Tires Plus

To: Store Manager, Tires Plus (Store #240641)

1047 State Route 3 N, Gambrills, MD 21054

CC: Bridgestone Retail Operations (BSRO) Leadership, Customer Relations Department

From: Elihu Eli El (Tires Plus Customer)

Dear Bridgestone Leadership,

I hope that you and yours are all doing well. I am writing to officially put you on notice of severe damage caused to my vehicle during a wheel alignment service at your Tires Plus location on September 27, 2025, and to demand immediate remediation.

On that date, I brought in my 2013 Chrysler 200 (VIN ending in 511822) for a 12-month alignment re-check (under warranty) and courtesy inspection. The vehicle was returned to me with no mention of any steering or suspension problems. In fact, your own multi-point inspection report from that day shows no issues noted with the tie rods, CV joints, or other front-end components only routine items like tire wear and battery life were flagged.

However, less than two weeks later, I began experiencing severe front-end rattling and handling instability. On October 8, 2025, I returned to your shop (Work Order #150327) to investigate.

This time, the inspection revealed catastrophic failures in the very components that had supposedly been fine on September 27. Specifically, both left and right outer tie rod ends were found to have excessive looseness; the left inner tie rod was loose; and the right-front CV joint boot clamp was broken, with the boot likely compromised. In other words, within ~11 days and only ~400 miles of everyday driving, my steering system allegedly went from normal (or at least unmentioned) to unsafe and in need of complete tie rod replacement. Such an abrupt deterioration is highly implausible absent an intervening cause.

Evidence of Improper Service (Use of Torch) as the Cause

It is now apparent what that intervening cause was: your technicians improper use of an open flame (acetylene torch) during the alignment on 09/27/2025.

Upon reviewing the situation and consulting independent experts, I have strong reason to conclude that the technician applied a torch to one or more front-end components (likely to free a stuck adjustment sleeve or nut) and, in doing so, severely damaged the tie rod ends and CV boot. Notably, I recall seeing flashes/sparks from the service bay area during the alignment, consistent with the use of a hot wrench. The broken CV boot clamp and fresh damage align with what would happen if a flame were applied near the CV joint.

Why using a torch in this manner is gross negligence:Destroys Critical Components: The tie rod ends in modern vehicles contain heat-treated metal and often plastic/internal lubricants. Applying high heat (as from a torch) can anneal or remove the temper from metal, weakening it significantly.

It can also melt any nylon or Teflon liner inside the ball joint and burn off grease. The result is a loose, worn-out joint that may not manifest immediately during the alignment, but rapidly develops play (exactly what happened in my case). Industry professionals explicitly warn that a torchmust never be used on any front-end component [because] the temper will be removed. Likewise, another experienced mechanic writes: DO NOT apply heat to tie rods unless you replace them afterwards.

You change the properties of the metal, and it becomes brittle. Heating and quenching steering parts can even cause them to shrink or seize one alignment customer reported that a shops use of a torch quenched and shrank the outer tie-rodsTheyruined all four tie-rods and I will now have to replace the rack. This is a known outcome when improper heat is applied: the metal warps and critical clearances are altered.Immediate Safety Hazard: Beyond the long-term damage, using a torch on components like ball joints or tie rod ends poses an immediate explosive risk. The grease inside can vaporize from the heat, turning the sealed joint into a pressure vessel.

If the retaining ring fails, the metal cap can shoot off like a bullet. One professional recounts that his father almost died when a heated ball joint blew up like a shotgun it was red hot and went through his right eye. This is not hyperbole it is a documented danger. In my case, even if an explosion fortunately did not occur, the very act of taking such a risk with my vehicle (and your technicians own safety) is appalling.

It falls far below any reasonable standard of care.Damage to Rubber and Plastic Parts: The broken CV boot clamp and the likely damage to the CV joint itself are further evidence of torch use. A flame easily burns through plastic/rubber boots and CV grease. If a tech heated the tie rod area, the adjacent CV boot could have been inadvertently scorched or its clamp weakened, leading it to snap. Indeed, a torn or melted CV boot will fling out grease and quickly lead to CV joint wear.

