To:
Mr. Jagdish Khattar
Managing Director
Maruti Udyog Limited
New Delhi
REQUEST & APPEAL
Subject: Complaint regarding Poor service by your dealer and irresponsible attitude of your Pune regional office towards consumer.
Dear Sir,
Let me first introduce myself as a consumer. I own a Maruti ALTO LX E –3 HLL model bought from M/s T S Motors, Lucknow on 20.03.2005. First of all let me express my thanks to all Maruti team for such an excellence product line year on year but and at the same time I am disappointed to share that a company like Maruti Udyog Limited has missed NDTV Profit Business award for 4 wheelers against Tata Motors. It is difficult to digest for a loyal consumer of a car manufacturing company who win 7 times J D Power Asia Pacific Award on consumer Sales & Service Satisfaction.
I hope it is not you but your dealer channel and some of your team members in customer service pulling you down. I hope you will take my complain as a case study to understand the same. I am from a middle class family and we have 4 Maruti vehicles in my family, which is the only evidence I can give against my loyalty for your company.
Let me explain you the incident and my service history as I am a Mechanical Engineer by qualification and also in After Sales Service industry with reputed automobile company from past 9 years. My journey with Maruti Service is as under:
17.03.05 – PDI & General Check up at 8 KMS M/s T S Motors, Lucknow.
22.04.05 – 1st Free service with oil change at 591 KMS – No Troubles – M/s T S Motors, Lucknow.
04.09.05 – Vehicle cleaning & washing at 3346 KMS – I don’t like dirty vehicle and I always try to maintain it.
02.10.05 – 2nd Free Service with out Oil Change at 3870 KMS – No Troubles at M/s Kiran Motors, Ahmedabad.
06.10.05 – Panel roof denting painting due to transit damage from Lucknow to Ahmedabad under insurance at 3943 KMS M/s Kiran Motors, Ahmedabad.
01.01.06 – Wheel Alignment & Balancing with Tyre Rotation at 5167 KMS at M/s Kiran Motors, Ahmedabad. Here I would like to inform you that your dealer staff don’t know the service interval KMS for Tyre Rotation. It is the customer (Me) who explained him that refer page no. 9-19 of owners manual. Also done engine tune up as there was a timing chain noise.
21.02.06 - 3rd Free Service with oil change at 6485 KMS at M/s Manan Cars, MASS, Ahmedabad – No trouble.
11.08.06 – 4th Paid Service without engine oil at 9550 KMS at M/s Manan Cars, MASS, Ahmedabad – No trouble.
17.10.06 – 5th Paid Service with engine oil at 11264 KMS with wheel alignment & balancing at M/s Olympia auto Service, MASS, Akurdi Pune. My bad days with Maruti Started from here. Here I would like to elaborate that how your service centers are misguiding customers.
Problem Reported: Front Suspension Noise Check, Tyre rotation, Door Locks sticky, Door Glass lever Noisy in operation, Clutch Check, Battery Check, Brakes Weak – They cleaned only liner and after 5000 KMS wonder cars informed me Brake Cylinder Faulty need to be replaced under payment. The blunder they did is replaced coolant at 11264 KMS without asking customer and not even knows what the replacement interval is. It is 20000KMS or 2 Years which ever occur earlier. Above all after charging me they forget to put coolant in container. It was my great luck that I checked by opening the bonnet as I was driving to Goa next day with my family. It was irritating for me when I got a stupid reply form your Service Advisor that coolant is in circulation will come back once engine stopped. Second mistake was of charging 1.5 liters of distilled water. It is not matter of Rs. 20/- it is matter of technical knowledge that when there is some level of distilled water is already there how you can accommodate another 1.5 liter in same battery case. I am sorry to inform you that I have complained to Maruti on Toll free no. –[protected] but till date I have not replied on this matter. Any way it’s OK because they have refund me cost of distilled water.
Regarding door lever noisy they simply replied after keeping my vehicle for 2 days that you have to take your vehicle to wonder cars as we are not authorize for warranty repairs. Any way it was a good learning for me that not to go to any MASS during warranty period.
14.01.07 – Cleaning & washing and other repairs with clutch problem, door lever problem, at 13518 KMS at M/s Wonder Cars, Chinchwad, Pune. They adjusted clutch and returned. No one is ready to understand my problem when I am saying that clutch operation turns jerky & juddery after every[protected] KMS.
31.01.07 – Driver Seat Assembly cushion ineffective at 13822 KMS at M/s Wonder Cars, Chinchwad, Pune. Complete Seat assembly replaced after holding decision from Mr Harish Udipi – Service Engineer, Pune MUL.
