A DRIVER is facing heavy repair bills after what should have been a routine trip to the gas station – only to have his car completely break down.
This incident comes amid a string of car troubles reported in the same region of the US, leaving several motorists seeking reimbursement for costly repairs.
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One of those motorists, John Toth, told news outlet KFYTV that he stopped at an ARCO gas station just a few weeks ago.
As he pumped gas, he noticed that the 93-octane pump was “slower than normal” but thought nothing of it.
Not long after, he was forced to have his car towed when it completely shut down, before he took the vehicle to a repair shop.
He later received a call explaining the issue: “There’s water in your fuel tank. There’s 70 percent water.”
The hefty invoice from the repair shop confirmed the problem, which was caused by “extreme fuel contamination.”
Toth added: “I do have my car back. I ended up picking it up. I dodged a bullet.”
Another driver, Josh Waddell, suffered the same issue after stopping for gas at the same station just days before Toth.
According to Waddell, he drove roughly a mile down the road before his vehicle stopped working.
He said: “I got some gas, and it was pumping super slow.
“It took me about 15 minutes to pump five dollars’ worth, and a mile down the road, my car just shut off.”
Waddell was later forced to spend around $1,600 to repair his vehicle – including $500 for towing services.
He and Toth later realized they’d experienced the same issue when Toth posted about it on social media.
“I was frustrated, but then again, I’m not the only one who’s frustrated,” Waddell said.
“I’ve been in contact with quite a few others who are also out over nine hundred dollars.”
Toth revealed that the gas station owner sent him a check to reimburse him for the gas and repairs.
8 signs of poor fuel quality in a vehicle
Source: AAA
- The car doesn’t start
- The ignition is hesitant or sputtering
- Accelerating issues
- The check engine light is on
- The drive isn’t smooth
- There’s a delay when shifting
- There’s a need to fill your tank more frequently
- The gas cap is loose
Waddell, however, is still trying to reach the owner.
The incident, which happened in Ohio, between Toledo and Hillsboro on 7126 OH-73, comes months after another gas station had a similar problem.
The Circle K gas station in Avon, Ohio, landed in hot water after a horrible mix up cost at least two drivers thousands of dollars.
Circle K later confirmed that diesel fuel had been inadvertently delivered and pumped into the unleaded fuel storage tanks, and vice versa.
And only days ago, a mom in Atlanta, Georgia, was hit with a $2,000 bill after mechanics found that the gas in her vehicle was “80% water” – she is still out of pocket.