‘Toothless car safety system needs overhaul’

The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) which administers the system is “a toothless organisation”, the magazine said.

While VOSA’s American equivalent the National Highway Traffic System Administrations (NHTSA) had instigated 118 recalls in 2010, VOSA had instigated none, said Which? Car.

The magazine said the UK system, which allows car-makers to determine when recalls are necessary, needed to be brought into line with that of the USA and that it aimed to meet VOSA to discuss the matter.

It also said VOSA had “declined to tell” how many recalls it had instigated in 2010 but further investigation found a Freedom of Information response on its website which said: “VOSA has not been required to use its powers to force a manufacturer into conducting a recall.”