A serious fuel mix-up at a Morrisons petrol station in Tiverton, Devon has left several drivers facing expensive vehicle repairs. One driver alone is confronting a repair bill approaching £3,000 after mistakenly filling his diesel car with unleaded petrol.
The problem emerged last month when customers discovered that the station’s fuel pumps were dispensing the wrong types of fuel — diesel was coming from the petrol pumps and petrol from the diesel pumps.
Many drivers were caught unaware, filling their vehicles with incorrect fuel, which led to engine damage forcing some to abandon their cars by the roadside or pay for costly repairs.
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Forklift driver Graham Stevens was one such victim. On 26 September, he filled his Vauxhall Insignia estate with what he believed was diesel but was actually unleaded petrol. Although he initially didn’t notice any issues, his car began spluttering on his way to work in Dunkeswell the next morning and eventually broke down.
A mechanic later diagnosed that the petrol had contaminated his diesel engine, likely blocking the fuel injectors. Graham now faces a repair bill of £2,800.
Graham reached out to Motor Fuel Group (MFG), owners of the Morrisons petrol station, who admitted the fault was caused by incorrectly installed pipes. However, Graham says the company’s response has been disappointing: “They told me not to contact them again and that their insurance company would be in touch, but I’ve heard nothing since. There’s been no empathy or support.”
He added, “I was lucky to have £400 on hand to get the car operational again, but I can’t afford the full repair costs.”
Others have also reported similar issues on the Tiverton Community Help Facebook page, indicating this was not an isolated incident. One affected motorist recounted spending hours coordinating with the AA and a fuel drainage company, confirming that multiple customers suffered vehicle damage.
Several shared their experiences:
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One driver’s son’s car required AA assistance twice, was drained by a fuel company, and now remains inoperative at a garage, possibly written off, while the family feels ignored by MFG.
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Another reported that both her and her daughter’s cars broke down, leading to costly repairs and rental car expenses, and that their cases had been passed to MFG’s customer claims and insurance coordinator.
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A third driver abandoned a car on the roadside after filling a whole tank with the wrong fuel, leaving it unable to start.
Motor Fuel Group has been contacted for a comment on the situation.