Advance Auto Parts

Advance Auto Parts & Asbestos Exposure

Founded in 1929 by the creators of Pep Boys, Advance Stores (later Advance Auto Parts) was acquired by Arthur Taubman in 1932 and remained a family-owned business until 1998. In its early years, the company sold a broad range of household goods alongside auto parts and offered in-store installation for many third-party products.

Advance shifted its focus exclusively to automotive parts in 1974, rebranding as Advance Auto, and later adopting the name Advance Auto Parts in 1985. Unfortunately, throughout much of the 20th century, many of the automotive products it stocked contained asbestos, including widely used parts from major brands like Ford, GM, and Ferodo.

Asbestos was commonly added to automotive components for its durability, nonconductivity, and resistance to heat and fire. Although Advance Auto Parts did not manufacture these products, it continued selling asbestos-contaminated parts into the 1990s, putting employees, customers, and their families at risk of exposure to a known carcinogen.

Today, Advance Auto Parts remains a thriving company. In its third-quarter 2025 financial report, the company announced more than $3 billion in available cash liquidity.

Dangers of Asbestos-Related Diseases

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral, but “natural” does not mean safe. All six types of asbestos are highly hazardous and are officially recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as toxic, cancer-causing substances.

When disturbed, asbestos breaks apart into thin, durable microscopic fibers that easily become airborne, sometimes lingering for hours in poorly ventilated spaces. Workers can then inhale or ingest these particles without ever realizing it.

Once inside the body, asbestos fibers do not break down. They lodge in tissue, causing chronic irritation, scarring, and genetic damage that can develop into serious diseases decades after the initial exposure.

Among the most devastating asbestos-related illnesses is mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer that forms in the lining of the lungs, abdomen, heart, or testes. Treatment is extremely costly, with patients often facing expenses of roughly $400,000 per year even after insurance.

Asbestos-related illnesses include:

• Mesothelioma
• Lung cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Asbestosis
• Pleural thickening
• Pleural plaques
• Pleural effusions
• Other forms of cancer

Financial Compensation From Advance Auto Parts

Advance Auto Parts has never filed for bankruptcy and has not created an asbestos trust fund. As a result, former employees, customers, and family members harmed by the company’s asbestos-related activities must pursue compensation through the court system.

Most victims can file one of two types of lawsuits:

• Personal injury lawsuit: For individuals who were exposed to asbestos and later developed an asbestos-related illness.
• Wrongful death lawsuit: For families seeking compensation for the loss of a loved one due to asbestos exposure.

Because Advance Auto Parts primarily sold and installed third-party asbestos products, many victims may also have claims against the manufacturers of those parts. This makes it especially important to work with an experienced asbestos attorney who can trace every possible source of exposure.

Your lawyer can help identify all responsible parties, ensuring you hold each of them accountable and maximize the compensation available to you.

A skilled asbestos attorney can also determine whether you qualify for additional forms of compensation, including:

• Benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
• Asbestos trust funds
• Workers’ compensation
• Treatment grants

Asbestos Lawsuits Against Advance Auto Parts

Advance Auto Parts is rarely the only company named in an asbestos lawsuit. Because it primarily sold asbestos-containing products made by other manufacturers, it is often considered a secondary defendant and only partly responsible for a victim’s exposure.

Even so, many plaintiffs have successfully brought claims against the company for its role in distributing dangerous products.  

Guy Gilbert

Guy Gilbert died of mesothelioma in 2015, after which his wife filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Advance Auto Parts and several other companies. Mr. Gilbert worked as a mechanic at Alray Tire in Pittsburgh from 1975 to 1985, where he regularly serviced brake systems purchased from Advance Auto Parts. The jury awarded his widow almost $1 million. 

Caroline Smith

Caroline Smith, representing the estate of Alvin Smith, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Advance Auto Parts and several other companies, claiming that Mr. Smith developed mesothelioma from occupational exposure to asbestos while working with and around automotive parts supplied by Advance Auto Parts and others.

The company sought summary judgment to dismiss the case, but was denied, and the case proceeded to trial. 

Melvin Welch

After Melvin Welch died of mesothelioma in 2023, his wife, Donna, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Advance Auto Parts and others, alleging that Melvin was exposed to asbestos while working at a South Carolina plant in the 1960s and 1970s, where asbestos-containing insulation and auto parts were used. The case is ongoing. 

Joseph Munna

Joseph Munna filed suit against Advance Auto Parts and several other defendants after developing an asbestos-related illness. Mr. Munna claims that his exposure stemmed from his work as an auto mechanic from the 1970s to the 1990s. During this time, he regularly ordered asbestos-containing goods from Advanced Auto Parts. 

The company sought summary judgment to dismiss the case, but was denied, allowing Mr. Munna to continue pursuing justice and compensation.

Asbestos-Containing Products Used at Advance Auto Parts

Advance Auto Parts did not manufacture asbestos-containing products. Its asbestos liabilities stem from the sale and installation of asbestos products manufactured by others, including Ford, GM, and Ferodo. While most of these manufacturers had stopped using asbestos in their products by the 1980s, Ferodo continued using it until 1998.

Common asbestos-containing products sold and installed at Advance Auto Parts locations include:

• Brake linings/systems
• Clutch parts
• Headers
• Roofing materials

Occupations At-Risk

​​Most people familiar with asbestos litigation recognize occupational exposure as a serious risk factor in the development of asbestos-related diseases. Advance Auto Parts exposed its employees and many others in the automotive industry to this carcinogen through the sale and installation of asbestos-containing parts.

However, the company also endangered non-professionals, such as car enthusiasts and hobbyists, who purchased asbestos-containing products for personal use at home. The family members of asbestos workers were also at risk due to secondary or “take-home” exposure.

High-risk groups and occupations include:

• Advanced Auto Parts shop employees 
• Auto mechanics/professionals
• Car enthusiasts/hobbyists

Get Help Today 

Victims of asbestos exposure often face overwhelming financial pressures. Medical bills, travel for specialized care, lost wages, and other unexpected expenses can quickly strain a family’s resources. Filing an asbestos claim can provide crucial compensation to help ease these burdens.

Companies like Advance Auto Parts may not have manufactured asbestos products, but they still profited from selling dangerous goods and services that put workers and consumers at risk. Their negligence has had lifelong consequences for countless individuals.

The Mesothelioma Fund, together with our legal partners at Meirowitz & Wasserberg, is committed to helping victims hold companies like Advance Auto Parts accountable. Meirowitz & Wasserberg is a boutique law firm specializing in asbestos and toxic exposure cases, backed by decades of experience, substantial resources, and a proven record of success.

You can contact us today for a free consultation with one of our partners to understand your eligibility and the potential value of your claim. Don’t wait to get the support you deserve. The Mesothelioma Fund is here to help you access the guidance and resources you need after a diagnosis.

Written & Legally Reviewed By

Daniel Wasserberg, Esq. Attorney and On-Site Legal Advocate

Daniel Wasserberg was a New York metropolitan area “Super Lawyer Rising Star” from 2013 to 2018 (attorneys under age 40), and a Super Lawyer in 2019. In 2017, Daniel was named a “Top 100 Civil Litigator” by the National Trial Lawyers organization. This recognition is rarely awarded to attorneys under the age of 40. Daniel is proud to call himself a Trial Lawyer, and is often asked to speak at gatherings of the nation’s leading attorneys, from both sides of the bar.

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