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Vauxhall Zafira B cars in second recall over fire risk

Vauxhall said the recall of more than 234,000 cars was 'preventative action'

Hazel Sheffield
Thursday 19 May 2016 06:26 EDT
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One of the Zafira models that allegedly spontaneously caught fire
One of the Zafira models that allegedly spontaneously caught fire

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Vauxhall has recalled thousands of Zafira B model cars because an engine problem is thought to cause some to burst into flames.

Vauxhall said the recall of more than 234,000 cars was "preventative action".

A recall was first announced for the same problem in December when Vauxhall wrote to all 234,938 Zafira B drivers about the problem.

The carmaker said a faulty blower motor resistor was behind the fires.

It has asked for drivers that did not return their cars in December to do so now to "improve the overall robustness of the system" rather than the simply replacing the resistor and its fuse as company did last year.

In December, Vauxhall started to replace the current soldered fuse resistor with a wax fuse resistor.

“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," a Vauxhall spokesperson said.

“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.”

Letters invited drivers to bring their cars to the dealership for the second set of changes are expected to go out in August.

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