• Brand new 2024 UD Quon truck purchased for $275,278 has been in the workshop 9 times since May
• Distraught owner Jagjeet Singh said he is depressed and has turned away contracts, costing him $1000 a day
• Dealership UD Trucks won’t replace truck or offer refund despite the recurring fault

The owner of an earthmoving company said his business has suffered because the brand-new $275,000 truck he bought in May has already been back to the workshop nine times.

Bajwa Trucking owner-operator Jagjeet Singh said he has turned away customers and lost sleep over the ongoing issues with a fuel filter on the truck.

“I have had sleepless nights and I’m worried about depression because of the stress of the truck.”

Jagjeet Singh said UD Truck Distribution had enough chances to repair and now it was time to replace the truck. Photo / Supplied

“It is still under warranty so I take it straight back but it has been nine times and each time I am without the truck for a couple of days.”

In May this year, Singh bought the heavy-duty truck from UD Truck Distributors in Wiri so he could move clay, dirt, sand and asphalt.

The 2024 UD Quon CW46200 was new, with 665km on the clock. Singh told the Herald he drove it only 50km before a warning light flashed on the dash.

“It was such a short time and a warning popped up saying there was a fuel filter clog and to return it to the workshop.

“I did that but since then it has happened continuously and I have been back to the workshop nine times.”

When the warning light flashes the truck engine vibrates and loses power intermittently, he said.

When the warning light is on the truck's engine vibrates and loses power intermittently. Photo / Supplied

Messages viewed by the Herald show Singh had asked UD Truck Distributors numerous times for a record of work in the workshop. He said no records were ever sent.

“It wasn’t until I said I was going to have to get legal advice they said they were taking the matter seriously.”

The truck was under warranty for three years but Singh was concerned the fault would never fully be fixed.

“They have had nine chances to fix it and they still can not locate the fault so I am losing thousands of dollars each time it is in there for repair,” he said.

“I also worry about the damage the fault may be doing to the rest of the truck.”

He was also concerned about what will happen when the truck was out of warranty.

Singh now wanted the truck replaced or his money back.

Jagjeet Singh bought the $275,000 UD Quon from UD Truck Distributors in Wiri in May this year. Photo / Google Earth

“If they can’t fix it and guarantee it won’t happen again the only fair thing is to replace the truck.”

After the Herald called UD Trucks, Singh received a phone call arranging a meeting. He said he was told there were options such as full repair or replacing the truck.

However, in an email to Singh the next day from general manager Colin Muir, Singh was told that replacing the truck was not yet an option.

“Please understand that both UDTD and Commercial Aftersales are committed to you and your vehicle and we will continue to review the fault you have experienced and rectify all and any faults that may occur,” Muir said in the email.

“However, there is no offer to provide you with a new truck nor any reasonable provision for this to be expected at this time.”

Muir told Singh the truck was not covered under the Consumer Guarantees Act.

Consumer NZ has confirmed this, saying business-to-business transactions were not covered by the act.

The truck was also “over and above the cost and weight limit” covered by the Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal, which deals with disputes up to $100,000.

Consumer NZ suggested anyone in situations like Singh’s should seek legal advice using the sale and purchase agreement for reference.

UD Trucks did not respond to interview requests from the Herald.