Mr Stevens said: “I put in £50 of what I thought was diesel.
“I live just a minute away, so I didn’t notice anything wrong at first. But, when I set off for work early the next morning, the car started spluttering and eventually died.”
He managed to nurse the vehicle 18 miles (29km) to work at Dunkeswell, where it broke down completely.
A mechanic later confirmed the fuel injectors were likely blocked due to petrol contamination.
The car was temporarily repaired at a cost of £300, but a full fix, including new injectors and a high-pressure diesel pump, was estimated to cost £2,800, he said.
According to Mr Stevens, MFG admitted the fault, saying the pipes had been connected incorrectly during installation.
“They told me not to contact them again and that their insurance company would be in touch,” he said. “But I’ve heard nothing since.”
Mr Stevens is one of many affected by the error, and he had “heard of nearly 40 people with the same problem”.
He said: “It’s appalling. There’s been no empathy, no support.
“I was lucky I had £400 in my pocket to get the car going again, but I can’t afford the full repair.”
