Tesco apologises for contaminated fuel
212 Comments | Add Comment | Blog entry posted 6th March, 2007
News over the last few days has revealed that silicon contamination was the cause of the recent problems to thousands of vehicles. The problem has been traced back to petrol storage tanks in Essex and Harvest Energy have confirmed that the high silicon fuel has been isolated and no more contaminated petrol would make its way to the forecourts.
Harvest have recommended that those affected should contact their petrol retailer for more information. Supermarket petrol stations at Tesco, Morrisons and ASDA stores have been associated with this fuel crisis and Tesco have today printed a full page apology in several newspapers which assures motorists that their petrol is ‘back to normal’.
There is some comfort for those who purchased their fuel at Tesco and have experienced problems with their cars as Tesco assures: ‘If petrol bought at Tesco has damaged your car, we’d like to say how sorry we are. More to the point, we’d like to promise to pay for the repairs.’
They confirm that ‘all the affected stores in the South East of England have been refueled with a fresh clean supply.’ and ‘No other Tesco stores were affected by this incident’.
If your car was affected by fuel bought at Tesco and you would like more information, the number to call is 0800 028 6428.
Replies to Tesco apologises for contaminated fuel
Suze December 7, 2011
I have just got the news that the diesel in our car is contaminated with petrol - will have to pay £ 270 for repairs plus around £60 for watsed "diesel". I am always filling the car at Tesco in Leicester (Narborough Road) - last time December the 1st 2011. Has anybody expereinced something similar?
PLEASE LET ME kNOW!! Cheers
kim sullivan November 7, 2011
Has anyone had problems in the edinburgh area? I know this is saying UK but I have had a breakdown from contaminated water in the Edinburgh area.
L Edgecombe July 13, 2011
I filled up with diesel at Tetbury Tesco on December 18th 2010 - car died shortly after, 3 diesel injectors ruined - total bill £2000 (4 year old Toyota, only 45000 miles). I've written to Tesco - looks like I got the standard letter back - they say 'no-one reported a problem with out fuel on the day of your visit' and that because I managed one long journey before the car broke down (on the M25 slip road!) that 'as you was able to driver your car for a long distance, after purchasing fuel from our Tetbury store, this demonstrates the fuel was fit for purpose'. They also list the measures that they have in place to prevent fuel being contaminated but from looking at several on the comments above and speaking to my local garage, plus a couple of others in my village, there clearly was a problem around that time. I hope they respond differently to this letter, otherwise I'll have to seek legal advice.
Tanya Burgess June 28, 2011
Same here livid! Just been told by Landrover that my Freelander lost power over the weekend owing to contaminated fuel - guess where I buy my fuel from.... yes Tesco, this time in Tetbury, Glos. £240 bill and I still have fuel in the car, not sure where that now leaves me, should I ask them to drain the fuel to avoid a reoccurrence? Has anyone had any luck in getting any recompense from Tesco?
Andrew Cockshott June 16, 2011
hi, has anybody else had water problems after filling up with diesel at tesco in glossop derbyshire jan_feb 2011. I filled up landrover from red light with £85.00 of diesel, did about 40 miles then total engine cut out, aa recovery couldnt start it, relayed to landrover garage, after ages trying to find the fault they drained the feul tank and found lots and lots of water, a sample of which i have saved.£630.00 repair bill then £97 to refill the completely empty tank, so about £800 to fill up and 4 days with no vehicle!tesco say they do not have a water contamination problem and thats that!!!!I would love to take this to court but fear being crushed on my own, please help!!!!!
Sally June 11, 2011
Just had to have diesel filler changed and tank flushed out due to contaminated feul., in my pergeot 307 HDi . lucky I know a mechanic and he repaired it for £85 but worry know about perminant damage as just thought it was a problem with timing, until the car kept kangarooing along the road.
Have been using TESCO fuel at BOURNVILLE BIMINGHAM in the last few weeks, as it was cheaper than BP. Had the car for 2 years and not had any problems, recently had it serviced.
Will not be using Tesco feul again!!.
I am a community nurse and have to use my car every day in very unsafe areas of town alone and worry about the car breaking down as I had to wait a while before fixing it as I had to rearrange patients visits to get it fixed.
If they are guilty they should admitt to it,if they were public sector workers they would have been ousted by know!!! WHY has this been going on for years i have read complaints from 2007 on the net.
We are constantly being told Tesco are a shining example of a succesful enterprise.
sally, 11th. June 2012 10.30pm
Mark May 31, 2011
Bought unleaded from Tesco Hover Building Perivale today. the pump was super slow. Took about 6-8 minutes to do 10 litres!
Got fed up and tried to go to the next pump but car stated to chug straight away.
Complained to the customer services.
They were not surprised as it has been happening to a few other customers in the last few day.
The fuel was contaminated.
Got a refund for the fuel but on a Tesco's charge card. and was told to get it fixed and claim Tesco for the repairs.
Will update on how easily the claim goes.
Sarah F May 16, 2011
has anybody had any problems with diesel at cleethorpes tesco, filled up on 7am ish tuesday 10th 2011.
cars still in garage :(
Valerie Balleny May 6, 2011
I always use Morrisons in Peckham when buying petrol - it's the almost always the cheapest round here. Last week my Volvo lost power and juddered to a halt. The AA thought it might be spark plugs or distributor cap and these were replaced by garage (probably necessary anyway) but in fact it turns out to be contaminated fuel and the whole system has had to be drained down, and filters and petrol pump replaced. Heaven knows what the eventual bill will be! So much for cheap petrol - not so cheap after all.
Is it worth reporting the problem to Morrisons? I doubt it even though the garage says he's aware of others with the same problem.
Nic Jordan May 4, 2011
Our deisel Saab 93 lost power when under strain and juddered (intermittantly).
We had our garage look at it - they cant find a fault but advised a number of cars had problems after using fuel from Tescos Midsomer Norton.
Hopefully we have suffered no damage.
Chris Francis April 27, 2011
i had an engine light come on car stopped working and my garage told me the fuel was contaimnated and i brought fuel from tescos broadbridge heath horsham and thay just fob you off DONT BY FUEL FROM TESCOS thay have just cost me 1200 quid new pump injectors and other bits EVERY LITTLE HELPS
Keith Higham April 11, 2011
My Honda Civic Type R is currently at the local Honda dealer being looked at due to suspected contaminated fuel from local Tesco in Dumfries. I filled up on 5th April 2011 and after several miles the engine malfunction light came on and the engine misfired at low speed. The engine management system is indication a loss of compression in all 4 cylinders.
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