Car magazine Auto Express has launched a campaign calling for manufacturers to publish the details of known problems with their vehicles (issue 1130).

Currently, firms only have to publicly acknowledge registered safety recalls. “For all other faults,” their leading article read, “such as reliability issues, they are able to keep owners in the dark!”

The magazine’s investigation into the secret world of technical service bulletins – documents that details the symptoms, causes and fixes for known car problems – brought to light what Auto Express describes as ‘shocking flaws in the system’, such as the Jaguar owner who had to find out from an Internet forum about a fault with his XJ8 that could lead to the engine cutting out at high speeds.

It also revealed how independent garages are often forced to send customers to franchised dealers because they can’t access the vital technical information on service bulletins; an issue that the IAAF is tackling on behalf of its members.

Auto Express want firms to publish the details of known faults, online and for free, so that owners can see for themselves what problems affect their vehicles. The AA and RAC have added their voice to the call for manufacturers to make technical service bulletins public.  

RAC motoring strategist Adrian Tink said, “There’s no reason why info like this should be hidden in the depths.” And Edmund King, president of the AA, told the magazine, “Anything that improves transparency in the mysteries of vehicle ownership would be a big help.”