Dangerous, Hazardous, Unsafe, Malfunctioning Vehicles

Good day Chery South Africa

In December 2023 I bought a brand-new Chery Tiggo Pro 7 Executive. I used two thirds of my life savings to buy this vehicle in cash so that I can have a new, reliable and safe vehicle to drive myself and my young daughter around and to also not have the burden of having to pay thousands every month for a vehicle which would have financially strained me and impact what I can do as a mother for my child in terms of providing for her and making sure she has everything she needs. I am not married and I cannot rely on someone else for this.

On Monday 02 March 2026, my “new” vehicle with 16,000 km on the clock decided it is just not going to change gears. I switched the car on and put it in reverse, when I was done reversing and put it in drive and gave petrol it changes back to reverse and goes backwards instead of forward and so it went on until I switched the vehicle off and put it in drive and drove away. I thought, well maybe just some heating up issue. When I arrived at work and I drove into the parking lot, another vehicle came from the front and one of us had to give way in terms of reversing, now I put my vehicle in reverse, give petrol and yet again, instead of changing gears it goes back to drive and my car goes forward instead of backwards, almost hitting this other vehicle. This parking lot is on three levels, this is a serious risk, I can over the rails. We need to go to work daily, we have other vehicles on the road, many times busy traffic, people running over roads, walking behind your car, pedestrian crossings, animals, etc. These gears drive and reverse are essential for safe and efficient driving.

Chery has made such a huge impact in the South African market in terms of what the vehicles can offer, but it is really worth investing two thirds of your life savings and risking your life, the life of your child and others to have a safe and reliable vehicle and instead you are provided with a hazardous, unsafe, dangerous and malfunctioning vehicle.

This is extremely concerning and it raises serious questions about these vehicles and their safety to their users and other road users (vehicles, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, etc) and pedestrians.

My vehicle has been with the repair centre since Wednesday 04 March 2026 after they initially said they could only help me the following week and on top of that they requested that I drive the vehicle to them in this condition?????? I refused; it has been a week. I am supposed to go to the office; I can’t because I don’t have transport. I am opening myself up to disciplinary action because this is not my employer’s problem and I as an employee need to adhere to my employer’s policies, but how do I do that without a vehicle? A vehicle that is supposed to be “new” and functioning, instead it is hazardous and malfunctioning. What am I to do if I lose my job????? All because I chose to buy one of your broken, bad built vehicles????? The repair centre doesn’t know what is wrong with my vehicle and they are trying to figure out the reason for this malfunctioning broken vehicle I got from you.

Please let me know how you intend to fix this? And what are your plans with these dangerous vehicles?