Good Day.
I have a VW polo 1.6 vehicle which I bought brand new from VW braamfontein in Feb 2011. The vehicle is still under its 3year Manufacturer warranty. My car has overheated and broke down 3 times in a matter of 6 months. On the 1st Incident, I lodged a complaint with the VW customer care centre as well as the dealership, and I was assured the matter was fixed. On the 2nd incident I then escalated the matter to the Desk of the Managing Director Mr. David Powels after which I was once again assured that the matter was resolved. This past Friday Night, my car once again broke downand overheated. The same incident has occurred 3 time now on a new vehicle, with no resolution. These incidents have put my safety at risk and have caused me a high degree of inconvieniance. May I add, that on all 3 occassions, I was denied a courtesy car by the VW dealerships, even though the breakdown was their fault. What disturbs me is that I have had 3 of these incidents already during the 3 year warranty, which means I will be sitting with bigger problems when the warrenty ends. The warranty is ending in 1 year. As a consumer, I either want my car fixed, with a guarantee that it won't happen again, or I want my car replaced or I want VW to take the car back and terminate the payment agreement. I refuse to pay for damaged goods that comes with a high level of stress and inconvieniance.
I am now turning to you in the hope that you will assist me, as I have tried everything in my power with VW south Africa but have failed.
Below is the last letter which I sent to the Desk of the Managing Director of VW SA Mr. David Powels. ([protected]@vwsa.co.za)
To
THE CEO / Managing Director
VW SOUTH AFRICA
15TH FEBRUARY, 2013
Dear Mr. Powels
RE ENGINE VIN NO : AAVZZZ6RZBU022201
I have just about had it with VW’s lack of competency & lack of after sales service. I have a Polo 1.6 Tiptronic which I bought brand new in February 2011. May I add, that the vehicle is still under it’s 3 year manufacturers warranty and is still under a full maintenance plan.
Last month, my vehicle over heated and broke down leaving me totally stranded. To highlight that, I was appalled at the level of service rendered by the Rivonia Dealership to which my car was towed to. (I had at logged a complaint for that at the time). My car was kept at Rivonia for 3 days, after which, I was assured that the problem was ”FINALLY RESOLVED”. This morning while on my way to work, my car overheats and breaks down for the SECOND TIME, leaving me stranded once again ~ a total inconvenience, as I had an urgent meeting this morning to attend. I am the Manager of Woolworths Sandton. The meetings I attend are critical. The worst part is, no one knows why the car is overheating. If this is happening to my car now, within the 3 year Manufacturers warranty, I will simply be left bewildered with bigger problems after my 3 year term is over. My new car is overheating and breaking down every month.
1. My car that VW has sold to me is clearly defective. A new car cannot overheat every month just after two years of buying it.
2. I am left inconvenienced & totally stranded in unsafe environments every single time – because of VW
3. I still continue to pay VW every month without fail, even though the car is sitting for days at YOUR dealerships because of YOUR defective workmanship / manufacturing.
4. No courtesy car was offered in my instance by any of your dealers. When you ask for one, they immediately say Sorry, they cannot help as they are out of cars. Cannot help? when I am left stranded because of VW? This has now happened on both occasions by Rivonia and Braamfontein.
As a consumer, I feel that my CPA rights have been infringed upon, more strongly the following:
1. The Right to quality Service – I have received incompetency, unwilling service from VW south Africa and its dealerships especially while it is the fault of VW’s workmanship.
2. Right to return goods – As a consumer I am entitled to return unsafe or defective goods, INCLUDING goods that are of inferior quality
I am totally disgusted and disappointed at the quality of your products, as well as your after sales service. Never in my life have I experienced such inconvenience. This is the 1st and Last time I purchase a VW car. As a Brand you really need to step back and re-align your focus on two things: Customer and Product.
As a consumer, I will be lodging a formal complaint with the Consumer board.
I need my vehicle replaced or a better solution if you have one. I refuse to suffer day in and day out for VW’s negligence. I am sitting with a new car that is totally unreliable.
If my grievance’s are deemed unfit for your attention – my legal team’s letter will be on Germany’s desk.
Yours
Mohamed Saleh
I took my car in on 02/08/2017 to get a noise that I have been receiving on the right side of my car as well as an oil leak that I had. The Prices totaled to R10780.41 by which I obliged in paying.
Upon driving the car I released that the sound when turning to the right was still there, which I disclosed this to a gentlemen whom call me on the 07/08/2017. He was running a survey but advised me that he would contact my Sales representative as there was no change to my issue.
I then decided to call VW Soweto as I didn’t receive a call that week, when speaking to my Sales rep she advised that she knew nothing about my problem, but set a date which I should bring my car in and have the issue looked into.
I then brought my car in the 24/08/2017 also driving one of the engineers/technician around to make him aware of the sound being there. I then received a call from my Sales rep advising me that they found the problem and that additional money would be needed to rectify the issue. I was also called by my Sales rep’s manager who advised that they would look into the issue and call me back. I didn’t receive a call on 28/08/2017 which I took it upon my hands to call the VW Soweto to find out what was being done with my car.
29/08/2017 I was advised by my Sales Rep that I would be liable to pay for the parts and not the labor by which I wasn’t happy to here as the issue had not been fixed initially so I didn’t know why I was supposed to pay. I advised to them that I would need my car on the 30/08/2017 as I will be traveling to the East Rand on that day.
The service that I have received thus far is horrible and I am angered by what is happing with my car, I feel robbed and also hate the fact that I have been given the run around when this shoud have been fixed by now.
Hi team,
I hope this comment goes viral to everyone in a similar situation. I have purchased a golf 7 GTI from claremont VW.
They were amazing at first when i purchased the car and things just got worst as time passed. First of all i pay for a premium car in which i believe i should get premium customer service however this is not the case.
I have the car for about 2 years and the car has given more issues than a 1990 car, how is this possible. VWs branding and there products are in 2 different planets, i feel like they are thieves.
I have been told so many times they have checked the car and assure me nothing is wrong just end up breaking down and then being told i need to pay for this and that which is totally unreal . They sold me a GTI with a drivers seat belt that cant even clip in. The car has water leaks non stop, how is this accepted. I feel safer driving a old car. I pay big money for convenience and this is not what im getting.
My car is currently at VW and iv just been told my water pump is leaking which has been replaced a while back with my oil pump which amounted to R12200. how can a water pump give in like this? someone is not doing there job at all.
my car has been endless problems and i want it fixed without being charged for what i did not break.
I work in radio and will make to get my message out there and get people involved thats in a similar situation because they cant just walk over us.
My car has been sold to me with a problem and i should keep paying ?
someone please help me and give me advice to get my situation sorted.
My car was on normal service on Monday it was fine but after the service it how EPC this happened when they where trying to change plugs according to them they did not touch cause he realized it was faulty they damaged my coils and I must pay 4753.20 for what VW Tri-Sec