Maruti Suzuki Pays Rs 50,000 To A Swift Owner Who Had Defective Parts In His Car

According to Times Of India, Nalinbhai Kanani, the owner of the second-generation Maruti Swift, purchased the car back in March 2011. In July 2012, while he was driving on Rajkot-Jamnagar highway, the vehicle broke down.

Nalinbhai took the car to Maruti Suzuki's authorised service centre and claims to have stopped using the car ever since. He was really disappointed in getting a defective car.

He later sued the brand with the Gujarat State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission and also the dealership for not providing free repair, even while being under the warranty period. Nalinbhai Kanani had driven the car for only 17,000 kilometres.

The company was ordered to replace the car or return Rs 5.41 lakh to the owner. Maruti is also liable to pay Rs 3000 to Nalinbhai for causing him mental distress.

The Commission has given some time for the company; reason being that the lower court in Porbandar had directed to either replace the vehicle or to return the full cost of the vehicle. As per the court order, Maruti Suzuki should repair the car, replace all the faulty parts and return the vehicle back to the customer by 15th September.

Maruti Suzuki tried defending themselves by saying that the car had a major accident due to the owner's bad driving habits. The company even claimed that the car has got severe damage to its underbody, for the same reason. However, they couldn't prove it before the court.

Thoughts On Maruti Suzuki Paying Compensation For A Customer

Although a rarity, defective products could be intentionally or unintentionally delivered to customers. There were instances over the years when dealerships sold carelessly-used test-drive cars as new cars to customers, without or without the knowledge of the brand. As for this Swift owner, we are not sure who is at fault. But a car which has run just 17,000 kilometres wouldn't show faults that quickly.

*images are for representational purposes only.