Third recall for Holden's Billion Dollar Baby

HOLDEN has recalled more than 86,000 V6-engined versions of the VE Commodore and WM Statesman due to a potentially leaky fuel line.

It is the third time Holden’s so-called ‘billion dollar baby’ has been recalled in the past 15 months.

Coming the same day that the Commodore was confirmed as Australia’s top-selling car for the 12th year in succession, the latest recall affects 86,538 vehicles built between the commencement of production in April 2006 and December 5 2007.

The recall does not affect V8-powered models.

Holden’s lucrative export program could also be tarnished by the latest recall as 27,000 of the vehicles have been sold in the Middle East, a further 5000 in New Zealand and fewer than 1000 in Brazil.

However, Pontiac G8 production has not been affected.

A Holden spokesperson said that the company had discovered that the fuel line could potentially rub against a clip in the engine bay, resulting in a fuel leak and possibly even a fire.

The spokesman said that 19 cases of leaking have been reported, although there have been no instances of fires.

Holden has sent letters to owners asking them to take their vehicles to a Holden dealer for rectification and also published notices in newspapers this morning.

Rectification work will take about 30 minutes and involves re-routing the fuel line.

In October 2006, almost 2000 V8-engined VE Commodore and Statesman models were recalled to replace fuel hoses and then one month later 13,000 VEs were recalled to replace faulty rear seat belt buckles.

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Holden recalls VE Commodore - again