Buyer Wins R683,050 Refund After Faulty Haval H6 Computer System Crashes

A Johannesburg man has won a legal battle against a dealership over a defective Haval H6, securing a full refund after the vehicle’s computer system crashed within months of purchase. The National Consumer Tribunal ruled in favor of Grant Robert Ernest Tucker after his car, bought for R683,050 in November 2022, became inoperable during a repair session just a few months later.

Tucker initially faced multiple technical issues with his new Haval H6 in March 2023, prompting him to take the car to the Kempster Sedgwick dealership. During the diagnostic process, the vehicle’s computer system failed, rendering the car unusable. The dealership attributed the malfunction to the car’s Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) and escalated the issue to Haval Motors South Africa and the manufacturer in China.

Despite this, Tucker expressed dissatisfaction with the dealership’s response, citing concerns over the car’s overall safety and functionality. He demanded a full cancellation of the deal, stating that he had lost confidence in the vehicle’s reliability. The dealership, however, denied any defect and offered him a R540,000 trade-in.

While the dealership undertook repairs, Tucker was given a courtesy car. However, tensions escalated when he failed to return the courtesy car immediately after his vehicle was repaired. Legal actions were threatened, but Tucker eventually returned the car and took possession of his repaired Haval H6.

During the tribunal hearing, Tucker argued that the malfunctioning vehicle was unsafe, as it failed to function properly and posed a risk to his family. In response, the dealership maintained that the car had been repaired and was no longer defective. They claimed the issue stemmed from unsuitable software installed by the manufacturer in China, which caused the crash when the car was connected to the diagnostic system.

After reviewing the evidence, the tribunal agreed with Tucker’s concerns, deeming the computer system crash a significant defect and safety hazard. The tribunal ruled that the unsuitable software posed a threat to road safety, particularly in South African conditions, and ordered the dealership to refund Tucker in full for the purchase price of the vehicle.

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Sourced:IOL