Oil Filter Missing/Seized Engine - Dealer Claims "Stolen"

[VTHockey11]

My fiancee was driving her 2009 Ford Focus home from work when her Engine Light came on. The engine began rumbling, and within a couple of miles, seized.

She had it towed to her dealership where they held the car for over 24 hours before delivering a verdict on the issue, saying the engine seized due to a missing oil filter and would need to be replaced for $6,500.

She asked how the oil filter could go missing about 3000 miles after her last oil service/check-up at their dealership and the guy said, "It was stolen."

I've looked up and down the internet and haven't found one person who had their oil filter stolen.

Is there any means of stealing an oil filter without breaking into the car? And furthermore, is it of any value? Why would someone steal one?

My belief is that the mechanic put the wrong filter in and it eventually fell out due to being the wrong size and as a result, we are going to fight for them to replace the engine at their expense. Is this a fair conclusion? Has anyone ever experienced a stolen oil filter?

Furthermore, if an oil filter falls out, how quickly does it lead to a "Check Engine Light" and an oil drainage? My thought is that we have evidence it fell out due to the light coming on about halfway home on a 20 mile trip. Any ideas?

Thanks!

[aleekat]

Don't believe it was stolen. Wrong size? Doubtful. Probably just wasn't tightened fully and vibrated out. Running an engine with no oil. Will seize pretty quick. Metal expands when it gets hot, no lube+friction=seized. Good luck. You'll probably have to fight your way up the "dealership food chain". $6500 WOW.

[danielsatur]

There should of be other warnings like engine oil pressure light, Temp, and noise.
Who changed the oil last?

Sounds like BS, it took 24hours to not find an oil filter.

[VTHockey11]

Originally Posted by aleekat

Don't believe it was stolen. Wrong size? Doubtful. Probably just wasn't tightened fully and vibrated out. Running an engine with no oil. Will seize pretty quick. Metal expands when it gets hot, no lube+friction=seized. Good luck. You'll probably have to fight your way up the "dealership food chain". $6500 WOW.

Thanks! Seems absolutely crazy to me to pay $6500 for an engine, but also seems crazy to me that they told us it was most likely stolen. No offense to the dealer, but where we live in Washington, DC, people aren't stealing oil filters, they're breaking windows to get into your car and take bags etc.

Do you have any idea how quickly the oil would drain after it vibrated out?

I think our best recourse is saying the "Check Engine Light" came on halfway home which would clearly indicate it fell out and wasn't stolen.

Thanks!

[VTHockey11]

Originally Posted by danielsatur

There should of be other warnings like engine oil pressure light, Temp, and noise.
Who changed the oil last?

Yeah, I believe she experienced a whirring/coughing noise from the engine and at the very least, a check engine light. Not sure about whether she noticed an increase in temp.

The dealership where she bought the car is where it was last serviced and they are the one's claiming it must have been stolen.

I just want to get an idea for whether anyone has ever heard of it being stolen, whether indicators would happen almost immediately after it falling out, and what type of recourse we have.

It seems obvious to me that the dealership didn't tighten it properly and believe they should be responsible.

[VTHockey11]

Originally Posted by danielsatur

There should of be other warnings like engine oil pressure light, Temp, and noise.
Who changed the oil last?

Sounds like BS, it took 24hours to not find an oil filter.

Also agree on the 24 hours to find a missing oil filter. Sounded fishy that they held the car all day and didn't call to report what they found until the next day (with a diagnostic fee on top of things!)

[danielsatur]

Nobody would take an oil filter, it has no value other being an X-partner!

[VTHockey11]

Originally Posted by danielsatur

Nobody would take an oil filter, it has no value other being an X-partner!

That's what I figured. He literally said, "It was stolen." Made me laugh. No one's going to take it. Hypothetically, though, could someone even steal it and if so, how? Just want to cover all bases. I'm assuming it would be very difficult without breaking into the car or showing some sort of damage to the vehicle?

[danielsatur]

Yea! 24-hours for a cover up plan to sell you a new car.
The Alarm must be broken too.

Get a 2nd & 3rd opinion on paper, and call your insurance, loan company, and there insurance for coverage.

You might need to get it towed to your home or another stealership.

What's the name of the dealership ? ,so the WWW knows.

[VTHockey11]

Originally Posted by danielsatur

Yea! 24-hours for a cover up plan to sell you a new car.

Get a 2nd & 3rd opinion on paper, and call your insurance, loan company, and there insurance for coverage.

You might need to get it towed to your home or aother stealership.

Haha no kidding. So would the 2nd & 3rd opinions be from taking it to another dealership/service place to see what they think could have caused it?

And what stance do we take with insurance? I assume tell them what happened and that you were informed it was theft but 2 other dealerships believe it was improperly tightened or something to that extent?

Thanks for all your help!

[danielsatur]

You need a paper trail of root cause as evidence to go to court, because no Judge is going to believe them.

They could of stolen the oil filter, and make it look like it's your fault.
Take a note on how many mechanics & names who worked on this car.

Is there any Lemon laws in this state?

[VTHockey11]

Originally Posted by danielsatur

You need a paper trail as evidence to go to court, because no Judge is going to believe them.

They could of stolen the oil filter, and make it look like it's your fault.
Take a note on how many mechanics & names who worked on this car.

Luckily she has evidence that the last service of the car was at this dealership and that she's always received service there since she purchased the car from them.

It's a ridiculous situation - $6500 is no laughing matter and to blame it on it being "stolen" is absurd.

I assume that's the kind of paper trail needed? Evidence of service?

[VTHockey11]

Originally Posted by danielsatur

You need a paper trail of root cause as evidence to go to court, because no Judge is going to believe them.

They could of stolen the oil filter, and make it look like it's your fault.
Take a note on how many mechanics & names who worked on this car.

Is there any Lemon laws in this state?

There are lemon laws. Unfortunately the car isn't covered under them - has 42K miles on it - more an issue of negligence on their part.

[danielsatur]

I would talk to a lemon law attorney ASAP.
Keep any rental car receipts for records too.

They do have a license to do business + practice, so they should have insurance.

[VTHockey11]

Originally Posted by danielsatur

I would talk to a lemon law attorney ASAP.
Keep any rental car receipts for records too.

Thanks for your help - any reason why we should contact a lemon law attorney if this boils down to negligence by the dealership?