The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has said that automobile agents are accountable for manufacturing defects of vehicles detected even after the expiry of their warranty period.
“The ministry would take penal action against those agents who fail either to recall such vehicles or repair defects,” a source at the ministry said.
Speaking to Al-Eqtisadiah business daily, the source disclosed that the ministry has drawn up a plan to follow up and closely watch cases of recalling vehicles worldwide due to manufacturing defects.
“This move would enable the ministry to see if there are any possibilities for such defects to take place in the case of vehicles imported into the Kingdom. It is also helpful to closely monitor whether the agents are fulfilling their commitment either to recall such vehicles from the Saudi market or do their repair work free of cost,” the source said adding that the ministry would also take steps on complaints filed by customers.
The ministry’s new move is regarded as a strong intervention to protect the interests of vehicle consumers against any manufacturing defects of either vehicles or spare parts.
“All the local agents of vehicles and spare parts should adhere to the ministry’s regulations with regard to either repairing the defective vehicles or spare parts or replace them without levying any charges from the customers,” the source added.
Two days ago, the ministry announced that some 2,965 Toyota Fortuner vehicles would be recalled from the Saudi market for the possibility that the propeller shaft might have been installed incorrectly.
The ministry’s statement was based on a press release from Abdul Latif Jameel Company (ALJ), the agent for Japan’s Toyota Motor Corporation, saying that it had received a notification from the carmakers to recall 2,965 Toyota Fortuner (2007-2008 models) sold in Saudi market to conduct the required inspection. The company will launch the recall campaign as from May 28, where owners of those models will be informed to have their vehicles inspected and repaired at the company’s workshops free of charge, the ministry said.
Automobile agents warned on defects
