CAR dealers continue endangering consumers by selling them defective vehicles.
Though the Consumer Protection Act states that consumers have the right to fair value, good quality and safety, some dealers sell vehicles with defective brakes.
For the past few years car dealers have been recalling new cars because of defects.
Toyota recalled its Verso for uncontrollable brakes, Mazda was cited for brake defects and General Motors recalled several Buick and Impala models due to safety issues.
Audi, BMW, Volvo, Cadillac, Jaguar, Chevrolet and Jeep Land Rover have also recalled vehicles. Last month, Audi recalled some of their R8 Spyders for a potential fuel leak. Daimler Chrysler recalled 60000 vehicles because of potential brake failure.
Nomtha Dube, 29, of Mthatha in Eastern Cape, says General Motors sold her a defective new car and wants her to pay extra before replacing it.
Dube says she bought her first car in May this year and had taken it back to the dealer four times for repairs before it malfunctioned.
She says the dealer accepted there was a defect on the brakes , but would only replace the car if she agreed to pay an additional R25000.
"I should not have to pay for their mistakes and not after they had placed my life in danger and caused me such inconvenience," Dube says.
The dealer wants her to pay the equivalent of the 17000km her car has clocked, Dube says.
She says the problem started three weeks after she bought the car. She informed the dealership, which is based at Port Shepstone in KwaZulu-Natal, and was referred to their Fourways, Gauteng, branch.
"Replacing the gearbox and ABS control unit has not helped because the breaks are still problematic," Dube says.
She has taken the car back four times since June and on September8 the dealership passed the buck to head office, Dube says.
"The brakes just locked and I couldn't control the car and it only stopped when it hit a pavement. I could have been injured or killed or hurt someone," she says.
General Motors head office gave her a courtesy car .
"This is not what I expected when I bought a brand new car," she says.
- General Motors SA has not responded to the allegations at the time of going to print.
Trouble with a brand-new car
CAR dealers continue endangering consumers by selling them defective vehicles.
Though the Consumer Protection Act states that consumers have the right to fair value, good quality and safety, some dealers sell vehicles with defective brakes.
For the past few years car dealers have been recalling new cars because of defects.
Toyota recalled its Verso for uncontrollable brakes, Mazda was cited for brake defects and General Motors recalled several Buick and Impala models due to safety issues.
Audi, BMW, Volvo, Cadillac, Jaguar, Chevrolet and Jeep Land Rover have also recalled vehicles. Last month, Audi recalled some of their R8 Spyders for a potential fuel leak. Daimler Chrysler recalled 60000 vehicles because of potential brake failure.
Nomtha Dube, 29, of Mthatha in Eastern Cape, says General Motors sold her a defective new car and wants her to pay extra before replacing it.
Dube says she bought her first car in May this year and had taken it back to the dealer four times for repairs before it malfunctioned.
She says the dealer accepted there was a defect on the brakes , but would only replace the car if she agreed to pay an additional R25000.
"I should not have to pay for their mistakes and not after they had placed my life in danger and caused me such inconvenience," Dube says.
The dealer wants her to pay the equivalent of the 17000km her car has clocked, Dube says.
She says the problem started three weeks after she bought the car. She informed the dealership, which is based at Port Shepstone in KwaZulu-Natal, and was referred to their Fourways, Gauteng, branch.
"Replacing the gearbox and ABS control unit has not helped because the breaks are still problematic," Dube says.
She has taken the car back four times since June and on September8 the dealership passed the buck to head office, Dube says.
"The brakes just locked and I couldn't control the car and it only stopped when it hit a pavement. I could have been injured or killed or hurt someone," she says.
General Motors head office gave her a courtesy car .
"This is not what I expected when I bought a brand new car," she says.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos