DEFECTIVE DISCOVERY SPORT MODELS - LAND ROVER DOES NOTHING!

Item: Jaguar Land Rover South Africa
Rating: 1
Author: Karina N

On the 21st Feb 2017, I bought a Discovery Land Rover Sport 2.2 SD4 HSE 2016 from Land Rover East London. I didn’t not test drive the car but I did test drive one from Fourways branch. (a lower model). I bought the vehicle in good faith that it was a demo model and in excellent condition. My Record of Advice and Disclosure documents did not mention any factory fault or defects or noises that I need to be aware of. In March, the more I drove the vehicle the more I started to hear “rattles” in the vehicle, particularly the steering wheel and centre unit and dash. I had to take the vehicle in for its first service by 21st April. Due to the rattles getting worse I took it in for the service and mentioned that there was rattles and I wanted these gone. I took it to Land Rover Bedfordview on the 13th April. They did the service but called me to advise that they would keep the vehicle a bit longer because of a software update and the rattles. They kept the vehicle for 3 days and I used the Evoque Land Rover as a courtesy vehicle (which had no rattles). I got my vehicle back and thought it was fine. However, the service advisor told me that these vehicles are noisy and I need to just accept it, it's a Land Rover! I had to return a few days later because one of the clips in my boot was broken off by the department that was fixing my car. The DP assisted me and apologized. However, I mentioned again that the rattles were still there! As soon as I drove it for more than 1 day I heard the rattles again! This time it was worse and the side panels (where the seat belts are located) also started to rattle. I took my vehicle in again on the 8th May 2017 and was assured that it would be fixed for definite this time. It was at the branch for a week! I was given a Discovery 4 as a courtesy vehicle and this car also did not rattle and drove very well. When I got my car back it seemed better with very seldom rattles, however in July the rattles started again and getting worse by the day! I took it to Hoedspruit on a long trip (4 hours) to test it properly. It rattled the WHOLE way! I have videos recorded to show how bad it was the entire trip. My husband was even losing his temper with how noisy the rattles are. I spent 8 hours of my life driving in a vehicle that rattled everywhere. The vehicle seems to be made of inferior quality and welding. When we checked online if there's other customers with these issues, a whole bunch of complaints about the same thing was mentioned. I phoned Land Rover Bedfordview while I was driving because I was SO angry! I could not believe a vehicle that cost R800 000 would be so noisy and honestly a great disappointment. There is no point of driving a vehicle that looks nice and drives very well but rattles every time you drive it. I do not listen to radio in my car and I like silence, so I cannot and will not pay for a car that is nothing but noise! I paid R41 000 cash into my deal and financed the value of R755 000 that makes financing this vehicle over R1 mil. This is not a cheap car and should not sound like one! I have owned 11 different cars in my private capacity and never had this issue. I have had a Ford Fiesta, a Hyundai Gets and i20, a Citroen C2, a Nissan Juke, a Renault Clio and Sandero, a Mini, Ford Ranger and a Ford Kuga and none have been this noisy and problematic. I just bought another Ford Ranger XLT because they are phenomenal and not one rattle and it’s half the price of my vehicle! I have now taken my Discovery Sport in again on Friday 28th July but I am not confident at all that this issue will be resolved. I believe this vehicle has a manufacturing problem and I have just inherited. The reason why I can confidently say this is because the dealership lent me another Discovery Sport (same model) and guess what? IT RATTLES! I heard it loud and clear as soon as I drove it out. This loan vehicle only has 2000 km on the clock. I believe with all my heart that this model has not be properly manufactured and I am not willing to continue another 3-5 years of my life paying for a vehicle that is not up to the standard of what I believed I was buying. I am still within my consumer right to return the vehicle (6 months from date of purchase and four opportunities have been given to fix the problem) and I have now proceed to the Ombudsman because Land Rover doesn't seem to care about their customers and think that the FSB will not deal with these cases. I have bad news for them, I am very well educated with financial services as a Director of a brokerage and have excellent relationships with the FSB. I have begun the process and will be contacting the correct people this week. I have spoken to the DP at Land Rover Bedfordview and I hope that a solution can be reached because I have exhausted my patience with this issue. The service manager cannot guarantee that these rattles will not come back and I am not going to continue taking my car in every month or 2nd month to be fixed. I am greatly disappointed by all that has happened because I thought I was buying a good car and a reputable brand and I am not sure if I will be buying a Land Rover again in the future.

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