Complaint against Hyundai Alberton and Hyundai SA

25 August 2021

Complaint by Eddie Shane Van Rooyen, identity number¨*** 087

I hereby wish to lodge a complaint against Hyundai, Alberton as follows:

1 I purchased a brand new Hyundai Atos 1.1 Motion with registration number JS92KVGP 2020 model from Hyundai Alberton on 28 October 2020 which vehicle was financed with MFC. 2 I have endless problems with the vehicle from 2 to 3 months of purchasing and receiving it. The problems are as follows: 2.1 The battery that was in the vehicle was the incorrect battery and Hyundai Alberton replaced the battery with the correct size soon after I took delivery of the vehicle and when I noticed that the battery was not fitting in the bracket properly; 2.2 Around the week of 11 January 2021 I started hearing a knocking sound at the left front whenever I drove over a slight bump and the sound became louder. My fiancé was with me in the vehicle on one occasion when I drove on an uneven tar road and she felt the knock under her feet. This has put myself, my fiancé and my children in harm’s way. I reported this to the salesman Gavin from Hyundai Alberton who sold me the vehicle the same week and he told me to take my vehicle to them so that they can investigate what the problem was. The mechanic stripped the left front and they found that the left front shock had collapsed which was then replaced on 19 January 2021 (see attached invoice dated 19 January 2021 marked Annexure “A”) – this was on a brand new vehicle that I have had for less than three months. This was paid for from the warranty. I was during Hyundai’s investigation of the problem, without my vehicle for about a week and I had to use my fiancé’s vehicle to get to work and back; 2.3 I also discovered a chip on the outside of the vehicle which was repaired by Hyundai Alberton on 23 March 2021 (see attached invoice dated 23 March 2021 marked Annexure “B”) which chip was caused at the dealership when the vehicle went back for the collapsed shock replacement on or about 19 January 2021; 2.4 On the morning of Tuesday 13 July 2021, I attempted to start the vehicle and it would not start (it was my day off) – the starter was not even turning. I contacted Hyundai Alberton and informed them of this and it was arranged that Miracle Towing would come to my home to see what the problem was. They jump started the vehicle and it started and I was told that the battery terminals were loose. The tow truck driver fastened the terminals but they would not fasten properly. The tow truck driver then left and I thought that the loose terminals were the problem (see attached invoice marked Annexure “C”). 2.5 However on the morning of 14 July 2021, I was on my way to work and again the car would not start. I left the car and again had to use my fiancé’s vehicle to get to work and back that day. I contacted Miracle Towing again and they came to my home and towed the vehicle from my home in Alberton North to Hyundai Alberton (see attached invoice marked Annexure “D”). The mechanic performed various tests on the battery and it was alleged that it was the car tracking device which I had fitted but that it was that was fitted incorrectly and that it was draining the battery. Car track was contacted by Hyundai Alberton and on or about 15 July 2021 someone from Car Track went to Hyundai Alberton to test the device. They moved the device to a different location in the car as it was firstly fitted near the ignition. The device was tested and was found not to be faulty. The person from Car Track also noticed that the vehicle already had a Netstar tracking device fitted that I was not told about at the time of purchasing the vehicle and it was suggested that that could also be the problem for the draining of the battery. (I was told last week that the vehicles come standard with a Netstar tracking device but I was not informed about this at the time of purchasing the vehicle). Hyundai then fitted new battery terminals (I am not in possession of an invoice for this) to the vehicle and I drove it without any further issues; 2.6 Then on the morning of Wednesday, 11 August 2021, while I was driving to work a message popped up on the radio saying “Battery discharge warning! Please use system with the engine running”. (see photograph attached as Annexure “E”). When I arrived at work I switched the vehicle off and tried to start it again but it would not start. I phoned Hyundai Alberton that morning when they opened and reported this to the workshop manager. Hyundai Alberton then came and towed the vehicle from my workplace to their dealership. 3 When I phoned Hyundai later that morning, they speculated that perhaps the radio’s software needed updating which is ludicrous as it is the first time ever that I hear of something like that. The workshop manager informed me that they will have to remove the radio and send it to the manufacturers of the radio to have the radio tested (I do not have the name of the manufacturer). This was done on Thursday 12 August 2021 at which time the interior was scratched in two places. I noticed this after I fetched my vehicle and then phoned the workshop manager Sean about this and he said that it would be repaired once they fit the replacement radio. By late Friday afternoon, Fransina from Hyundai Alberton phoned my mother-in-law Nellie Eybers and informed her that the manufacturers in fact tested the radio and found that the radio was faulty which more than likely has been the problem from the start with the battery being constantly drained. (I am not in possession of any report or documents relating to this and Hyundai has the documentation). Nellie was informed that under the warranty a new radio will be ordered and also under the warranty a new battery will be fitted to the vehicle. I was given a loan car from Hyundai Alberton during this time. Fransina also informed Nellie that she does not know how long it will take for them to get a new radio and that I can fetch my vehicle and if I would not mind driving it without the radio for the time being I could do so. I also from the time I took delivery of the vehicle on 28 October 2020, have been unable to connect the GPS from the Hyundai App on my phone to the radio of the vehicle. I fetched my vehicle without the radio on Monday 16 August 2021 and have been driving it without a radio until now without any further feedback from Hyundai Alberton as to when they expect to get the replacement radio. 4 I have on numerous occasions told Hyundai Alberton that I do not want this vehicle any longer and that they must give me another new vehicle without any problems but they informed me that they cannot do so. 5 I also last week spoke to a good customer of mine who is a salesman at Kia and he informed me that Hyundai should have given me a new vehicle after the second time that the vehicle gave problems as that is what Kia would do. 6 I do not want this vehicle anymore which I religiously pay the instalment of every month and I am more without my car and having to drive other vehicles than what I drive my own vehicle. I have had enough of the issues with this vehicle which was brand new. The mileage on my vehicle is only ±3 150 odd km. I am extremely perturbed and unhappy with this vehicle. 7 I insist that Hyundai Alberton give me a new vehicle.

__________________________ Eddie Shane Van Rooyen