Following further comments on this site from Vauxhall owners who've experienced the problems reported on Watchdog, Vauxhall has reiterated how seriously the company is taking this issue - and its commitment to tackling it. It has also made clear it only affects the models named on the programme.
Our report on Monday 12 January revealed there can be two problems with the fuel system on some Vauxhall cars with 2.2 litre engines - Vectras and Signums produced since 2003, and Zafiras made since 2005 (click here for full report).
Your comments
The item provoked a huge response, with some of you saying you'd experienced the same problems highlighted in our report - and more than once. But Vauxhall is confident that's now far less likely to happen, because it has modified the fuel pump that's caused most of the incidents.
And while the fault with the regulator highlighted on the programme "is still an issue", the company has told us its engineers "are working on it with all haste".
We'd also been contacted by owners of other models - not all Vauxhalls - asking if their cars had the same fault. We obviously won't publish allegations about any further models without checking them with the manufacturers concerned, and for their part, Vauxhall are quite definite that only the models we named can be affected.
It says: "We can state clearly that these two components (and the faults arising) are only fitted to and affect the 2.2 petrol engine in the vehicle types and range that we have already stated."
Repair costs
And in response to further concerns raised about repair costs resulting from these faults, the company told us: "We find that most of the customers who have experienced these faults have been very understanding and have been dealt with positively by our retailers. We have reviewed (against our records) all the 75 people who contacted us after the programme unhappy with the decisions taken on contribution, and in all cases they have been dealt with using the guidelines that we sent Watchdog with the relevant contribution to their specific case/vehicle age. Clearly if, for example, a car is six years old and way out of warranty, it does not fit within the guidelines and there will be no contribution".
Contacting Vauxhall
If you're concerned about either fault you can email Vauxhall or telephone: 0845 0902044 during office hours.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2009/01/vauxhall_update.html
Our report on Monday 12 January revealed there can be two problems with the fuel system on some Vauxhall cars with 2.2 litre engines - Vectras and Signums produced since 2003, and Zafiras made since 2005 (click here for full report).
Your comments
The item provoked a huge response, with some of you saying you'd experienced the same problems highlighted in our report - and more than once. But Vauxhall is confident that's now far less likely to happen, because it has modified the fuel pump that's caused most of the incidents.
And while the fault with the regulator highlighted on the programme "is still an issue", the company has told us its engineers "are working on it with all haste".
We'd also been contacted by owners of other models - not all Vauxhalls - asking if their cars had the same fault. We obviously won't publish allegations about any further models without checking them with the manufacturers concerned, and for their part, Vauxhall are quite definite that only the models we named can be affected.
It says: "We can state clearly that these two components (and the faults arising) are only fitted to and affect the 2.2 petrol engine in the vehicle types and range that we have already stated."
Repair costs
And in response to further concerns raised about repair costs resulting from these faults, the company told us: "We find that most of the customers who have experienced these faults have been very understanding and have been dealt with positively by our retailers. We have reviewed (against our records) all the 75 people who contacted us after the programme unhappy with the decisions taken on contribution, and in all cases they have been dealt with using the guidelines that we sent Watchdog with the relevant contribution to their specific case/vehicle age. Clearly if, for example, a car is six years old and way out of warranty, it does not fit within the guidelines and there will be no contribution".
Contacting Vauxhall
If you're concerned about either fault you can email Vauxhall or telephone: 0845 0902044 during office hours.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2009/01/vauxhall_update.html