Motorists in Newcastle are in an uproar on social media over allegations of possible fuel contamination at local service stations.

While several reports identify one specific location, the situation has sparked a wider discussion about petrol quality and infrastructure issues.

The troubling narratives follow recent flooding and heavy rain, which can be known to cause fuel contamination, particularly in older facilities with aging bowers.

A spokesperson from Newcastle Toyota confirmed staff had dealt with “a couple [of problems] the past fortnight, three most likely”.

They also noted that “contamination can be so sporadic”.

The spokesperson indicated one specific venue had been linked to multiple cases, too.

Attempts were made to contact the service station in question, without luck.

But, a representative from Wrong Fuel Help Newcastle also corroborated awareness of the issues, stating that older stations may be more vulnerable due to severe weather events.

It comes off the back of a major incident in Melbourne last week that resulted in a 7-Eleven locale being investigated by police when multiple cars broke down after being served allegedly contaminated fuel.

The circumstances can often lead to costly repairs for motorists, who struggle to obtain compensation.

Australian consumer association CHOICE published an article in 2016, which highlighted how difficult it could be to make insurance claims in these situations, a struggle that remains almost a decade later.

NSW Fair Trading has a fuel contamination reporting system in place for road-users, but it’s unclear how many complaints have been formally lodged.

Federal and state politicians, from both Labor and the Coalition, have been contacted for comment.

As the conversations continue online among local drivers, the issue raises questions about infrastructure, accountability and consumer protection in the face of increasingly unpredictable weather.

• University of Newcastle journalism student Grace Johnson

For more news stories:

• New sporting precinct proposed for Maryland
• Hunter Transmission Project’s EIS up for public discussion
• Local politicians fight for Shortland Post Office

Get all the latest Newcastle news, sport, real estate, entertainment, lifestyle and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Newcastle Weekly Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.