Dont trust them

Dear Kia Customer Care,

I am writing to formally lodge a complaint regarding a Kia K2700 purchased from Maritime Motors, Port Elizabeth, in March 2024.

My company purchased two Kia K2700 vehicles from the dealership. From the very beginning, one of the vehicles displayed serious issues, including excessive oil consumption and unusually high fuel consumption. These concerns were repeatedly reported to Maritime Motors during services and inspections.

Despite our complaints, we were continually advised that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. We were instructed to stop topping up the oil ourselves, and the areas where oil was being added were sealed. We were further informed that the dealership would monitor and replenish the oil during scheduled services.

Unfortunately, despite these ongoing complaints and the known oil consumption issue, no effective corrective action was taken. Two weeks ago, the engine suffered a catastrophic failure and the vehicle had to be towed to the dealership.

I have since been informed that the engine will be replaced under warranty. While I appreciate that Kia is undertaking the repair, neither the dealership nor Kia has been able to provide me with a realistic timeframe for the repair and return of the vehicle.

This vehicle is a critical business asset. Its prolonged unavailability is causing direct financial losses to my company through lost productivity and operational disruption. The situation is particularly frustrating because the problem was reported from the earliest stages of ownership, yet our concerns were repeatedly dismissed.

To add to my disappointment, I was contacted this morning and informed that a courtesy vehicle would only be provided for five days, after which my company would be expected to cover the rental costs through Europcar. I find this completely unacceptable given the circumstances.

I invested close to R500,000 in this vehicle and have fulfilled all maintenance and warranty requirements. The evidence strongly suggests that this was an underlying manufacturing or mechanical defect that existed from the beginning and was repeatedly brought to the attention of the dealership. Had the matter been properly investigated and resolved when first reported, the engine failure may have been prevented.

I therefore respectfully request the following:

• A full investigation into the history of this vehicle and the handling of my repeated complaints. • Written confirmation of the expected repair timeframe. • Provision of a replacement vehicle, at Kia's expense, for the full duration of the repair period. • Consideration of compensation for the business disruption and financial losses incurred due to the vehicle's failure. • Assurance that appropriate steps will be taken to prevent other customers from experiencing similar issues.

"In terms of the Consumer Protection Act, I purchased the vehicle with a reasonable expectation that it would be free of defects and suitable for its intended commercial purpose. The ongoing oil consumption issue was reported from the beginning of ownership, and despite repeated complaints, no effective remedy was provided. The subsequent engine failure appears to confirm that the vehicle suffered from an underlying defect that was not properly addressed when first reported."

I have always expected Kia vehicles to be reliable commercial assets, which makes this experience particularly disappointing. I trust that Kia South Africa will take this matter seriously and provide a fair and reasonable resolution.

I look forward to your urgent response.

Kind Regards,

Lindie Du Preez Director MMD Construction (Pty) Ltd

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