It is telling that my right-front CV boot was intact on 9/27 (no issues noted), yet by 10/08 the clamp was broken and the boot was leaking again, an improbable coincidence unless an external heat source or force compromised the boot during the alignment.

In short, the only plausible explanation for the sudden onset of multiple failures is improper heat application during the alignment service. This aligns with the physical evidence and with known automotive engineering principles. Notably, even Audis official repair guidance warns against using heat on tie rod ends because heat will destroy [internal] dampenersand potentially cause tie rod failure. Your technician either was unaware of these basic warnings or chose to ignore them.

Tires Pluss Responsibility and Anticipated Counterarguments

I'm very concerned about the damage that happened under your care.

Even more troubling would be any attempt by Tires Plus to evade responsibility. I am aware that sometimes shops engage in eristic kettle logic throwing out contradictory defenses to confuse or avoid blame. Let me be clear: I will not accept any bad-faith excuses. I address below several possible arguments that would be meritless in light of the facts:The parts were old and would have failed anyway.

My vehicles mileage is ~176k, true, but all steering components were functioning acceptably prior to your service. If they were truly at end of life, it was your duty to warn me on Sept 27 yet your inspection found nothing of the sort. It is implausible that every tie rod end magically became excessively loose only days after you aligned the car. Every day wear does not work that way; acute damage does.

Moreover, even if parts were aged, using a torch on them is still negligent one does not get to set a customers car on fire simply because its old. Your duty was either to adjust the alignment with proper tools and penetrating oil or, if the adjusters were frozen, to inform me and perhaps recommend part replacementnot to torch it and ruin it.We didnt use a torch; theres no proof. I expect honesty. If your techs have nothing to hide, they should be able to state exactly how they performed the alignment.

My evidence (the broken/melted components and independent assessments) strongly indicates a torch was used. If you maintain it was not, then you need to explain what did cause this damage under your watch. Given the evidence, a denial without a credible alternative explanation would only deepen your legal exposure. I also reserve the right to have a third-party expert inspect the vehicle for signs of heat application (such as thermal discoloration, burnt residue, etc.).

Any such forensic evidence will speak louder than a hollow denial.Using heat is standard practice not our fault. This argument fails on both factual and legal grounds. Factually, competent mechanics do not resort to uncontrolled heat on critical steering parts except perhaps as an absolute last resort and then only with the understanding that the heated part will be replaced. As cited above, professionals consider it unsafe to reuse a tie rod after torching because the metal can become brittle and prone to failure.

Your technician put my original parts back into service after heating a grossly irresponsible act. Legally, even if some shops foolishly cut corners this way, it does not absolve you: industry norms and manufacturer guidelines say the opposite. If your internal policy condones the use of torches on steering components, then Tires Plus/BSRO is flagrantly endangering customers. I highly doubt BSROs leadership or safety officers would defend such a standard practice.

In fact, I am copying BSRO corporate leadership on this letter to ensure they are aware of what transpired in their facility.You signed a waiver/disclaimer, so we arent liable. I acknowledge that the service paperwork includes a generic disclaimer stating that the shop is not responsible for damage under certain circumstances. However, no boilerplate disclaimer can shield you from negligence or violating state repair standards. Maryland consumer protection law and basic tort principles hold service providers accountable when their lack of due care causes damage.

A shop cannot, through fine print, contract away liability for failing to perform services with reasonable skill and care. Attempting to invoke that clause in this situation would likely be viewed as bad faith it is meant for unforeseeable events or perhaps incidental lot damage, not for preventable damage caused by your own improper methods.

Tires Plus is clearly responsible for the damage to my car. The chain of events vehicle fine before alignment, multiple failures immediately after, known detrimental effects of torch use, and the absence of any other intervening factor all point to your liability. Any refusal to acknowledge this, or any offering of contradictory justifications, will be noted as evidence of bad faith.

