When a “Simple Repair” Turns Dangerous
When a “Simple Repair” Turns Dangerous
By F’nMike F’nAround Media
You expect a warning light. Maybe a weird noise.
You don’t expect your wheel to come off while you’re driving.
I brought my car to Halsted Auto Repair for what should’ve been routine work: replacing the front driver-side shock. I picked it up, drove normally for a few days, about 100 miles total, and noticed a new knocking sound and vibration.
Then it happened.
The front wheel detached while I was driving.
I was lucky. I got the car stopped safely. The people around me were lucky too.
What I found afterward was alarming:
• The wheel had no lug nuts attached
• Three lug nuts were lying in the roadway
• One wheel stud was completely missing
I went back to the shop expecting concern. Instead, I got denial.
I was told the car was “fine when it left.” They drove it briefly around the block and said it felt okay. I was also told the missing bolt must’ve been that way before, despite the break looking clean and fresh, not old or corroded.
Then came my favorite explanation:
Apparently, someone must’ve stolen the lug nuts after the car left.
Is there a roaming ring of lug-nut thieves in Chicago I’m unaware of?
Is this a new black-market hustle?
Do they fetch a pretty penny?
Oh wait… they discontinued the penny.
Here’s the thing:
Wheels don’t come off by coincidence.
Lug nuts and bolts don’t vanish on their own.
This isn’t about anger. It’s about accountability and safety. A mistake like this doesn’t just put a customer at risk, it puts everyone on the road at risk.
If you’ve recently had suspension, brake, or wheel-related work done:
• Check your lug nuts
• Pay attention to new noises or vibrations
• Trust your instincts when something feels off
I’m pursuing an independent inspection and formal review. Not for revenge, but because this shouldn’t happen to anyone else.
This is what F’nAround is about, not just spotting corruption, but living through it, reporting it, and stopping someone else from getting hurt.
As a customer review?
Halsted Auto Repair located at 1014 n Halsted in chicago and gets 0 out of 10 fucks given.
