Vauxhall Vectra B facelift - Vectra wheel bolts breaking

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Tue 29 Jun 2010 10:41
Vauxhall Vectra B facelift - Vectra wheel bolts breaking - Mark7

About 18 months ago the rear nearside wheel came off my Vectra estate while I was negotiating a right hand bend, fortunately at fairly low speed. This was found to be due to all 5 wheel bolts shearing off. It was reported to the local Vauxhall dealer at the time and was dismissed as being due to overtightening of the bolts although my checks on the rest of the car suggested none of the other wheels had overtightened bolts. Last weekend I was having a tyre changed at a local Tyre fitter and when they removed the offside wheel one of the bolts was found to be split. I believe it was one of the replacement bolts I bought last time as I arranged them between both rear wheels. These were genuine GM parts. Both Vauxhall and the local dealer seem totally disinterested in the matter and refuse to investigate or do anything about it. The local dealer has offered to do checks on the wheels but at my expense and they refuse to do any checks on the bolts themselves. I am left now in a position of not knowing why this problem is occuring and therefore very wary of driving the vehicle unless I spend alot of money having the bolts tested myself. I would expect the manufacturer to take such a potential safety issue more seriously. Perhaps you could suggest what further action I can take

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Tue 29 Jun 2010 15:23
Vauxhall Vectra B facelift - Vectra wheel bolts breaking - Dwight Van Driver

If a wheel comes off a vehicle then there is the absolute offence of using a vehicle parts and accessories in such condition as likely to cause danger. All that has to be proved is that it happened and in such circumstances as likely to cause danger .. period.

Generally the circumstances outlined are as a result of over tightening wheel nuts which fracture the studs or loose fitting where the wheel works loose off the studs wearing them down to a point and eventual breakage. Which is one the reasons why the lorry wheels you see have them yellow plastic markers on the studs Only forensic evidence cand show metal fatigue.

Obviously to get any where against manufacturer/dealer you will need expert evidence from a metalurgist as to why the wheel parted company. Where you will get one from I don't know?

What I would suggest is that you speak to VOSA about the problem. If it is a common fault they they should have a record of others and should be collating evidence enought to invoke a vehicle recall through the manufacturers.

dvd

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