Demand for Prompt Remedy

I would like to ask that Tires Plus/BSRO take full responsibility and fix the situation as soon as possible.

Specifically, I expect the following actions:Complete Repair at No Cost: All damaged components must be repaired or replaced to factory specification at your expense. At minimum, this means replacement of both outer tie rod ends, the left inner tie rod, and the right-front CV joint boot (and clamp), plus an alignment redo after those repairs. These repairs should be performed by a qualified technician using proper procedures (no shortcuts). Alternatively, you may opt to have the repairs done at a certified Chrysler dealership or reputable independent shop, at your cost, if that ensures better quality control.Inspection of Related Parts: Given the trauma to the steering system, closely inspect the steering rack, control arm bushings, and other front-end components to ensure no additional heat-related damage (for example, heat can damage rack seals or ball joint grease).

Replace/repair any parts that show signs of overheating or abnormal wear due to the incident.Assurance of Future Safety: Provide a written assurance that the vehicle will be returned in safe, roadworthy condition, with all alignment settings correctly adjusted, and that no hidden damage remains. If any doubt remains about the rack and pinion (since the forum example cited required a new rack), I expect you to address that as well I will not accept a quick fix that leaves me with a compromised steering rack or other latent issues.Cost Reimbursement (if applicable): I have thus far refrained from driving the car due to safety concerns. If I must rent a vehicle or incur other expenses while this matter is resolved, I will expect reimbursement. Likewise, if you prefer, I can get the repairs done at another shop and seek reimbursement through you or BSROs insurance for the full cost.Customer Service Correction: I request a formal apology for the mishandling of my vehicle.

Furthermore, I urge you to review this incident with your staff as a training opportunity such negligence cannot be repeated. If the individual technician lacks training in proper alignment techniques (e.g., the use of penetrating oil and tools like tie-rod breakers rather than brute-force heat), then they must be retrained or supervised. I pray that BSRO leadership will also become involved in instituting or reinforcing policies prohibiting the unsafe practices demonstrated here.

Time is of the Essence

Given the severity of the issue, I expect a response within 7 days of this letter (by October 19, 2025). Your response should outline how you propose to make me whole and prevent this from happening again.

If I don't get a satisfactory response or if you deny responsibility, I am ready to escalate this matter to you. This may include:Notifying BSRO Executives directly and sharing all evidence of what occurred.Filing a complaint with the Maryland Attorney Generals Office (Consumer Protection Division), as vehicle repair fraud/negligence falls under their purview.Pursuing legal action for property damage, potentially including claims of negligence, breach of contract, and violations of Maryland consumer protection laws. Please be advised that if forced to litigate, I will seek all available damages, costs, and, if applicable, treble damages under any relevant consumer protection statutes for willful or reckless misconduct. I am confident that any judge or expert witness, presented with the facts and the attached evidence, would find your shops liability obvious.

Let us avoid that route.

My goal is to have my car restored to the condition it should have been in had your team exercised due care. I have been a loyal Tires Plus customer, and I trust that BSRO stands by its commitments to quality service and customer safety. Now is the time to uphold those values.

Please take this letter very seriously and respond in good faith. The safety of your customer and the reputation of your company are at stake.

I would like to give you an opportunity to do the right thing and resolve this amicably. I hope and expect that you will seize it.

Thank you for taking the time to look into this matter.

I look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,

Elihu Eli El

Phone: 301-906-****

Alt. Phone: 240-305-****

My experience with this company has been nothing short of alarming, both in terms of personal safety and financial integrity. On more than one occasion, Tires Plus worked on my vehicle only for the tire they installed or repaired to fail catastrophically within one to two miles of leaving the shop.

In one instance, a newly installed tire blew out almost immediately; in another, a tire they had fixed failed again shortly afterward, leaving me stranded on the roadside for hours. These were not normal wear-and-tear incidents: they rather occurred directly after service performed by their mechanics. What was most disturbing was not only the danger I was placed in, but the company's complete lack of concern afterward. When I reported the incidents, I was met with indifference.

