Life‘s “not so” beautiful in a Hyundai Tucson

Life‘s “not so” beautiful in a Hyundai Tucson

12 December 2019: My 2016, fully serviced Hyundai Tucson starts smoking with no warning or light appearing on dashboard. Unaware, I keep driving till I get to work (around 15km). The car’s warning system is so oblivious of said malfunction/ inefficient, it takes somebody outside my vehicle to alert me of “smoke coming from the hood”. I call Hyundai Assist and they tell me to drive it to the nearest dealership. A few phone calls later being passed from one Hyundai branch to another, I’m eventually told Hyundai Bryanston is on route to collect the car. And collect they do. No courtesy car offer, no indication when to expect feedback.

20 December 2019: After 2 weeks of costly “Ubering” to and fro work, meetings, dropping & collecting my child at school (while on 3rd trimester of pregnancy) I call Hyundai for update. Mervin (the Workshop manager) tells me a pipe burst. But all they need to do is “replace it”. Knowing that festive season is around the corner, I plead for the process to be sped up ASAP.

23 December 2019: Realizing my car won’t be done in time for December holidays, I call Hyundai Bryanston for status update & to ask for a courtesy car. First, I’m told the problem is actually bigger than they initially thought - suddenly my entire engine needs to be removed and sent to Hyundai engineers. (I.e. burst pipe damaged other parts of the engine). Secondly, according to Donavan “Hyundai does not provide clients with courtesy cars”. Even when, like in my case, the problem is their own manufacturing malfunction/ not client’s fault.

But unknown to Donavan, the Lady at reception has already told me that the only 2 “borrow cars” are being used by 2 other clients. Wow. As much as I see what’s happening, I choose to avoid “raising the race card”. Cos I know that whenever it’s used, those of the fairer complexion see the issue as “unfair” or “the same tired excuse you people must get over”.

24 December 2019: Update: Guess what? Mervin has hopped into his perfectly running, functional car and gone on holiday. How nice! So, my case now rests with a new supervisor who couldn’t be bothered how long I’ve already waited for my car. And guess what he says? “Engineers have also left & gone on holiday - they’ll be back in 2020. Till then no one can look at the car. Sorry for you.”

30 January 2020: “Uber surge” is now part of my daily vocab & budget. The struggle of being a (pregnant) woman of my complexion in SA is too real.

Contrary to the “happy mixed couples” and “giggling teens” depicted in their marketing campaigns, Hyundai SA is actually a big indirect contributor to the notorious #menaretrash bin. While my daughter and I have to pay ridiculous amounts to travel with a different stranger everyday, and While I’m forced to keep paying installments for a vehicle I do not have, life at Hyundai goes on. “Life is beautiful“, right?

2 January 2020: I get call from Hyundai’s lady at reception. Why is she calling today? To say...

Her: You’ll be happy to know Mr. Mervin Is back from holiday... Me: Well, isn’t that just peachy? And how is this relevant to my situation? When do I get my car? Her: Err, well. Turns out the part we need to replace needs to be delivered from Korea. Me: Korea?? Her: Yes. It should be here around Saturday 8 Feb.

They are so quick to sell you a call, but just cannot deliver beyond that.