Vauxhall is writing to more than 230,000 Zafira ‘B’ owners inviting them to have ‘preventative action’ carried out in a bid to prevent any more cars going up in flames.
Last year, the firm revealed that Zafira models built between 2005 and 2014 and fitted with air-con could be affected by an issue that causes a thermal fuse in the blower motor resistor to start a fire.
Vauxhall continues to blame this issue on ‘improper repairs’ of the heating system – and Motoring Research suspects this could be caused by cheap parts bought on internet auction site eBay.
Since then, Vauxhall has been recalling vehicles to ‘return them to their original condition’, by replacing resistors in every Zafira B affected, as well as the blower motor and pollen filter when required.
But now, following guidance from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), Vauxhall has ‘decided to go one step further’ and issue a further recall.
In a statement, the manufacturer said: “While the current action achieves the objective of returning vehicles to their original condition, after extensive investigations we have decided to go further and improve the overall robustness of the system.
“We will therefore be initiating a second recall to replace the current soldered fuse resistor with a wax fuse resistor so reducing the opportunity for manipulation. When the recalls are complete, all vehicles will have a new wax fuse resistor, a new blower motor and a new moulding at the base of the windscreen to address water ingress.”
The work will be carried out free of charge, and Vauxhall will be writing to owners on a staggered basis starting from August.
Not all customers have welcomed the news, however. One owner, Jemma Louise, posted in the Facebook group that originally brought the issue to light, saying: “Customers are ‘top priority’? Well I’ve certainly not been dealt with as ‘top priority’ – I’ve had to book my car in for the initial first recall FOUR TIMES now because they keep messing with my appointment. [I’m] FURIOUS they are risking me, my young daughter and childminding children for six months.
“I will never buy a Vauxhall again.”
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