Skip to main content

Michelle Robinovitz says that after fueling up her 2022 Volkswagen Jetta, her car’s check engine light flashed, and the vehicle started shaking.

“I got super scared. I turned around and came back to my driveway,” Robinovitz said.

A VW dealer confirmed the problem: bad gas. The mechanic even recorded a video showing water in the fuel. The dealership had to drain the gas, replace it, and clean the system. Robinovitz says she’s certain Costco was the source since that’s the only place her family buys gas. She had filled up just the day before the issues began.

Expecting the retailer to take responsibility, she went straight to Costco with proof of purchase and the mechanic’s video. But Costco denied her claim.

“For them just to dismiss me like that, I know it could not have only been me,” Robinovitz told a Channel 2 consumer investigator.

What to do if you suspect bad gas

Doug Killingsworth, head of Georgia’s Fuel and Measures division, says drivers should report bad gas immediately. His team regulates over 100,000 gas pumps across the state and can respond the same day. In 2023, the department confirmed 547 cases of contaminated or substandard fuel out of 809 complaints.

Killingsworth looked at a video of Robinovitz’s fuel sample and confirmed that just by sight, the sample would fail testing. Still, since she didn’t contact his division at the time of the fuel-related problem, proving the sample came from Costco would be difficult. He recommends drivers contact their Fuel and Measures officials right away, not days or weeks later.

Fuel and Measures can quickly shut down the gas station in question. The division can also provide official fuel sample test results that consumers can use while filing damage claims.

How water-contaminated gas damages your car

Water in fuel can cause serious issues. It dilutes gasoline, reducing engine performance and potentially leading to misfires, stalling, or long-term engine damage. If enough water enters the fuel system, it can rust components and clog fuel injectors. Mechanics often need to drain and replace the fuel, which can be costly.

For now, Robinovitz is left footing the bill, while Costco has yet to comment on the situation.

Related

5 Cringe-Worthy Truck Accessories to Avoid

Best in Tips, Tricks & Trends
Avatar photo
Editor-in-Chief

Sarah Kennedy

Sarah Kennedy is the Editor-in-Chief of MotorBiscuit. She joined the team as Managing Editor in 2021 and has more than 20 years of automotive and operations expertise. She held ASE certifications as an Automotive Service Consultant and Parts Specialist and was a licensed car salesperson for many years. Sarah often focuses on helping drivers navigate used car buying and vehicle ownership. She created “Shop Smarts,” a column for MOTOR Magazine, and was a contributor there for eight years. Her work earned her a Gold Medalist award from the American Society of Business Publication Editors in 2014 and Bronze Medalist awards from the International Automotive Media Competition in 2014 and 2015. She attended the Automotive Management Institute and earned her bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University.