Towing Issues: Tow Hooks, mazda tributes, ford escapes

Question
I recently took my 2003 Mazda Tribute to a tire place to have two new front tires put on the vehicle.  They put the new tires on the back and the tires from the back on the front.  I drove straight home (~10 miles) and the car sat in the driveway for the remainder of the afternoon.  When my husband got home, he saw fluid leaking from the car and upon inspection, saw that the transmission case was dented and cracked.  When I called the tire place, they immediately said they didn't do it because they jacked it up by the shocks and the manager said that the shocks are no where near the transmission case.  When I told him that actually, it is right next to it, he agreed to come look at the vehicle.  When he first looked at it, he said the seal was broken on the transmission case.  I then said that's not true because you can see the dent and the crack where the fluid was leaking from.  He looked some more and then told me that they could not have done this because they always jack up Mazda Tributes and Ford Escapes by the TOW HOOKS!  He said they tie it down and jack it up from there.  I called Mazda and they said that is not a jack point and would not be appropriate to jack my car up from there.  QUESTION:  Has anyone ever heard of a car being jacked up by the tow hooks to change tires?  

Thanks!

Sammi

Answer
Although outside my field of expertise, I would not lift a vehicle by the tow hooks unless I am just trying to take SOME of the weight off the suspension.  The way he says that they tie it down makes it seem like they're using a frame hoist which wouldn't be able to lift from either the transmission or the tow hooks.  It's very easy to lift the vehicle from the transmission pan if you don't know what you're looking at (a new employee for instance).  

I may suspect the tire shop, but it is very difficult to prove.  If you have someone else driving the car, I would be just as suspicious that they may have driven over a curb.

Also, a good tire shop will give at least a quick visual check of the car for leaks and things so that they are not blamed for damage they didn't cause and so that they may fix it for you or refer you to their mechanic.  

Good luck,
Shayne Peterson
MobileHitch
http://www.MobileHitch.ca

p.s.  Please note that this is not legal advise for recourse against the tire shop, nor is it testimony of any kind as I have not so much as seen the vehicle.  This is merely, 'generaly speaking; from PAST experience'