Nissan Tiida Problems

[george]

Nissan's side of the Tiida story

BANGKOK: -- Facing a lawsuit for fraud and deception filed by a customer, Siam Nissan Automobile (SNA) yesterday stood by its statement that the Nissan Tiida was a safe vehicle. Published on September 8, 2007

"We are ready to testify to the court," Chalermwong Kaam-panatsanyakorn said, in his capacity as SNA vice president for corporate communications.

He said his company would refute the argument of customer Suraphong Viriyapra-pasilp, whose lawsuit is based on allegations that the Nissan Tiida he bought last year had safety problems.

"The problems he had with the car were minor, such as noise from the doors and the air-conditioner not being cool enough," Chalermwong said.

He said these problems were not serious enough for the company to replace it with a new car, or buy back the vehicle.

However, upon the customer's request via the Consumer Protection Board (CPB), Chalermwong said the company had agreed to issue a written document stating that it would buy back the car if the repairs failed to fix the problems.

"But the customer failed to show up for a meeting scheduled by the CPB," Chalermwong said.

Two months ago, Chalermwong invited Sura-phong to a meeting during which he offered to buy back the vehicle.

"But he told me that he would need more time to think about it," he said, "Then I heard he had gone to the court".

Through various media channels, Suraphong claimed his Nissan Tiida had to be fixed several times for broken parts since July 7, 2006, including problems with the doors, brakes, electrics, air-conditioning system and the engine.

He said an executive of SNA had told him the company would compensate Suraphong and change the car or buy it back for the price he paid, which was Bt737,000. But Suraphong also wants the company to compensate him for the Bt200,000 he has spent on repairing the car, plus interest and his lawyer's fees.

The Samut Prakan Provincial Court has now agreed to rule on his complaint that the Nissan Tiida had failed to live up to its high qualities as advertised.

-- The Nation 2007-09-08