FRUSTRATED, angry and plain fed up – those were the sentiments of motorist Iswan Shah upon facing an unexpected breakdown.
Posting on the Proton S70 Malaysia Owner Club Facebook forum, it was lamented that the vehicle was barely a month old and yet the hapless owner was left stranded after what seems like an electrical failure.
Describing the scenario, the owner recounted that there was no ignition so much so that he was unable to lock doors, open car boot or even turn on the indicators before the engine suddenly gave out at traffic lights. Additionally, he was also unable to link to the Proton Apps.
The breakdown had occurred at 8.50am on April 2 in Puncak Alam. Over an hour of calling to insurance provider Etiqa was to no avail as nobody was on hand to answer the distress call.
Frustration mounted when calls to Proton Care, too, provided no viable solution apart from telling the irritated driver that they could not arrange for a tow truck. A nearby Proton service centre also did not have the manpower to spare for an outdoor check.
Finally, the tow truck arrives at noon arranged by Proton Auto Assist while the cause of the vehicle failure has yet to be determined.
The post has generated 6.3K likes, 2.1K comments and 554 shares at time of publication with many fellow motorists expressing dissatisfaction at how distressed motorists are left to almost fend for themselves by both car manufacturer and insurance provider.
First off, there was the unwanted public relations fall-out from such posts that make Proton look amateurish and worse, uncaring towards its customers. Some commenters lamented it was the same old story with the supposedly #1 national car manufacturer.
More than a few commenters queried why were motorists paying for insurance coverage that purportedly included towing services if the call centre of insurance providers do not even pick up calls?
It was also surmised the problem was exacerbated by the current fuel crisis caused by the war in the Middle East.
The hike in diesel prices (currently at RM6.02/litre) has made it less lucrative for tow truck drivers to accept jobs as the payments were not worthwhile to cover their operational cost, claimed one motorist.
However, there were those who defended Proton’s reputation with one commenter claiming Proton could only check the vehicle after it was sent to the workshop. That was the responsibility of the customer vis-à-vis the insurance provider.
Etiqa’s reputation seems to be taking a bashing with a number of irate motorists claiming similar experiences.
Whether this is an isolated incident or otherwise, such posts reflect poorly on both brands.
Though some motorists pointed out that towing was not the responsibility of Proton after sales, the point being made was that a month-old Proton had broken down inexplicably thus necessitating the tow truck.
As for the insurance provider, as pointed out by various motorists, there are plenty of options on the market. Drivers can flex their consumer might by changing insurers. – April 5, 2026
