Two-thirds of cars fail re-checks

Around two-thirds of vehicles affected by dodgy warrant of fitness (WOF) assessments have failed their re-checks.

Out of 741 vehicles, 465 failed and need repairs in order to pass, according to Radio New Zealand. 

This leaves a remaining 19,000 vehicles still needing to be evaluated. 

It has also been claimed that only a third of the 2,000 vehicle owners affected by Dargaville Diesel Specialists have had their cars rechecked, forcing the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) to extend the time-frame of the re-inspection vouchers for these owners by two months. 

The NZTA has been in hot water recently after it was found the agency had not been enforcing its transport regulations properly, resulting in a recall of over 21,000 vehicles needing warrants of fitness retests. 

Timeline of events

- Late August: Dargaville Diesel Specialists suspended – 1,956 vehicle owners urged to get WOFs rechecked. 

- October: Orient Motors – 3,494 affected owners. 

- October: Te Aroha Automotive – 613 affected vehicle owners.

- November 23: Westland Mechanical and Tyre – 3,721 affected vehicle owners.

- November 30: Auckland’s Jet Tyres and Wheel Alignment – 993 affected vehicle owners.

- November 30: Onehunga’s Church Street Motors and Tyres – 4,053 affected vehicle owners.

- December 4: El’s Auto Services in East Tamaki – 3,783 affected vehicle owners. 

- December 5: Super Cheap Tyres and Auto Services in St Johns – 2,443 affected vehicle owners.