Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL) on Thursday said it will challenge an order of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Raipur, wherein the company has been directed to replace the customer’s vehicle with a new E20-compatible vehicle.
The statement comes after the Commission asked the Maruti Suzuki dealer in Raipur to replace the vehicle — Grand Vitara Intelligent Electric (Strong Hybrid) Zeta Plus 1.5 CVT — bought by a doctor, which was E20-compliant, after holding that the dealer sold a vehicle made 16 months ago and failed to rectify recurring engine problems despite repeated repairs.
The order also pointed to the limited fuel choices available to consumers and the Commission noted that E20 petrol had become the commonly-available fuel at petrol pumps, leaving consumers with little practical alternative. It noted that vehicle-owners could not reasonably be expected to avoid the fuel if other options were unavailable.
The Commission also observed that despite repeated fuel changes and cleaning of the fuel tank, the vehicle continued to develop faults, forcing the complainant to make several visits to the service centre.
Therefore, it directed the dealer and manufacturer to take back the existing vehicle and provide the complainant with a new vehicle of same features, equipped with an E20-compatible engine within 45 days, failing which they will have to refund ₹20,50,494, comprising the vehicle price, RTO charges and insurance premium.
MSIL’s response
However, MSIL said, “The car in this case was an E20-compatible car, fully equipped to handle E20 fuel and so disclosed in the owner’s manual. There is evidence of contamination in the fuel collected from the customer’s vehicle. Several other relevant facts have also not been reflected in the order.”
“Maruti Suzuki will take necessary steps to challenge the impugned order before appropriate higher forum in accordance with law,” it said, adding that the company remains fully committed to quality, safety and customer satisfaction through robust engineering, processes and systems.
Published on July 16, 2026
