AP
Andrea Perry
Apr 5, 2026
This Valvoline Ruined My Transmission 🛑
I’m currently in a nightmare scenario with the Valvoline in Hendersonville, TN.
The Situation:
On 3/17/2026, I took my 2016 Subaru Legacy (151k miles, running perfectly) in for a routine oil change. Instead of an oil change, the technicians accidentally:
-Drained my transmission fluid completely.
-Double-filled my engine oil.
-Sent me on my way.
I immediately noticed something was wrong, circled back, and they realized their mistake. They "refilled" the transmission, did the actual oil change, and told me I was good to go.
Cornelius the manager asked me to come back the next morning to double check everything before I drove to Indiana. He was NOT there, but the tech who made the mistake checked my car and gave me the all clear to go.
The Damage:
Fast forward 2.5 weeks... my car had to be towed to the Subaru dealership(where the manager, Cornelius, asked me to take it). The diagnosis? I need a total transmission replacement ($10,500). The fluid is already burnt and filled with metal shards because of the mistake Valvoline made.
The Problem:
Valvoline is admitting fault, but they are only offering me $6,500 for the car. My car was paid off and reliable; I wasn’t looking for a new car or a monthly payment, and $6,500 doesn’t go very far in today’s market for a reliable family vehicle. It definitely doesn't get be back to square from before this "oil change".
NEVER GO HERE.
I never thought a simple oil change could turn into this.