New car news

17 August 2007 - 17:00

Bentley’s wheely big problem

This is a Top Gear public service announcement. Would all Bentley Arnage and Azure owners please report to their nearest dealer facility, as you may have a screw loose.

It's true. Bentley is recalling 550 of its £200,000-plus luxury saloons over fears that the wheels are in danger of falling off.

A number of Arnages and Azures produced between February 2005 and August 2006 may have been fitted with the wrong wheel bolts, with several customers reporting rattles from the wheels.

"As a precautionary measure we investigated the issue and re-called the other models," says a spokesman for Bentley.

"This was the result of a batch of wheel bolts supplied to us which were of the incorrect specification and could become loose and cause a rattle in the car whilst driving. There were no incidents of the wheels falling off the cars."

We're not going to get all high-and-mighty about quality issues with some of the most exclusive cars in the world - stuff like this happens. However, we do note with a slightly smug glance the blurb on Bentley's website which, in reference the Arnage, states:

"No other car can be hand-built to customer requirements with such delicacy and care." Indeed.