Hyderabad: A penalty was imposed on Fortune Automobiles by the Hyderabad District Consumer Disputes Redressal for selling a car which allegedly had a manufacturing defect to a customer and not addressing the issues even after it was brought to their notice.
According to the complainant, Mr Bhyri Sunny Raj, he purchased the Ford Figo Aspire after taking a loan from Punjab National Bank (PNB). The cost of the vehicle was Rs 8.49 lakh with a warranty for two years or 1 lakh km, whichever is earlier.
Mr Raj told the forum that the vehicle was functioning well until it completed 19,000 km. After that it started giving troubles. Mr Raj said he took the car to the service centre to rectify the problems like emission of black smoke, and at times white smoke, hardness in the vehicle, more oil consumption and other issues before the expiry of the warranty. However, Ford India Private Limited, the manufacturer, insisted that there was no manufacturing defect in the vehicle and the demand made by the complainant was unreasonable and unlawful. “The vehicle was delivered after strict pre-delivery tests and the question of manufacturing defect did not arise,” the company said. The company said Mr Raj had failed to provide any proof to ascertain the manufacturing defect.
The Hyderabad consumer forum opined that the inconvenience caused to Mr Raj by the defects from time to time resulted in loss of earnings. He also faced problems regarding the payments of EMIs during the period of repairs. “As such we hold that it is just and proper to award and compensation of Rs 50,000 for the hardship faced by him and `5,000 towards cost of litigation and to hand over the vehicle in a roadworthy condition to the complainant without collecting any extra amount,” the forum ruled.
