Vehicle with countless Mechanical Problems

On 1 December 2022 we bought a 2016 KIA Sorento from KIA East Rand. In January/February 2023 we took the vehicle back to KIA because we were experiencing problems. These problem were as follows: • The vehicle would screech loudly upon acceleration • The steering wheel would shake violently when braking from a speed above 80km/h • There was a knocking sound when driving at a low speed. They took the car in and they said the issue was the brakes, shocks and the steering rack was loose They skimmed the brakes, tightened the steering rack and ordered the shocks. I collected the vehicle and on the same day I experiences the same listed problems We returned the vehicle and they said the turbo was the issue. They replaced the turbo but not the shocks as they were still out of stock (as communicated to us). We collected the vehicle and on our way home (which is 3.2km away from KIA East Rand) we experienced the same problem that the turbo replacement was meant to fix. The morning we were meant to return the vehicle, the vehicle wouldn’t start. We contacted KIA East Rand and we had it towed to the branch. They supp**** us with a courtesy vehicle which we had for almost a month. They informed us that they did repairs on the turbo, replaced the battery and the shocks. We collected the vehicle and we still experienced the screeching noise. We returned the vehicle and sat down with Pieter and Mike Salt to voice out our concerns and frustrations at the faulty nature of this vehicle. When we had granted right to repair and not replace or refund as per the Consumer Protection Act, we were unaware that they would take so long to repair the vehicle and it still would be faulty. They assured us that they would do the upmost to get the vehicle sorted. They replaced the oil, the filter and turbo. The screeching noise was gone yet the other two problems initially listed above were still there. They took the vehicle again and they replaced the tyres. I work from 06:45 till 18:00 and having to constantly ask for time off work to take or fetch the vehicle from KIA has become a problem and is reflecting badly on my time & attendance. I now ask my partner to take and fetch the vehicle. On Tuesday 13 June 2023 when my partner took the vehicle back again, he had an altercation with Conrad from the workshop side of the Kia East Rand branch. I must say I’m utterly appalled and disappointed even disgusted by the condescending attitude and notions he made. Firstly, he was insinuating that we were bringing different problems. When he asked whether he saw the initial complaints sheet and even the latest one he said it didn’t matter cause the lady that first dealt with us was no longer working at your branch. This showed exactly just how much he cared about this case. Secondly, he said my partner wasn’t the customer and he already spoke to Mrs Sam (my partner) and didn’t need to talk to him, yet he asked him when the problems happens. Thirdly, he threatened to have him removed from the premises because he said my partner was shouting at him, yet he was merely vocalizing our frustrations with the car. He then proceeded to demonstrate what me shouting actually sounds like. Telling him he was going to have him thrown out was incredibly rude and disrespectful because we are the customers. This is also in front of other Kia customers who proceeded to enquire what the matter was once he was seated waiting to be assisted. Fourthly, he then suggested that giving us cars while they fix the problems was somehow Kia East Rand doing us a favour and fixing the car is Kia East Rand doing us a favour when the regulations clearly stipulate that via the Consumer Protection Act they are liable for mechanical fault within the first 6 months. Furthermore, having highlighted to Conrad that this issue with the steering wheel happened on the highway as we had previously noted with the first complaint sheet back in January/February and the latest complaint sheet. My partner highlighted how this is life threatening for a steering wheel to shudder in this nature at high speed. He proceeded to say and I quote: “that’s nonsense, it’s not unsafe”. We have been incredibly patient, too patient. That was mostly because of the professionalism and empathy displayed by Pieter and Zee (the sales lady) that we were willing to work with Kia East Rand to sort out this vehicle even though the vehicle was having unending and seemingly hard to solve problems for the workshop since January. After all we have endured, experiencing the kind of service and condescending behaviour from Conrad the workshop manager made it clear to us that the relationship is no longer tenable. We have voiced concerns about keeping this car and on multiple occasions we were assured that everything would be fine which clearly hasn’t been.