30.03.07 – Clutch check and front suspension noisy on bumpy roads at 14572 KMS at S K Wheels Pvt Ltd, Turbhe, Navi Mumbai during my Mumbai Visit. Caliper Assembly greasing done by dealer and found ok at that time. Clutch adjusted.
Things gone worst here after:
09.07.07 – 6th Paid servicing with oil change, wheel balancing & Alignment, Tyre Rotation, wiper check, brakes check, rear side bang noise, clutch problem, painting issues as approval given by Maruti engineer because the painting done by M/s Kiran Motors at Ahmedabad was started peeling off. Front LH suspension “KHAT” noise on speed Breakers, Battery check – SA Name Mr Nitin Mobile No – [protected] and WM Mr Kulkarni attended me personally.
I don’t want to hide the facts from you. Mr Kulkarni, Mr Nitin has supported me a lot for getting components replaced under warranty that is wheel cylinders. I am thankful to Mr Suresh Babu & Mr Harish Udipi here. They replaced the shock damper of Front LH shock absorber and gave test ride to me. At that time there was no issue. They convinced me on non availability of clutch components (Modified One) and assured me to replace on receiving. I taken the delivery. Very next morning my cars engine started giving engine knocking sound – Starvation piston ring noise and also sometimes idling instable. I contacted Mr Nitin on the issue on phone he told me that it is because of faulty clutch component and after replacement it will be ok. Please drive for 2-3 days and nothing to worry.
12.07.07 – I was on the way to Swargate (27KMS from my residence) to attend a meeting. On the way it troubled a lot and finally off road in the mid of traffic (Badly Abused by traffic) because temp. Meter was on full. I doubt that it may be a seizure case. I called Mr Harish Udipi ([protected]) and Mr Nitin. Once again I appreciate the prompt response of Mr Nitin to attend me on road and to give me a loaner vehicle.
I informed them that please keep my vehicle for 2 days and set it right for ever. It was a failure of casting defect in intake manifold for coolant circulation (Poor Diagnostic Skills). I took delivery again on 14th evening and taken a test ride of 14 KMS with Mr Nitin and found OK. I was having doubt on clutch on that day but waited to run few more KMS. This time they have replaced again entire clutch assembly and other components under warranty. Thanks once again to Mr Nitin, Mr Kulkarni & Mr Harish. But I am disappointed that Mr Harish Udipi has not even bothered to call me that whether my problems resolved or not. On that day we mutually agreed to leave the vehicle for Painting job approved by Maruti engineer. (KMS Clocked 16929)
17.07.07 – At 16991 KMS - car left for denting & painting work and new problem created by them that is Oil leakage. and returned to me on 21.07.07 evening. Job done partially as problem shown to Mr Kulkarni and further shown to Mr Harish by them.
It is really disappointing for me to explain you the condition of car interior. It was in shabby condition as all putty, primer etc etc is on the seats of my car, roof, door beads, doors found dirty with some white material. The card board spare wheel is almost broken into 2 pieces. I contacted Mr Nitin on 22.07.07 about the same and he replied it is Sunday I am not in office. Please go to wonder car some body will attend you.
Please tell me how many times I have to go to wonder cars for the problem created by them. I am now scared to go there because they will solve this problem and will create a new one. And journey never ends...
After all these I lost my patience and contacted Mr Suresh Babu (Regional Manager – Service, Pune R.O) on 01.08.07 on –[protected]. First of all the receptionist has refused to connect me to Mr Suresh Babu but when I shouted on her she kept me on hold and connected. It clearly indicates that your officers sitting at R.O has no intention to help customers which is also proved by the dialogue of your Regional Manager during my telecon. “It is not duty of My service engineer Mr Harish Babu to call you, it is dealer job. We are trying to help you and you are acting smart”. When I told him that if you are not going to listen me I can escalate the issue to higher officials. He replied – “You do what ever you want to do and cut the phone” – words of Regional Manager of an esteemed company to a customer. If you have given me some freebies it doesn’t mean that you left my basic problems unattended.
After this long Journey there are still Problems in my Car which is unattended:
1. Front LH Shock absorber “Khat” Noise while passing thru speed breaker even after replacement of shock damper.
2. Steering vibration – shaking at a speed of 80-90 on highways even after timely wheel balancing, Alignment & Tyre rotation.
3. Paint Peel of in panel near to LH rear door.
4. Clutch Jerky not as earlier but still I feel.
5. Card Board Broken which is above spare wheel.
6. Regarding cleanliness I will manage.
7. Clutch pedal fulcrum pin noisy – Lack of lubrication.
8. Gear lever excessive vibration at idle and low torque – Never felt before.
9. Rear portion “chik chik” Noise – reported 2-3 times. Chassis noise??
CONCLUSION
Sir, I know you are MD of such a large organization and you don’t have time to read such long letters. Still I request you to go thru it in your leisure time and if anytime you feel that fault is at my end, please reply me and what ever decision you will give in my case, I will honor that. I have a very small demand that please arrange to resolve all my issues in one go.
