Urgent and Ongoing Safety Concern – Vehicle Defect

Dear BAIC SA,

William Simpson Tokai has my car for 2 weeks already, they claim to have found the cause of my issues but are awaiting approval of the claim from BAIC, surely if they have been liaising with you throughout the process it should not take this long to have the claim approved to fix my car? This has been painful and I have not been given regular updates as to what's been happening unless I've asked and even then, the information is vague at best?

Regards

Zeenat

Dear BAIC SA,

I received a call from Felicity yesterday and she advised that I would get comprehensive detailed feedback by close of business today. This came and went.

I also messaged the service agent at William Simpson for feedback , he ignored , I then called and was advised he was handing over a vehicle to another client but that they would advise him I called and requested feedback, my call was not returned ?

We are going on to 3 weeks since my car has been there, a 500k car gathering dust in your workshop! And no one can or wants to give me feedback on the way forward.

Dear BAIC South Africa,

I am writing to formally raise my continued dissatisfaction with my Beijing X55, purchased in January 2024. This is the second time I am lodging a complaint, which is highly unusual for me, but unfortunately reflects the ongoing issues and frustration I have experienced with both the vehicle and the after-sales support.

Since purchasing the vehicle, my experience has steadily declined, and I now deeply regret this decision, particularly in contrast to my previous vehicle (VW Polo), which I owned for seven years without any issues.

Below is a summary of the concerns I have encountered:

1. Brake harness cable fault: Shortly after my first 5,000 km service, the vehicle began intermittently entering limp mode. Despite repeated follow-ups, driving multiple times to the service centre, over SEVERAL MONTHS, the issue was only addressed after I raised the possibility of legal action,following a dangerous incident at a busy intersection that put myself and my children at risk. The vehicle was then held at the service centre for six weeks awaiting parts, requiring continuous follow-ups from my side.

2. Incorrect service alerts: The service light has incorrectly activated on three separate occasions, requiring manual resets which meant multiple additional trips to the service centre for this.

3. Steering wheel defect: The steering wheel had to be replaced due to cracking and peeling.

4. Incomplete service (December 2025): A scheduled service could not be completed due to unavailable filters and spark plugs, requiring an additional visit.

5. LED light fault: A faulty LED light took approximately three months for approval and replacement.

6. Rust claim: A claim has been submitted and remains unresolved after two weeks with no feedback.

7. Dashboard defect: The foam lining near the windscreen is lifting and pushing outward.

8. Boot cover issue: The boot protector does not stay in place and can unexpectedly open while driving due to a design flaw.

In addition to the vehicle defects, I am extremely dissatisfied with the service process. Being limited to submitting one claim at a time is highly inefficient and results in unnecessary travel, time loss, and additional fuel costs. Furthermore, the delays in claim approvals and part availability are unacceptable.

At the point of sale, I was assured that BAIC’s local warehouse would ensure minimal delays in sourcing parts. This has not been my experience.

I am now in a position where I am extremely frustrated with the vehicle but feel unable to sell it due to its unresolved issues, effectively leaving me at a loss.

I would appreciate a prompt and comprehensive response outlining how BAIC intends to resolve these ongoing concerns.