Front spring broken

[SteveA]

My wife got into our 53 plate(29,000 mls) Signum Design yesterday morning and there was what she described as a bang from the front driver side corner. The car started alright and idled fine so she tried rolling forward but there was a knocking noise so the car stayed where it was until I got home last night.
I took a look and couldnt see anything obvious so I tried reversing the car ............BANG!! one flat front tyre.
When I removed the wheel all became apparent the front spring had snapped and the sharp end had pierced the inside wall of the tyre.
F*** me that could have been nasty I thought.
Anyhow my wife has been trying to get it sorted today Vauxhall were not overly helpful and just told us to ring our local dealer, did that only to be told you'll have to get the car to us!! Not very helpful at all and not very impressive for aftercare.
Does anyone have any tips on putting pressure on car manufacturers??
Thanks.
I have pictures, just not sure how to post them.

[VauxVeteran]

Resize the pics using an XP powertoy proggy or any other one you have like Nero, then use the uploader to get the file names, copy and paste them in the thread and its done.

If you have to get the car to the dealer, you could use the AA if you have membership, otherwise it might work to put the spacesaver on and drive it slowly to them if its not too far, warrenty is gonna depend on if its less than 3 yrs old, and if they wiggle you may want to pay for it and take the spring to an indepenent metal specialist to check for metal fatigue in the manufacturing process, then offer them the chance to fully repay you or face small claims court, failing that, be vocal at the dealers and state YOU WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER Vx car again, but time it right and be close to the showroom at the time.

[razor]

Sounds familiar I’ve also had a broken front spring on the drivers side, thankfully only broke when doing about 5 mph and only one coil from the bottom so no sticking out bits to puncture tyres.
Both sides replaced under warranty being a 2004 model and no problem from the dealer.

Could have been nasty through glad your missus left it where it was.

[SteveA]

Thanks Guys,
The car is under 3 yrs old.......just. I may be able to use the space saver will have to have a look the AA won't do it as we've only got roadside assist. This is a right ball ache why should it be such hard work I bet if they replace the spring I'm going to have to fight them for a new tyre.
Thanks for the advice about the pics but I've got a mac any clues??

[MLC]

If the car's under warranty, it comes with three years recovery. I thought they're meant to take you to the nearest Vx dealer??

[AndrewTi]

definately. Call Vauxhall customer services and give them merry hell.

[VauxVeteran]

Get the tyre replaced as well at their expense, their faulty part destroyed the tyre so it's all the same claim.

[SteveA]

I have had no joy with Vauxhall customer service so I have arranged for a private recovery company to take the car in at our expense.
What if this had happened while we were on the motorway!!!
You guys need to be thinking 'what if that happens to me or my family while we are on the motorway'
I am in the process of draughting an email to send to someone high up in Vauxhall does anyone have any contact info for any top brass

[Bainie]

I think the VX recovery is just in year 1 of the warranty but I could be wrong, not very helpful anyhoo, they could even have offered to get it collected and charged you for it rather than you having to do it yourself ...

I had an MG before which I bought from Reg Vardy`s, I was driving the wife to work one morning and it cut out on me, right outside Reg Vardy`s, renault devision. Bonus I thought went to work and phoned them at 8am to say my car was outside the garage, was broken down and could they look at it under warranty (I had posted the keys through the letter box). No can do they said you need to take it to the MG garage, after a heated discussion with them they agreed to move it up to the MG garage but charged me 100 recovery !!! So not just VX ....

[MLC]

The recovery is definitely three years. You get the AA pass renewed at your first service.