The Japanese manufacturer is contacting 77,000 who bought the car which was made at the Wiltshire plant between 2002-2006. It is part of a global recall involving nearly 500,000 vehicles.

Drivers have been asked to bring the car to a dealer for the repair to the switch after five drivers – one in Britain and four in the United States – said they could smell burning.

The fault has been identified as a faulty seal on the switch, which means that water or liquids could seep into the master switch, controlling all the windows.

Over time, according to the manufacturer, the liquid can cause the switch to overheat, melt and eventually cause a fire.

The fault applies to the second series CR-V. Honda is now on the fourth version of the car, which costs upwards of £22,000, there are about 200,000 on Britain’s roads.