Faulty fuel hoses spark Holden NZ recall

An investigation of a potential fuel leak issue affecting a popular small Holden has now triggered a recall of almost 500 cars in New Zealand, for what the company has called a "simple fix".

Holden New Zealand this morning said it intended to check out 485 examples of the Holden Cruze sedan that it had sold. A fuel hose fault was suspected.

The company said it was aware of three New Zealand instances of a reported fuel leak due to this condition.

Owners of potentially affected cars were being contacted directly by Holden NZ.

Customers were being asked to contact their local dealer to book in a free vehicle inspection.

Only the 2010 model year editions of the petrol Cruze remained implicated in the recall.

Holden had sold 918 petrol versions since the car's launch last July and a further 776 diesel versions, which were not affected.

Holden New Zealand corporate affairs manager Chantelle Urquhart said customers with further questions regarding this issue should contact their dealer or the Holden Recall and Rework Assistance Centre on 0800 465 336.

"When we issue a recall a fix has been found. It's a simple process which will take 30 minutes."

The Cruze had been touted as a key model for the company as sales of the Commodore fell away.

Industry tarnished

The car industry has been plagued by safety issues in recent months, with Japanese behemouth Toyota issuing recalls for millions of cars around the world after major safety flaws were discovered.

Toyota has embarked on a grovelling PR campaign to try and repair its tarnished image but is still facing lawsuits worth billions of dollars.

- NZPA