The Jefferson City Hy-Vee store is reimbursing some customers' vehicle repair costs after they purchased fuel with water in it over the weekend.
Fuel samples tested by the Missouri Department of Agriculture's Weights, Measures and Consumer Protection Division, which was notified of a complaint made Monday regarding fuel quality at the 3723 W. Truman Blvd. Hy-Vee Gas station, confirmed that the fuel in affected customers' vehicles was regular unleaded gasoline containing water, said Misti Preston, MDA director of strategic initiatives, in an email.
All impacted customers who have contacted Hy-Vee about the water-contaminated fuel appear to have filled their tanks around 10 a.m. Sunday, said Tara Deering-Hansen, Hy-Vee group vice president for communications, in an email.
"We were first notified Monday afternoon that a customer experienced vehicle problems shortly after purchasing fuel from our Jefferson City location. Over the past 24 hours, we have received a handful of similar complaints and have been working closely with the Missouri Department of Agriculture's Weights, Measures and Consumer Protection Division to resolve this issue.
"We immediately disabled the fuel tank once we were made aware of the problem."
The local Hy-Vee Gas station continues to sell mid-grade unleaded, premium unleaded and diesel fuel while the company's internal compliance team investigates the water levels in the unleaded fuel storage tank and how the water may have entered, Deering-Hansen said.
Jefferson City resident Beth Scott was one of the affected customers who fueled up at Hy-Vee Gas on Sunday morning, around 10:30 a.m. She realized there was a problem once she was about 40 miles away from home - at the Lake of the Ozarks visiting family.
"My car started acting up on the way there. It ended up breaking down," Scott said. "The check engine light was on. It would start up, and when I would put it in drive it would die."
Fortunately, Scott is a AAA member and was able to have her car towed back to Jefferson City, where she took it to an auto repair shop. The mechanic there guessed the fuel in her tank might be E85, but could not perform a lab test on site.
She informed Hy-Vee staff of the problem on Monday, and Tuesday morning the store's manager called to tell her the store would reimburse her $447 bill for vehicle repairs and the cost of the fuel she purchased.
"Within two days they had the cost covered and I had my car back," Scott said.
Kim Friend also purchased fuel at Hy-Vee Gas around 10:20 a.m. Sunday after leaving work.
"I filled my tank up and then started to head home to California. About 5 miles from Jeff my car started to jerk. I thought it was cruise control at first, so I took it off. Then my car would not keep its speed or accelerate and started to slow down," Friend said. "I was thinking maybe a sensor was bad in my car or maybe a spark plug. I never even thought about the gas because I bought gas there every two weeks."
Friend, too, was impressed with the local store's quick response. The district manager called Tuesday to say Hy-Vee would reimburse her repair costs, and the store's corporate office has offered to pay $20 toward rental for every day she is without her vehicle.
"I am extremely grateful for their hospitality and kindness. They were very effective and got this resolved quickly," she said.
"I will definitely go back and fuel there again. It can happen to any gas station, and that shouldn't be a reason to just up and leave a business."
Hy-Vee is encouraging customers who have experienced vehicle problems after purchasing fuel from the local Hy-Vee Gas on Sunday to call the store at 573-893-2505 and speak with Store Director Rod Dolph to verify proof of purchase and handle claims.