Hyundai Accent 1.5 CS

On the 04th March we took our car to Hi-Q White River to get the wheel balancing done, as the steering wheel had a light vibration between 100 - 120kms/hour. We were shown our 2x front tyres that had now worn smooth on the inside. We replaced the 2x front tyres. We were then informed that in order to do the wheel alignment, we needed to replace the following: Tie rod ends, Rack ends, 4x front bushes & the front wheel bearings. (There was nothing wrong with the wheel bearings we were told, but they replaced it anyway.)

We ordered the parts. On the 08th March we took the car back to Hi-Q White River with the parts we'd bought. I collected the car on the 09th March. On the 11th March we left for Middelburg, our first long trip with our car with her new parts. 94kms out of Nelspruit on the N4 @08h40 at 120kms/hour the right wheel bearing locked, almost causing us to have such a bad accident, but luckily we kept calm, slowed down & pulled over. There was alot of smoke coming from the wheels & an oil splatter on the inside of the wheel. We were unable to move the car into the shade as the wheel had locked, so we had to wait in the blazing hot sun. We immediately called Hi-Q to report the matter to Bongi. After much back & forth, he suggested that he would get his drivers to come & pick up the vehicle & offered to get us a courtesy car so we could still get to Middelburg. We were picked up a few hours later by a friend of ours. We left the vehicle with Trac N4 who were watching over us and the vehicle. We received the courtesy car after 13h00 & left again for Middelburg.

The drivers from Hi-Q only got to the vehicle @15h30, and took it back to White River.

On the 12th March Bongi informed me that the vehicle is in their shop, they had to order a new hub because the bearing had damaged the hub and had to replace new wheel bearings again.

On the 15th March I was informed the car was ready. I collected the car & drove it home. I noticed the brakes had a bad vibration and was causing my leg to shake; the steering was now worse than ever, pulling to the left with a vibration at 40kms/hour. Bongi said I could bring the vehicle back. He said when they were doing the bearings the brake pads were on their limit & that might be the cause of the shaking.

16th March took the car back into Hi-Q. On turning to the left there was a knocking sound on the right hand side. On the 22nd Bongi informed me that they fitted a new cv joint on the right. Car remained there as they needed to re-do the wheel alignment to check why she's pulling to the left. Got the vehicle back. Steering still pulling to the left and shakes. Returned the vehicle on the 23rd March.

On the 01st April (Saturday) we decided to take the car out, even though the brakes weren't too good, but there was enough to drive the vehicle. The steering was pulling again to the left and shaking at 40kms/hour. We drove straight to Hi-Q, got Bongi to get in and test drive the vehicle himself; he was horrified, he didn't know the steering was that bad. He dropped us at home and took the vehicle in. Would let us know on Monday.

On the 03rd April I asked Bongi how is the car coming on. He informed me that it was still by Tyre Mart, having a look at the disk pads & brake pads and were going to check if they could skim the discs.

06th April one of the mechanics drove the car to our house. We were informed that the following needed to be replaced: Steering rack, Disk pads, brake pads & Caliber pins. We ordered the disk pads & brake pads. I received it late on the 11th April.

12th April dropped the car off at Hi-Q White River with the 2 parts.

14th April I contacted Bongi at Hi - Q White River to get an update on the car. He informed me that the car is still pulling to the left and the steering still has the vibration on 40 kms/hour. I told him I want my car fixed, but I am now fed up as it's been just over a month that we haven't had our car, and they are driving out our petrol, we are stuck at home.

When we took the car in the first time, there was no problem with her steering wheel at all. It was completely straight, no pulling to the left.

I feel that all these problems have occurred since the mechanic hadn't checked the wheel bearings properly, which has now caused all these problems, and I must pay it.