Wheel coming off after getting new tires or brakes
Wheels can detach completely from a vehicle weeks after having tires mounted or brakes serviced, creating severe driving hazards. Shops often refuse to take responsibility for the dangerous mistake and charge customers extra to fix it.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Asking mechanics online for expert opinions to resolve family disputes
- 2Using a torque wrench to check lug nuts weekly or after 100 miles
- 3having the car evaluated by a well reviewed local shop to document damages
- 4approaching the shop owner to request they pay for repairs or file in court
- 5replacing damaged studs or wheels independently to avoid shop hassle
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“friend has a 2012 mazda 3. he brought it to this shop to have 4 michelin crossclimate tires mounted and rotors and pads done. got it back, it’s been 2 weeks and 1.5k miles, and the driver side rear wheel fell off while driving.”source ↗
“attached if the screenshot from my friend on what the shop said to him. they charged him another $100+ to fix it.”source ↗
“i firmly believe he should get a full refund of the original work and this should be fixed for free, however the shop charged him MORE to fix it”source ↗
“A couple days after the tire change, I was driving around 80km/hr when the rattle changed from its usual to violent shaking. In the time it took me to think "oh damn that's bad I need to pull over" and registering that I couldn't safely move into the right lane, the front driver side wheel flew off.”source ↗
“This issue has causes an enormous rift between my family and my boyfriend, and my relationship is falling apart as a consequence.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 3Why are there unexplained bumps on the inside of my wheel rim?
- 3Brake parts missing or falling off after service
- 9How do you remove a stuck wheel bearing and axle without damaging it?
- 3Flat tire again right after getting it replaced
- 9Is it safe to drive on a damaged tire while waiting for a replacement?
- 5Why do my car tires keep wearing out and blowing out?