Land Rover Midrand :: The Response From Land Rover Midrand About NNS 682 GP

If you are reading this, it's a saga of epic proportions. My Landy (Story Here) was an absolute lemon. After several discussions and meetings, this was the last I heard from Land Rover Midrand.

If you want the story behind the story, click here.

This was the response I got.

Good Morning Richard

Thank you for your letter dated the 19th March 2007. We acknowledge the content and wish to apologize for any inconvenience caused through all the breakdowns you have experienced with the vehicle. I can assure you that should we have known that this would be the case we would have never sold you the vehicle the vehicle was in a mint condition at the time of sale and underwent the 126 point check to verify that all is in good working condition.

As for the three options you presented in your letter I would like to advise you that the first two are totally out of the question. As for the third response I have agreed to try and locate a similar vehicle, this will mean that we start from the beginning by taking condition and mileage into account and then structure a deal.

The vehicles you listed below might be an option, but please understand that we are part of the McCarthy group and first prize would be if we sourced a vehicle within our group which we are confident with, regards condition and history to assist you in replacement of your old vehicle. Please note that McCarthy is not obliged to take your vehicle back and or replace it. The vehicle has been and will be repaired under the terms and conditions as set out in your purchase agreement. However in our constant strive to deliver exceptional service I agreed that we will try and source a similar vehicle and then structure a deal to suit both parties with no profit in for the dealer.

You have to also remember you have had the use of this vehicle for a year and have done approximately 30000km since taking delivery. I would like to advise you that the gearbox experienced no damage and that it was only the torque converter that failed. If all goes according to plan the vehicle should be repaired by early next week.

Please note that we are trying to source a vehicle to assist you in going forward. Should you need anymore information please do not hesitate in contacting me.

Once again we do apologize for any inconvenience caused through the defects on you're vehicle.

Kind Regards


Marius Prinsloo
Dealer Principal
Land Rover Midrand


Interesting that this man does not "Live The Brand" as Land Rover's advertising suggests, but rather "Keep The Cash", an age old client service misnomer.

Land Rover Discovery Problems - NNS682GP - DO NOT BUY This Land Rover Discovery

Well, for those of you that know me have, undoubtedly heard of my Land Rover Discovery saga. I've had massive and monumental issues with this Discovery. My story is below. If you feel you want to contribute, please leave a comment.

This is a letter I send to Land Rover Midrand after the 10th time the vehicle had been their for repairs.


Dear Marius,

Further to our discussion on Tuesday 13th March 2007, I wish to record the following facts.

I own a 2002 Land Rover Discovery Series 2 TD5 ES, registration number NNS682GP, purchased from your Land Rover dealership in Midrand early in 2006 for approximately R 220 000 and with 103 000 km in mileage.

In the year that I have owned this vehicle, several minor and three major mechanical failures have occurred. These are:

Minor Failures

1. Active Cornering Enhancement light on the dashboard shines amber after approximately 80 km of normal freeway driving. This indicates (according to the driver’s manual) that the ACE system has locked up and is no longer performing its task effectively.
   
• No action taken as problem could not be recreated by LR Midrand technician. Please see below for problems still existing.
• This problem accounts for 2 visits to LR Midrand.
  
• The first time this problem occurred was the second day I drove the vehicle.
  
2. ABS, Traction Control & Hill Descent Control warning lights come on simultaneously, indicating failure.
   
• First occurrence:- Nico reset onboard computer
  
• Second occurrence (3 days after reset):- Replaced front ABS sensors
  
• Third occurrence:- Replaced front ABS hub
  
3. Vehicle splutters at approx. 2500 rpm when it’s wet.
   
• No noticeable action taken. Please see below for problems still existing.
4. Massive quantities of diesel leaking from rear (tank area) once vehicle was switched on
• Pickup pipe replaced. This was apparently part of a recall that was executed on the vehicle, but not executed correctly. (according to Nico)
5. Severe lack of acceleration below 2000 rpm
• Mass Airflow Sensor replaced.

Major Failures

1. ACE high pressure piping bursts and sprays engine bay with highly flammable fluid.
• Single ACE pipe was found to have been rubbing up against another pipe and had burst.
• Vehicle towed to LR Midrand on flatbed.
• Pipe replaced.
• Approx. 2 weeks taken to repair vehicle
2. Valve spring breaks
• Valve spring replaced.
• Approx. 1 week to diagnose and 1 week to repair.
  
