| Vauxhall hit by runaway cars |
| Monday, 09 July 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Vauxhall has been stung by a consumer backlash following complaints that cars have been installed with faulty handbrakes.  Drivers of new Vectras and Signums have complained about several incidents in which their parked cars rolled away after the handbrake released itself.
Which?, the consumer association, reported that around half a dozen drivers had been in touch regarding the problem.
Vauxhall SignumRhys Davies, whose Vauxhall Signum rolled down the road into two cars, said: “The handbrake was on because the car was parked on a hill for at least 15 minutes before it rolled away.
“Vauxhall needs to acknowledge this problem and ensure it doesn't happen to others.”
Vauxhall denied there was a problem with the handbrake system and claimed there were only a handful of reports of unsecured vehicles.
VOSA investigationA Vauxhall spokesman added: “As a manufacturer, we have cooperated fully with VOSA to investigate this matter and VOSA has concluded that there is no problem with the design or construction of Vectra handbrakes.
“We aware of a small number of allegations of unsecured vehicles and we are planning a consumer communication to remind customers of the correct operating procedure for the handbrake.”
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Comments (15)
Christine Pomfrett
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My Astra Elite 06 pa... My Astra Elite 06 parked on a hill outside my sisters house, rolled down the hill into a neighbours car and the handbrake was still on. Vauxhall denied a problem with their handbrake, a garage suggested the brake was hot when it was parked and when it cooled the break was not so tight. I have looked at sites on the internet and there are Vectras, Corsa's, Sigmas, and other Astras, how can this be happening so often and nothing is being done. |
william shearer
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My 7 month old Zafir... My 7 month old Zafira last rolled away from being parked outside my home.Has anyone else had problems with Zafira |
wayne hillier
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i have a vectra sri ... i have a vectra sri 06 this has happened to me twice first time in may rolled backwards downhill smashing down two gardens walls in street car was repaired and i had the handbrake tested (came back fine ha ha )car has just rolled away agin 2 days ago luckily i had turned the wheels so it hit my garden wall extensive damage to the car though at this time i am waiting on a response from vauxhall although all they said the first time was to read the vosa report needless to say the car goes in for repair on monday and then its going elsewhere as i cannot trust it anymore |
alan erskine
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My 05 Vectra has the... My 05 Vectra has the same problem but only since the garage amended the handbrake following the communication from Vauxhall (How to apply a handbrake) which also included a recall for works "Just in case". No problem before the works were done but now the car has rolled into my Garage door twice with the handbrake on fully. |
Steve
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Son's 03 plate Corsa... Son's 03 plate Corsa has tonight rolled of the drive into next doors house thankfully kerb stopped major damage to house, although side panel of car will need changing....car was parked for an hour and hand brake was on!!!!!!!!!!!! |
Lorraine Morgan
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I purchased a new Co... I purchased a new Corsa 1.4 Sxi 57 plate on the 15th April,on the 15th June 08 it was parked on the hill/rise out side the house for approx 5 minutes. A clunk was heard and the car started rolling down the hill/rise. It hit another Corsa at the bottom of the hill bounced it up on to the pavement and demolished the wall, fortunatly nobody was hurt. The other Corsa is a possilbe write off my Corsa has 1200 of damage. The handbrake has been tested with a 28% efficiency, to me this indicates that there is a problem with the mechanisum as a whole. With a handbrake with a 28% efficency the brake should have held. I have contacted Vauxhall with a complaint and I am awaiting a response. |
Alan Hutchinson
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Same happened to me ... Same happened to me a few days ago with my newly-bought 1.9 Vectra SRi - A group has now been created on facebook to hopefully get a bit more coverage and force Vauxhall into making amends - page includes instructions on how to report this safety defect to VOSA, who (with enough complaints) are able to force the manufacturer to admit liability and take action. Feel free to join and comment. |
Graham Young
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I parked my Astra es... I parked my Astra estate on a sloping club car park this morning (5/6/08) went into the club to do some work some five minuets later my car rolled backwards into a gate causing damage to the gate and my car will need a new bumper and tailgate. the handbrake was still applied (witnessed) but not hard on, as if it had released itself slightly, I have been driving for 35yrs, |
Syed
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Right, my company ca... Right, my company car 57 plate astra cdi, just parked up on the drive way which is downhill, applied handbrake got out of the car came in got changed etc. went out and car has demolished the house wall! with handbrake still on? now somebody explain that to me! |
Paul Johnson
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I bought a new style... I bought a new style Vectra from new in Apr 2003. Apart from some problems I had all sorted I had the handbrake problem. Releasing itself after being applied. Twice it happened the second time more dangerous as it happened in my drive rolling back into my garage door with me trying to stop it. Luckily it went in as it came out and stopped with me underneath holding the rear bumper and stopped just short of the back wall off the garage. No damage to car apart from minor paint scuffing and no major injury apart from bruises. Wrecked my door though. I reported it to garage who changed the handbrake and sorted out damage, courtesy car ect all free. Handbrake tested in Germany nothing wrong with it apparently. Wrote to MD of Vauxhall and asked for cost of gagarage door back but got no where. So disscussed with it sold it a month later as I could not trust it. Vauxhall told me that I was applying handbrake incorectly and should have put it in gear. Since the Top Gear programme I have wrote twice in 08 to ask again for compensation and have had two replies saying no as there is no problem with hanbrake and that there is no safety recall. This is true as I have checked the VOSA web site. They said i may get a letter asking to bring in the car for somthing to be put onto the handbrake. If it does go as a recall eventually I will ask again. |
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