Extremely Disappointed – AAA Cost Me My CarThis was, without exaggeration, one of the worst and most costly experiences I’ve had with a roadside assistance service. My car broke down in the middle of the city, displaying a critical message: “Oil pressure low. Stop engine.” I did exactly that and called my trusted mechanic. He suspected either a bad sensor or a failed oil pump. After checking everything, we even replaced the sensor just to be safe—but the warning remained. With no other safe option, I contacted AAA for a tow.What happened next was beyond frustrating—it was dangerous.I waited 3.5 hours in over 100°F heat for a technician (Evens P.) to arrive. When he finally showed up, I explained everything in detail, including the fact that the sensor had just been replaced. Evens P. completely dismissed all of it. According to him, “these cars never break,” and it was “definitely just the sensor.” He told me I didn’t need a tow and insisted I drive the car, despite me explaining my fear of causing engine damage.To prove his point, he even called his mechanic friend, who—without ever seeing the car—backed up his claims. Under pressure, and against my better judgment, I started the engine. It ran for a couple minutes… and then died completely. The engine never started again. It was catastrophic failure—exactly what I feared.Only then did the technician admit I needed a tow—but refused to take the car, saying it needed to be emptied. In the middle of a breakdown emergency, with no nearby place to unload anything, I was told to empty the van or they wouldn’t tow it. There was nothing fragile, nothing excessive—just standard tools and items. He refused. They left me stranded.I ended up calling a different tow service, who showed up within 40 minutes and had zero issue towing the vehicle as-is.The aftermath: My mechanic confirmed the engine had been damaged from running without oil pressure. The only options were a rebuild (expensive and uncertain) or a full engine replacement (even more expensive). Now my van is totaled. All I can do is scrap it for metal.AAA’s so-called “help” was reckless, dismissive, and unprofessional. Their technician ignored warnings, overrode expert advice, and pressured me into a decision that ultimately destroyed my vehicle. I’ve since heard others describe AAA staff as lazy and unqualified—but now I’ve experienced it firsthand, and it cost me my car.I will never use AAA again. I will never recommend them. And I deeply regret ever trusting them with my emergency.
