*********** workshop and poor customer service

I bought a Opel Crossland Cosmo brand new back in 2019. I also asked for a tow bar to be installed on the vehicle. Waited a couple of weeks for the delivery of the tow bar and eventually took the car in for the fitment. Got the vehicle back and found that the installation was faulty. I had plans to go away for the weekend, I couldn't go with my car as it was stuck in the workshop. I just got it back in time on the day we went away on vacation.

The car behaved well up to about 58000km, there was this continuous engine repair light popping up the whole time. Took the car in for diagnostics and the workshop couldn't find the issue. I was contacted and told that they need to drain oil and put new oil in and presented with a quote. This car only being serviced in this workshop. They want me to pay for oil on a car with a fault still under warranty, needless to say I refused. The car was due for a service on 60000 again, the workshop then arranged with the service plan people to do a premature 60000km service at +-56000km. After this service was done I was told to come and take delivery of the vehicle and see if the issue is resolved. Driving back from Barberton to Nelspruit the engine repair light came on and eventually went into a lim mode. Took the car back for further diagnosis. after a twee week period the technician eventually came to a conclusion that there is a problem with the oil pump. No it's a warranty claim issue. Waited about two weeks for the approval then waited for parts to be delivered. During all of this the customer services department never updated me on the progress, I always had to call in to get updates. Got the vehicle back eventually after some time and the vehicle seemed to be ok.

A month or two later the car started losing boost at times, mostly under load. It was like this on and off, eventually had a mechanic looked at it and he instructed me to take the vehicle back to Westvaal as the turbo had a exhaust leak. The technician at Westvaal confirmed this and I had to leave the car at the workshop for another warranty repair. This time around I had the car back in two weeks time with a new turbo fitted.

Drove the vehicle for a while and again there was a boost issue that came and went. The car broke down in town just as I was on my way to Komatipoort for work. Called the workshop and they instructed me to call roadside assistance. At the workshop fault finding commenced. After numerous calls to the customer services I was told that cylinder 1 on the engine has no compression and the engine needs to be replaced.

During the time the vehicle was being repaired I started going into talk with Westvaal management on getting a replacement vehicle as I now has lost trust in this car, and honestly the brand overall. The group contacted Stellantis motor group and said that they can help but only if I will look at buying a Stellantis brand, Citroen, Peugeot or Opel again. The one that I don't want. At this point I didn't even had the vehicle for three years, so there is a shortfall on the settlement. A deal was presented but at a R1200 more per month which I declined. I decided to lodge a complaint with the MIOSA which is still pending. But wait there is more.

After the complaint was lodged, I was told to give back the courtesy vehicle because my car is now ready for collection. Went to collect my car and on inspection I found that the newly installed engine has a oil leak, not a small one. I took the courtesy again and they contacted me again two days later to collect my car. Thinking it's fixed now I started putting my belongings over into my car and just for old times sake decided to check on that leak. And there it was standing the whole day with that same oil leak. I totally lost it at that point.

Left again with the courtesy vehicle and returned the following week after the workshop manager promised me that the car is now 100%. I had to tell them about a nail that I saw in the rear tire on the day I totally lost my temper. That sorted out I went to take delivery of the car, the fuel tank was filled for all the inconvenience. This was on Friday afternoon 12.08.2022. Driving around town late Friday afternoon with music on I heard a noise coming from under the hood. The noise is frightening. I contacted the dealership management and the car was collected from me and now currently back in the workshop. Now I was given the workshop managers demo Isuzu double cab bakkie. All to sugar coat their incompetency and poor service delivery.

The case with the ombudsman is still hanging and I hope to soon be done with Westvaal Nelspruit and Stellantis.