lukas C

Disappointed – Brand New Suzuki Swift Defective

My son purchased a brand new Suzuki Swift 1.2 GL CVT from Hatfield VW Rivonia in March 2025. In August, the car broke down with a dashboard error and overheating. Suzuki Gezina diagnosed a faulty harness and advised the vehicle should not be driven further. We immediately requested a refund, as the fault occurred within months of purchase. Despite clear communication, the dealership refused to consider a refund and insisted the car would only be repaired. Craig Schraibman from Hatfield VW confirmed this and referred us to the ombudsman if we were unhappy. It’s now been over three weeks, and we still haven’t received a formal diagnostics report or any clarity on the next steps. Under Section 56(2) of the Consumer Protection Act, a consumer has the right to return defective goods within six months and choose a refund, replacement, or repair. That choice was denied. Due to time and financial constraints, we’ve decided not to pursue the matter further — but we’re extremely disappointed by the lack of accountability and transparency from both the dealership and Suzuki SA.