Uni Trans Automall Nissan(EAST LONDON) and Nissan SA will sell you a vehicle at the coast but not honor rust warranty claim!

I purchased a new Datsun go in August 2015, when I sent it for its first service in August 2016 I advised the service department that the vehicle was starting to get rust spots. I was advised that it was due to stone chips and was not part of the warranty agreement. After some arguments I was left with a vehicle 1 year old that was starting to rust. A year later it went for the 30 000km service and once again I advised Automall Nissan in East London where I had purchased the vehicle that the rust had now spread all over.

I was told when I collected the car that I had to take it to a panel beater of their choice which I subsequently did. After some time I was instructed to take the vehicle to a different panel beater again of their choice. I did this and waited for a response. Now I need to be fair here and state that the service advisor at Automall nissan(Molly Gordon) was outstanding and really put effort into keeping me up to date and informed. Sadly once it was out of her hands the attitude, willingness to help and actual effort exerted leave much to be desired.

I received an e-mail from the Automall Nissan Workshop manager Mark Lentz on 7 June this year advising me that he had been in contact with Nissan Sa warranty department and they had advised him that due to the fact that I live near the sea it was a case of "SALT LADEN AIR" that had caused the rust and due to that they would not entertain a warranty claim.

I have requested a copy of correspondence from him where Nissan SA state the above mentioned together with the tests that they must have performed or had performed to draw the said inference. To date nothing but did get contacted by Emily Bornman(Stand-in Customer quality Nisan SA). I was asked to supply her with details of the rust, when I reported it, to who it was reported to and when I first noticed the rust. Fortunately I have everything in writing and was able to submit everything to her on 15 June 2018. I was notified on 15 June by Emily Bornman that the content of my mail had been noted , would be investigated and I would receive feedback in due course. I sent an e-mail to Emily Bornman on 15 July requesting feedback and by the 19th I had not even had an acknowledgement let alone any feedback.

To put this in perspective Automall Datsun/Nissan East london is part of the uni-trans group. I have purchased 3 vehicles from that group over three years. All of my vehicles park in the same structure at night, get washed exactly the same and are subject to the exact same conditions. My Toyota Hilux (2011), Fortuner(2011) and Ford bantam(2006) have not shared the same effects of this salt ladened air mystery. The Datsun is rusting under the Bonnet and in the driver door sill(both are areas not prone to the same degree of exposure to the elements as the outside shell of any of the vehicles) yet have rusted to alarming proportions.

I would have expected the dealership to put in some effort to at the very least actually request to have a look at the vehicle before discussing the case with Nissan SA, there is zero customer service on the service side of this group. I have followed the person who I purchased 2 of my vehicles from when he moved to different dealerships within the group and can honestly say that the vehicles purchased from him have been looked after and if there was any issues would be sorted. Mr Ivan Van Der Linde I should have bought the Datsun through you sir, I doubt that I would be in the same predicament.

Absolutely pathetic that I could be blown off and told that the warranty is not valid because I live near to the coast yet my address was on the application when I purchased the vehicle from them and they were happy to sell me the vehicle but will not cover rust issues. I have managed to obtain documentation from other Datsun owners in Port Elizabeth and Mosselbay who have also had rust issues, some of it was sorted out and other people were also left out to be stuck with a rust bucket.

I will be submitting a formal ARF to the Motor industry Ombudsman of South Africa and will be proceeding with any avenues possible to make sure that people are aware of the service or lack thereof that can be expected should issues arise. I am not able to sell the vehicle for anywhere near the value that I should be able to due to the rust so I guess it is going to take some time for the Ombudsman to respond so while I am stuck with this vehicle and it is no longer a daily driver I will make damn sure that t becomes a moving billboard warning anyone who will listen not to do any business with Unitrans or Nissan/Datsun in South Africa.

Copies of all correspondence, photos and reports from panel beaters are available should anyone dispute the disgusting customer service received after selling me an item that will not even be roadworthy by the time the final payment is made.