Many modern petrol cars use wet timing belt engines, where the timing belt runs inside the engine oil. These engines are marketed as efficient and low-maintenance, yet increasing evidence from independent garages and vehicle owners shows that wet belts can degrade prematurely, shedding material into the oil system.
When this happens, belt debris can block the oil pickup strainer, starving the engine of lubrication and causing sudden, catastrophic engine damage — often with little or no meaningful warning to the driver. In many cases, the only remedy is a full engine replacement, typically costing £5,000–£7,000.
This issue matters because:
Failures are occurring at relatively low mileages, sometimes well below 60,000 miles, on vehicles that have been serviced correctly.
Drivers often receive little or no warning, meaning the damage cannot realistically be prevented once the failure process begins.
Warranty providers frequently refuse claims, despite timing belts and engines being listed as covered components, leaving owners financially exposed.
Independent garages are increasingly advising more frequent servicing or preventative work purely to manage the risk of wet-belt degradation — costs that were not disclosed at the point of sale.
Vehicle resale values are being affected, as buyers become wary of engines with known wet-belt issues.
Environmental impact is significant: otherwise serviceable vehicles are written off or require full engine replacements years earlier than expected.
At present, these failures often fall into a regulatory gap. They may not meet the threshold for a formal safety recall, yet they cause severe financial harm and undermine consumer confidence in modern vehicles.
This portal exists to collect real-world owner experiences so that patterns can be identified, rather than cases being dismissed as isolated incidents. By gathering accurate data, this information can be shared with regulators, Ombudsmen, MPs, and the media to support fairer treatment for consumers and encourage greater transparency and accountability from manufacturers and warranty providers.