*********** service of dealer principal

On the 21 st July 2016 we purchased a Ford Ranger 2016 Model from Ford -Pietermaritzburg it was a brand new vehicle not pre owned or a demo vehicle. The vehicle was purchased based on the FACT that FORD is built for reliablity strength & good service as this was our past experience with previously owned vehicles from Ford however this was not the same with the RANGER. The first problem we had was on the 23 rd July when the spammer light came on we called the salesman YUSUF SUMAD & he advised us to switch of the vehicle for a bit & restart this would allow the computer box to reset . The next day whilst driving to Durban we had the same problem the SPANNER light came on again & this time the vehicle was losing power we called again & were to told to do the same however should the problem persist we should bring the vehicle in as the computer box needed resetting we were told it was a malfunction . We were surprised as this was a brand new vehicle . The aircon when put on number 2 made a flapping noise so the fowlling week we took the vehicle in they had reset the computer box & we were told the filter was a problem in the aircon on the very same day Mohammed took the wehivle to have the LED light installed at a reputable company recommended by YUSUF SUMAD that does a lot of work for FORD - Pietermaritzburg . When Mohammed got there the gentleman named BARRY immediately notified Mohammed that whoever had installed the nudge bar at the garage did not put the engine cover *****s back on Mohammed called Yusuf in the presence of Barry asked him who was responsible as this was the problem only to be told the workshop at times can be reckless & these things happen . At the GARAGE Mohammed was told that should the spanner light persist not to worry all he needed to do is switch off the vehicle & allow it to reset . We later heard a noise from the gear box that was concerning as this was a new vehicle & somehow something was just not RIGHT ... before we left on our road trip over the boarder we called the garage & asked them if we could bring in the vehicle as we were not comfortable going over the boarder knowing there was this sound & the spanner light still persisted like the aircon also did with its flapping noise on no . 2 . We were given an appointment for the 23rd of December 2016 . The vehicle was collected that afternoon we were reassured that everything was good to go . Sadly this was not the case as we left on the 24 the spanner light came on again & whilst on holiday the noise from the gear box came back again ! The noise got louder when we got back Mohammed called the garage & told them to come & collect the vehicle as clearly this was not right & the vehicle could not be driven clearly there was something major wrong . The nightmare became a reality we were told the GEAR BOX was the problem & it needed replacing ! Utterly disappointed we then had to FIGHT not only with FORD -Pietermaritzburg but also with FORD SOUTH AFRICA for a courtesy vehicle as my business depends on a vehicle & cannot run without one !!!!! A service that DARRYL TOPPER refused to provide irrespective of the FACT that this was clearly *********** service & plain NEGLIGENCE received from the time the vehicle was purchased from the dealership ! At the time when we spoke to YUSUF about changing the vehicle we were told to not stress as the vehicle was covered & they would take responsibility for whatever needed to be done . Once more we gave them the benefit of the DOUBT & worked with them . The vehicle stayed with them for just over a month as the gear box needed to be ordered & fitted only to come back this time with a vibration on the steering & the radio switching of completely & the aircon noise still persisted! When we took the vehicle in yet again we were told the break drums / break disks needed changing this was causing the vibration & the filter was replaced however they didn’t or couldn’t hear a noise the radio fuse needed to be changed as well . Again I asked them to please change the vehicle for us as this was totally unacceptable for a vehicle that costs over five hundred thousand after being financed & more importantly it proved over & over again to be unreliable ... something that I could not have especially for my line of business & safety once again the radio went of the aircon did the same & the HIGHTLIGHT of 2017 the canopy door falling off because of *****s that were also missing that we did tell them about only to be told that the canopy was under guarantee & it would need to go back to the used agents as the garage didn’t keep those *****s !!!!! I asked yet again to change the vehicle but yet again my request fell on deaf ears & our frustration & disappointment was overlooked instead I found them advising in their best interest & not mine the consumer . It was clear that they didn’t want to lose money but ok for us to pay for this ! 2018 when I took the vehicle in for a service again the radio went off & the aircon still did the same I asked for the vehicle to be changed ... again they protected their interests & not mine on the 14 th of June 2018 the vehicle died off completely ! I called DARRYL TOPPER & told him enough is ENOUGH ! I don’t want to hear anything with regards to the vehicle he must come & have it towed & do what needs to be done with regards to financing another vehicle & please provide me with a courtesy vehicle as my business depends on one I cannot accept the RANGER again ... he told me with regards to a courtesy vehicle he cannot commit but will get back to me which he hasn’t done to this day neither has he contacted me with regards to my request . Friday the 15 th I received a call from HENDRIK the service manager at the dealership to tell me that it was the battery I explained clearly to HENDRIK to go back to DARRYL & tell him that I don’t want the vehicle back & he must please process my request ! I called FORD SOUTH AFRICA 8 days later to inform them of what was going on & our frustration regarding the vehicle & the attitude we received yet again from Darryl Topper a lady named BELINA told me that it was ford policy if the dealership didn’t have a courtesy vehicle then it is requested from FORD SOUTH AFRICA & the consumer is given a vehicle that is the procedure however they haven’t heard anything from DARRYL TOPPER but have left a message to contact me urgently & I should expect a call from him on Monday which was over a week ago to this day he still hasn’t called us & nothing has been done with the vehicle I am in the meantime borrowing a vehicle for business purposes. We are DIGUSTED with the service from DARRYL TOPPER & no longer wish to deal with FORD -Pietermaritzburg clearly the service has become HORRIBLE leading us to question the product itself .