MOTORISTS across York and North Yorkshire who drive a Honda Jazz have been warned the company is preparing to recall more than 500,000 cars over an electrical fault.

Owners of the affected vehicles will receive a letter from Honda’s customer services department, advising them of a fault with the driver’s door master power window switch in about 646,000 vehicles worldwide.

The letter advises drivers: “Under certain conditions, water or other liquids may get into the driver’s side master power window switch and could impair the switch’s function.”

If the switch is damaged it will prevent the opening and closing of the window, but could also fail and overheat. The letter advises that an overheating switch may cause smoke or melting, or in extreme cases, a fire.

Emma Knight, communications executive for Honda UK, said the voluntary recall was a precautionary measure and drivers should continue to use their cars as normal.

She said: “The fault affects 171,372 cars in the UK, but we’re only expecting one in ten Jazz’s to actually require the waterproof skirt fix.”

There have been no reports of a switch malfunction causing a fire in the UK, and none in Europe.

A statement on Honda’s website specified only Jazz models built between 2002 and 2008 in Japan, China, Brazil, Thailand, Malaysia and India contain the faulty switch.

Ms Knight said: “All owners of affected models will receive a letter in the next three months advising them where and when they can take their Jazz for the rectification to be made.”

Tim Phillips, general manager of Marshall Honda in York, said his team were ready to carry out the recall and had set up a special online booking service on its website for customers affected by the recall.

“The repair will take less than an hour, but it has to be done in house with a Honda dealer,” said Tim.

“If Jazz drivers are concerned they can either call us on 01904 529 200, or book their service using the Jazz Recall drop down box on our website, marshallweb.co.uk/honda”

All fittings will be carried out free.