Woman Brings Her Car to the Shop a Day After Getting New Tires. The Mechanic Can’t Believe What He Finds Under the Car

“That car is dangerous for the road."

Photo by: sparkscarcare & Roshan Mohammed

Alexandra Samuels

By: Alexandra Samuels

Sep 8, 2025 at 1:00pm ET

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A mechanic is going viral for exposing what he sees as a lack of honesty in the auto repair world.

Sparks (@sparkscarcare) filmed a TikTok while working on a woman’s car that had received new tires at another shop one day prior. When he looked underneath, he discovered multiple serious issues the previous shop purportedly didn’t disclose to the customer.

In the video, he critiques “tire shops and oil places” that focus on quick profits rather than keeping drivers safe. He argues that mandatory inspections and stricter certifications could help prevent unsafe vehicles from slipping through the cracks.

“Why aren’t mandatory vehicle inspections a thing?” reads the text overlay on his clip. As of this writing, the video has garnered over 581,600 views.

What Happened?

Sparks walks viewers through the woman’s car, highlighting problems that make it nearly undrivable. He points out that her “tie rod is falling off” and “her ball joints are loose,” among other issues, none of which were reportedly disclosed by the shop that installed her new tires.

“This just really frustrated me,” Sparks says. “If [customers] don’t care, that’s fine. But at least they know.” He emphasizes that honesty enables customers to make informed decisions about whether to repair or replace their products.

He also criticizes the tire shop for not recommending an alignment or checking suspension and steering components, which are crucial for safe driving.

“I know most people think that working on cars is pretty simple,” he says. “That’s not the case, guys. I really take pride in my job, and safety is our No. 1 priority around here.”

He closes with a message to other mechanics: “Come on, guys. Just do a better job.” He also reiterates the need for more certifications, suggesting that some workers don’t know better.

Are Vehicle Inspections Still A Thing?

Vehicle inspections aren’t mandatory nationwide. Whether your car gets checked for safety or emissions depends entirely on the state where it’s registered, and the rules vary a lot. Only 14 states still require regular safety inspections, others only emissions tests to meet federal clean air standards, and a handful do both. Plenty of states have dropped the requirement altogether.

Even in places that once had strict rules, things are shifting. Texas, for example, got rid of its annual safety inspection for most vehicles in 2025, though emissions tests are still required in certain counties. Other states, like Maryland, require a safety inspection when a car is sold or the title changes hands.

If you live in a state with no mandatory inspections, that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook entirely. Law enforcement can still pull you over if your car looks unsafe, though how strictly that’s enforced depends on the officer.

The bottom line is that there’s no single standard across the U.S., which is why some mechanics, like Sparks, are calling for more oversight. Without regular inspections, it’s easier for dangerous problems to go unnoticed—at least until someone like him crawls under the car and points them out.

The most recognized license you need to work as a mechanic is from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), which tests and verifies a mechanic’s skills. Many shops require ASE certification before they’ll even consider hiring someone.

Beyond ASE, some mechanics earn manufacturer-specific credentials or specialized licenses, such as the Environmental Protection Agency Section 609 certification.

Who’s Really at Fault?

Commenters who watched @sparkscarcare’s video were split. Some defended mechanics, saying customers often ignore warnings or assume they’re being upsold.

“Have a feeling they told her and she said, ‘No thank you, don’t try to sell me what I didn’t ask for,’” one wrote.

“Customers would accuse shops of unnecessary repairs,” another claimed.

“Customer would’ve declined everything anyway,” added a third.

Others were shocked that the car was even drivable.

“That car is dangerous for the road,” one said.

“In most of Europe, this car would not be legally allowed on the street,” another chimed in.

And some pointed out that even when customers are told about their car’s problems, many can’t afford to fix it.

“Car repairs are just getting out of hand now,” one man wrote. “It seems like almost all repairs needed are over $1K to get fixed, which is crazy. People living paycheck to paycheck can’t afford to just suddenly drop a few thousand to properly fix their cars.”

What do you think?

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“More of the time, we can’t afford to fix it,” another echoed. “Go in for tires or an oil change, expect to pay $40 or $100, then they come out and say you need this, this, this, and it’s $2k.”

Motor1 has reached out to Sparks via a TikTok direct message. We’ll update this if he responds.