Botshelo Selogilwe.

Botshelo Selogilwe.

Shaun Moodley from Port Elizabeth is a frustrated man. He says Kia Motors damaged his car, then washed its hands of the matter.

In 2005 Moodley bought a second-hand Kia Carnival. A few months later he took it to Kia Motors for a major service and to have the cambelts on the vehicle replaced.

This was the beginning of his nightmare, he says.

He paid R7000 for the service and the cambelts, but two days later he noticed a leak from the radiator. He took the car back to Kia Motors.

"About two weeks later Kia Motors called me to fetch my car. I was slapped with a bill for more than R9000."

Moodley at first refused to pay and left his car at Kia Motors, but because he needed it, he later paid thinking his car was properly repaired.

To his surprise, there was another problem.

"There was a shudder when I tried to apply brakes or use the clutch. The shudder was not there before," says Moodley.

Kia told him the engine mounting was broken and he had to pay a further R1600.

Craig Seaman, service manager at Kia Motors, said they were not responsible for the damages.

But the motor industry ombudsman is investigating and Moodley's problem could be fixed.