A Dodge Ram owner is claiming a dealership caused over $9,000 worth of damage to his car.

Rob Romano (@poutinepapii) posted a viral TikTok delineating his claims. In a video that has garnered 300,000 views, he says low oil levels are partially to blame for his issues.

Nonetheless, numerous individuals who responded to his video claimed that this was not a contributing factor to the failure of his car's engine.

Romano opens his video by addressing the camera and discussing a bill he received. He emphasizes multiple times that he felt “forced” to shell out $339 for a diagnostic test after taking his car in for an oil change and addressing two recall issues.

According to FindLaw, “It is against the law for a dealership or auto manufacturer to charge you for recall repairs.” This is because are considered necessary repairs so cars are in compliance with National Highway and Traffic Safety administration standards. The legal resource reiterates that dealerships “must” complete the recall work free of charge. Furthermore, if the car’s service department believes the work will take more than a day. drivers should inquire into a loaner.

Are recalls a fraud?

Other commuters have complained about charges from dealerships in tandem with recalls. A user on Red Flag Deals questioned the practice last year. Numerous folks who replied said they shouldn’t have to pay anything out of pocket.

A redditor said that they, too, brought their vehicle in for an oil change and recall repair. However, a week after getting the work done, they said their car broke down.

In his video, Romano explains that the charge was categorized as a “diagnostic” test. He mentions that the initial recall pertained to a “high pressure fuel pump,” while the second was related to a “software update” for the Ram.

He claims that upon completing the service, he was confronted with a host of new problems. According to him, his Ram was already “shaking” before he could even exit the service center’s parking area, and the check engine light illuminated shortly after. “There’s low turbo boost, a significant coolant leak, and so on,” he stated.

What actions did the dealership take?

"Since I haven't actually had the vehicle in my possession except for that brief moment when I drove it out, the only thing they mentioned was that they performed an oil change. So, let's take a look at it right now, live."

He gestures towards an unseen person behind the camera who is holding the dipstick from his car's oil tank. "The dipstick is spotless. Absolutely spotless," they remark as the camera focuses in closely. It looks like the Ram has barely any oil left in it.

It appears that the individual who conducted the oil change managed to remove the old oil from the vehicle. Unfortunately, they overlooked the crucial step of adding new oil. “It’s at the lowest level,” comments the other person in the video. “You can easily spot the maximum mark right there, while the oil level down here is at the minimum.”

Romano claims that the oil change set him back more than $300.

In the caption, Romano wrote at length about the damage purportedly sustained to his car. He maintains he brought it to Don Mills Chrysler’s service center in working condition. The dealership also sells Dodge vehicles.

When he took his vehicle in for an oil change and a recall, he was informed that fixing a "minor leak" at the rear of the engine would cost him $3,500.

He chose not to proceed with the service but is convinced that the business caused damage to the vehicle during the pressure testing.

Romano stated, “The actions of this dealership are completely unethical. They are attempting to bill me thousands of dollars to address the damage they inflicted. It's essential that they take responsibility for their actions and rectify the harm they have caused.”

TikTok users found themselves divided.

Many respondents appeared to dismiss the idea that the oil change was the cause of Romano's car troubles. One individual wrote, "Following an oil change, the level should read Full, but a low reading won't lead to engine failure."

Another echoed this thought. “There is enough oil in the engine for smooth operation, albeit right after an oil change it is a bit low. Unless the hpfp was installed incorrectly I doubt the dealer has anything to do with the 9k.” (HPFp refers to a high pressure fuel pump.)

Another individual suggested that the problems might not be related to the oil. “I've worked as an auto/diesel technician for 35 years. Operating the truck with a quart less oil isn't likely to lead to these kinds of issues. I'm not saying they didn’t damage your truck, but it would be wise to consult a different Dodge dealership.”

One TikToker came up with a unique strategy to catch the service center's eye. "The simplest method to grab a dealership's attention is by filing a report with the DMV," they suggested.

@poutinepapii On December 6th, 2024, I dropped my truck off at Don Mills Chrysler for an oil change and to address two service recalls. I also asked the technician to check for any coolant leaks, as I had noticed my reservoir was at the halfway mark before bringing my truck in. Prior to this service, I had no leaks or engine issues. After agreeing to the diagnostic fee, the technician performed a pressure test and informed me of a small leak from the back of the motor. I was quoted approximately $3,500 for the repair, as they said they needed to remove the entire cab of my truck to access the affected hose. Understandably I chose not to proceed with the repair to get a second opinion. I paid $525 for the oil change and diagnostic fee, and I left. As I was exiting the dealership parking lot, my truck displayed a check engine light and began to smoke. I returned to the dealership, but since the service department was closed, I left it with a salesman and took an Uber home (which I was not compensated for). The next day, I received a call from the dealership. They were unsure what caused the engine light to come on and promised to get back to me as soon as possible. Two days later, I learned of new issues that had not been present before. The repairs now required include new turbo lines, a mass airflow sensor, hose replacement, a service throttle control module, and a new intake manifold. The new estimate to fix my truck was about $9,100. They admitted that one issue was related to a software update from the service recall, specifically concerning the mass airflow sensor, which would cost $1,400 to repair. They claimed they had done me a favour by contacting Chrysler’s head office and they replaced the mass airflow system at no charge. It’s clear they caused damage to my vehicle when they did the pressure test, and driving it out of the parking lot after the recalls were performed has led to all of these problems. I drove my truck to the dealership in working condition. Had I not asked the technician to check for any leaks—which I assumed would be part of their 180-point inspection—there may not have been as much damage to the vehicle. On January 3, 2025, I had to pay another $339 diagnostic fee because they refused to let me take my vehicle back without paying for additional tests to determine what they had broken. I even had to call CAA to tow my truck out of their dealership after arguing with the service manager about the extra $339. Now, I’m left to fix all the damage they caused without any repercussions for the dealership, which is unacceptable. What this dealership has done to me is unethical. They are trying to charge me thousands of dollars to fix the damage they caused. They need to be held accountable for their actions and should repair the damages they created. On top of everything else, since I finally got my truck back I discovered that they didn’t fill the oil above the minimum threshold, they broke the mount that holds my air box in place, caused damage to/removed my driver’s door, and it appears that the bolts and fuel lines for the high pressure fuel pump they claimed to replace are still original. I’ve reached out to Chrysler Head office and I was informed that dealers are privately owned and this needs to be handled between myself and them. I’ve also reached out to the police, but I was told that there is nothing they can do. My only other option is finding a lawyer however; the time and money alone will likely exceed the damage caused. Now I’m reaching out to the public and media to expose this dealership for what they are doing to me and more than likely tons of other people. I don’t understand how they can break something and then expect me to pay for the damage. Please do yourself a favour and stay away from Don Mills Chrysler. You’ll pay $300 for an oil change, and the oil reservoir will be at the minimum threshold. They treat their customers terribly and will cause more damage to your vehicle. #FYP #fyp #Chrysler ♬ original sound – Rob Romano

The Daily Dot has contacted Dodge through email, reached out to Don Mills Chrysler via email as well, and left a comment on TikTok for Romano to gather more information.