Barloworld GM Kuilsriver sold us a defective Opel Astra OPC and need to now take responsibility and sort out their dishonest mess!

We purchased a OPEL ASTRA 2.0T OPC 2014 model from Barloworld GM Kuilsriver, Western Cape, however we were notified after signing the contract that the branch would be closing.

Initially I advised Marius van Niekerk at Kuilsriver on the same day that he delivered the car 22/8/2017 that the rear tyres were worn and that there was no tyre repair kit. He then referred to his manager Gert du Plessis and they did replace the tyres. The other minor issues including a shudder, he advised could be addressed under our warranty at our first service.

We then took the car to Reeds N1 City in December 2017 for the first service, ahead of time, and sent them our list of issues to check, including the shudder. They came back and said all brakes needed replacing.

We did ask Marius if the brakes were in order when viewing the car. When taking this up with him, he advised that the branch was closed and that I would need to deal with head office.

I then put in my complaint with them and was contacted by Tony Heskes telephonically, while on holiday. He then told me to take take the car to Audi Waterfront for a second opinion. They then said only the front brakes needed replacing. I then decided to get further second opinions, as I was not happy with this and was advised that all the brakes did in fact did need replacing. After a long struggle with Tony and Marcia Mayaba (Dealer Principal Barloworld Isuzu Johannesburg ), Reeds Bellville eventually replaced the front brakes, but when we then got the car back it had a major shudder at the front passenger side. We took it up with them and they then said the brakes needed to bind.

They then said that it was the mag rim and then the wheel bearing and hub. They replaced the wheel bearing and hub and the shudder is still there. They then advised all four rims were buckled and as I would not accept this, they got an independent report stating all four rims were previously buckled and repaired.

This would mean the car was sold to me like this, not only with faulty brakes, but dud rims as well, which have caused endless problems. When viewing the car initially the tyres did not look worn, so I am now starting to suspect the rims were swapped before they delivered the car to me.

According to the Consumer Protection Act, a new or used car must be “fit for purpose and free of significant defects for six months”.

Failing which, the car must be fixed by the dealer.

The matter has now been referred to the Motor Industry Ombudsman of South Africa, as we would like Barloworld GM Western Cape South Africa/Barloworld Isuzu Johannesburg to take responsibility for their Kuilsriver Branch's dishonesty and sort the car out properly once and for all.