After Having My Car For 3 Months, The Mechanic Informed Me That He Crashed My Car This Morning

Location: Indiana

To keep this as concise as possible, attached is the demand for resolution before litigation I sent to him on 11/28/2025.

PRE-SUIT NOTICE / DEMAND FOR RESOLUTION
Date: November 28, 2025

From:

To:

Dear Mr.,

This letter serves as formal notice and demand for resolution prior to the initiation of civil litigation.

On September 3, 2025, I delivered my 2012 Mazda Speed3 to you for diagnosis and repair. With assistance from my extended warranty company, I paid $1,200, and the warranty contributed an additional $1,000, for a total of $2,200 for the initial repair. You advised that the estimated repair time would be approximately two weeks.

Despite that representation, I did not receive any update until September 26, 2025, at which point I was informed that parts had only then been ordered. At this time, I also paid an additional $1,200 for a clutch and flywheel replacement to be performed concurrently.

On October 12, 2025, you informed me that your original diagnosis was incorrect and that the installed parts did not resolve the issue. You stated an additional $1,000 would now be required and that the vehicle would be completed by October 16, 2025.

Thereafter, I received a series of shifting completion dates — November 11–12, then November 23, then November 26 — none of which were met. As of the date of this notice, I still have not received my vehicle, nor have the promised repairs been completed.

As of November 28, 2025, you have had possession of my vehicle for nearly three months, and have repeatedly failed to meet stated deadlines. You have not provided competent or timely repair services despite receiving $3,200 from me directly, in addition to the $1,000 paid by my warranty company.

Demand

You are hereby given until Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at 10:00 AM, to do one of the following:

Return my vehicle immediately and issue a full refund of the $3,200 paid, OR

Complete all repairs as described in our communications and return the vehicle in proper working order.

If you fail to satisfy one of the above requirements within the stated timeframe, I will pursue all available legal remedies without further notice. This includes, but is not limited to, filing a civil action seeking damages, attorney’s fees where applicable, and any additional relief permitted under state law.

This letter is sent in good faith in an effort to resolve this matter without litigation; however, the continued delay and lack of completion leaves no room for further extensions.

Sincerely,

Long story short, I went to this mechanic for a diagnosis and repairs. Was told originally that it would be 2 weeks. That was on September 3rd 2025. Since that day the due date has changed at least 5 times, no communication, asked for more money for other repairs, etc. I'm $3200 deep out of my own pocket, plus $1000 from my warranty company.

After sending the demand for resolution he claimed the vehicle would be ready for pickup on Tuesday, December 2nd. He neglected to contact me yesterday stating the vehicle was finished, I gave him until 3PM before I reached out and asked when I could pick it up to which he responded that now because it's late it would have to be tomorrow.

Today, I wake up to 2 phone calls which I refused to answer because I obviously cannot trust him and need to keep physical texts as evidence of his negligence. He proceeds to inform me that during the test drive he attempted this morning he "hit something in the road, destroying the front bumper and punching a hole in the oil pan". He also informs me that his mother damaged my door (???).

My question is - what do I do from here? I desperately need my car back, I definitely do not want it to remain in his shop or him to repair what was broken during the test drive. The car is insured, I can get it towed. I have other mechanics and body shop options to complete the repairs that are needed due to the instance of the crash.

On top of all this, I've lost wages, literally haven't been able to leave my home outside of borrowing other vehicles or asking for rides. And then sentimentally I care deeply about my vehicles and he was aware I needed this vehicle back to raise the suspension up for winter (it shouldn't be driven during winter at the ride height I left it with him, but given the initial 2-week estimated repair time I wasn't worried about it).

Any and all advice/info is much appreciated!