46. "This Made Me Laugh Way More Than It Should Have"
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47. "This Little Girl Helped Me Check Codes In Her Owner’s Car Today. Good Girl"
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48. "7 Months Since The Last Post About This Car... He Finally Did It. Our Customer Bought This Civic New In '06 And It Has Only Been Serviced At Our Dealership. Original Motor And Transmission"
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49. "Accelerator Gets Stuck To Floor. Pull On String To Unstick"
3 months ago
50. "C/S She Hears A Flapping Noise Coming From The Driver's Side"
3 years ago
Some cars really do deserve a standing ovation.
For more “luxury car over advice” drama, read about the friend who refused money help after buying a luxury car.
