A Ford Mustang owner in Tennessee says their vehicle was crushed at a scrapyard after a dispute over repair payments, even though the owner arranged to have it towed to another shop.
The owner shared their experience in a post on the r/legaladvice subreddit, explaining that they had paid roughly $1,380 toward towing, parts, and repairs before the situation escalated. Then, before it could be towed, a mechanic told the owner their Mustang had been crushed at a scrapyard.
According to the post, the Mustang initially had sustained mechanical problems and was towed for repairs. The owner said they worked with someone who coordinated the work and were told the vehicle needed several repairs, including a starter, battery, tune-up, and work on the key and anti-theft system.
Repairs on the vehicle were repeatedly delayed, and the owner was eventually told the vehicle still would not start because of an electrical problem the shop reportedly could not handle.
Owner Says They Arranged To Have It Towed
Repair shop sent my Mustang to a scrapyard while I was trying to retrieve it, and now they’re saying it was crushed. What do I do?
by
u/Ok_Cloud5414 in
legaladvice
On Oct. 1, the owner said they visited the repair shop where the Mustang was being kept with a friend and took pictures, but no pictures were provided.
The owner said the shop wanted additional payment for a battery, starter, and programmed key. They then question the charges because they had already paid $1,380 toward the initial repairs through the person who originally coordinated the work.
According to the post, the shop warned the owner that the Mustang needed to be removed and sent to a junkyard if the additional payments were not made. However, they emphasized that nobody told them the vehicle would actually be crushed or sold for scrap metal.
On Oct. 2, the owner paid $138 for a tow truck to take the Mustang from the repair shop to a Firestone location. They messaged the mechanic about arranging the towing and tried to resolve the payment dispute.
“Ok payment has to be paid before the Mustang leaves the lot,” the mechanic reportedly said.
The owner said they received notifications indicating the towing had been completed. However, on Oct. 5, they contacted Firestone, and they told the owner the shop never received the Mustang.
It Was Apparently Crushed
According to the post, the owner contacted the towing provider, and they said its driver arrived at the repair shop but was told the Mustang had already been towed away.
The owner then began messaging the mechanic, asking which junkyard had received the vehicle. But the mechanic said the vehicle was smashed at the scrapyard that morning. This was apparently the first time the owner had been told the Mustang would be crushed.
“It’s gone on an 18-wheeler,” the mechanic told the owner when asking for more information.
The owner requested the scrapyard’s name and address along with the identity of whoever authorized the crushing.
“It’s nothing that can be done, bro. Car is gone. God bless,” the mechanic responded.
Owner Seeks Answers
The owner said they had preserved photographs of the Mustang at the repair shop, payment records, towing documentation, and screenshots of conversations showing their attempts to retrieve the vehicle.
They also said they had the Mustang’s VIN, title, and registration information. In an update to the post, the owner said they were finally able to submit a police report.
In the comments of the Reddit post, some users suggested the incident could lead to theft by conversion. Others questioned the possibility of the vehicle actually being crushed, suggesting it might have been removed and sold intact.
The owner acknowledged that there was a dispute over money owed for repairs but questioned whether it justified removing the Mustang and destroying it. No other updates have been made to the post, and the outcome remains unconfirmed.