A NUMBER of motorists are seeking legal action against one of the UK’s largest fuel suppliers after tainted premium diesel has caused irreparable engine damage.
The contamination issue has been traced back to a petrol station in Scotland.
A number of UK motorists are pursuing legal action against a major UK supermarket over a contamination issue at a fuel pump in Scotland (stock image)[/caption]
Drivers have now accused the major filling station of “negligence” after it was discovered the contamination episodes first began in December 2024.
The affected fuel from the supermarket pump has cost some motorists thousands of pounds in repairs.
David Stockwell, from Fife, filled up his 2012 Volkswagen Golf with premium diesel at Morrisons in Kirkcaldy on August 9, reports the Daily Record.
A few days later, David’s wife Katherine was driving down the A92 when their car suddenly lost all power.
Roadside recovery experts found the fuel tank was full of a “milky-like substance”.
Despite the car being quickly drained, its entire fuel system and engine were destroyed, leaving the couple with replacement costs of £4,000.
Since this surpassed the worth of the car, the couple were forced to write it off.
After sharing their ordeal online, David and Katherine were shocked to discover others who had been affected by the same issue after filling up at Morrisons Kirkcaldy.
Repeat issue
They discovered reports of contamination as early as December 2024, with a spate of new incidents in August this year.
Some of the affected owners have formed a group and are threatning to take legal action against suppliers, Motor Fuel Group (MFG).
Describing the situation as “scandalous”, David, 44, explained that he has been left without a car and with “no admission of liability or answers from MFG”
“Firstly, my wife was put in a dangerous position driving and when we heard from our garage that it was irreparable, my stomach just dropped,” he told the Record.
David revealed that he was recently made redundant, which has added even more “financial pressure” to his situation.
“We don’t have any disposable income right now, then to hear that the exact same thing has happened to multiple people was just shocking,” he continued.
“It’s negligence when it’s happened earlier this year too. I think it’s a scandal.”
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Other cases
Anne Robertson, from Burntisland, also spoke to the Record about her Volkswagen Tiguan, which is still being repaired after suddenly breaking down on August 11.
“I had filled up at Morrisons a few days before,” she recalled.
“AA said the fuel was milky white and drainage experts could not get the car started again. They said they’d been called out to cars in the area with the exact same issue.”
Anne explained that her mechanic estimated repair costs of at least £4,000.
“It’s just been a nightmare. I could not believe that it had happened to numerous other people too,” she said.
“I do not have much faith that they will repay us – it just seems like the little consumer against the big boys.”
And window cleaner Marc Norrie, from Kinghorn, is in the same boat after his work van was damaged, leaving him with financial reprecussions of nearly £7,000.
“Like everyone else, I filled up with premium diesel at Morrisons and a few days later my van lost all power,” he said.
“My garage said the fuel was contaminated. It cost £3,800 in repairs and another £2,500 for a hire van for 10 weeks.”
He described the financial toll the fuel issue has taken on his small business as “immense”.
Marc added that he was offered £100 in compensation from the company but refused.
“To hear that it’s happened again to others is disgusting – it’s absolute negligence,” he said.
According to the Record, the fuel pump at Kirkcaldy is now out of order.
Fuel Drainage Scotland confirmed to the outlet that they have attended multiple call outs to cars breaking down in the Fife area with engine failure due to suspected contaminated fuel.
All had reported filling up with premium diesel at Morrisons Kirkcaldy.
“The first breakdown of this nature was in December and there’s quite a lot now with the same failure,” owner Stevie Craig said.
“It seems to be isolated to Kirkcaldy and there have been no reports in other parts of Scotland.”
He described the repercussions for customers as “huge” and explained that he thinks a “chemical has been mixed in and contaminated the fuel”.
The Record reported that metal filings indicating contamination in the tainted fuel had caused damage to the engines of the cars that filled up at Morrisons.
According to the outlet, owners took samples from their tanks showing greasy sediment at the bottom, along with samples from the pump in question.
Meanwhile, AA said they have not observed any increase in cases in the area.
The Sun has reached out to Morrisons for comment.
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