“I’m not paying $38,000 for your screw up, Audi.”
A man claims that a quick visit to an Audi dealership spiraled into him being told he needed almost $40,000 in repairs.
Nick Komodina (@nickkomodina_official) jumps right into what he calls “the craziest car story ever.”
He says he initially took his car in because a “weird light” kept popping up. According to him, Audi later told him the light pointed to a simple “hose leak,” something they could fix quickly, and that his car would be ready for pickup soon.
But when Komodina called the dealership to see if he could swing by to pick it up, everything changed. As of this writing, his video walking through what happened next has racked up around 5,000 views.
Once he asked about picking up the car, Komodina said someone at Audi asked if he had “time for a call.” That’s when he says an Audi technician or salesperson told him they drove his car back from the dealership, and another warning light came on—this time saying the “head gasket had ruptured.”
Komodina says Audi then tried to pin the damage on him, claiming he had been “driving the car overheated for 50 miles.” He pushed back immediately, saying the route from his gym, where he purportedly discovered the issue, to the dealership was only 12 miles.
“Those 38 miles didn’t come from me, so they must have come from you guys,” Komodina says.
Then, he says a different technician accused him of driving with an overheating engine for 22 miles.
“I haven’t had the car, so I didn’t drive it,” he insists.
He explains he would’ve never driven the vehicle to the dealership if he’d known the engine had bigger issues, and he questioned why Audi didn’t suggest a tow in the first place. Komodina says it made no sense that the car was fine one day and then supposedly needed an entirely new engine the next.
And that engine, he says, was quoted at $38,000. “I ain’t doing that,” he says. “I’m getting a new car.”
Komodina says he planned to call his lawyers, Audi looped in managers, and he made it clear: “I’m not paying $38,000 for your screw up, Audi.”
In the end, he didn’t have to. He says Audi agreed to order a new engine for him, presumably free of charge. That move, he says, showed enough “integrity” to keep him loyal.
“They just made me an even bigger Audi fan,” he says. “I am officially a no. 1 Audi supporter.”
When a dealership tries to pin a car problem on you, the first thing to do is slow down and start collecting proof. Keep every service order, text, voicemail, and photo of the car so you have a clear paper trail. The more you can show what happened before and after you handed over the keys, the harder it is for anyone to rewrite the story.
From there, take it up the chain. CarEdge recommends asking for the service manager or general manager and walk them through what you’ve documented. If something still feels off, get an independent mechanic to take a look so you’re not relying on the dealer’s word alone.
If you think they’re shifting blame or weren’t honest about the car’s condition, you have other options. According to Real Car Tips, you can file a complaint with your state attorney general or leave negative reviews. You may also want to consult a consumer rights lawyer if the issue looks like fraud.
People who watched Komodina’s clip—even with its happy ending—said they couldn’t get over the eye-watering quote he received for a new engine.
“38!!! BANDS!!!! Excuseeeee meeee!!!! Omg,” one woman commented.
“That’s semi truck engine prices,” another quipped.
Several viewers said the sticker shock is precisely why they avoid Audi ownership altogether.
“Audi maintenance will bury most people,” one commenter said.
“I got rid of my Audi,” said another. “Maintenance was ridiculous.”
“One reason I would never have another German car,” added a third.
Others urged him to scrap the whole situation and move on to another vehicle, echoing Komodina’s initial plan.
“Enjoy your new car,” one woman said. “Can’t wait to see what you get.”
“So did you get a new car then?” another asked.
“Is it gonna be a Benz?” asked a third.
But in the end, Komodina didn’t have to replace the car at all—and left the ordeal even more devoted to Audi than before.
Motor1 has reached out to Komodina via TikTok direct message and to Audi over email. We’ll update this if either responds.
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