The One Way Diesel lawsuit update as of the most recent reporting: the Nacogdoches County, Texas custom truck shop’s owners were arrested on March 28, 2026 on a first-degree felony charge of theft of property valued at $300,000 or more, and the civil suit brought by FASS Diesel Solutions owner Brad Ekstam survived the shop’s dismissal attempt when the Texas Court of Appeals in Tyler ruled on November 12, 2025.1Yahoo News. The Fall of One Way Diesel, Texas2vLex. Ekstam v. Wells Both matters remain open.
Criminal Charges Against the Owners
On March 28, 2026, the owners of One Way Diesel Performance were arrested in Nacogdoches County, according to a booking summary from the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office.3AOL. The Fall of One Way Diesel, Texas The charge is theft of property valued at $300,000 or more, a first-degree felony under Texas law.1Yahoo News. The Fall of One Way Diesel, Texas The shop is run by Tommy Wells as CEO, with his sons Chase Wells as owner and Clay Wells as shop manager.4KETK. East Texas Family Owned Custom Auto Shop Starring in New Show
Investigators framed the case as a “coordinated pattern of property loss” rather than a collection of isolated customer disputes, citing missing vehicle components, unfinished work, and vehicles that were never returned. The $300,000 figure reflects the aggregate alleged losses; the full scope of the investigation has not been publicly detailed.1Yahoo News. The Fall of One Way Diesel, Texas Prosecutors are expected to face lengthy proceedings in which they will need to demonstrate intent and trace the movement of property or funds.3AOL. The Fall of One Way Diesel, Texas
No conviction has been entered. The owners have not been publicly reported to have entered a plea or issued any statement, and Chase Wells and the shop have not responded to media requests for comment across the entire dispute.5Jalopnik. Diesel Shop With MotorTrend TV Show Has Customers Angry
The Ekstam Civil Lawsuit and the November 2025 Appeal
The primary civil case is Ekstam v. Wells, filed in Texas by Brad Ekstam against Chase Wells and One Way Diesel Performance. Ekstam, who owns FASS Diesel Solutions, paid $70,000 for a six-door Ford F-450 Platinum Super Duty build featured on season two of Texas Metal: Loud and Lifted and says the work came back with a seatbelt that fell off while driving, a door that would not open, stuck windows, mismatched interior components, sheet metal screws holding body panels, weak frame welds, and new parts swapped for used ones.6The Drive. Angry Clients Are Going to War With Famed Texas Diesel Shop to Put Them Out of Business5Jalopnik. Diesel Shop With MotorTrend TV Show Has Customers Angry
The Wells side moved to dismiss under the Texas Citizens’ Participation Act, the state’s anti-SLAPP statute. After the trial court in the 145th Judicial District Court of Nacogdoches County ruled on that motion, the case moved to the Texas Court of Appeals, Twelfth District in Tyler, under docket number 12-25-00071-CV.2vLex. Ekstam v. Wells
On November 12, 2025, the appeals court issued a memorandum opinion that affirmed part of the trial court’s order, reversed and rendered part of it, and remanded part of the case for further proceedings. The court also withdrew an earlier opinion from October 2025 and overruled the appellant’s motion for rehearing.2vLex. Ekstam v. Wells In practical terms, the lawsuit survived the dismissal attempt in significant part and is back in the trial court.
What the Underlying Allegations Are
The Ekstam case sits within a broader body of customer complaints against the shop. Accounts collected on a consumer-warning website set up by Ekstam describe recurring themes: charges for services never performed, removal of valuable components such as injectors and turbochargers from customer vehicles, and vehicles held for months or years in what customers called “bone yards.” Some customers alleged more serious conduct, including VIN plate switching and odometer rollbacks. Several suppliers said they provided parts or equipment in exchange for promotional work that never materialized, and were never paid.7Beware of 1 Way Diesel Performance. Other Testimonials
One example detailed in reporting: Diego Singleton signed a quote for an $85,000 rebuild of a 1979 Ford F-250 and paid a $51,000 deposit; five months later he says he found the truck sitting in the same parking space, untouched and covered in cobwebs, and when he tried to retrieve it he was told his deposit was non-refundable and the vehicle had to be towed away because it would not start.6The Drive. Angry Clients Are Going to War With Famed Texas Diesel Shop to Put Them Out of Business Singleton had not filed a separate lawsuit as of the last reporting.8Yahoo Autos. Angry Clients Going to War With Famed Texas Diesel Shop
Where the Shop Stands Now
One Way Diesel Performance has not been officially reported as closed, and no revocation of its business license has been reported.8Yahoo Autos. Angry Clients Going to War With Famed Texas Diesel Shop The criminal case is in its early stages following the March 2026 arrests, the Ekstam civil suit is back before the trial court after the November 2025 appellate ruling, and additional customers who reported losses have not had their disputes resolved through the courts.2vLex. Ekstam v. Wells