Vauxhall has announced a recall for Zafira B cars after an electrical problem caused some of the vehicles to burst into flames. This follows on from the VM’s voluntary check earlier in the year, for which it blamed the problems on ‘improper repairs’.
The latest call back has caused more confusion for who’s to blame for starting the fires with the VM’s previous claims highlighting third parties had carried out improper repairs to the vehicle’s blower motor resistor.
According to the VM, the recall will focus on “improving the robustness of the system” instead of replacing the resistor and its fuse, which the firm started doing last year. The recall will also involve replacing the current ‘soldered fuse resistor with a wax fuse resistor to reduce the opportunity for manipulation’ according to a statement.
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.”
Stuart James, Director of the Independent Garage Association, responded to the allegations: “I have not seen any evidence that indicates that it’s a third party repairer fixing the faults. They’ve made an allegation but no evidence has been produced at this stage”.
Although the aftermarket has come under fire from the previous allegations, James is confident that this shouldn’t affect independent garages going forward: “Whilst the media have picked up on repairs being carried out by the aftermarket, I don’t think most consumers will take much notice. It’s just one party blaming another and I think consumers are smarter than that”.
Comments on social media seem to back this theory up. One poster on the Mail Online website said: “My local ‘stealership’ hardly has the motivation to do what’s on the service schedule let alone go off on a tangent and play around with the electrics. Vauxhall, your excuse is rubbish! I think the words you’re struggling to find are ‘poor design on our part.’
Vauxhall advises all drivers who haven’t had work completed from the first recall to take their cars to their nearest dealership for servicing.
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