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'I Didn't Sign Up To...': Mechanic Asks Why People Leave The Job. They Don't Hold Back—But Can The Industry Be Fixed?

“I just started working on cars a year ago and I’m already leaving."

Mechanic Asks Why People Leave The Job. Their ‘Breaking Points’ Are Surprising

Photo by: mechanic_tinkerbell & Zoshua Colah

Braden Bjella

By: Braden Bjella

Oct 24, at 6:00pm ET

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Every job has a moment where you wonder, “What am I still doing here?”

In some positions, that feeling is becoming more common. Gallup has found that worker engagement is in a steady decline, with only 20% of employees worldwide “engaged” at work in 2025. This is the lowest number since 2020. Worker engagement refers to the psychological attachment people have to the work, their coworkers, and management.

Other polls have equally distressing results. A Gallup analysis from March found that over half of American workers are actively looking for a new job or keeping an eye out for opportunities. Another survey from USA Today and SurveyMonkey in January, stated that around a quarter of American workers report being burned out.

Some of the reasons for burnout are similar across various industries. However, workers in some fields are facing specific problems with no solutions in sight. A prime example of this phenomenon can be found in mechanics, as a recent viral TikTok revealed.

What’s A Mechanic’s Breaking Point?

In a video with over 175,000 views, mechanic and TikTok creator Lynette (@mechanic_tinkerbell) shows herself working in an auto shop. In the overlay text, she asks a simple question: “Former mechanics who changed careers, was your breaking point that caused you to change?”

At first, many commenters made complaints that are consistent across various fields. For example, numerous workers in the auto industry and beyond report being asked to take on additional responsibilities without commensurate pay increases. Others noted that they perform work that they know brings in tens of thousands of dollars for their shop but get paid a small fraction of that for their effort.

But over time, users began sharing their own, auto-specific grievances. Here are some of the most striking examples.

Has Electrical Work Ruined The Auto Industry?

One of the top comments under Lynette’s video mentioned growing issues with electrical work.

“I just started working on cars a year ago and I’m already leaving,” reads the comment. “I can’t stand tracing wires everywhere. I signed up to turn wrenches, not reprogram computers.”

It’s true that increased electrical work has fundamentally changed auto mechanics’ jobs. The work now involves significantly more wiring and troubleshooting than before. Many mechanics feel that they are either not properly trained to perform these jobs, or that manufacturers make it considerably difficult to do the work.

A 2025 survey conducted by automotive diagnostic equipment company TOPDON found electrical issues were a major concern for mechanics.

Over 70% of survey respondents cited limited access to manufacturer diagnostic data as a major challenge. More than two-thirds reported difficulty diagnosing vehicle network communication systems, and one-third identified advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) as a “growing source of complexity.”

Many mechanics feel their training hasn’t kept pace with these changes. The 2026 ASE Training Managers Council survey found that 60% of automotive technician respondents wanted better training in electrical and electronic systems.

What Role Do Car Manufacturers Play?

Other commenters lamented how car manufacturers handle certain repairs.

“VW absolutely screwing techs on warranty work and recalls was a joke,” one said.

For context, many technicians performing warranty work do so at a flat rate. This means that, instead of receiving compensation based on the actual number of hours they put into a car, they are paid according to the number of hours the manufacturer says the repair should take.

This can result in a mechanic getting a job that is supposed to take two hours but actually takes four—then still getting paid for just two hours of work.

Improperly allocated hours are a common complaint amongst auto workers.

Can The Industry Be Fixed?

Another common complaint was how hard mechanical work is on your body. As a user put it in the comments, they quit after their doctor told them they were “falling apart at 25 years old.”

Given all of these issues, what can be done?

The good news is that many auto mechanics have ideas about how their industry could be improved. The bad news is that the industry does not seem to be taking steps to implement them.

A 2026 survey found that some of the top desires of experienced technicians were stability and support. This includes paid vacations, proper shop equipment, a retirement fund, and paid training.

As noted in the coverage by Ratchet + Wrench, 88% of respondents named higher pay as a top industry issue. When these respondents were forced to pick the single most critical fix, 71% indicated that a better pay structure could help their issues.

What do you think?

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But whether the industry will actually implement these fixes remains to be seen.

We’ve reached out to Lynette via Instagram and TikTok direct message. This post will be updated if she replies.

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