Back in November, someone drove into my Peugeot 107, damaging the LHS bodywork and road wheel. It was repaired and returned to me but the steering wasn't right. The car has finally gone back to the repairer who say they can reproduce the fault but can't persuade the insurer to pay for the repair as the wheel geometry is good so there in "no proof".

The fault is that if the steering wheel is turned by say 20° and you let go, the steering wheel stays in that position and doesn't self centre. Before the crash, it was very good at returning to centre. The most irritating part is the friction between 20° to the left and 20° to the right which makes small steering movements less precise than they were.

How do I get the insurance company to pay the garage to fix it?

tell the insurance co the steering is now dangerous as it doesn't self centre properly,

Sadly, I've been driving the car for the last few weeks so they know I don't think it is dangerous. I suggested to the garage guy that it might be an MOT failure and would probably be an IVA failure.

The guy at the garage knows I used to design electric steering columns so stopped trying to fob me off with excuses. He's more than happy to do the work so long as someone pays

how much will the work cost?

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Originally posted by smart51
Back in November, someone drove into my Peugeot 107, damaging the LHS bodywork and road wheel. It was repaired and returned to me but the steering wasn't right. The car has finally gone back to the repairer who say they can reproduce the fault but can't persuade the insurer to pay for the repair as the wheel geometry is good so there in "no proof".

The fault is that if the steering wheel is turned by say 20° and you let go, the steering wheel stays in that position and doesn't self centre. Before the crash, it was very good at returning to centre. The most irritating part is the friction between 20° to the left and 20° to the right which makes small steering movements less precise than they were.

How do I get the insurance company to pay the garage to fix it?

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Did it get a new rack? If not it could be bent inside and that’s what your feeling, especially if it was a front wheel that was damaged. Sounds suspicious if the geometry is normal but the centering is not right, something’s wrong.

Just tell them it’s not fixed yet, they have to return the car to its previous condition.

[Edited on 15/1/10 by Mr Whippy]

You do not say if you have asked the insurance Co. You need to write to thenm pointing out that the car is dtill damaged from the insured event (the accident) and that your policy covers this. If possible set out the evidence that the fault was caused by the accident.

If they tell you to get stuffed then complain and threaten them with a complaint to the Financial Services ombusman - now having jurisdiction to look at refusals to cover events. The FSO has very wide powers and is permitted to take a loose interpretation of the law (which ordinarily favours insurers).

Alternatively.....get your spanners out!

Are you an AA or RAC member? They would inspect the vehicle and confirm what the garage says or otherwise. They may do it even if you are not a member , but I would expect you would have to pay.

Just a thought!

PS.. I agree. It sounds like its something they missed in the examination for the repair job.
If its steering its potentially dangerous.
If its bent or if its fractured, or stressed and liable to break etc etc.
Definately dont give up.

I think its the rack too. The garage have done a rack test at my request and say it is fine. the cost of a new steering system is 750 pounds, probably plus labour. They've done a geometry check and it is fine but that's only half of the steering.

I've spoken to the insurance and they've logged it as a complaint. An inspector will go and look at it (the week after next!) and they will take it from there. Is there an ombudsman to take it further?

[Edited on 15-1-2010 by smart51]

Sounds like a bent steering rack easy enough to demonstrate.




[Edited on 15/1/10 by britishtrident]

i had a cat c corsa that did that one side only. was told it was the leccy steering, but it got wrote off before we fixed it.

Make sure you have your claim number to hand and ring the insurance company and ask for inhouse engineers, if you have trouble being put through, say you are phoning on behalf of the bodyshop that did the repairs. Once you get an engineer, state your case.

The bodyshop should have a printout from the geometry system they used to correct the suspension, it is a legal requirement that they keep this for 3 years after the repair (should be interesting!).

If that doesn't work, get an estimate from a rival bodyshop for corrective work and send that into the insurance company

Is there an ombusman? See my reply above. There is a web site for the Financial Services Ombusman and it has full details of the powers and how to lodge a complaint. You need to wait for a final decision and thereafter there is a time limit (generous but I forget sorry)

In my experience the FSO route is far easier than littigation (unfortunately for me!)

They finally sent an engineer to look at the car. He borrowed another 107 prior to the test and drove it a bit and then went to see mine. He says as far as he can tell, they're the same. As he can't find a problem, he can't fix it.

Am I being too picky? Before the crash, the car would centre nicely. At any speed, you could let go of the steering wheel and it would return to centre. The car would drive in a straight line. Now, you can turn the wheel by 20° and let go and at all road speeds it will just stick there, with the car turning in a wide arc. He tried to fob me off with "Its what happens with an electric system" before continuing with "I know you used to design them so know better than me." which is just a total fob off. You can tune an electric system to do what you want - have massive self centring if that what you want. It is not a feature of electric steering at all. He did say that if I can get an independent engineer's report saying what is wrong, Direct Line will pay for the repairs but that sounds like a lot of trouble to me. Do I just sell the car and buy another one?