EXTREMELY BAD AFTER SERVICE FOR A HYUNDAI PRODUCTION LINE ERROR

Once again – here I am complaining about one of the largest motor vehicle companies in SA, not sure why – because I hardly ever receive a reply back. PROBLEM We bought a Hyundai i20 in 2012 from the Hyundai Dealer in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. About 3 months before the initial Lockdown on 29 March 2020 we noticed that the paint on the back of the hatch was pealing and that there was no primer below the paint on the body/metal work of the vehicle, and so graduately the pealing became worse and worse, once the lockdown was lifted so that one could actually contact the dealership we did just that only to be informed that there was a recall on these specific models but that the recall was no longer valid. I Googled Recalls on vehicles - and according to the Internet and information put there by people who we all accept know what they talking about, A RECALL HAS NO EXPIRATION DATE – well not according to Hyundai. COMMUNICATION THE LOCAL Hyundai dealer in Port Elizabeth informed us that we can bring the car in and have it fixed – re sprayed – at our own cost. I was also told by the Hyundai dealer person that I spoke to that I should contact the Ombudsman and see if he can maybe assist us. Not getting anywhere with the local dealership I contacted the Hyundai Dealership in the UK, I explained our problem and they said that the local SA Head office of Hyundai Should Assist us with the problem, they even sent me the contact details. Well, that is exactly what I did, now keeping in mind this all began just before the 29 March 2020 Lockdown – close on 2 years ago, the UK dealership of Hyundai rep**** back to my email within days, it has now been more than 2 weeks and I have still not heard from the Hyundai Head Office in Johannesburg regarding the email I sent them. This is the email I received back from Hyundai SA in Johannesburg on the 17 August 2021 and nothing after that Dear Mark Andrew Keith This is confirmation that a Hyundai sales representative has received your enquiry. Your request is currently being processed and we will be in touch shortly. Enquiry Summary Dealership: Hyundai Automotive South Africa Dealership Map Coordinates: 0, 0 Sales Email: ***, ***, *** Contact Number: *** Comments: Regards, TEAM HYUNDAI SA

CONCLUSION Not quite sure where to go next, should I try a lawyer that is going to cost us an arm and a leg or should I maybe first try the Ombudsman as the Hyundai person suggested I do. I just feel that we did not hear or see the recall on the news, tv or radio or via any other means, and at that time our vehicle had no evidence that it was going to peel because of a factory fault where the vehicles were released for sale without a primer coat on. I saw a couple of comments on Hello Peter from people with the exact same problem as us and the exact same vehicle and model, they also all said that they did not see or hear about the recall and are now in the same position as us. We do not have the financial means to have the entire car re sprayed, and at this point it is started to show signs of rust at the back of the hatch where the paint started peeling first. I just feel that in our Country businesses seem to get away with Bad Service, and I think it is because the man in the street does not always have the financial means to take these Companies on, and the Companies know that so you get told to sort out your own problems. I am hoping that the Ombudsman can maybe assist us with this problem, very disappointed that a Company as big as Hyundai – which is an International Company, is not willing to assist us and the other people with a problem that is directly linked to their production line – and trying to get a number for the Korea Hyundai is impossible. Erica-Ann Becker