Pregnant and Stranded: Kasey's Journey

On May 1st, Kasey and William Pankow (and their unborn son) were leaving Fargo, ND, on their way to start their new lives in Washington state. Being an almost 1,500-mile journey, Kasey brought their car into Jiffy Lube on 10th Street North for a routine oil change.

Jiffy Lube's technicians forgot to put in oil after draining and cleaning the system. They also failed to install the air filter correctly and to reattach the skid plate. Kasey made it one literal minute into this cross-country drive when the car completely died.

One of the technicians came to help us, and she tried whatever she could. After adding oil we bought ourselves, trying to jump the car, and a copper hot wire attempt, we were still unable to get the car to turn over.

We were also unable to get in contact with Chad Nissen, manager, due to his phone breaking some point Thursday evening.

After over five hours on the side of University, in the dark and the rain, the car was pulled to the Jiffy Lube parking lot at 11:30pm.

Chad Nissen was at Jiffy Lube at that time. The technician had him look at the car, but being it was so late Kasey requested we lock it up safely and try again the next morning. Chad agreed to meet the Pankows at 8:00am when Jiffy Lube opened.

The Pankows were at the shop at 8AM, where they learned the man responsible for forgetting the oil had to unpack all of their belongings onto the shop floor in order to locate a specific electronics panel... that is not located in a 2015 Ford Escape. The ECU must be reset digitally. After literally handing pieces, clips, fuses, and carpet dashboard backing to mechanics, they eventually got the car put back into mostly one piece.

Chad Nissen did not come into Jiffy Lube until 11:20am Friday morning, allegedly due to his truck's alternator breaking that morning. Employees had no communication from or with Chad about him running late.

Shortly after Chad began looking at the car, he determined Kasey's gas tank was "20% water" and blamed the Loaf N' Jug for any potential damage. Kasey asked them to test the gasoline from the supply line manually so the Pankows could have record of the water levels. Chad refused, making racist remarks about "[...] Ever since those Haitians bought it, they're really bad. They water down the gas because they're cheap. Holidays are bad for it, too."

Kasey went to the same gas station, same pump, and was able to get a sample of gasoline to be tested by trusted, respectable mechanics at Firestone.

Zero percent water.

Now, six full days later (as of writing this on May 7th), Kasey's vehicle has sustained too much damage to make the journey at all. The spark plugs have been replaced twice; new battery, new starter, flooded engine to the point we had to drain all fuel from the car. We still have no idea the extent of the engine damage, as the car has been too dead to connect a code reader for further diagnostics.

Jiffy Lube #25 has been skirting any and all responsibility to care for their customers after a mistake this life-shattering.

Kasey has not been provided with a rental car, a hotel, any food or accommodations -- outside of sharing the Pizza Patrol ordered by Jiffy Lube techs on Friday.

At 20 weeks pregnant, the Pankows have had to use their moving funds to stay in Fargo. Kasey was supposed to meet with a doctor to have their ultrasound, checking on baby. William had to leave his spouse on Tuesday May 6th, making the almost 1,500-mile trek alone to start his new job on May 9th.

We are now homeless, stuck, and scared, with no answers in sight. And we want to warn everyone about how Chad Nissen runs that shop. You will not be taken care of. You will be given empty promises and stranded.

We're not asking for others to cover what Jiffy Lube is responsible for. But we are still trying to get Kasey and Baby to Washington, and anything helps.

Thank you all.