Vauxhall Arena Recall R/1999/037: Loss Of Brake Servo Assistance, Who Is Affected And What To Do

Urgent

How serious

14 Jun 1999

Launched

573

vehicles in the UK

99-R-18

Manufacturer’s campaign code

Vauxhall recalled Arena vehicles built between 1 April 1997 and 31 December 1998. The brake vacuum pump fitted to the F8Q diesel engine can leak with the potential to allow oil to enter the brake servo with the consequence that a sudden loss of servo assistance and reduction of braking efficiency could occur. The recall notice describes the fix as: all potentially affected vehicles will be recalled and the make of the vacuum pump checked. Should this be found to be of Magnetti Marelli manufacture the pump will be changed for a quality assured unit. In addition the servo and associated vacuum pipe will be examined for oil ingress and replaced where necessary. You won't usually pay for it.¹

What’s Wrong

The brake vacuum pump fitted to the F8Q diesel engine can leak with the potential to allow oil to enter the brake servo with the consequence that a sudden loss of servo assistance and reduction of braking efficiency could occur.

DVSA's Original Wording

Concern: LOSS OF BRAKE SERVO ASSISTANCE Defect: The brake vacuum pump fitted to the F8Q diesel engine can leak with the potential to allow oil to enter the brake servo with the consequence that a sudden loss of servo assistance and reduction of braking efficiency could occur. Remedy: All potentially affected vehicles will be recalled and the make of the vacuum pump checked. Should this be found to be of Magnetti Marelli manufacture the pump will be changed for a quality assured unit. In addition the servo and associated vacuum pipe will be examined for oil ingress and replaced where necessary.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

The Risk

The recall notice describes the concern as: loss of brake servo assistance.

The Fix

The recall notice describes the fix as: all potentially affected vehicles will be recalled and the make of the vacuum pump checked. Should this be found to be of Magnetti Marelli manufacture the pump will be changed for a quality assured unit. In addition the servo and associated vacuum pipe will be examined for oil ingress and replaced where necessary.

Are You Affected?

Arena built between 1 April 1997 and 31 December 1998 may be included. Vauxhall estimates 573 vehicles in the UK. Enter your registration to check, then confirm by VIN with Vauxhall, because not every car in the date range may be included.

What To Do Now

1. Check your car by registration above, then by VIN with Vauxhall.
2. Book with any franchised Vauxhall dealer, quoting the campaign code 99-R-18 or the DVSA reference R/1999/037. See how to get a Vauxhall recall fixed.
3. Follow the letter's instructions until the repair is done. See can you drive a car with a recall?.

Related Recalls

This is one of 300 Vauxhall recalls in DVSA’s data. The Vauxhall recall launched before it was R/1997/098 on 22 May 1998, for possible fire risk. The one launched after it was R/2000/002 on 31 Jan 2000, for possibility of loss of brake servo assistance. You can also see every Vauxhall recall, all recalls launched in 1999 and brake recalls across every make.

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Source: DVSA recall R/1999/037, launched 14 June 1999. Data updated 15 October 2026. How we grade urgency.