Vauxhall under criminal investigation over Zafira fires
Parliamentary report said British carmaker was ‘too slow’ to investigate cars that burst into flames
A criminal investigation has been launched into Vauxhall over hundreds of fires that broke out in its Zafira model.
The Luton-based car manufacturer became aware in September 2014 that there were reports of the multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) bursting into flames dating back to 2009, The Independent says.
But Vauxhall didn’t launch a formal investigation into the fires until August 2015, the news site says. By that time, a total of 161 Zafira fires had been reported.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
That delay was criticised last year in a “damning” parliamentary report, which accused the manufacturer of being “too slow to begin an investigation, too slow to address the causes and too slow to alert drivers of real safety concerns”, The Daily Telegraph reported at the time.
The series of fires has now attracted the attention of the government-backed Driver and Vehicle Safety Authority (DVSA), which has partnered with trading standards officers at Luton Borough Council to investigate Vauxhall’s handling of the situation, says Auto Express.
Although the DVSA had been working with Vauxhall to gather information on the incidents since October 2017, the agency has now “turned its investigation of the manufacturer into a criminal one”, the magazine reports.
Prior to the inquiry, the carmaker had recalled more than 200,000 Zafira B cars in 2015, and a further 234,000 the following year, says BBC News.
A spokesperson for Vauxhall said yesterday that 92% of cars affected by the fault have now been recalled.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
States sue TikTok over children's mental health
Speed Read The lawsuit was filed by 13 states and Washington, D.C.
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump kept up with Putin, sent Covid tests, book says
Speed Read The revelation comes courtesy of a new book by Bob Woodward
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Floridians flee oncoming Hurricane Milton
Speed Read The hurricane is expected to cause widespread damage in the state
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Vauxhall Astra GSe review: what the car critics say
The Week Recommends A top-of-the-range Astra that is ‘quite satisfying on a twisty road, but it’s never exciting’
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sport on TV guide: Christmas 2022 and New Year listings
Speed Read Enjoy a feast of sporting action with football, darts, rugby union, racing, NFL and NBA
By Mike Starling Published
-
House of the Dragon: what to expect from the Game of Thrones prequel
Speed Read Ten-part series, set 200 years before GoT, will show the incestuous decline of Targaryen
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
One in 20 young Americans identify as trans or non-binary
Speed Read New research suggests that 44% of US adults know someone who is transgender
By The Week Staff Published
-
The Turner Prize 2022: a ‘vintage’ shortlist?
Speed Read All four artists look towards ‘growth, revival and reinvention’ in their work
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Vauxhall Astra review: what the car critics say
feature The eighth-generation Astra is more handsome than its forebears and it feels more sophisticated
By The Week Staff Published
-
What’s on TV this Christmas? The best holiday television
Speed Read From films and documentaries to musicals for all the family
By The Week Staff Published
-
Coco vision: up close to Chanel opticals
Speed Read Parisian luxury house adds opticals to digital offering
By The Week Staff Published