A WOMAN has claimed her car felt unsafe after getting work done at a Walmart Auto Center.
The scare unfolded after she complained of a severe vibration while driving, saying it felt like her wheel was ready to come off.
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A tire shop shared the story on TikTok, posting it under the account Speedy Traction Academy (@stwdirect).
The video, filmed by a mechanic, has now racked up more than 84,000 views and over 2,600 likes.
In it, he warned drivers: “Do not go to Walmart to get your tires. Here’s why.”
The woman had reportedly gone to Walmart to have her tires serviced, but she said the problem only got worse after the visit.
According to the mechanic, she returned to him for help, worried her car wasn’t safe to drive.
He said the torque on her wheels appeared fine, so he suspected a balance issue and told her to go back to Walmart since she had already paid them.
But when she tried, Walmart allegedly turned her away.
The TikTok mechanic claimed the Auto Center staff told her they couldn’t do anything because another mechanic had touched the wheels.
That refusal left her stuck with a car that felt unstable.
The tire shop then stepped in to fix the issue themselves.
“We’re not gonna charge her one dime,” the mechanic said, explaining his team re-balanced all four wheels for free.
The video sparked debate online about Walmart Auto Care’s reputation.
Some viewers said they would never trust the retail giant with car repairs.
“I wouldn’t trust Walmart to check the air in my tires!!” one man wrote.
How to save money at the mechanic
THERE are several services offered by mechanics that drivers should never pay for, according to a car expert.
Ron Krauch, an automotive writer, warned drivers not to trust everything they hear in the shop in an exclusive conversation with The U.S. Sun.
He said it’s important for vehicle owners to recognize the difference between their car’s manufacturer’s service schedule and what mechanics are trying to sell.
Any work referred to as a “dealer recommended service” is often an attempt at upselling, Krauch warned.
One of these useless upsells is fuel injecting clearing, which removes built-up dirt and debris from a vehicle’s fuel system to improve performance.
“Modern vehicles typically have fuel systems that are designed to stay clean, especially with the use of high-quality gasoline that contains detergents to keep injectors free of deposits,” he said.
Drivers should also always say no to engine flushes, as modern vehicles don’t need any help cleaning out “sludge or deposits.”
“Most modern engines and oils are formulated to stay clean, and if you regularly change your oil on schedule, you shouldn’t need this service,” he said.
And finally, no one should spend extra getting a premium oil change.
“Shops often upsell customers to synthetic or high-performance oils – even if the vehicle’s manufacturer doesn’t require them,” Krauch said.
Another added: “Never take a vehicle to Walmart. They mess everything up.”
A third bluntly commented: “I don’t go to Walmart, period.”
Others backed smaller shops, saying independent mechanics offered better service and communication.
But not everyone agreed Walmart was a lost cause.
“I never had a problem with Walmart tires in 25 years,” one user wrote. “I’m still going back.”
Another said: “Been going to Walmart for years. Never had an issue.”
“Not every Walmart is the same,” a third argued. “I have 30 years [of] experience and Walmart pays the most.”
One user even claimed to be a Walmart tech, saying: “I 1000% believe the manager probably did say that. Walmart doesn’t train at all; they just give you powerpoints.”
Others chimed in with long-term positive experiences, saying they’d run Walmart tires for years with no problems.
