Tire came off my car while driving. Is the dealership at fault?

I need advice on what to do about my situation.

I drive a 2022 Toyota Corolla hatchback. On January 9, I noticed my front driver-side tire was flat due to a blowout. I didn’t hit anything and don’t know how it happened. I have tire and wheel coverage, so I wasn’t too worried about getting it replaced. Roadside assistance put on my spare tire, and I called Autonation Ford since it was only a 12-minute drive compared to a 45-minute drive to Autonation Toyota. They had the tire I needed and told me to drop off the bad tire and wheel. They would mount the new tire on the wheel, and I could drive my car until it was ready for installation.

Later that day, around 3 pm, they let me know my tire and wheel were ready. I drove there, handed over my keys, and waited in the lobby. After about 20 minutes, they gave my car back. Everything seemed fine as I left the shop.

Not even 20 seconds down the road, my car started making loud noises, leaning to one side, and refusing to accelerate. I barely made it to a gas station and saw the front driver-side tire was completely gone. It wasn’t just flat—it had disappeared. I didn’t see it roll off or anything.

I called my partner, who was 15 minutes away at work. While driving to me, he called Autonation, threatened to sue them, and gave them a piece of his mind. Autonation called me back, apologized, and said, “Maybe the technician forgot to tighten the lug nuts.” Maybe?

Roadside assistance towed my car back to Autonation. My partner and I called the police to file a report, but they said it wasn’t necessary. Autonation dropped off a new F-150 as a loaner for me to use while they fixed my car.

It’s now January 25, and my car is still not ready. They keep texting updates, saying they’re waiting on parts from Toyota. I’m frustrated and stressed. I’m making payments on a car I can’t even use, spending more on gas for this loaner truck I don’t like, and worried about the damage this caused and how long it’s taking to fix.

Should I ask for compensation for this?

TL;DR: Autonation Ford didn’t tighten the lug nuts on my Toyota Corolla tire, it fell off while I was driving, and it probably caused serious damage to my car.


They gave you a loaner and are fixing your car at no cost. Nobody was hurt, and they’re making things right. What more would you want them to do?

Benaiah said:
They gave you a loaner and are fixing your car at no cost. Nobody was hurt, and they’re making things right. What more would you want them to do?

The loaner is a gas guzzler compared to their original car. Maybe they can ask for the gas difference to be covered. At least you’ve got a truck, though—perfect time to handle a dump run or a home project.

Benaiah said:
They gave you a loaner and are fixing your car at no cost. Nobody was hurt, and they’re making things right. What more would you want them to do?

Fixing it doesn’t necessarily restore it to the same condition. Hidden damage might show up later, and the resale value has dropped. They should pay market value for the car as it was before the incident or offer a lump sum compensation.

@Fox
Do we know they won’t fix all the damage? There’s no damage report shared yet. They might address everything thoroughly.

CarLoverDave1 said:
@Fox
Do we know they won’t fix all the damage? There’s no damage report shared yet. They might address everything thoroughly.

Even if it’s fixed to showroom condition, wouldn’t this still reduce the resale value since it’ll show up on the car’s history? I think compensation for that would be fair.

@hawley
There’s no police report, and Carfax usually gets updates from insurance or repair shops. Unless the repair shop reports it, it might not affect the history. Plus, diminished value depends on the extent of damage, which we don’t know yet.

@hawley
The car is meant to be used, not sold for profit later. They’re in a nicer loaner right now and the dealership is covering everything. People need to stop turning every inconvenience into a personal tragedy.

CarLoverDave1 said:
@Fox
Do we know they won’t fix all the damage? There’s no damage report shared yet. They might address everything thoroughly.

Fixed isn’t always the same as new.

@Fox
They’re going to do everything to avoid a lawsuit. If they miss anything, you could take it to small claims court, but they’re probably covering all damages already.

Derry said:
@Fox
They’re going to do everything to avoid a lawsuit. If they miss anything, you could take it to small claims court, but they’re probably covering all damages already.

That’s naive. They’ll only fix immediate issues, not anything that could develop later.

If you’re unhappy with the loaner, ask for a smaller car. Otherwise, it seems like you just need to wait for the repairs.

They made a mistake, but they’re fixing it and provided a loaner. You should’ve noticed if your car was making a loud noise before the tire came off. Checking your car’s condition is also part of your responsibility.

Fuel at $2.59? That’s cheap compared to my area. It’s nearly $4 here.

Lloyd said:
Fuel at $2.59? That’s cheap compared to my area. It’s nearly $4 here.

Yeah, I’d kill for $2.59 fuel. Gas prices here are ridiculous.

That must’ve been terrifying. I’m glad you’re okay.

If your car starts making strange noises, you should stop and check it immediately. Loose lug nuts make a lot of noise before the tire comes off. It’s also a chance to learn to listen to your car better.

Some people think every inconvenience is a chance to cash in, but that’s not always realistic.

Mistakes happen, but the dealership gave you a loaner and is fixing the car. It sounds like they’re handling the situation well.

This happened to me once on the highway. It was terrifying, but I was lucky no one got hurt. Glad you’re safe.