Reports of customers approaching consumer courts to resolve vehicle-related issues are on the rise. The latest case from Chandigarh involves a consumer court ordering a Tata Motors dealer to pay Rs 30,000 to a customer, Durgesh Kumar Jha, for mental agony after purchasing a defective Tata Nexon. Jha, who bought the car in March 2022, reported multiple defects, including a persistent technical error on the instrument cluster, missing scuff plates, and a faulty music system. Despite having the engine replaced just a month after purchase and facing additional issues with the doors, Jha continued to encounter problems, leading him to file a complaint.
Tata Motors defended its position, stating that the vehicle had been driven for 12,000 km without major issues and attributed the problems with the music system and central locking to road conditions. The dealer, RSA Dynamic Motors LLP, argued that the vehicle had been serviced by another agency multiple times and that no significant issues had occurred post-engine replacement. However, the court concluded that the numerous defects and frequent workshop visits warranted compensation for the mental distress and harassment experienced by Jha.
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This incident is not isolated. Recently, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission-II in Hyderabad ordered Toyota to pay a customer Rs 5 lakh in compensation and a full refund of Rs 45.57 lakh for failing to deliver the booked vehicle. In another case, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission overturned an order directing Honda to pay Rs 1 lakh for non-deployment of airbags, as the customer was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.