A bank manager’s attempt to get a refund for his expensive SUV, claiming it had a leak, was dismissed by the court. Now, he must go back to retrieve the vehicle, which has been at Lifestyle Motors since August 2023.
Sean Ramkissoon bought a SsangYong SUV for $516,444.01 in February 2023. Six months later, he reported a leak. He decided to sue Lifestyle Motors, bringing his case before Justice Frank Seepersad.
In April, Ramkissoon noticed a warning light on his dashboard. The dealership checked it and found it was just a driver attention alert feature with no other faults. He was not satisfied but did not follow up on this issue later.
On August 8, he returned to the service center, claiming that water was entering the car’s cabin. During the trial, attorneys for both sides discussed the vehicle’s condition. The workers noted that this was the first complaint of this kind for a new model.
One technician found a teaspoon of water in the cabin light but reported no damage to the upholstery. After testing, the court confirmed that no leaks were found.
Ramkissoon felt the report from the service team didn’t capture all his concerns. Justice Seepersad recognized that the claim appeared to focus more on the service report rather than real issues with the sunroof or leaks.
The court acknowledged that while a sunroof must be properly sealed, it’s understandable that such features could sometimes lead to leaks. There were discussions about whether the vehicle’s design was suitable for local road conditions, as potholes can impact how a vehicle performs.
Although there was an implication that Ramkissoon may have felt buyer’s remorse, the judge noted that his concerns needed to be taken seriously. Customers should always feel heard, and their issues should be addressed promptly.
Ultimately, the judge found that the water issue was not serious enough to affect the vehicle’s performance. He concluded that the evidence did not support Ramkissoon’s claims that the SUV was of poor quality or unfit for use.
As a result, the case was dismissed, and Ramkissoon was ordered to pay 70% of Lifestyle Motors’ legal costs. Justice Seepersad expressed disappointment that the situation escalated to a trial, suggesting mediation could have resolved the matter more easily.
The SUV, still under warranty, has been stored at Lifestyle Motors without cost since August. The court was assured it was regularly started and remained in good condition. Ramkissoon plans to collect his vehicle soon.
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