Extremely Disappointed – Ongoing Electrical Fault Ignored

I purchased a brand new Polo Vivo 1.4 from VW Lindsay Saker East Rand Mall in July 2022, and it has had a persistent electrical fault since early in the ownership. The vehicle has been taken back to the dealership at least 12 times, with no lasting resolution. On several occasions, the job cards were left open in case the vehicle returned for the same issue—highlighting the dealership’s awareness of the ongoing fault.

Despite repeated visits, the issue remains unresolved. Both VW South Africa and VW Germany became involved in trying to find a solution. Eventually, a bridged earth connection was installed—with authorisation from VW South Africa. However, this modification still failed to resolve the problem and raises concerns about altering the manufacturer’s original design on a new vehicle.

After sending a formal written complaint and a follow-up email, I received no response from the dealership. I will now escalated the matter to the Motor Industry Ombudsman (MIOSA) and will be approaching the National Consumer Commission as well.

This has been an incredibly frustrating experience. I expected far better accountability and customer support from both the dealership and the VW brand especially being a customer of the dealership for 17 years!