I believe I have co-operated a lot with every one and at the end I am forced to write you such letter. I have done 6 service within 17000 KMS, what else I can do as a customer.
I have all supporting document with me for above problem statements, if required by any one will produce the same. (No Enclosure – Hope you trust me)
Hope to hear from you soon.
With Warm Regards
Sunil Kumar Sharma
Flat No – 103, A2 – Block
Empire Estate
Old Mumbai Road
Chinchwad, Pune
Maharashtra – 411019
Regn. No. – UP 32 BJ – 6657
Chassis No. – MA3EYD81S00488763
Mobile No. - [protected]
CC: Dr. K. Kumar – Advisor Engineering, Maruti Udyog limited.
Mr A Choudhary – General Manager – Service, MUL.
R.O – Maruti Udyog Limited, Pune
Mr. Aggarwal – MD – M/s Wonder Cars Pvt Limited, Pune
Mr. Jagdish Khattar
Managing Director
Maruti Udyog Limited
Jeevan Prakash, 11th Floor
25 Kasturba Gandhi Marg
New Delhi
PIN - 110001
Dr. K Kumar
Advisor Engineering
Maruti Udyog Limited
Jeevan Prakash, 11th Floor
25 Kasturba Gandhi Marg
New Delhi
PIN - 110001
Mr. A Choudhary
General Manager - Service
Maruti Udyog Limited
Palam Gurgaon Road
Gurgaon
Haryana – 122015
Regional Office
Maruti Udyog Limited
Sacred World
Unit No. 708-715
7th Floor, North Block
Wanowadi
Pune - 40
Mr Ghanshyam Aggarwal / Mr Vijay Aggarwal
Managing Director
Wonder Cars Pvt. Ltd.
64/8, Block D-2
MIDC, Chinchwad,
Pune – 411019
Maharashtra
Aug 13, 2020
Complaint marked as Resolved
This is not our first vehicle.
Currently we have
Audi A4 ( 2012 model -7000 kms done),
Toyota corolla (2007 model -55000 kms run)
Ritz VXi ( 2011 model, 12000 kms run)
Hyundai i10 Kappa2 (2011 model, 50000 kms )
Previous vehicles:
1993 - Premier Padmini
1997 - Premier Padmini ( sold 2002, 60000 kms )
2002 - Hyundai Accent ( sold 2007, 60000 kms )
2011 - Ritz vdi ( sold 2013, 45000 kms)
We had problem with Ritz vxi from first month of ownership
1. Burning smell coming while running . This was present from the first day, service centre people never able to find out, it went when I replaced clutch at my own expense at 10000 kms, I have never changed clutch in any of my previous cars . service centre people telling that I don't know to drive . Maruti always right in commenting when I never faced this issue in any of the other cars and still going strong
2. gear slotting was a problem ( now its working properly)
3. Wiper motor had to be replaced as it got rusted ( within 3 yrs of ownership, never i have changed this in any of my cars)
4. Clutch and all the components had to be replaced at 10000 kms ( Ten Thousand Kms )
5. Rear speaker some sort of nice coming
6. Body panels have already started rusting, all the 4 window pane steel panel have rusted
7. Rattling issues
8. Fuel gauge never shows full . even if I fill it to top also, it will show 1 or 2 blocks less, Pathetic quality control from Maruti
Can anyone imagine this ?
All cars are parking at same place inside my building and none of my vehicle has got rusted anywhere expect Ritz.
Even after have driving experience on so many cars, none of the vehicle clutch plates had to be changed anytime till I sell the car
Maruti service centre people will tell that driving is not proper so clutch is gone bad, this is inspite Ritz is driven mostly single person and you can see how less its being driven around ( 10000 kms / 3 yrs = 3333 kms per yrs)
Most of the companies have gear box oil change interval of 1 lakh kms, but maruti had 20000 kms, This should make customers realize the poor quality of oil used by them.
Many have body antirust warranty for 6+ years, i don't even think Maruti will offer this . They can't as they know about their quality of parts
Maruti sells vehicles with very poor parts and puts blame on customer for their failure, Need to see how long does this company run like this . I will never recommend Maruti products to any of my friends nor family members and even in my company will let my colleagues know about the pathetic quality . Guys never buy Maruti, their diesel car sells just due to FIAT engine, else they would have lost the market by now
The next Kingfisher in the making
I will submit n number of pics if any one wants to see the rusting issue, never buy ( vehicle age is 3 yrs only and all my vehicles are parked in same compound and its garaged most of the days )