DO NOT BUY A VEHICLE FROM NISSAN MILNERTON

On the 11th November 2020, I came across a vehicle at Milnerton Nissan that I really wanted. The vehicle is a 2015 Golf GTI Performance Auto. I went in and met with a salesman named Evert Felix. In true salesman fashion he worked extremely hard at overselling the vehicle and making me feel like royalty for my new purchase.

Upon giving the vehicle a quick glance on this day, I noticed a few paintwork issues, small scratches and dents etc. Small touch ups needed. Evert then reassured me that all of these things would be fixed up within a few days. We then began the application process.

As the days went on I kept checking in with Evert with the status of my application, he then told me that the vehicle was taken to Barons in N1 City for the bodywork. He then went on to tell me that one of the xenon lights was being replaced, causing delays, so I waited patiently for this to all be done. The vehicle then returned to Milnerton Nissan and Evert then made me redo my application as the previous application had lapsed. I then came in to complete it, and took the vehicle for a test drive. Two weeks later on the 24th of November 2020 was when I was told I can come in to take delivery of the vehicle. When I got there, none of the things that was promised would be done, was done. The vehicle still had all the scratches and dents and was dirty. Before signing the contract, Evert gave me a pen and paper and asked me to walk around the vehicle and note all of the issues that needed to be fixed. At this point, in addition to all of the other cosmetic issues, I discovered that the driver’s side vanity mirror was smashed. These were the problems I noted at first glance, I then handed him the page with the list and I was told not to worry about a thing and was promised that people would come out and meet me at my work in Wynberg to fix up all of the issues. They did not want me to wait any longer, so they allowed me to take the vehicle and then have the issues seen to within the next few days. I was promised that the licensing and registration would be taken care of that same week and that I could expect my new number plates by the following week.

After signing the contract, I took delivery of the vehicle. I traded in my perfect condition VW polo, so I left with them and took the GTI. They left me with a quarter tank of petrol and nobody was interested in filling the tank for me. I tested the spare key before leaving and the key did not work. When I left I immediately began to notice issues with the drive itself. I immediately came back to Evert and told him that I suspect something wrong with front right shock absorber. The car felt every knock on the road and it sounded very damaging. He then told me that this would be seen to, but that I can go for now and we can arrange for Saturday 28 November at 9:00am for everything to be seen to. On the Saturday, I arrived expecting to see people involved with fixing my problems ready and waiting for me, but there was no one. Evert then called me to his desk, took out a pen and paper and asked me to list all of my problems again. Up until this point I was not too irate, but this was the start of my war with them. I asked him what happened to the list I left him and he couldn’t answer me. We then walked outside to the vehicle with then pen and paper and by chance, his supervisor, Morne Els, walked by and overheard our conversation. He then asked Evert if any of these problems were noted with the dealership before and Evert said no. It was at this point that I realized , no one at Milnerton Nissan besides Evert, knew about my issues with this vehicle. Morne then walked away as if to say he wanted nothing to do with this. Evert then told me to come back on Wednesday the 2nd of December at 9:00am. The Tuesday evening I sent a mail to Evert, listing all of my problems again and stated that I expect everything to be resolved on the day this time. By this point I was even more irate because the instalment of my trade in vehicle had come off and there was no workflow from Nissan to the bank. So I included this issue in my mail and copied in the Milnerton Nissan Dealer Principal Mr Tommie Haman.

I then received a response from Tommie, confused, asking Morne if he was aware of these issues. I assume Tommie must have come down on them because I was the assured by Morne that these things would now be taken care of when I arrive on Wednesday. Wednesday morning came, and they were not ready for me. There was back and forth over email and we agreed on Tuesday 8 December at 8am. I dropped the vehicle on the 8th, and Morne mentioned that the issues might span over a few days to fix since there are various problems and the vehicle will need to go to several places for the fixes. So I could fetch the vehicle at the end of the day and then reschedule for the next bit of work to be done. I didn’t mind leaving the vehicle there because I finally felt like there was progress. I was just extremely upset that they would not even give me a courtesy vehicle for all the trouble they were causing me. That afternoon I arrived to collect the vehicle and nothing had been fixed. Not a single thing. The tank was left on dead empty, my spare key was lost. Morne told me that they needed more time with the car and that is why nothing was fixed. I was extremely angry at this point because I was left without a vehicle, I had to make my own way to and from work and then to top it off, my vehicle was given back with no petrol.

By now I began to threaten to give the vehicle back because the shock absorber problem was worsening, and I kept on highlighting this to them. Not to mention everything else that just was not being resolved. They assured me of an appointment they made with Barons N1 for the following week Tuesday 15 December. I then brought the vehicle back to them again. A side note, my insurance company’s policy states that I must have a vehicle tracker installed in this vehicle in particular, this was installed on Thursday 10 December. So when I left the vehicle with Nissan on the 15th, I was able to watch all of their movements with my vehicle. The tracker picked up that they had driven all the way to Barons N1, stood there for 30 minutes and came back to Nissan where it sat there all day. Again, nothing fixed. Morne sent me an email saying that they had booked an appointment with Barons N1 for the 5th of January 2021, but this was not sufficient for me. I told them that I do not want this vehicle anymore and that the 5th of January would be there final chance to meet my requirements. I warned them that the vehicles drivability was becoming extremely bad.

Yesterday 28 December while driving from home from work, that front wheel finally gave in. I heard a loud crashing noise from inside, followed by the sound of metal being tossed around inside the engine. I then contacted Nissan in a rage telling them to fetch this vehicle. They collected it and I received a mail from Morne stating that “the vehicle is in the workshop and the right front strut mounting collapsed” they were sourcing quotes and would revert back to me soonest. It is now 29 December, and there has been no movement. Vehicle is still standing at Nissan.

In the mail I sent them I told them I am done with this. I do not want this car anymore. I cannot believe that a giant brand like Nissan would have this level of service. They have caused me nothing but pain for over a month now and I refuse to allow them to get away with this. This purchase was covered in bad vibes from the onset and I need to just be rid of it.

Just to highlight again, to date, none of the issues on this vehicle have been resolved.