The Daily Mail has reported this week that thousands of Vauxhall owners may be risking a car accident from a disastrous loss of power in their vehicles.
An electrical fault has been shown to cause some models to drop into "limp home" mode, limiting the top speed to 25 miles per hour, no matter where the car is. Some drivers have reported this fault occurring while travelling at 70 mph on motorways, causing narrow escapes from car crashes as they are forced to manoeuvre into the hard shoulder.
One man who only just avoided a road traffic accident said, "I can assure Vauxhall this is a very dangerous problem and could easily lead to a crash." Another Vectra owner was quoted as saying "The defects should be identified, rectified and all replaced under a recall program, and everybody who has been charged have the total amounts repaid, and consideration given to associated costs incurred. Shame on you Vauxhall."
No personal injury, and therefore no compensation claims, have yet been reported as a result of this fault. However, the risk of a car accident appears to be clear, and an investigation by the BBC Watchdog programme suggests that it may be a risk for upward of 30,000 vehicles.
*Where replacement vehicle costs can be recovered from the insurance company of the person who caused the accident.
Where this person is untraceable or uninsured, or where there is a dispute over liability, a replacement vehicle cannot
be provided.
