Travis Jones had a harrowing experience after a routine oil change at Canadian Tire turned into a highway emergency due to the use of plastic zip ties to secure a critical part of his car. This incident sparked a two-year quest for answers. Immediately after leaving the Canadian Tire location in Clarenville, N.L. in May 2023, Jones noticed issues with his 2017 Honda Civic. The car started shaking violently, emitting a loud noise, and struggled to reach highway speeds. Feeling like his car was being pulled backward, Jones feared for his safety as he grappled with losing control on the highway with other vehicles nearby, including a transport truck.
Upon returning to Canadian Tire, it was discovered that several bolts were missing from the engine splash shield, a protective plate beneath the car commonly removed during oil changes. Despite Jones having a metal shield, the staff opted to use plastic zip ties to secure it instead of replacing the bolts. They failed to disclose this temporary fix initially, leading Jones to only discover it upon inquiry. This revelation left Jones astonished, as he realized he would have been unaware of the makeshift repair had he not probed further.
Canadian Tire’s head office clarified that the local dealer is responsible for operations and responded based on information provided by them. The company explained that the missing bolts were due to the shield detaching after repeated removal and replacement during regular maintenance, leading to the use of a temporary solution with zip ties since proper bolts were unavailable at the location. Jones was taken aback by this revelation and was displeased that he was not informed about the temporary nature of the fix, which he later found out the hard way when some zip ties failed at high speeds.
Auto safety experts condemned the improper repair, emphasizing the risks such actions pose to road safety. The incident raised concerns about service standards in repair shops and highlighted the importance of discerning who handles vehicle repairs. Despite months of correspondence with Canadian Tire, Jones remained dissatisfied with the resolution process, feeling physically and emotionally drained from the experience.
In conclusion, the use of zip ties for critical automotive repairs, as in Jones’s case, is highly discouraged by experts, underscoring the need for transparent communication and adherence to safety protocols in vehicle maintenance practices.