Reports of Vauxhall Zafira recall

Vauxhall is investigating instances where some of its Zafira models have suddenly caught fire. Reports indicate that, in some instances, drivers have had to pull over while driving and jump from their burning vehicle. Hundreds of thousands of Vauxhall Zafiras have been sold in Essex and across the United Kingdom, but the car manufacturer has said that it is waiting until it can isolate the cause of the problem before it issues a recall.

The director of communications at the company has said that one possibility is that non-Vauxhall approved parts may have been used in repairs on units in the affected vehicles. Over 130 incidents of cars spontaneously bursting into flames have been reported. The drivers have said that, initially, smoke has entered the car through the vents before the car ignites. Vauxhall believe that replacement resistors or repairs to heating fans and filters may be the cause.

Although no one has been injured so far, owners believe that it is only a matter of time and have used social media to post pictures of their burning cars. In one incident, a car caught fire while in a petrol station and in another, a mother with her four children in the car managed to escape with them unhurt. The car manufacturer is unable to say how many cars may be in danger of spontaneously combusting, but reports have included Zafiras sold between 2005 and 2014.

Consumers who are injured as a result of using a faulty product may be entitled to compensation from the manufacturer or retailer if the cause can be shown to be a manufacturing defect or the result of a failure to warn customers when a fault has been detected. A solicitor familiar with incidents caused by defective products may be able to advise a client concerning a claim for compensation.