There was no apology, no acknowledgment of risk, no offer to reimburse towing costs, and no sense of responsibility. I was simply told that their mechanics had done a proper job and, if I wanted it looked at again, I could bring the car back at my own expense. The implication was clear: whatever happened after I drove off the lot was my problem, even when the failure occurred almost immediately. This pattern makes it difficult to avoid the conclusion that the company prioritizes cutting costs over competence, relying on inadequately trained workers while exposing customers to serious risk.

The same disregard appears in their financing practices. I used their advertised interest-free promotional financing in good faith. The system is so confusing that it is virtually impossible to understand without calling customer service. I did exactly that, followed the instructions I was given, and paid my balances within the promotional period.

Despite this, I later discovered that I had been charged hundreds of dollars in interest and finance fees without my knowledge. When I complained, the response was predictable and infuriating: the company insisted that I had failed to comply with the terms and that the charges were justified. They refused to accept that their own employees may have provided incorrect information. Once again, responsibility was shifted entirely onto me, and the company closed ranks around a flawed system and poorly trained staff.

Taken together, these experiences reveal how this company stays in business: not by providing reliable service or acting in good faith, but by denying responsibility, obscuring financial terms, and extracting money from customers who trusted them. Safety failures are dismissed. Legitimate complaints are deflected. Errors are never theirs: only the customers.

As a customer, I felt endangered, dismissed, and exploited. As a consumer, I find this pattern of conduct deeply troubling and frankly repulsive.

I want to explain my experience with Tire Plus Auto Shop located at 9870 Pines Blvd, Pembroke Pines, Florida 33024. I spoke to service advisor Nicolas on 6/23/25.

I took my car there because my engine light was on; they did a diagnostic but never showed me the report, and they told me I had to replace the catalytic converter on the left and right side of my Jeep Grand Cherokee. The vehicle has less than 70 thousand miles on it, and they charged me $4,396.04 just for that. I went to pick up the car, and they said everything was fine. I drove the car home, and the engine light came back on.

I took it back, and they checked the engine light again, but it never turned off. They kept the car for a couple of days, and they said it was fixed. As soon as I got there, they said it was recommended to do a tune-up after replacing the catalytic converters, and the charge for the tune-up was $1,442.27. According to them, they changed the spark plugs and coils (I had to clean the throttle because it was filthy).

After that, the engine light went off. The manager from Tire Plus told me to empty the tank until 1/4 because he said it must be the gas. After that, the car started trembling like Parkinsons; it felt like it was going to turn off. I took it back, and they could not figure out what was wrong with the car.

Nicolas asked me if this happened after changing the converters, and I told him yes.
So the conclusion with them was to take the car to the Chrysler Jeep Dealer and have another diagnostic and not do anything to it but bring them the diagnostic report so that they would know what was wrong with the car. I took the car to the dealer on Thursday, July 31, 2025, and the dealer did a diagnostic on the car, and today, August 4, 2025, they texted me and told me what was wrong with the car. I honestly asked the dealer if it was possible to change the converters and tune up the car, and he said it wasn't necessary, and I have everything in writing. Now I'm stuck with a bill of $5,838.21 from Tire Plus, but it's not over yet.
P.S.

The car dealer did find the problem, and they charged me $1,300.00, nothing compared to what Tire Plus charged me.
It has been three months since the incident occurred, and we have yet to receive a response from Tire Plus Total Auto Care. Consequently, I have contacted three media stations, one of which has replied to my inquiry. Additionally, I have sent letters to the corporate offices again, but there has been no response thus far. I will continue to keep you updated.

Thank you for your support. (Sep 8 2025)

Stay away! I have been a customer for many years since I live right down the street.

However, recently they have made errors, and one could cost me my engine. The first time, I had a flat tire. The person at the counter not only walked me outside to show me which one, but he marked it with chalk where the nail was and then later showed me a picture of it on their iPad. I woke up the next day and the tire was even more flat than it was.

I had to go back up there and the manager gave me the run around, saying my back tire was changed. What's the problem? The wrong tire was changed! The front one was flat!

