My Suzuki Swift

Hi I've sent the following complaint to the Suzuki Head Office.

I bought a brand-new Suzuki Swift September 2015 from your Mekor Tygervalley branch.

I simply love my car! I also take very good care of the car. I recently also extended the service plan on the car as I am planning to drive the car for a few years still.

Recently I've noticed that the back (left) passenger door started forming a grey spot in the paint. I've also noticed that there are small rust spots all over the car. On the bonnet, the spots became visible recently.

I visited the service centre at Mekor Tygervalley. They checked the car's details on your system and confirmed that unfortunately there is no warranty on the bodywork of the car anymore. They therefor did not even want to accompany me to the vehicle in order for me to show them the problem areas. I was also told that all I can do is to take the car to a panel beater.

Today I visited “Durbanville Bakwerke” for advice. They checked the car all over and told me that the whole car will need to be repainted (as it is the metallic white colour). They were also stunned when I told them the car is only a bit older than three years. The whole car is covered in little rust spots. They also confirmed that the grey spot on the door is the result of spraying not done in a proper way. They first asked me whether the car was repainted as it appears that way. I then confirmed that I bought the car brand new.

My car only has 41 000 km. I took out an extended service plan recently so that Suzuki can service the car in future as well. I plan to drive the car for 5 more years.

On your website, on the first webpage you advertise the following: Our customers are really everything and this is why we care. The Suzuki care philosophy Suzuki promises each Suzuki driver an exciting owning experience, along with total peace of mind. We strive to always be transparent continuously helpful and to deliver excellent service, honesty and professionally.

Is it fair to buy a brand-new car (more expensive than a second-hand car) to assure that I have a dependable car for the next few years only to realise that after three years, and only 41 000 kms I will have to buy another new car or have the massive expense to repaint the vehicle? Is it fair that I have a grey spot on my car as the cause of bad painting work? Is it fair to have a new car covered in rust spots?

If you are true to the promise you make (The Suzuki care philosophy) you will contact me and try to find a solution. Unfortunately, the rust spots and grey spot only became visible after the warranty expired. As I also stated, the Mecor Tygervalley service centre didn't even want to have a look at the problem.

I am devasted. I am asking myself why I bought a brand-new car. I owned a Renault before I bought the Suzuki. The car was 7 years old.... with no rust spots. How is it even possible for a car to have rust all over the car after three years and for paint to become grey?

Please contact me and advise me on my next steps please. I am also lodging a complaint on Hello Peter.

If you make a promise on your website, even before a customer enter the website for more details with regards to a car, you need to keep to your promise by looking after the client as well.

Kind regards C