BATON ROUGE - A roofing business has been without a vital company vehicle for nearly a year and a half after repairs on its Ford F-250 stalled at a local mechanic shop.

The truck, which plays an essential role in the company's operations, has remained untouched, gathering dust and cobwebs, despite repeated promises of a quick fix.

Naomi Salas says the ordeal began in June 2025 when the truck started giving them engine trouble. She brought it to VIP Auto Repair, where the mechanic initially promised to complete repairs in just two weeks, provided she paid a $5,000 down payment.

Salas complied, but the car was not fixed by the promised date. More time went by. Then, the shop abruptly closed and relocated across town without informing her.

It took the intervention of a sheriff's deputy for Salas to locate her missing vehicle, which she eventually found at a new shop, operating as Euro Cars of Baton Rouge on Florida Boulevard.

Despite its new location, the truck remained untouched for almost a year and has since suffered additional damage, including a hole in the tailgate and a broken light. 

"Clearly nothing's been done except damage," said Salas.

Repeat attempts to get their truck back have failed. Salas has had the same story at least a dozen times.

"That it'll be ready in a couple of weeks or a month; I just don't have the part yet," she said.

Repeat attempts to contact the shop's owner failed, and 2 On Your Side was unable to obtain any clear answers or updates about the vehicle's status.

So far, Salas has paid half of the $10,000 estimated repair cost, but her truck remains immobile and unusable. As she continues to seek a resolution, she hopes her experience will serve as a warning to others.