Asda Coleraine petrol station probed after car issues
Asda Coleraine petrol station pumps are under investigation after motorists reported car breakdowns and acceleration problems following fuel buys between 25 and 29 October. Asda apologised for the inconvenience, took some pumps out of service, and has reopened most while urging affected drivers to contact the retailer.
Key Takeaways
- Asda is investigating reported vehicle problems after fuel purchases at its Coleraine, County Londonderry forecourt.
- The retailer said an "isolated incident" affected some, but not all, purchases between 25 and 29 October.
- Most pumps have reopened; some remain offline as Asda works to resolve the issue.
- Drivers including Sandra Reid, Dean Law’s family, and David Jardine reported breakdowns and repair bills.
- East Londonderry MLA Claire Sugden urged wider awareness for anyone who filled up there.
What happened at the Asda Coleraine petrol station?
Motorists say their cars developed serious problems soon after refuelling at the Asda-owned forecourt in Coleraine, Northern Ireland. Sandra Reid told BBC News NI her car began to "chug along and struggle to accelerate" and then broke down after leaving the station.
She nursed the vehicle to a paid car park in Coleraine’s Long Commons area, where it remained for days. Reid estimated she was already about £20 down on parking and said removing the fuel could cost more than £500. Being without the car was a "disaster" for her commute, normally a 45-minute walk.
Dean Law said cars belonging to his girlfriend Courteney and sister Emma both broke down after filling up at the same site. He and Courteney had spent about £1,000 on mechanic bills after her car failed on the way to work. A Facebook post seeking others with similar issues drew a strong response, he said.
David Jardine, from Belfast, filled up on Sunday night during a north coast family break and broke down shortly afterwards in Portstewart. His car was towed back to Belfast and cost about £225 to fix. For more stories that track unexplained incidents and unfolding probes, see our True Crime & Unsolved Mysteries hub.
Why did Asda launch a petrol station investigation?
Asda said it was looking into a "small number of complaints" and described the matter as an "isolated incident". A spokesperson said it affected some — but not all — fuel purchases at the Coleraine site between 25 and 29 October.
The company apologised for any inconvenience and removed some pumps from service while the inquiry ran. It later said the majority of pumps had safely reopened after a full investigation, with some remaining out of use as work continues.
"We're working with customers who may have been affected and asking anyone experiencing issues with their vehicle following a purchase during this timeframe to contact us so we can put things right," the spokesperson said.
Is the cause of the car issues known yet?
It is not yet known what may have caused the reported vehicle problems, or exactly how many cars are affected. East Londonderry MLA Claire Sugden said she had received several messages from constituents early in the week raising concerns after filling up at the station.
Sugden called reports of multiple mechanical failures "very worrying" and said it was pleasing Asda had responded quickly. She stressed that others who fuelled there should be made aware they could potentially be affected too.
Anyone who bought fuel at the Asda Coleraine petrol station between 25 and 29 October and then faced vehicle trouble is being asked by Asda to get in touch so the retailer can try to put things right.