Brand New Default Starting Kia Picanto Style 1.0 AT

On the 13th of July I took delivery of a brand-new Kia Picanto 1.0 Automatic style from KIA Fourways branch.

The following day as I tried starting the vehicle I noticed that the car was struggling to start, it would lag and take a while to actually catch start. I thought maybe because it was a new car and hadn't been driven maybe I needed to drive it a little to get everything running. On Monday 16th of July I brought this matter to the dealer’s attention and was told I should turn the key till I feel the car shaking. I proceeded to continue starting the car daily this way however this matter didn't seem to go away but however got worse as I drove it for the next two weeks but seems to start in a struggling choking way. On the 31st of July I insisted that this starting issue isn't going away and worried that this is going to cause problems with maybe other things as time goes by, so I insisted that they have a look at the car. So, I organised that the vehicle be booked in on the 1st of August 2018. I actually took a video of what I experienced so the sales lady could show the technician.

When I took the car in the technician guy said that from what he could see/hear from the video and what I was describing, it seems like air is trapped in the petrol pump therefore in the mornings when I turn on the car the petrol takes longer to reach the engine hence the struggle on the morning. So, I was assured that this isn't something serious and will be sorted out that same day. Later that day I was told that the car is fine and can now be collected. I was told that they are happy with the car and should be running fine now. The following day 02 August 2018 as I started the car, the same problem happened, and it seemed to have gotten worse. I then notified the dealer that I was not happy as they did not fix what they had said they had fixed. So, I was told to bring the car in again. and so, I did. and I got it back later that day, and the dealer had said they had fixed it and are happy that this time its sorted. The following morning 03 August the car was doing the same thing and now I am getting frustrated because if they are saying that it is fixed and are happy with the product, what are they fixing? They then advised me that I should leave the car over night with them, so they can experience what it is that I am experiencing while the have their machines plugged into the car, So I dropped the car off 06 August afternoon, so it can spend the night. I had to organise transport (which is really an inconvenience as when I purchased the car I had a vehicle that I traded) for myself and my son.

On the 7th of August 2018 I had messaged the sales lady to remind them to please test the car in the morning as this is mainly when the problem happens. So later that day she told me that she had spoken to the engineer and he said he checked the vehicle and will fix it and it’s not something to worry about, so proceeded to ask if this is something that he will sort out the same day and I was assured that yes and I shall get the car later that day. Later that day I had to get someone from work to do me a favour to drop me off at KIA, so I can collect the vehicle.

On the 8th August 2018 when I started the vehicle needless to say the vehicle was giving the same problem and worse, so I alert the dealer and was ready to cancel the deal as I did not sign to purchase a default product, but a brand-new car of which I will be paying for the next 7 years. I expressed how I felt and got the contact emails of the dealer principal and the sales manager, so I can send a formal email of my intensions. The sales lady gets me the email addresses and before I could email the sales manager called me to ask if they could keep the car for a couple of days so to give them a chance to sort out the problem and in turn they will assist me with a curtesy car while they are attempting to fix the problem. With a final shred of hope left in me I allowed them to take the vehicle to attempt to sort out the issue (Mind you this is a Brand-new car). They called 13th to say that they have fixed the problem and that they are happy once again, that the problem is fixed. I got the car back on Monday 13th August in the afternoon.

14th August I started the car again and the same thing happens, but I wasn't even sure anymore as I'm so used to it not starting for the 1st couple of times so I didn't inform them that day as I wanted to get someone else to actually start the car the following day. My fiancé started the vehicle 15th August 2018 and it took him 3 times to get the vehicle to start. on the 16th August 2018 when I started the car I had to hold the key till the car struggled to start. I then informed them as to what I had experienced during the previous 2 days. I was told that they will give me a car and come collect the car as they have logged a ticket with KIA South Africa.

27th August 2018 I got the car back, they said they were happy that everything is fixed and that they had a tech from KIA South Africa come in everyday to come sort out the problem. (what were they fixing the past few time they had said they were fixing the car?)

28th August 2018 I got my fiancé to start the vehicle for me. The 1st few attempts the car didn't go on, shocked I literally stopped him so I can take a video of what we were experiencing. (attached) when the car started it was choking and shaking as it struggled to go on properly. Now frustrated I don't want the car anymore, I made the sales person aware of my intentions and requested email addresses of the dealer principal and the sales manager so I can put a formal email to them 3 and request a new car or cancel the deal as I am now not satisfied and not happy with the product as it is meant to be a brand new car. Later 28th August Mike Ikaneng (sales manager) came to my work to see the car and suggested that he come to my place of residence in the morning to come and start the car and experience what I experience in the mornings as he has never had such problems before with the dealership. So, I agreed.

29th August 2018 Mike Ikaneng (sales manager) came to my place in the morning around 06h15 and started the vehicle and he also experienced the same problem. just to confirmed he asked the he could do the same test the following morning, so I did allow him.

30th August 2018 Mike Ikaneng (sales manager) came to my place to start the vehicle and he experienced the same issue for the 2nd day in a row and he confirmed that there was a problem and that they tested 5 cars at the dealership the previous morning and they started fine. He confirmed that they will be collecting the car and giving me their car in return.

03 September 2018 having not gotten any feedback from them, I sent them another formal email stating that I do not want the vehicle back and want a new one and if not possible then I want to cancel the deal. I contacted KIA SA customer services and made them aware of my situation and where I stand and that I do not want the car back as I am paying for a new car and not a new car that has to be repaired more than 4/5 times for the same issue because clearly then there is something wrong with the car.

05 September 2018 I was truly unhappy, so I contacted RMI with regards to the issue. I explained to them that I do not want the car back, for a new car it’s been repaired so many times for the same problem. He then contacted the dealer principal and then told him to draft an email. Late on during the day the engineer from KIA Fourways contacted me to tell me that they had to replace some unit on the vehicle and reassemble the vehicle and were performing tests and will be performing the final test 06 September 2018 with both the dealer principal and sales manager there and asked if I was going to be there. I then expressed to him also that I do not want the vehicle and will not be there for any testing as I do not want a Brand-new car which was fixed more than 5 times for the same problem. It’s different if the car is maybe second hand but this is a new car. But this car came with this starting issue from the get go thus meaning it had a default. Later on, Mike Ikaneng (sales manager) called to say they are doing a last text in the morning and he shall see me in the morning at the test, I then expressed again that I do not want the car and am not comfortable taking a vehicle that has had parts replaced as it’s meant to be brand new. At the end of the day, I am paying for the car and find that it is unacceptable that a new car has to have replaced parts that I have not broken and did not break do to me using it but due to it having come from dealership with a default starting issues. I’m extremely unhappy