Defective vehicle - bad experience - bad service

Good day,

I purchased a vehicle (2016 Chevrolet Sonic RS) from Hyundai Plumstead on 15/02/2023. Within 2 weeks I picked up issues with the gearbox. I took it in to get it checked out and was told it was the clutch that needed to be replaced. I also brought up an issue with noise when starting the vehicle.

The vehicle was booked in and the clutch was replaced, however, according to the branch, there were no issues (noise) on startup. I collected the vehicle and took it for a drive the next day when the car lost power and an error code popped up on the dash. I searched the error and found that it was related to the turbo. I contacted the branch and was told to bring it in. The vehicle was there for 3 weeks while they were trying to figure out the issue. They discovered it was the turbo (just like I told them). The turbo was fixed and the vehicle returned.

During the period that the vehicle was there, I again brought up the gearbox issue which was not resolved. I was told there was nothing wrong with it. The starting noise was also still there. I was told to take the vehicle to an auto electrician who said there was an issue with the starter (the cause of the noise). I booked it in and that was fixed. A few days later the car would not start. Went back to the branch and had the battery replaced as it died for no reason. This happened the day I was told to take the car to another shop to check the exhaust as that could be the cause of the start-up noise. That was not the issue. I never got feedback on that issue. (noise is still there)

Not long after, there was an oil leak that was dripping all over my carport floor. The vehicle had to be booked in again to have this fixed. The vehicle was there for just over 2 weeks. At this point, I told the sales manager (Lindsay Carelse) that I no longer want this vehicle as it is problematic! I was then told that they need to send it away to have it repaired first. I told them I was interested in one of the Grand I10s that were there. They did an application or quota and told me I would need to pay more due to a shortfall with the trade-in, yes, a trade-in, I was told I have to trade in the vehicle and that there would be a shortfall that I have to cover. Why? Why must I be held liable when I was sold a defective vehicle?

I emailed the sales manager and the branch manager (Gcina Mahonga) and received the following reply

===== The issue’s that the vehicle experienced were resolved and the vehicle is operating as it should.

Should you wish to trade the vehicle in for another vehicle, we are happy to offer another vehicle however there will be a shortfall on the price that we offer and the settlement value of your current vehicle.

Resultant from the shortfall, the instalment on the new vehicle will not be as advertised unless you have the funds to cover the shortfall value and this will be subject to bank approval and conditions of approval. Please advise if you would like for us to run the application and make an offer to trade your vehicle in for another. =====

Why am I the one getting *****ed over? I am paying for a defective vehicle which has given me problems from the start. The website advertises the grand i10 for R2999 per month, yet I am told I need to pay more than that because of the shortfall? Below you will find the dates and work done to the vehicle.

===== 14/03/2023 - 18/03/2023 went in for clutch replacement (this was when I mentioned the gears grinding and the starting noise) 29/03/2023 - 19/04/2023 error code 89 (car not boosting - turbo issue) took 3 weeks to figure out the issue and fix 26/04/2023 Starter issue (car returned same day after repair to starter) 03/05/2023 (car would not start - battery died and had to be replaced) 03/05/2023 Had the exhaust checked 11/05/2023 - 26/05/2023 (oil leak - repaired) =====

As you can see, this is a lot of time spent at the branch and workshops. Not once was I offered a courtesy vehicle and had to figure out transport myself. Besides that, in the 3 months I've had this vehicle, it has spent over a month at the branch.

The gearbox is still a problem, the startup noise is still there (Really loud grinding noise), and the vehicle losses power at certain revs.

I do not want this vehicle anymore, I do not want to sit with all these problems every month which I know is going to be the case. I should not be held liable for any shortfall as this all happened within the 6-month period as was not due to any fault of mine.

This is causing a hell of a lot of frustration and I would like this resolved ASAP!