Vauxhall recalls 220,000 cars: Plymouth campaigner says it's not enough

A Vauxhall Zafira which spontaneously burst into flames. Credit: Lisa Taperek

Vauxhall is recalling 220,000 Zafira B people carriers after worries over unexplained fires, and a campaign by two women in Plymouth whose cars burst into flames. One of them told us she'll keep fighting for a more thorough investigation.

Sue Freemantle's car caught on fire at her home in Ivybridge, she heard of a couple of similar cases - and then discovered over 100 more. She says the company recall won't end her campaign.

This incident has sparked one of the biggest safety recalls in Britain. Vauxhall says it is writing to every Zafira B owner to arrange an inspection of the car's heating and ventilation system.

The company says fire damage has made it difficult to find the cause, but has concluded that faulty repairs to a resister and fuse in the heater fan system are to blame, but Sue Freemantle is not convinced.

After talking to other owners and checking cars which haven't caught fire she believes it is due to water getting into heater fans.

Letters will go out to owners in the next few weeks, and the company says any necessary repairs will be done free of charge.