Garages failing on service
- Published: 08/08/2007
Car owners are not getting a good enough service from the car servicing industry, it has been claimed.
Neil Fowler, editor of consumer magazine Which?, made the comments after tests from his organisation revealed evidence of "slack practices" in the industry.
As part of the test, researchers implemented five basic faults onto vehicles before sending them off to be serviced at a garage. Of the 50 independent garages and franchised dealerships tested, 46 failed to identify and test all the problems.
And over 50 per cent did not manage to rectify simple and potentially dangerous problems such as low-tyre pressure and low brake-fluid levels.
"UK owners spend more than £21 billion a year maintaining their cars. We reckon this should go to reliable businesses with sound service procedures, not gambled on rogue traders," Mr Fowler commented.
"Unacceptably, getting your car serviced is still a hit-and-miss affair. We've found a generally lax approach to servicing, unbelievable basic errors and cases of plain ineptitude."
Neil Fowler, editor of consumer magazine Which?, made the comments after tests from his organisation revealed evidence of "slack practices" in the industry.
As part of the test, researchers implemented five basic faults onto vehicles before sending them off to be serviced at a garage. Of the 50 independent garages and franchised dealerships tested, 46 failed to identify and test all the problems.
And over 50 per cent did not manage to rectify simple and potentially dangerous problems such as low-tyre pressure and low brake-fluid levels.
"UK owners spend more than £21 billion a year maintaining their cars. We reckon this should go to reliable businesses with sound service procedures, not gambled on rogue traders," Mr Fowler commented.
"Unacceptably, getting your car serviced is still a hit-and-miss affair. We've found a generally lax approach to servicing, unbelievable basic errors and cases of plain ineptitude."