I also kept the tire the first time, and they charged me a disposal fee both times. In this second incident, I got my oil changed on a Friday. The engine pressure warning light has been on since that Saturday. Today is now Wednesday and I go to check my dipstick...

not one drop of oil is in there. It's completely empty! I now have to take my car up there again for them to fix their mistake before Thanksgiving. I don't know who they are hiring, but they are unqualified and granted they may 'fix' their mistakes, but there should never be mistakes when someone is driving a vehicle.

That is their only way to and from work to make money. If I could give zero stars, they deserve that.

I will never trust them to work on my vehicle again. Terrible quality, terrible service, terrible employees!

I called at 7:15 to set appointment.

Was given 12:00 same day

Left my job at 1130

Got there at 11:50

Asked politely to be given an update asap since I needed to call Uber to get back to work.

1 hour and 25 minutes later, I asked if car was complete.

Was told car had only been in the bay for maybe 15 minutes and they hadn't looked at it yet (why was i left to sit there for 11/2 hrs) and only in a chair for 45 minutes of that.

I called Uber. No one at desk for over 15 minutes to tell I'm leaving. I left.

At 4:30 I called to ask if car was done. Eric tried at me and said be left nashe and called 4 times and I didn't answer. My phone never rang. Don't know why. I have proof only one call came to my phone and it was in a voice mail message.

So car was sitting there all this time with nothing being done. I asked why... he yelled again and said he needed my approval to order a part. HE ALREADY HAD MY APPROVAL. I left the car to be fixed. It was a simple plug. 5 minutes to do. Car was a salt hazzird to drive. It felt like tires were falling off. Lights were all over my dash.

I was pissed. He told me he could move the car out and not fix it (3 times) yelling he told me he'll have to keep it overnight because I didn't call back.

That's when I yelled. Fix my car before I get there in an hour and half.

I did not like how this man held at me when he was 100% in the wrong for leaving me there and not touching my cat. *** POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE.

You need cars to come to you or you don't have a business. Why let a *** like this run away your customers?

I will not return to this store ever again and may not to any Tures Plus. I live in Ga and come there for yrs. Never again. His name was Eric. He does not need to be at that desk. He doesn't care.

He was yelling at me when I got there to get my car. At that point I was hoping it wasn't fixed when I arrived. It was however. We had heated argument standing at the desk when I was paying. He was yelling more than I was when I told him I was complaining to corporate.

One call - with message. And no code came at all for me to call. 904-415-****.

I had a really bad experience yesterday with one of your stores in Florence, KY and would like someone to email me back in regard to this issue that I'm still not happy with.

I went to the store to fix my leaking gasket seals. My husband was told it would be a few hours job. However, he was there for 6 hours only to leave and hear a real loud air sound that didn't sound right, so he returned.

After inspecting, he found out that the mechanic accidentally hit a vacuum hose with his arm while leaning into my car, which had to be re-clamped. In the same area, my husband and I also noticed a broken part that clamps down my computer unit to the car; it's now just dangling there. I can send pictures if needed.

After going back and forth with them, they basically said it's our word against theirs and sent us on our way.

I then threatened to contact corporate, and the manager refused to give me his last name, told me his manager didn't have a direct line, and wouldn't provide me with the corporate phone numbers to call.

This is the worst experience I have had with you all, and I have spent over $2000 in the last 2 weeks with you all.

The manager offered a free oil change and noted my account such that if anything happened to my car, you guys would be responsible for covering 75% of the estimate from that part being messed up. Well, I’ve thought about it all night and I'm not happy with his offer. You guys should have to cover 100% of whatever damage you do to my car when it is in your hands. In case something goes wrong, 75% is not okay with me. Even if it's a clamp or any minor part, that's what I would expect you to do.

Honestly, I'm not happy with this whole situation, nor with how I, or my husband, were spoken to by your manager. We felt like we were being called liars. I don't think I'll be returning to your store anytime soon. I don't know how to get compensated for a free oil change at another location because I don't feel comfortable with them touching my car anymore. However, in the future, I might use another spot for the oil change. But I want the last gasket job, that was done on the car, to be fully reimbursed due to all of this.

