'Car Was E20 Compatible': Maruti To Challenge Consumer Forum Decision, Blames 'Fuel Contamination'

Published 17 July 2026 · india

'Car Was E20 Compatible': Maruti To Challenge Consumer Forum Decision, Blames 'Fuel Contamination' Published By, Last Updated: July 17, 2026, 12:27 IST In a first

'Car Was E20 Compatible': Maruti To Challenge Consumer Forum Decision, Blames 'Fuel Contamination' Published By, Last Updated: July 17, 2026, 12:27 IST In a first, a consumer court ruled in favour of the complainant in the E20 fuel damage case and directed Maruti Suzuki to replace the old car with a new one. Representative image of a car getting refuelled at a petrol pump. Maruti Suzuki India on Thursday said it will challenge a consumer court order directing it to replace a customer’s Grand Vitara with a new E20-compatible vehicle, maintaining that the car involved in the case was already designed to run on E20 fuel and that the engine issues were caused by contaminated fuel. In a statement, the country’s largest carmaker said the order passed by the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Raipur did not adequately consider evidence indicating fuel contamination. “We have learnt of an order by the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Raipur, wherein Maruti Suzuki has been directed to replace the customer’s vehicle with a new E20-compatible vehicle," the company said. Statement from Maruti Suzuki on the order of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Raipur | “We have learnt of an order by Hon’ble District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Raipur wherein Maruti Suzuki has been directed to replace the customer’s vehicle with…— ANI (@ANI) July 16, 2026 “The car in this case was an E20 compatible car, fully equipped to handle E20 fuel and so disclosed in the owner’s manual," it added.

Maruti Suzuki also disputed the findings of the commission, asserting that the evidence pointed to fuel quality rather than any manufacturing defect. “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," the company said. It further stated, “Maruti Suzuki will take necessary steps to challenge the impugned order before appropriate higher forum in accordance with law." Also Read: India’s First E20 Fuel Consumer Court Order: Car Replacement, Rs 1 Lakh Compensation To Vehicle Owner Consumer Wins E20 Fuel Damage Case, Court Asks Maruti To Replace Car The statement came after the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Additional Bench, Raipur, ruled in favour of complainant Premraj Debta, a Raipur-based doctor, holding that Maruti Suzuki and its authorised dealer had committed deficiency in service and indulged in unfair trade practices. The commission directed the manufacturer and dealer to replace the complainant’s Grand Vitara Strong Hybrid Zeta Plus with a new vehicle equipped with an E20-compatible engine within 45 days. If they fail to do so, they must refund Rs 20,50,494, the amount paid by the complainant towards the vehicle, registration and insurance, along with Rs 1 lakh as compensation for mental harassment and Rs 10,000 towards litigation costs. According to the complaint, Debta purchased the top-end Grand Vitara Strong Hybrid Zeta Plus from an authorised Nexa dealership in Raipur on June 3, 2024. The vehicle, covered under an extended warranty, allegedly developed engine problems after running about 21,913 km.