Location/place: PUNE
Name of company/service: Maruti
Following was the email sent to the authorities of Maruti on 25th August but there was no response/ action on this. They are not picking up phone as well.
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I am Asha Nand Thakur, who owns a Maruti Zen Estilo VXI MH12 HF 2319, purchased in 2011 July. Vehicle has run for only 3500 Kms approx.
I would like to narrate to you the ordeal I am facing as regards to my
vehicle which is as follows:
We were returning from Pandharpur on 24th August 2012 via NH9 Pune Solapur road, just 39 Kms before Pune, we faced a problem in the car,
as it stopped due to some unknown reasons at 12:15 hrs on the Highway.
On inspecting the car thoroughly, we discovered that there was an engine oil leakage from bottom of the car. Immediately we contacted on
road emergency service no 1800 4200 and after One and Half hours Maruti emergency team from
Ace Kudale Car Pvt. Ltd., Manjri Budruk, Pune-Solapur highway arrived at site.
On checking the leakage, the technician from Maruti informed us that the Oil Pan of the engine has got severely damaged, which led to
complete spillage of the oil, which further led to breakdown of the engine.
Since it was not possible to fix the car at the site, it had to be brought to the service station by toeing.
On further analysis and checking at the service centre it was brought to our notice that the Oil spillage had led to seizure of the engine
and there was no further scope of repairing it. Therefore according to Ace Kudale’s service manager the engine had to be opened and checked
for the extent of the damage.
Today on 25th August 2012 I have been informed that the entire half engine will have to be replaced. I have been provided with an estimate
of Rs. 37,500 for the job. On further discussion with the manager I got to know that I would not be even able to get any insurance claim
on this, mainly for the reason that I did not see the oil pressure low signal on the front panel.
The entire experience has come as a rude shock to me, as I am a retired Air Force personnel and I did not expect ever that I would be
facing such a grave and helpless situation after owning a MARUTI VEHICLE.
On further enquiry I found that there have been numerous other occasions of damage caused due to stone hitting in Maruti vehicles
with K-series engine.
I wish to make 2 points here and expect a reasonable and rational response from your side:
– The criticality of the oil leakage problem is very high, still it is expected that on a small visual indication which is not prominent and
noticeable, the driver of the car should stop the vehicle immediately which is UNSAFE and IMPRACTICAL while driving on a highway at more
than usual speed. Due to this very reason any insurance can also not be claimed.
Such a severe seizure of the running engine on highway could have also resulted in a major accident.
– This is a manufacturing defect that, without any accident or serious impact oil pan would be damaged to such an extent. There is not even a
minor scratch in any other part of the car however an innocuous impact of a stone caused such a damage on a particular part of the car.
Attached is the picture of damaged Oil Pan.
Ideally considering the eventual impact of this leakage which is seizure of the engine there should be a noticeable and audible warning
sound/alarm in the car.
Therefore in view of the above mentioned points, it is my humble request that a proper consideration be made and justice be done to me
from a company of such a high repute as MARUTI SUZUKI. Hence I request you to repair all the damage caused to the car and restore its
original state at free of cost as my car is still under 2 year warranty and additional 3 years extended warranty.
Depending on your response I shall decide upon my next course of action in this matter, hence I request you to provide a prompt and
early response to the issue.
Thanking you for your kind consideration.
Yours Sincerely
Asha Nand Thakur
Ex. Warrant Officer
Indian Air Force
Service No. 623165-R
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