Consumer court penalizes auto major over defective luxury SUV

Tata Motors Ltd has been ordered by a consumer forum to either replace a defective Tata Harrier SUV or refund its full purchase price of 21.40 lakh INR due to severe manufacturing faults. Delivering this critical ruling, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission of Kangra at Dharamshala affirmed that buyers invest heavily in premium vehicles for family safety rather than enduring endless maintenance struggles.

The legal dispute arose after Dr. Krishan Lal Kapoor purchased a Tata Harrier XZA+ Dark Edition in May 2022. Within just 26,000 kilometers of driving, the luxury vehicle suffered two separate, dangerous timing belt breakdowns on open highways, leaving the owner and his family stranded. An independent automotive expert testified that the core engine block suffered from a misaligned timing bracket assembly, which caused premature failure of a component typically designed to last up to 100,000 kilometers.

While the vehicle manufacturer and the regional dealership, JKR Motors, argued that the repairs were addressed free of charge under warranty guidelines, the bench rejected their defense. The panel, led by President Hemanshu Mishra along with members Arti Sood and Narayan Thakur, clarified that forcing a customer to operate a structurally flawed vehicle creates an ongoing safety risk. Consequently, the court found the automaker guilty of unfair trade practices and deficient consumer service.

Indian consumer safety jurisprudence has grown increasingly strict regarding manufacturing quality, matching international standards where vehicle owners are legally protected from buying persistently faulty goods. Beyond the primary refund or replacement directive, the forum ordered the manufacturer to pay 1 lakh INR in consumer compensation alongside 15,000 INR to cover legal expenses.