A Tennessee Ford Mustang owner claims a repair shop sent his car to a scrapyard during a dispute over approximately $700 in additional charges. The mechanic later reportedly told him the vehicle had been crushed, though no one has independently confirmed it was destroyed.
The owner described the ordeal in an October 5 Reddit post, explaining that he had already paid approximately $1,380 for towing, parts, labor, and repairs on his 2000 Ford Mustang.
What began as a mechanical repair stretched from late July into September. The Mustang reportedly needed a starter, battery, tune-up, and anti-theft system work. Even after those repairs, the car still wouldn’t start because of an electrical problem the shop said it couldn’t fix.
The situation escalated when the owner attempted to retrieve the Mustang and discovered that the mechanic holding it wanted another $700. Within days, the mechanic was claiming the vehicle had been destroyed.
A Disputed Repair Bill
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
According to the owner, the person who originally coordinated the towing and repairs was different from the mechanic who eventually had possession of the Mustang.
On October 1, the owner visited the repair location with a friend, photographed the vehicle, and learned that the mechanic wanted additional payment for a starter, battery, and programmed key.
The shop warned that the car needed to be removed and could be sent to a junkyard if the bill remained unpaid. However, the owner maintains that nobody provided a scrapyard location, a destruction deadline, or notice that the Mustang would be crushed.
On October 2, he paid another $138 to arrange transportation to a Firestone repair location. The mechanic had already warned that the car could not leave without payment.
The towing provider subsequently marked the service complete. Because the owner was working when the pickup was scheduled, he assumed the Mustang had reached Firestone.
The Mustang Disappears
On October 5, the owner contacted Firestone and discovered the vehicle had never arrived.
The towing provider reportedly explained that its driver reached the repair shop but was told another company had already removed the Mustang.
When the owner contacted the mechanic, he received a disturbing response: “Said it got smashed this morning at the scrap yard.”
The mechanic subsequently claimed the crushed vehicle had been loaded onto an 18-wheeler for transport to a metal-processing company.
After the owner requested the scrapyard’s address and the identity of whoever authorized the destruction, the mechanic allegedly replied, “It’s nothing that can be done bro car is gone God bless.”
The owner says he still does not know where the Mustang was taken or whether it was actually destroyed.
What Tennessee Law Says
Under Tennessee Code § 66-19-103, qualifying repair facilities can retain possession of vehicles to secure reasonable unpaid charges. However, enforcing such a lien through a sale requires compliance with statutory procedures, including applicable waiting periods and notice requirements.
The state’s consumer protection requirements for automotive repairs also address estimates and authorization for additional work.
It remains unknown whether the shop complied with those requirements. The owner’s account does not establish when any lien arose, whether the disputed charges were authorized, or who arranged the Mustang’s removal.
In an update to the Reddit post, the owner said he had successfully submitted a police report.
He also said he retained payment receipts, towing records, photographs, messages, and vehicle ownership documents. No independent confirmation of the Mustang’s destruction or the shop’s version of events was available.