A routine oil change spiraled into a costly nightmare for a New York mother who says a simple maintenance visit left her with a destroyed engine, a stalled insurance claim, and months without a car.
Jada Gibson’s troubles began with what should have been ordinary service on her 2016 Ford Escape. On October 21, she had an oil change and additional work performed at Star and Sons Automotive. Everything seemed fine at first.
But about a month later, a warning light showed up on her dashboard.
It was the red oil light.
From Warning Light to Catastrophic Engine Failure
Given the recent service, Gibson assumed it might be something minor. She planned to return to the mechanic for a quick check. Around the same time, she was heading out of town and decided to park the vehicle and deal with the issue after her trip.
When she returned and began driving again, things quickly deteriorated. She heard clunking noises and felt that something was not right. What she did not know at the time was that her engine was being starved of oil.
According to Gibson, her mechanic later sent her a photo showing that the oil cap and oil filter were missing. In a text message, he speculated that when the oil warning light came on, the filter may have fallen off or broken, allowing the engine oil to drain out. Without lubrication, the engine suffered catastrophic failure.
The result was devastating. The engine was ruined, and Gibson’s Ford Escape has now been undriveable for more than two months.
Who Pays for the Damage?
When contacted, the owner of Star and Sons Automotive declined to comment, stating that the situation had nothing to do with him. However, he directed Gibson to his insurer, Erie Insurance Company.
That is when the dispute entered a new phase.
Weeks later, an adjuster informed Gibson that Erie would cover 70 percent of the damage. The remaining 30 percent, she was told, was her responsibility because she did not immediately stop driving the moment she heard unusual noises.
From the insurer’s perspective, the red oil light is an urgent warning.
On its website, Ford advises drivers that if the red oil pressure light comes on, they should safely pull over, shut off the engine, and not resume driving, even if oil levels appear normal. Continuing to operate the vehicle can cause severe engine damage.
Insurance representatives pointed to that guidance in explaining the partial denial.
But Gibson argues that she did not understand the severity of the warning and that she relied on her mechanic’s advice. Before leaving for her trip, she texted the shop to report that her oil light was on, the engine was knocking, and she had noticed metal shavings.
According to her, instead of instructing her to stop driving immediately, the mechanic told her she could bring the car in when she returned.
During her drive back to the garage, the engine failed completely.
Consumer Advocate Weighs In
Amy Bach, executive director of the consumer advocacy group Unite Policyholders, believes Gibson has grounds to push back.
Bach contends that comparative fault should not apply in this situation and suggests the insurer may be testing whether the policyholder will challenge the decision.
Following media inquiries, Erie Insurance Company issued a statement saying it reviewed the claim file again and confirmed that it was being handled in accordance with the applicable coverage and the facts and circumstances of the loss.
Meanwhile, Gibson is fighting on multiple fronts. She has been without her vehicle for weeks, disrupting daily life as a working mother. She has begun creating a paper trail by documenting communications and has contacted the New York State Department of Financial Services for assistance.
Ultimately, here again is another case of routine maintenance evolving into a complex dispute about mechanical responsibility, driver awareness, and insurance liability. For Gibson, the battle is about accountability and the cost of a mistake that she believes was never hers to bear.