1 /5 Maegan E.: I brought my car to Pep Boys expecting a routine brake and oil change service before a major cross-country drive. What I received instead was careless, unsafe service that created a completely avoidable and incredibly stressful situation for me and my child.
The technician installed my brake pads backwards—a mistake that led to a progressively louder and more alarming metal scraping noise as I drove. I had informed the technician that I was about to travel through the Yukon with my 5-year-old son at the beginning of May, when road conditions can be unpredictable. I emphasized my concerns, yet my vehicle was returned to me with a critical installation error.
My son and I waited for approximately three hours in a waiting area that was playing content not appropriate for children. I was willing to wait, but it was frustrating to hear the technician—who had said he would be starting on my vehicle immediately—spend a significant amount of time with another customer who arrived after me. He even stated multiple times that he wasn’t supposed to be performing the work he was doing, but was going to do it anyway. This didn’t inspire much confidence, and I became increasingly uneasy about trusting my vehicle—and our safety—to this location.
Unfortunately, my instincts were correct. The shop was closed on Sunday, and I had to continue my journey toward Alaska without the ability to return for a correction. I was on a strict travel schedule for work and couldn’t afford the delay. I didn’t know what was causing the noise and feared I’d face a costly and dangerous repair issue in a remote area.
Thankfully, Kal Tire in Williams Lake, BC was able to identify and correct the issue quickly. They treated me and my child with professionalism and care, and I only wish I had gone there in the first place. Driving with brake pads installed incorrectly is not only unsafe—it’s a serious oversight that should never happen at a professional auto service center.
I trusted Pep Boys to prepare my vehicle for a long-distance drive with a young child, and they failed to provide even the most basic standard of care. While the technician was friendly, it was clear he was stretched too thin to give my vehicle the attention it needed. Ultimately, I wish he hadn’t worked on it at all.
This was an incredibly stressful and frightening ordeal, especially as a mom traveling far from home in a place I don’t know well. I chose this shop specifically to avoid stress during travel, and I regret that decision completely. I strongly urge anyone considering this location to go elsewhere. Your safety and peace of mind are worth far more than the risk.