3. Torque converter casing cracks and fails.
• Vehicle towed to LR Midrand on flatbed on 13th March 2007.
• This is ongoing as the vehicle is still in your workshop.
• I have just spoken to Charlene. It appears that the warranty providers have not sent an assessor out to authorise the repair yet. Tomorrow will be the second week that you have my vehicle simply standing in your workshop.

Including one standard 120 000 km service in 12 months, this vehicle has stood in your workshop with mechanical problems a total of 10 times.

On top of the numerous reliability issues detailed above, the following problems still exist:

• Active Cornering Enhancement light on the dashboard still lights up amber after approximately 80 Km of freeway driving, irrespective of speed, load or driving conditions.
• Once the vehicle has been driven through standing water (even in mild rain), it splutters around the 2500 rpm mark for approximately 15 or 20 minutes afterwards.

These problems have been identified, by me, to several service advisors on several different occasions at your Land Rover dealership, but to date, have not been rectified.

Based on the above facts and my experience with this vehicle, I believe that I have purchased a lemon. If it was not for the fact that a 2 year warranty was provided when I purchased this vehicle from your Land Rover dealership, I would be out of pocket to the tune of approximately R 100 000.00 for repairs. (I believe that this figure will be higher once the final costs of the torque converter failure have been calculated.)

To date, other than the ACE system and the vehicle spluttering when wet, each failure was repaired by your workshop, covered by the warranty and has not failed since. This is not the issue. My issue is the total lack of reliability present in this vehicle. I no longer have enough faith in this vehicle to transport me to work and back, never mind taking my family on holiday, camping for the weekend or overland on holiday.

With this in mind and based on my horrid and extended experience with Land Rover, I believe that, in supporting your brand, you have one of three options in this regard. These are:

• Relieve me of this vehicle, refund my initial deposit to me & settle the outstanding finance on the vehicle. I will purchase another brand of off-road vehicle & part ways with Land Rover totally. (This is, by far, the most appealing option to me)
• I take the vehicle to an independent Land Rover specialist. They test the vehicle and detail all faults. Land Rover repairs all faults found at no cost to me. You also provide me with a further 2 year extended warranty & maintenance plan once the existing warranty runs out. (This is the least appealing option for me)
• You source another Land Rover Discovery of the same specification for me & I return the existing vehicle to you. Based on my previous experience with Land Rover, this vehicle must come with an extended warranty and maintenance plan covering a minimum of 2 years from the time I take delivery of the new vehicle.

You indicated, at our discussion, that you would source another Land Rover Discovery (IE Option 3). You also intimated that it may take some time to source such a vehicle. Looking on the Land Rover Approved website (www.lrapproved.co.za), several vehicles of this nature exist. I list them below:

1. Pretoria Land Rover
• 2004 TD5 ES auto (R 249 000)
• 2003 V8 ES auto (R 213 000)
2. Waterford Land Rover
• 2002 TD5 ES auto (R 199 000) (Autotrader lists this vehicle as R 179 000)
3. Sandton Land Rover
• 2002 TD5 ES auto (R 290 000) (Value might be a typo)
4. Tygervalley Land Rover
• 2006 TD5 ES auto (R 255 000) (Year model might be a typo)

Looking at the Autotrader website (www.autotrader.co.za), the following vehicles are in stock:

1. Autotec Land Rover (Mpumalanga)
• 2003 V8 ES auto (R 248 000)
2. East Rand Land Rover
• 2003 TD5 ES auto (R 235 900)
3. Cape Town Land Rover
• 2003 V8 ES auto (R 219 000)

Based on the above, sourcing a vehicle similar to mine might not be such a tough task. It appears that Land Rover has 5 in stock within 1 hour’s drive of your location.

Please understand, I do not expect anything that I have not paid for. I require a working & reliable vehicle that can execute the tasks it was designed for and is of the same specification levels as the vehicle I purchased from you.

It would be appreciated if you could respond to this email by no later than the close of business on Friday 23rd March 2007 with your comments and thoughts on the above.

I may be forced to take this matter up with McCarthy, Land Rover South Africa and/or the Retail Motor Industry Ombudsman should the outcome of this matter not be to my satisfaction or within my timelines.

Should you wish to discuss this matter further, please feel free to contact me on the details listed below.

Yours faithfully
Richard Shearer