Complaint Review: Wal-Mart Automotive Service Marshfield Wisconsin

On 6/12/2012, Wal-Mart in Marshfield rotated my tires on my 1990 Chevrolet C1500. And, unbeknownst to me, may not have used a proper "torque stick" after jamming my lug nuts onto my rims with an air tool! They may have employed a hand torque wrench that would register that at least 140ft.lbs. was applied, not less.

I have been told by several ASE mechanics that air tools should not be used for this purpose. I later learn, after the incident, that Chilton's Auto Manual states "105 ft. lbs." for a vehicle of my year and type. They listed "140ft.lbs." on the service order.

After my son checks the tires and tells me they are really tight, I think "tight is good." He did not tell me until tonight that he checked the tightness of all of them with a car lug wrench (just checking for tightness), but told me (just after bill connor (william.connor@cmiw.com) denied our claim a week ago) that he (my son) had bent a BUS lug wrench trying to loosen the front tire lug nuts!
 
Bill denied our claim because somehow it did not matter if Wal-Mart had overtightened and stretched the lug bolts initially. What mattered is that "Your son touched the bolts. That relieves our liability."

We could have died. The whole family has PTSD from this! Only 250 miles or less into the trip, the BACK tire came off.  (Not the one my son had tried to loosen!) Damages were substantial.

Thank you for hearing me.