Unresolved engine failure despite multiple repairs under warranty

Title:
Ongoing unresolved engine failure – Mahindra South Africa – No resolution despite warranty and multiple repairs Complaint:
I am raising this complaint regarding an ongoing dispute with Mahindra South Africa relating to repeated engine-related failures on my vehicle, which remains unresolved despite multiple repair attempts and formal escalation to Motor Industry Ombudsman of South Africa (Case ***). The vehicle, which is still under warranty and has a full service history, experienced a major breakdown on 26 October 2024 near Springbok. It was towed to an authorised Mahindra service centre, where initial diagnoses included issues with the flex plate and crank-related components. Since then, the following has occurred:

• Multiple repair attempts have been carried out by authorised Mahindra dealerships
• The vehicle has continued to experience oil leaks and related mechanical concerns after these repairs
• A “sub-assembly” repair was reportedly performed, however the engine number remained unchanged
• No clear or consistent technical explanation has been provided for the root cause of the failure

Mahindra South Africa has indicated that no manufacturing defect has been found, while at the same time offering a limited goodwill warranty extension. This has not resolved the underlying issue, and the vehicle has not been restored to its expected condition. Given the seriousness of the initial failure and the ongoing issues after repair, I am concerned that the vehicle has not been properly rectified in line with the standards expected under the Consumer Protection Act. This matter has now been with MIOSA for some time, and we are still awaiting meaningful resolution, while the situation continues to cause financial and operational impact. At this stage, I am simply requesting:

• A clear, transparent technical assessment of what has failed
• A resolution that restores the vehicle to a reliable and roadworthy condition
• Consideration of a full engine replacement given the history of repeated failure and unsuccessful repairs

I trust Mahindra South Africa will engage constructively to resolve this matter.