I want the last gasket job to be refunded to me due to all of these issues, and it's the only way I will be happy and return.

Please get back to me. I want this manager and mechanic to be reported as well.

It's awful to treat a customer the way they did and then to refuse to provide any contact numbers to escalate the issue. I hope others don't receive service like this.

I had my girlfriend's Jeep Cherokee sent to Tires Plus to have the rear brakes checked. The uneducated technician argued with me.

I have degrees for Ford, Chrysler, Jeep, Eagle, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover, Porsche, Ferrari, Maserati, Rolls-Royce, and Bentley. They refused to check the rear brakes because, as I talked to a technician, he said this is something way more technical than rear brakes. They did not even bother taking the rear wheels off. They set my girlfriend back out in the public with a dangerous vehicle.

The rear brakes had been checked. There was the problem. The rear brake sensors were making metal-to-metal contact with the rotors, causing the codes and the failure, putting the vehicle in failsafe mode. After calling the management of the store, I was hung up on and treated as an idiot.

This will go to the Better Business Bureau and the Chamber of Commerce. I would like something done about this store in Melbourne, Florida, which should be deemed unsafe for consumers.

Where do I start? I had an appointment at 9:00 am to check the AC.

By 12 pm, I had no call, so I called; my car had not been looked at. I hung up mad, and they called me back to tell me they would take my car to Tires Plus to fix it. They called to inform me of the price, and I okay-ed it. I was using my Affirm MasterCard to pay, and I asked three times if they accepted it.

They said yes, no problem. I asked, 'Are you sure Tires Plus accepts this card?' They called me back and said yes, absolutely. No, they don't. I'm stuck; they told me they can't accept it at Tires Plus.

I called Affirm, and they said only Firestone complete. Anyway, I had to use a credit card that I didn't want to use. Next, I checked my bill; they put remanufactured parts in my car. Something needs to be done.

I called Tires Plus, but they won't answer. If something isn't done, I'm seeking legal action.

I'm so frustrated. I'm a calm, nice person, but this kind of business is ridiculous.

I have had service there for 10+ years, relative good, fair service. I was due a free oil change on 3/14/2025.

They contend my bolt to oil pan was stripped. I know it was fine going in there with no issues. Problem is the technicians use the air gun & continue stripping the threads, instead of manual wrench. Of course the service provider always blames on last oil change service provider.

This is the 3d time I had to pay as a consumer for new oil pan & labor. My bill to release on 3/19/25 was $2,270.00 for a FREE OIL CHANGE.-US 19.. This service Mgr. named Jason was a buffoon & was only out for revenues & not the loyal customer.

I took to State of Florida & Firestone parent co. would not budge. Hence the complaint was posted by the state. This rip off artist Jason needs fired for customer negligence.

I will never use again & my friends know about the incident. Jason added insult to injury by trying to sell me a set of tires did not need. Tires Plus an ethical company would show him the door, a black eye for the company.

Retail Invoice:233050. Also not a member of Better Business Bureau- imagine that?

Tire Plus in Port Charlotte, Florida should be called Tire Minus.

Owners are Bridgestone LLC. Avoid this place.

My travel van needed a tire and the price for a replacement was decent. As, I was watching and taking pictures, the certified mechanic didn't lift the van at a proper place of the van and therefore crushed the underneath body of the van. Damages were estimated at over $900. I complaint at Bridgestone, it toke them a month to get back at me and they came with a contract that they wanted me to sign a release form and refund me the cost of the tire instead.

I told Bridgestone that it was not the tire the issue but the way the mechanic lift the van and damage the underneath. I spoke to Chet (no last name) and apparently the superviser by the name of Nick Griswald at Bridgestone who is an engineer, (lmfao), decided not to refund more than a tire cost. Staff at Tire Plus were slightly arrogant at best including the management at Bridgestone.

Your pick. Included in pictures is the contract release form and pictures.