The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has moved to make it mandatory for car agents in the Kingdom to test vehicles prior to the completion of sales procedures and ensure that the client is notified about its specifications and any faults.

The ministry stressed on the importance of implementing the ‘vehicle recall list’ if faults are found, noting that this will be obligatory and will be carried out by the manufacturing company and its local representative.

It pointed out that the manufacturing company and its local representative will notify the ministry in writing about recalling a faulty product within 10 days of the date of recall. In the event of the discovery of a faulty product, a recall file will be opened which can only be closed with the permission of the ministry.

The notification should define the types of faults included in the recall application and the number of products imported and sold in the Kingdom, in addition to describing the faulty part and reasons for this fault and any impending dangers.

Applications should include the name of the manufacturing company, the name of the local representative and his address, in addition to the name of the product and manufacturing country and a description of the fault.

The ministry said the manufacturing company or its local representative will be obliged to recall, fix or replace the faulty part free of charge. If the user is located more than 80 km away from an approved workshop, the local representative will be obliged to pay all the transportation expenses in addition to dispatching technicians to the customer’s residence. Local representatives will also be obliged to present a monthly report about the recall process.

The ministry has further obliged local agents to receive and deal with the complaints and to notify the manufacturing company if a specific fault is detected up to three times.

A photocopy of the report should be given to the ministry within one week of the date of the last complaint.

The ministry will assume investigations with the local agent and the manufacturing company if it receives up to three complaints about a specific fault, without violating penalties stated in the commercial franchise system.